[Rockrivr1]

My father has an old 300 Savage that he's had for years. As a kid I knew hunting season was close when Dad used to take it out of the closet and clean it up.

My Dad is pretty old now and hasn't hunted in years, so I took him to the range and he broke out that old 300 Savage. He had some rounds left for it and we shot them off pretty fast. Damn accurate rifle.

Since we shot off all his ammo I figured for Christmas I'd buy him some more so I started looking around some. I found out pretty quick that it's damn hard to find. When I did finally locate a store that had some I was shocked to see that 20 rounds was almost $40.

I guess there isn't much demand for this round or something. Is it being phased out? Just wondering.

[rbernie]

There are still enough Savage 99's out there in 300 Savage that I'd wager that it'll be factory loaded in some form or another for quite some time yet. The real issue is how much can your local shop afford to stock? The answer to that is 'not much'.

http://www.midwayusa.com
http://www.natchesss.com

These sorts of places are good sources for ammo like the 300 Savage. Of course, you could always handload for it; that'd keep you going for a lifetime of shooting. :D

[Maylene]

Is 300 savage a model or caliber

Because there are .300 Win Mag caliber savage rifles at walmart

[BigG]

300 Savage is a caliber. It's a shortened 30/06 that provides nearly as much power but is usable in short lever action rifles. I think it is the intermediate cartridge that the army fiddled with and came up with the 7.62 NATO/.308 Winchester.

[Vern Humphrey]

My advice would be to get something like a Lee Hand Press kit with .300 Savage dies (which will cost about $50, which is cheap compared to the cost of a single box of ammo), and buy or save your brass. The bullets, primers and powder will always be available (since they're used in many other cartridtges), but over time the brass will become hard to find.

[atblis]

is pretty much gone!

[MrTuffPaws]

Yeah, I have a 99 in 300 savage. Last time I shot it, it cost just over a buck a round. That alone is going to stop a lot of people.

[Vern Humphrey]

Yeah, I have a 99 in 300 savage. Last time I shot it, it cost just over a buck a round. That alone is going to stop a lot of people.

That's why I say get a Lee handpress kit and a supply of brass.

I suspect it wouldn't be much of a chore to form .300 Savage brass from .308 brass -- but it would take a bit stouter press than the hand press.

[phantomak47]

You guys are wayyyyyy off on this one.


I have a savage 99 in 300 savage and I can go to the local Academy or Gander mountain and buy Rem or Win. ammo for Under $18.00 a box, I think I payed something like $15.

Rem., Win, and Federal all make new ammo in 150 grain and 180 for the savage 300.

Also last year Remington made a brand new rem. 700 in Savage 300.

Cabelas should have it in stock.

For the guy in Ma, I grew up and used to live on the cape and I know how it sucks to get anything gun related there. I dont know if you can get ammo shipped to Ma, but you might want to try out of state, Kittery trading post.

[Rockrivr1]

It's impossible to get ammo shipped to Mass now a days so you basically have to deal with what's in stock at the local gun stores. The cheapest I found was $38 for 20 rounds. Without pointing out any gun store in particular, but there's one place in the Worcester area that was looking to get $45 for 20 rounds.

If I had the time I would try Kittery, but it's close to a two hour drive from me and around Christmas that place is a zoo. I just bought the 20 rounds for $38.

You know it's funny because I easily wasted the equivalent of two boxes of 300 Savage in gas with all the looking around. Ahhh the intangables. :(

[Smoke]

Is the 300 Savage on the way out?

Not at my house. Still find plenty of ammo around here in the $15.00 range.
I'll sell my entire stock to you guys for $25.00/box :evil:

Smoke

[Onmilo]

If you are lucky enough to own a .300 savage I would recommend keeping at least 100 rounds of Factory ammunition on hand along with some reloading dies and components.

The ammo is still loaded but as stated, most shops don't keep a whole lot of it on hand and the wholesale price seems to go up every time we need to reorder.

One day, .300 Savage will go the way of .30 Remington.
Best to be prepared for the inevitable now.

[phantomak47]

I really hated Ma when it came to Gun stuff....Thank God I live in Texas!!!

[CA2005]

Weird. I'm from Michigan originally, and the .300 Sav still has a strong following there. You can even find it Walmart up there...$14-15 a box.

