Anyone shoot a .303 savage 99?

[jonbearman]

I have a beater that is real tight in .303 and recently got a load of jamison brass for it.I want to shoot it.It was made in 1914 and was wondering if it is .308 or .311.I need some common sense loads also.

[BillPa]

Clean out your PM box and I send you some loading data I have.

Bill

[Mad Dog]

1914 would be .308.

I think the only one that was different was the Savage model 1895 which was .310, if I remember right.

I took a 99 RS with me deer hunting this year but it stayed in camp as my back up. Had a Redfield receiver sight on it and went through about a box of 303 Winchester 190 gr to sight it in, had alot of fun, very little recoil in a 303 Sav.

I've heard bad things about the Jamison brass though, especially about not reloading it after you shoot it. Alot of cracking cases happening.

[Eric in NC]

Jameson brass is bad. Better to get reformed brass from Buffalo Arms. Everyone says .308 but my SN 129,073 takedown slugs at .3105 so I use 174 Grain round nose for 303 Brit. Any sane 170 grain 30-30 Win load will work fine in the 303 Savage with 165-174 grain bullets of the correct diameter for your barrel.

Maybe mine is an example of bad QC but bore diameters DID vary a lot back then - have Winchester 94s in 38-55 that measure from .375 to .380 and my Savage 99 in 38-55 measures the "correct" .377.

Best bet is to get a piece of 00 Buckshot and slug the bore.

[The Old Coach]

Who says Jamison brass is bad? Them's fightin' words in my neighborhood. Bertram, yes. Rocky Mountain certainly, (machining brass from solid is not the right way to make it!) Jamison in my book is superior stuff, on par with or better than any modern maker except maybe Norma.

My 1900 Model 99 in .303 Savg has a .312 groove, for what it's worth. And it's not worn out. Slug yours and be sure. Use .30-30 data - the .303 Savage case is slightly (1 grain water) larger capacity, so that'll be safe.

Phil

[jonbearman]

You have made my day as I bought about 200-300 jamison cases to finally fire it more than once. My inbox is empty now so if you try to pm me loading imfo I should get it.

[jonbearman]

Just wanted to thank old coach for all the imfo he sent me about reloading for this caliber and thanks to those of you that responded.

[303 Savage Man]

I am buying a 99, either a B or F model, not sure which one yet, and it is in caliber .303 Savage. I've located brass from two different sources in the US to use in making cartridges with, and thank God it takes any .30 WCF bullet, and most .308 bullets regardless of weight. For loading data, I will use the loads in the sheet accompanying the Lee 2 die set for .303 Savage, and start with 150 grain FMJ's, as I have a thousand of them. It's a start.