Do any of you very knowledgeable 99 guys have any advice or can relate your experience with this chambering? I reload and the rifles comes with dies, brass and projectiles. The rifle is a 303 savage.
Great round!! Savage's version of the.30-30. With brass and dies it's a no brainer!!
Original load was a 190 grain RN, mine really likes the 180 RN's, but also shoots 165's quite well. Since the velocities' are rather low, RN's are the best choice, IMHO!
The case itself is about .020" wider than a .30-30.
If the bore is in good shape it should be a good shooter!
First, reload with .308" bullets. While the name is 303 Savage, the bores on the rifles were always .308" - exactly the same bore and rifling as they used on their rifles for 30-30. Some ammunition mfr's used .311" bullets in early ammunition, but that was apparently to increase pressures and get more velocity with the very early smokeless powders. They all stopped doing that eventually and just used .308" bullets. No reason to use oversized bullets now with modern powders. The 303 Savage case capacity is a few percent larger than a 30-30, and most of us work up our loads using 30-30 starting loads as a base. As you work it up, watch for pressure signs and probably best to avoid hot loads. Tang cracks suck.
I've hunted with an 1899 in 303 Savage using 150gr Hornady RN bullets. Works great.
I don’t know poop about the 303 Savage cartridge, but I have to question the recommendations for round nose bullets. If the 303 Savage is comparable to the 30-30, then see below:
https://www.outdoorlife.com/story/gu...shoot-farther/
With open sites and a very old rifle I don’t think you will gain much from spitzer over RN or FN bullets. Use 30 30 data and shoot whatever bullet you choose and enjoy that old rifle. Mine was made in 1913 in the city of my birth, Utica, NY.
I would like to say Thank you to everyone who replied. You have shed valuable light on my impulse purchase. I really appreciate it.
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