[lawson]

my dad collects savage 99's, so i asked him about this. he says it's pretty tough finding ammo for any of them around here. he has four savage rifles, one in each caliber available.

.303 savage - damn near impossible
.300 savage - available, moderately expensive, usually has to be special ordered (he still hunts with his .300 occasionally)
.250 savage - hard to find, usually buys whatever he finds and stockpiles it.
.22 high power - available

[Rpriestlyjr]

I have a .300 Sav in my Remington 760 and just love it for deer and bear. Ammo is getting pretty expensive, so I'm going to get a set of dies and try reloading them. Just need alot of brass.
From what I've learned about it, It was in contention against the .308 for the M-60 and M-14, but the case shoulder is so flat that the chamber becomes easily fouled and compromises the headspace and timing, therefore the .308 was chosen. Both have comparable ballistic performances, but nowadays there is so much more offered for the .308 that it seems to have pushed the .300 into almost obscurity.
I also understand in reloading the .300, you have to watch how much lube you use and really clean the dies because the case shoulders are easily dented.

[Rpriestlyjr]

BTW,
Rockrvr, have you tried Stateline Gunshop in Mason, NH?
Just head through Fitchburg to Rt. 31, cross the line and look to the left.
About $20 per box, if I remember correctly.
And I wouldn't even think of wasting my time at Kittery.

[Rockrivr1]

Hi Rpriestlyjr. I've bought ammo at the NH gun shows but I've never gone into regular gun store in NH looking to buy anything. I guess it's the MA brain washing making me think you need to be a resident or have a license to buy ammo. I have an out of state LTC for NH. Do you need to show any other type of ID when purchasing ammo in NH?

[Rpriestlyjr]

Just walk on in and buy it. They might check your license from MA or NH, I forget but I think I was checked once. I go there often enough I don't get carded ( like buying beer ).
You can buy long guns from the shop and bring them home, but handguns have to be sent FFL to FFL, and must be MA compliant. Same with hi-cap magazines and various other gun parts.

[MCgunner]

I've still got pacific dies for .300 savage that belonged to an uncle. When the government was designing the .308 (aka 7.62x51 NATO), they initially looked at the .300 savage case, but decided they needed a little more case capacity to get a 150 grain bullet up to their target velocity to match the .30-06 ball round. The .250-3000 or .250 savage case is a necked down .300 and the .22-250 is a necked down .250 savage.

The latest M99s I saw being produced a few years ago included .308 winchester, so the .300 was a little obsolete, but I believe savage made a run of the guns in .300, not for sure, but I think I read that. Anyway, handloading is the ONLY way. I have a friend that shoots .300 savage in a M99. I've fired it and it's quite an accurate rifle. I always thought they were a little stupid looking. The looks of the gun just never did much for me, but I can't knock the design and function. :D

[goon]

300 Savage lives. It is still popular enough locally that I can go into two local gun stores and buy 8 or so boxes right now if I should feel the need to.
It is about $20 a box, give or take.
It would make sense to reload for it.
Handloads work out to about $12 for 100 bullets, $3 for 100 primers, and $18 for a pound of powder (about 150 rounds worth).
For the price of about two boxes of factory ammo you can shoot 100 rounds.
If you are worried about it, go to Midway and buy a couple hundred casings and you won't have to worry for a long time.

[Vern Humphrey]

300 Savage lives. It is still popular enough locally that I can go into two local gun stores and buy 8 or so boxes right now if I should feel the need to.
It is about $20 a box, give or take.
It would make sense to reload for it.
Handloads work out to about $12 for 100 bullets, $3 for 100 primers, and $18 for a pound of powder (about 150 rounds worth).
For the price of about two boxes of factory ammo you can shoot 100 rounds.
If you are worried about it, go to Midway and buy a couple hundred casings and you won't have to worry for a long time.

You can make a lot of sausage with a couple of hundred casings -- if you have the ground meat to put in them.:p

[goon]

Yep. The 400+ I have for my Mosin Nagant should last me quite some time.

[db_tanker]

I have formed 300 savage brass from 308. Its not that big a deal, really...just labor intensive...

Set of standard RCBS FL 300 Savage dies, take out the expander plug. Run the 308 brass (I use Federal due to it being a touch "softer"...don't use milspec brass...might aneal as well...I didn't have to) with Imperial sizing wax on it...after your done with that, trim to SAAMI length (1.875), debur the neck.

