Savage 300

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fpgt72 said:
Off the top of my head the 300 was not offered in the 8 only the 81. Really with just a few changes they are the same.

But I doubt we will ever see the likes of the 8/81 or the savage 99 ever offered again.....they are just too expensive to make. To me the 99 is the best looking lever gun, but I know that view is not common.

I have an 8 in 30 remington, and an 81 in 300 savage. The 30 is much nicer to shoot....both guns have a little bit of meat to them but the 300 feels like it is really pushing the gun to its limits....to the point where it is just a tad un pleasant to shoot....I have not rolled my own 300 yet, but I do tend to down load in the older guns.....300 is out there, several boxes on Bass Pro's shelf.....After I get a supply of brass I will try some of my own.
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I have an 81 in 300. The word "brutal" is fitting to describe its recoil. I recently replaced the rock hard recoil pad with a new White Line so it may be better now, but none of my other .300's thump like that gun.
 
I'm no machinist, but it seems possible to program a CNC to make a Savage 99. There are more knowledgeable people on the topic than me, but it seems that anything can be made relatively easy these days.
As far as the Model 8/81 goes, i don't think it would survive the gun media given that any modern semi-auto would outperform it by miles and there would be no reason other than sentimentality to buy one.
 
Random 8 said:
The .300 is a fine round, but I can see no practical post-.308win reason to get a rifle chambered as such for hunting unless you already own an M99, M81 or other and want to use the same load in both. There is perhaps a tiny niche in IHMSA silhouette, where the reduced case capacity can work in the shooters favor, or in the case of rebarrelling an older weaker action such as Mauser 95 or MS1903 to prevent full power .308 from being used. I suppose a .300 Sav in a longer magazine with a fast twist, really heavy bullets and a suppressor could be interesting too.

Handloaded, the .308 can absolutely be loaded to ballistically equal the .300 Sav with no noticeable loss in accuracy or consistency (I do exactly this for my wife's .308 Savage M11) with near infinitely more loading options in terms of bullet profile, weight and length, load data and brass availability. The Savage cartridge is somewhat handicapped with "long" bullet profiles due to the short magazines, short neck and limited case capacity. It's at it's best with old fashioned (to some, not me) 150 to 165 flat based spitzers or the 180 round nose.

A build will be significantly more expensive than a new or used rifle in .308 with little or no gain in performance, but it's your money, so if you really want a .300Sav, have at it, the reamers are out there and anything that is/was ever offered in .308 will make an acceptable donor with no modification of bolt face or magazine required. I'm sure you can find a gunsmith that will do the work. For my money, I'd shop for a good Rem 722, a vintage Mauser or MS, or one of the Rem 700 classics chambered in this round, in fact I saw a matched pair of Rem 722s this weekend, one in .300, one in .250.
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I have a problem... an addiction to extinct, obsolete, and less than run-of-the-mill weapons. Right now, on my list of wants is an 8mm Lebel, 32 Special lever action, K-31 Swiss, 38-55 lever action, and a .300 Savage bolt action. All can be had, but the prices are creeping ever upward. I know the .308 is essentially the .300 Savage's big brother, but it's not the same; same thing with the 6.5 Creedmoor, 7mm-08, and others.
 
My friend has a Remington 760 pump in .300 Savage, been in his family for decades and killed many deer with it . hdbiker
 
Mr_Flintstone said:
I have a problem... an addiction to extinct, obsolete, and less than run-of-the-mill weapons. Right now, on my list of wants is an 8mm Lebel, 32 Special lever action, K-31 Swiss, 38-55 lever action, and a .300 Savage bolt action. All can be had, but the prices are creeping ever upward. I know the .308 is essentially the .300 Savage's big brother, but it's not the same; same thing with the 6.5 Creedmoor, 7mm-08, and others.
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Gotcha. I have the same problem. In my lineup of the uncommon, I have a 6.5x50 Jap Carbine, 6,5x55 Swedish M96, .280 Remington, .300 Sav M99, 3 K-31s, a Gew 1911, a Gew M96/11 (got the swiss ones when they were still affordable), several makes of Mosin 7.62x54R.

Since you want a classic rifle in .300 Savage, I think the best route short of finding a quality Rem 722 would be to find a short Mauser 98 action. K-98, M48, or the commercial FN/Husqvarna/Interarms in short. This will give you some safety margin with the pressures of the .300 Sav. You can also use an M93/95/96 mauser pattern but should limit these to "book" .300 Sav loads. The M1903 Mannlicher Schoenaur action would also be fun, but there are some gunsmithing issues with barreling and scopeing these. Any of the above would make a fantastic short to medium rifle in this round with a nice piece of walnut or curly maple. Parts and stocks are readily available, and the gunsmithing is straightforward with the exception of the M/S.
 
Enfielder said:
I'm no machinist, but it seems possible to program a CNC to make a Savage 99. There are more knowledgeable people on the topic than me, but it seems that anything can be made relatively easy these days.
As far as the Model 8/81 goes, i don't think it would survive the gun media given that any modern semi-auto would outperform it by miles and there would be no reason other than sentimentality to buy one.
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Really we are at a point where there is not going to be a self loading rifle that is going to do well that does not look like an AR. People have drank the koolaid and at the moment there is no looking back. If it is not black, plastic and tacticool looking it is not likely to sell very well.
 
And folks told Bill Ruger that a falling block single shot in the age of bolt actions wouldn't sell ;)

I do like plastic stocks for the durability, but would prefer them film dipped in a wood pattern (or left black).
If I had the coin I'd get a Merkel Helix Alpinist.

Being a lowly deer hunter, I'd like to see a trim semi auto in .35 rem or .300 savage.
Maybe just a 2 round mag and 1 in the chamber.

