A buddy just got a beautiful Model 99 built in 1950 and wants to work up some jacketed and cast bullets to shoot in it. the jacketed shouldn't be too difficult but I have no experience with cast bullets in a 300 Savage. Does anybody with experience have any advice??
Mike Buchanan

A buddy just got a beautiful Model 99 built in 1950 and wants to work up some jacketed and cast bullets to shoot in it. the jacketed shouldn't be too difficult but I have no experience with cast bullets in a 300 Savage. Does anybody with experience have any advice??
Mike Buchanan


Haven't shoot .300savage in a 99...have shot it in a Rem. bolt gun. Some people don't care for the short neck, but if you stick to the longer nosed 150gr. designs, can get a good load that doesn't have the bullet base sticking down past the case neck.

Other people seem to have no trouble with bullet bases down past the case neck; have found some loads that work fine seated likt that but it's usually a bit more work to find the right combination.

OF the two, to start out, would settle on a lighter weight cast bullet...once you get that working right, if you've the urge for heavier weights, just be patient in working up a load.

Haven't shoot .300savage in a 99...have shot it in a Rem. bolt gun. Some people don't care for the short neck, but if you stick to the longer nosed 150gr. designs, can get a good load that doesn't have the bullet base sticking down past the case neck.

Other people seem to have no trouble with bullet bases down past the case neck; have found some loads that work fine seated likt that but it's usually a bit more work to find the right combination.

OF the two, to start out, would settle on a lighter weight cast bullet...once you get that working right, if you've the urge for heavier weights, just be patient in working up a load.

Thanks I think I'll have him bring it over and we'll slug the barrel and then start with your suggestions.
Mike B.

Thanks I think I'll have him bring it over and we'll slug the barrel and then start with your suggestions.
Mike B.


Looking over this site...belive the Beartooth offerings would be good choices, and the 160gr. seems to have a nice proportion of weight forward, leaving a short enough base area to work well in that rifle.

A buddy just got a beautiful Model 99 built in 1950 and wants to work up some jacketed and cast bullets to shoot in it. the jacketed shouldn't be too difficult but I have no experience with cast bullets in a 300 Savage. Does anybody with experience have any advice??
Mike Buchanan
Mike
I have a '99R,and have good luck with the Lyman#311041 bullet with gas check. It weighs about 175 grains,and seated to an OL of 2.55or 56,will run through the magazine and the base will not protrude into the case "boilerroom".
Frank

Use only a bare minimum of lube during sizing or you'll end up with dimples on the shoulder of the case. Nosler 150gr BTFN jacketed performs very well. For cast, the 170gr Lyman FN cast at .309"-.310" (dictated by your bore size) also works very well.

About 4 months ago I traded a nice old Savage 99 that was a 300. It was made about 1927 and was a takedown model.
Anyway I shot it quite a bit with cast bullets. Although my loads are not hot by any means.

I got two molds specifically for this rifle ;

Lyman #311397 153grain spitzer GC
Lyman #311413 169 grain pointed GC

In both weights I went to the Lyman Cast Bullet Handbook and got medium loads using the SR powders.

This rifle shot well with both weight bullets. The only thing you had to remember was to not take it apart , or your point of impact would shift a little. Had planned on killing a deer with it but never got around to it .

The lyman 311414 150gr GC was designed to fit the neck of the 300 Sav. I find it to be very accurate with 18-20gr 2400 in the 30-06