Do this with however many you plan to make. Then when your done (be sure to leave that Imperial on the brass) put the expander plug back into the die and redo all the brass again...check the length (shouldn't have grown too much...I only had about 3 thou max length increase) and load as you normally would.

YMMV
D

[georgeduz]

gun stores here will not stock that ammo but they will order it for u.it cost alot to stock,they buy right from the wholesalers,u should get what u want just have to wait for it

[pete f]

anyone who says they are dead is living a dream.

while not exactly prospering, they are in my mind the pentultimate deer cartridge, not so fast as to blood shot the meat, fast and accurate enough to kill to 300 yards.

I just bought 500 nickel cases for my supply.

The Savage Co. built something like 750,000 model 99's and remington, winchester and others all chambered rifled for it. I have two model 81 takedown autoloaders and a model 70 winchester pre 64 as well as a locker full of model 99's. If you have to pay 40 dollars a box for ammo you need to overthrow your state government. seriously, I just was shopping on friday and there were three brands and maybe 7 choices of loads for 300 Savages in the local Gander. Federal had some 165 trophy bonded loads that were exceptional a few years ago, (last time i bought them). If you think the cartridge is dead and want out, I will help you get out of the rifle.

[Vern Humphrey]

I have formed 300 savage brass from 308. Its not that big a deal, really...just labor intensive...

Set of standard RCBS FL 300 Savage dies, take out the expander plug. Run the 308 brass (I use Federal due to it being a touch "softer"...don't use milspec brass...might aneal as well...I didn't have to) with Imperial sizing wax on it...after your done with that, trim to SAAMI length (1.875), debur the neck.

Do this with however many you plan to make. Then when your done (be sure to leave that Imperial on the brass) put the expander plug back into the die and redo all the brass again...check the length (shouldn't have grown too much...I only had about 3 thou max length increase) and load as you normally would.

YMMV
D

That's the beauty of the .300 Savage -- for a handloader, there will always be brass -- until the .308 is unavailable, which won't be in our lifetimes.

[106rr]

In CA, the most common ammo on the shelf is Remington 150 gr Corelokt. It is a little harder to find 180 gr of any make. Federal has a 180 gr Spitzer while Remington still loads the justly famous 180 gr Roundnose Corelokt. The latter is the most accurate in my old Rem 722.

[LAK]

The .300 Savage is a very well-balanced medium caliber rifle cartridge. While it may have gone out of fashion, it is still potentially as effective as ever.

Unless you want to learn and start handloading, I would keep a sharp eye open for any and all .300 savage ammo for sale. Buy it when and as you can afford.

Store ammo in a cool, dry, place and it should be good to shoot for a very very long time.
------------------------------------------------

http://ussliberty.org
http://ssunitedstates.org

[sisu]

Hi, I am not a gun expert I will tell you this I have shot a lot of deer in my life.
RE: Savage 300. I have hunted with my Savage 99 lever action a lot of years, I think I bought it in the late 1960"s. I like the balance and weight of the gun and with a scope on it, it still balances very well. In the area I hunt, it is pretty thick cover, it is mostly short range shots so I can't tell you about shooting deer more than 100 yards, thinking back I only shot one deer at the 100 yd. distance most of my deer kills were at 50 yds and less - maybe between 30-50yds. The caliber is excellent. I use to shoot 180 grain round soft points but lately I can get only get 150 .. no big deal. The lever action loves round bullets - never a problem to load. I don't buy spear point. I would tell you this in my area getting bullets is a pain. The selection in Remmington is getting harder all the time. I pay an average of $35.00 a box. I go to the range twice in the fall for "tune up" with all the deer guns and shoot a total of a box or the most 1.5 boxes for the 99. For those guys that shoot their deer rifles a lot at the range, the cost of bullets piles up you should think about loading your own. I use other guns to practice with. Perhaps some would take issue with so little practice with the 99, for me its not a problem. When deer hunting, realistically, how many rounds do you shoot - very few and in Some years only one shot. So I figure for $35.00 per season to tune up is small. I will buy loading equipment if the availability and bullet choice becomes diffilcult. I will not give up hunting with the Savage 99. There are nicer guns, better guns, no doubt, all I can tell you when you shoot with this rifle it becomes one with you. I have nothing against other guns, I've shot them, the Savage is my favorite and favorite of a lot of hunters - just ask around - go on the internet and you will hear the same comments. I encourage you guys that are devout bolt or semi auto loaders if you are thinking of a second gun look at the Savage 99 they are a great deer gun to handle and shoot, they are available at a moderate price, and what's wrong with that? Good luck hunting.