Like a Rem 742/7400 but done better/trimmer.
 
NIGHTLORD40K said:
Well, if its your thing, then look no further, there are still tons of M99 Savages to be found in .300. Indeed, you can often get them a little cheaper because the ammo is so hard to find now.

View attachment 837740
They are fantastic rifles. Ive got 3, though in the "Walmart" calibers, .308, .243., and .30-30.
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My grandfather had an old one of these chambered in .303 Savage. I wanted it, but my cousin wound up with it.
 
My Dad (1922-2004) hunted quite a lot with his 300 Savage levergun and he completed many successful hunts to Wyoming for elk before I was born. Dad always came home with a stack of meat! According to Dad, the 300 savage cartridge does its very best work on elk sized animals within about 225 yards or so. It is often compared favorably to .308 and 30-06 performance! Although 300 Savage has diminished in popularity, this hunting cartridge is still a good choice within the used marketplace.

TR
 
joseywales76 said:
If savage ever makes the m99 again I'd buy one or three
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Nothing wrong with a nice used 99... I've got one in .308. Bought it on a fluke... I was always curious about them, but really didn't expect to be wow'ed by it... but I was. The Marlin 336 is gone, and the 99 has a permanent place in the safe. I wish it was in a more classic Savage cartridge, not .308, but I'm tooled up for .308, and at the end of the day the bullet does the same thing once it gets to it's destination.

Actually, reading the responses here, I'm curious about all the hate and discontent with the .308 round. I shoot the .41MAG and .348WCF... just to be different... but there is nothing lackluster about the .308 as a cartridge.
 
Charlie98 said:
Nothing wrong with a nice used 99... I've got one in .308. Bought it on a fluke... I was always curious about them, but really didn't expect to be wow'ed by it... but I was. The Marlin 336 is gone, and the 99 has a permanent place in the safe. I wish it was in a more classic Savage cartridge, not .308, but I'm tooled up for .308, and at the end of the day the bullet does the same thing once it gets to it's destination.

Actually, reading the responses here, I'm curious about all the hate and discontent with the .308 round. I shoot the .41MAG and .348WCF... just to be different... but there is nothing lackluster about the .308 as a cartridge.
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If you reload your .308 to 300 savage levels, we’ll consider your application for membership in the secret club but there’s a waiting list. ;)
 
Well... I load my .308 Savage 99 to less than factory .300 Savage levels, with cast bullets. That should get me at least a Participation Award with Oak Leaf Cluster...
 
Charlie98 said:
...

Actually, reading the responses here, I'm curious about all the hate and discontent with the .308 round. I shoot the .41MAG and .348WCF... just to be different... but there is nothing lackluster about the .308 as a cartridge.
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I don't think anyone truly hates the .308. It's a part of American History. I think it has more to do with nostalgia, and an appreciation of older things from days gone by that have been, at one time or another, replaced by the new and shiny; not that .308 is that new or shiny any more.
 
Mr_Flintstone said:
I don't think anyone truly hates the .308. It's a part of American History. I think it has more to do with nostalgia, and an appreciation of older things from days gone by that have been, at one time or another, replaced by the new and shiny; not that .308 is that new or shiny any more.
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Or why change if it is not broke....not everyone is attracted by a shiny bobble.
 
Personally, I had a 308 before I got my 300 Savage collection.
I don’t want to admit that the 300 is falling out of favor these days and it’s easy to vilify the NATO round for causing the lack of popularity.
It was more than good enough for Grandpa from 1920 to 1952 and then that little hussy 308 came along. Now our little Savage is on the skids with the ammo manufacturers.
At least it’s not as bad a 35 Remington, though. Remember a few years ago when it was $65 or more for 20 rounds of .35 Rem?
 
Been reading on the inweb... Apparently you can make 300sav brass from 308win brass.


Last year for m99 was 1998.....
 
It is a 98% gun. I shoot it once a year or so. It throws the empties straight up and they come right back down, either dinging the blueing or going down your neck and burning you badly.
 
Since it's inception in 1920 its a killer of game. The 300 Savage caliber is a great killer of game. Not fair, not ok but great. 300 yds in it will dispatch everything from varmint through Elk. I think its a little light for Moose and Bison. It will kill Griz just fine. For the big bears its time to move up the caliber ladder.
It's a round best for the reloader. Wringing the most out of it for vel/eng
 
Enfielder said:
It was more than good enough for Grandpa from 1920 to 1952 and then that little hussy 308 came along. Now our little Savage is on the skids with the ammo manufacturers.
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See... I could say the same thing about Model 71 and the .348WCF... a beautiful rifle shooting a fantastic cartridge, until everyone became bug-eyed by them fancy new bolt-action rifles with them telescopic sights on them. What next... a rifle that loads them for you?!?!
 
The .300 is a fine round, but I can see no practical post-.308win reason to get a rifle chambered as such for hunting unless you already own an M99, M81 or other and want to use the same load in both. There is perhaps a tiny niche in IHMSA silhouette, where the reduced case capacity can work in the shooters favor, or in the case of rebarrelling an older weaker action such as Mauser 95 or MS1903 to prevent full power .308 from being used. I suppose a .300 Sav in a longer magazine with a fast twist, really heavy bullets and a suppressor could be interesting too.....a build will be significantly more expensive than a new or used rifle in .308 with little or no gain in performance, but it's your money, so if you really want a .300Sav, have at it, the reamers are out there.....
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The OP wants a .300, practicality is apparently not a concern. Sure he could build/buy a .308, but what’s the fun in that?


.
 
I don’t own one but I’m an unabashed admirer of the Savage Model 99. There may be rifles as cool looking but none cooler.
 
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