Savage 99 bullet weight question...

[Clipper]

...My wife has one in .300sav, with the lever-mounted safety and the round counting magazine, with 24" barrel (for now) & a Bushnell sportview 3-9X32 scope. I think it's a bit much scope for this rifle, but what the heck, she can always dial down, and it was on the gun when she bought it. I have no idea what the twist rate is, and whether it's optimized for 150 or 180 grain bullets. We have both, but I thought I'd ask if anyone likes one better than the other. The rounds we have are Remington core-lockt factory stuff. I don't reload and I know the Core-lockt bullets will perform, so I don't need or want to go out and search for something else right now. We'll probably zero it in sometime in the next few days.

Thanks.

 

[Bartkowski]

Why don't you use some tight fitting patches to find the twist rate and/or see what it likes best? Anyway let us know how it shoots.

 

[phantomak47]

As a 99 owner in .300 savage, the 150 core lokt has worked very well for me on whitetail and I wouldn't change a thing, unless your hunting large hogs or elk I would go with 180 grains. If possible I would look into handloading 165 grains, those look promising from what I have read.


I would rather have a 3 x9 than my 2x7 to be honest with you.

Please dont sell that rifle, they are getting pricer by the day and you kick yourself later.

 

[Clipper]

She'd never sell it, but I think we'll knock the last 4" off the barrel, since it is way out of balance with the 12" LOP stock. The stock fits her very well, but the gun is too muzzle-heavy for her.

 

[pete f]

Don't eff up the gun by cutting the barrel, try adding some lead in the bolt hole under the recoil pad. a pound of lead back there will bring it into balance.

I use the old round nose corelokt 180's in my 300's because they will penetrate thru a deer and out from any angle, and that makes finding them very easy.


If those recoil more than she likes, try the federal 150 grain loads, they seem a bit milder than the rest.

I think on a savage the best scope is one like a 1-4x by leupold, big field of view, light and easy to carry,

 

[phantomak47]

not to hijack, pete or anyone, have you had any trouble using 180 grain Federal in your 99? Mine was made around 1950's and wont feed Federal 180 grains, they "jump" out of the feeding ramp and do not load. Anyone? Remington 180s do not do that .

 

[Sunray]

"...knock the last 4" off the barrel..." Savage 99's are commanding some serious money these days from collectors. Cut the barrel off and you'll drop its value in half with minimal change in the balance. Putting some lead in the butt will work. Use shot or sand in a plastic tube.
The rifling twist is 1 in 12. Use 165 grain bullets. Although 150's will have less felt recoil.

 

[dakotasin]

my savage 99 in 300 savage of 1920's manufacture likes 165's.

although i'm not much of a collector, i would unload the gun long before i cut the barrel down.

 

[Gordon]

Every Savage 99 in .300 I've seen does best by far with 150 spitzers and 180 grain Round noses. I think the short case was optimized for these loads, according to my ancient research.

 

[Clipper]

Add Lead!? The gun is heavy enough as it is! The 24" barrel is excessively long by rifle standards already, the 99 was available with a 20" barrel from the factory, the .300 is a short barrel round anyway, and since she will keep it till she dies, and resale value isn't an issue.

 

[DeerHuntr]

250-3000 ?????

What a coincidence I was just going to post a similar question. I am trying to reload 100gr Ballistic Tips for the 250/3000 for hunting, I took it to the range today and the groups are horrible and the holes it is leaving in the paper are not round, seems as though the bullets are hitting at an angle, could it be that the twist isn't stabilizing the 100gr's?????? Dad said they always loaded 87's and they shot fine but these 100's aren't doin the trick, any ideas appreciated

 

[Joe Demko]

It's your gun, cut the barrel if you want. If it were my gun, I'd leave it as it is and buy a new gun with a shorter barrel and lighter weight. There're enough new guns out there that would fill her needs at a moderate price that I'd not see the need to eff up a piece that is gaining in cash value and collector esteem every day.

 

[Oohrah]

Deerhuntr...Yep, if your bullets are keyholeing, they are not stabilizing !
Have a lightwt. one (carbine lgth. barrel) with a brass shell counter, in
.308 cal. Super accurate with most anything in the 150 gr, bullet.