Savage 99 in .300 Savage cast lead plinking load needed

[KW-HD Rider]

I have searched all over the web looking for info on creating a light plinking load for my 1952 Savage 99 in .300 Savage. I have developed a great hunting load using the .300 Savage Hornady 150 gr SST and Varget but really want a light load for plinking and fun shooting similar to a friends .38/357 lever gun. Fun to shoot, light recoil, and affordable components.

Since I do not cast bullets at this time I was looking at MBC's #2 Whitetail 135 gr lead noted to be for 30-30 rifles. Any thoughts on this bullet?

Anyone else have a bullet proven to work the the 99 in .300 Savage? Warnings, cautions, things I need to watch as I develop the load?

Thanks for any help.

 

[30Cal]

2400 works pretty well in most bottle necked calibers. Something around 14grs.

 

[Charlie98]

Many people use Unique for light cast loads... .45-70 is one of the biggest. I'll bet there is some data somewhere for a .30cal load. Otherwise, 30Cal mentioned 2400... that would be my 2nd choice.

 

[dgod]

I have some 30-06 (30 Cal) data that should work... 166gr Cast FN, w/16.0gr Trailboss, 1550fps. Also, 157 Gr Cast FN, 42.2gr IMR 3031, Win Large Primer, 2711fps. These 2 are kind of at the extreme on either side. Message being, Trailboss will usually result in a reduced recoil, as well as a reduced velocity load.

Usually, anything short of a Compressed Case will work with Trailboss

Good Luck.

 

[FROGO207]

*****The loads posted are not tested anywhere and may be dangerous if attempted in your rifle. The High Road is not responsible for this data or it's suitability for use anywhere. Use data with caution.*****

I have worked up a couple cast loads for my bolt action 300 SAV rifle.
130 grain cast RNFP--6.8 grains of 700X
130 grain cast RNFP--16 grains of 2400
Both shoot well and are fairly accurate The 2400 load will work with 110 grain LRN bullets made for the 30 Carbine in the 300 Savage as well but are not as accurate so I did not use them there.

******It is the reloaders responsibility to work up a safe load and not hold me or THR responsible if there are problems.*****

 

[KW-HD Rider]

Guys thanks for the replies. I have seen loads for unique and 2400, both of which I have on hand, with several bullet weights and may try to find some trail boss. I guess my question is moving more toward which commercially available cast lead bullet(s) would work in the '99 with the short neck of the .300 Savage for the lightweight, low recoil plinking load. I am still leaning toward the MBC 135 gr #2 which is made for 30-30. Frog mentioned 110 gr bullets recommended for .30 carbine but weren't accurate and wonder if that is because of the .300 savage case design.

 

[Charlie98]

I would guess the 110grn M1 bullets are not accurate because of barrel twist or short bearing surface of the smaller bullet. The 'Carbine bullet' load, over 2400, is a generic .30cal plinking load for a number of cartridges. It would be interesting to try a 110grn cast bullet, sized for the specific barrel, and see what kind of accuracy you would get, but I think you are on the right track with the ~130grn cast bullet.

 

[FROGO207]

The 110 grain LRN bullet shot about 6" at 50 YDS and would keyhole on occasion. Tried going up and down a good bit but never got it to shoot better. The 130 grain LRNFP is a brass mold that I found in a box of stuff it is unmarked and may well be homemade and drops at .309. It shoots a bit over 1 inch at 100 YDS after working up the load with 700X.

 

[KW-HD Rider]

Well I bit the bullet (pun intended) and ordered a 100 count sample pack of the .309 135 gr from MBC to start the plinking load workup for the 99. of course any more help is always appreciated. Hope to find something that shoots like a .38 or light .357 mag for light fun plinking.

 

[res45]

A couple loads I like to shoot. Most all my brass is made from once fire 308 Win. or 7.62 NATO it's an easy conversion and it gave me something to do one winter with all that free brass left lying around at the range, ended up with about 400 pieces. The 7.62 NATO brass having slightly less case capacity give me around 75 fps. added MV over the converted 308 brass, average MV is at the 1700 fps. range with 16.0 grs. of Alliant 2400.

A couple 5 shot groups with two different Lee bullets.




For a really light plinking load, I like the Lee.314" 32 cal. 90 gr. SWC sized to .311" and lightly coated with Alox/JPW lube once before and once after sizing or you can just PC them an size. I use a medium roll crimp in the top lube groove set out it out a few grooves so it closer to the throat. I use 3.5 gr. Alliant Bullseye for a subsonic load.

 

[Scooter22]

All good info. Only thing I;ll add about these reduced loads using small charges of fast powder.is be careful of double charges. Regular loads will usually overflow the case. A double charge reduced load usually fits and goes boom. Just visually double check the cases before seating the bullet.

 

[brewer12345]

I just cast a bunch of lee soup can bullets that came in around 118 grains. I will be trying for a similar type load for 30 06. My guesses for test loads will start.with 9 and 10 grains of unique and hp38. May also try a trail boss load.

 

[SamT1]

I’ve had great luck with .308 win cast loads using my 194 grain Lyman mold. I’m loading them as fast as I can without leading. About 2200.
I like working up a load from jacketed data of the same weight. Using one of the slower burning powders for the weight. I know it’s the opposite of what people normally do. My only issue is you must crimp it very well or the pressure won’t seal the brass to the chamber good and you get some gas in the face.
I’ve been able to work up MOA shooing loads that don’t kick and still have enough punch for hunting.

 

[Charlie98]

I debated loading cast in my 99, but I've got a .30-30 Marlin coming to me today that will get cast, so I probably will, eventually.

 

[Scooter22]

I debated loading cast in my 99, but I've got a .30-30 Marlin coming to me today that will get cast, so I probably will, eventually.

Why? You can use the same boolit in either. I have a Lee 150gr FP mold I've been using forever in my 30-30s, 30-06s and .308 up to 2000fps. I need to get a lighter one someday just to use less WWs.100-130gr.

 

[KW-HD Rider]

MBC shipped my 100 pack of 135 gr lead bullets today. I might get lucky and have them for the weekend. Found some data that confirmed that 9 gr of Unique would be a good place to start for a light plinking load in .300 Savage with the 135 MBC Lead bullet. As for Trail Boss I will pick some up this week and try that also as many seem to like it for case filling light loads. Some suggest filling the case up with Trail Boss but I am a little on the conservative (ok Cowardly) side to try that as the fear of a major Kaboom. dgod mentioned above 16 gr of Trail Boss with a 168 lead bullet so I gives me a neighborhood to start in. I appreciate all the help and advice.

 

[FROGO207]

If you go onto the IMR site they give you the directions to figure out the load for each caliber. Basically the max load is a case full to the bottom of the seated bullet. Never compress Trail Boss as that changes the burn rate. Go down 10% for starting load.

 

[KW-HD Rider]

Thanks Frog will check their site for info.

 

[Charlie98]

Why? You can use the same boolit in either. I have a Lee 150gr FP mold I've been using forever in my 30-30s, 30-06s and .308 up to 2000fps. I need to get a lighter one someday just to use less WWs.100-130gr.

What I meant was, I was on the fence with cast in the 99, but now I'll have the bullets, anyway, for the .30-30... so why not.

 

[KW-HD Rider]

The .pdf file Frog mentioned has a lot of info on using Trail Boss for light loads. some specific data for particular rounds and info on how to determine powder charges for calibers not listed. worth the download if you are interested in light rifle loads.

I picked up 2 9 ounce jars of Trail Boss yesterday. I guess it is so light and fluffy only 9 ounces fit in a 1 lb can. Now just waiting for the bullets from MBC.

 

[Scooter22]

The .pdf file Frog mentioned has a lot of info on using Trail Boss for light loads. some specific data for particular rounds and info on how to determine powder charges for calibers not listed. worth the download if you are interested in light rifle loads.

I picked up 2 9 ounce jars of Trail Boss yesterday. I guess it is so light and fluffy only 9 ounces fit in a 1 lb can. Now just waiting for the bullets from MBC.

They must have taken a que from cereal and potato chip manufactures.

 

[Jim Watson]

I once talked a clerk down on the price of 700X by pointing out that the regular old rectangular tin can only held half a pound instead of the pound of 3031, etc.

 

[KW-HD Rider]

The Missouri Bullet Co 135gr coated #2 White Tail bullets arrived today. Had some time to kill so I figured the max load of Trail Boss at 14.0 grains using the info in the .pdf downloaded and mentioned above. I ended up shooting at 13 grains of Trail Boss and my Lee perfect powder measure threw the powder at +/- .1 grain with most right at 13.0. Shot about 15 rounds total and 10 at 13 grains. 2 groups averaged around an inch at 35 yards off a table with no bags or rest just resting my elbows on the shooting table. One group slightly less than an inch and one about 1.5 inches. My chronograph showed 5 rounds from 1624 to 1664 fps which is right in the area I wanted to be, 4 of the 5 were within 20 fps so the 1624 could be a chrono error. recoil is minimal, similar to a friends Uberti 1873 Winchester shooting light 357 loads. Temp dropped and it started to sleet a little so I wrapped up but have more rounds made up to test further.

I consider the test a success. The .300 savage 99 shot these light loads accurately (at least to 35 yards) with very light recoil which is what the goal was. I forgot to mention they hit the target at 35 yards about 3 inches below my point of aim which is set for my preferred hunting load of a 150 gr Hornady .300 savage specific SST bullet over Varget which is very accurate in my rifle. i can live with the slight point of impact shift. I am not sure if moving toward max would raise the point of impact or not.

Thanks for all the help and I hope this may help someone else develop light, fun and family friendly plinking rounds in their hunting rifles.

 

[Elkins45]

If you’re looking for best accuracy, my experience is that you likely won’t find it with Trail Boss.

 

[KW-HD Rider]

Elkins45 do you have a favorite powder for this application? Always open to suggestions. I had also planned to try Unique as it also came up in my research for light plinking loads but ran out of time today.