[Vern Humphrey]

There is no question the 99 Savage is a great rifle -- but it's not being manufactured any more.

There is no question the .300 Savage is a great deer cartridge. But no new rifles chambered for that cartridge are being manufactured any more.

[mio]

the beer store here has it for abput $28 a box. sadly thats also the price of .30-.30 and pretty much any other centerfire.

[Hangingrock]

The 300 Savage is simply in its twilight. There is no reason to chamber a rifle in 300 Savage. The 308 Winchester negates the 300 Savage rational.

[DanTheFarmer]

Savage is currently listing the 300 Savage in their Series 14 and 16 bolt guns. I checked www.ableammo.com and they've got both in stock now.
So at least one major manufacturer is building new rifles in this caliber and they are available.

By the way Savage is also chambering these rifles for 250-3000 Savage, another cartridge rarely chambered these days.

Dan

[Vern Humphrey]

If I had a 99 Savage in .300 Savage (WARNING: I will have one, if you ever put yours down and turn you head for a moment) I would buy 500 pieces of new brass and husband it very carefully.

[browningguy]

Well guys, I shoot a Remington model 81 in .300 Savage and think it's a fine cartridge, but I still think it's a dead end. Yes I handload and so can shoot the gun forever, but only a small minority of shooters actually handload. And while I am sure there are areas where you can walk into the local gunstore and buy all the ammo you want off the shelf, that's not most places.

I am surprised that Savage is stocking new rifles in .300 Savage, but what are they going to do after all 12 people that want a new one buy one of them? :)

[788Ham]

In my part of the country, the .300 Savage IS NOT DEAD ! I've got the .300 my Pop had when he first got it, early '46, haven't any idea how many deer, elk or antelope he shot with it, a bunch! I've also got the 250-3000 his friend had before he passed, this one is almost brand new, its been shot, but damned well taken care of, what a shooter. I reload for both of them, use only spitzer bullets in both. As far as ammo for the .300 Sav., its usually seasonal from Midway and CTD, although Sportsman's Warehouse sometimes has it, $14-15/box. This gun has lost some life because of the .308 round, but like the Sav. 303, people still use it to hunt with. The Savage 99 might not be as popular as the Win. 94, but its a Helluva lot stronger action! Those who have them, hang onto them, they're a keepsake now!!;)

[Captcurt]

I have several old gun books from the 70's proclaiming the doom of several old classics. 257 Roberts , 300 savage, 45-70, just to name a few. Just when you think they are nearly gone forever some dufus chambers another run and away we go again. Some of it is nostalgia, some is simply because they work. Ammo may get hard to find, especially in Podunk USA, but you can get dies and brass. Some calibers of brass are only made once a year and can be hard to find, but if you hunt long enough it can be had.

So back to the OP's question. I doubt if you will see the death of the Savage round. It is just too darned good.

[JDMorris]

on cheaper than dirt dot com you can get BVAC ammo for it. 24.somthing a box.

[wally]

I wonder, will our children be having threads like this about 6.8SPC or .30AR or any of the other numerous AR non-standard offerings?

In some respects I least hope so as it would mean they could still buy guns and ammo.

[JDMorris]

good point. of course, i am a child age 14 in 6 days.. but its truely scary. i want my .308 and 9mm nd .223 to stay. for i love those cartriges. and have weapons in them if you count what my dad claims as his. the .308 is mine though.

[FROGO207]

I have two Savage 99's and of all things a bubba'd Arisaka all in 300 Savage. All are deadly accurate and fine operators. Oh yea I reload for them also. You can still buy ammo here for $18-$20 a box most places, same price as 30-30 is. I am just too cheap to buy it. I like loading with Trail Boss and 115 grain lead bullets for plinking loads that shoot like a .22.:D Last box of them that I bought had a price of $6.75.:cool: