.303 Savage
- Thread starter ColbyBruce
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AJ
US Veteran
With the stupid prices for some ammo these days, it does not surprise me. Our LGS usually has some, get a lot of collections/estates ammo in the shop. Will see what they are wanting for it, if they have it
DWalt
Member
.303 Savage cases are very easily formed from .30-30 brass. The .30-30 base diameter is a little smaller than the .303s, but in practice that is not a problem. I normally put two turns of masking tape, cut to about 1/4” wide, around the base for the first firing to act as a centralizer in the chamber. I do not know if reloading dies are readily available, mine are from Lee, but I bought the set about 15 years ago. Just run a .30-30 case through the FL sizing die. That is all there is to it, no trimming necessary.
The box pictured is from the late 1930s.
The box pictured is from the late 1930s.
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I formed 303 Savage from 30/30. I didn’t do anything special extra. I was loading pulled 30 cal FMJ bullets at moderate load with IMR-3031. They fire formed. Only did this for one rifle and old Sav 99. Second loading used 150gr FN with same charge of powder. Did 60rds and loaded twice. Still have some of ammo & brass. Never shot enough to know what brass life would be. I did anneal brass because I was getting corrugating at shoulder of neck.
OP
ColbyBruce
Member
The box was in VGC.
ggibson511960
Member
I passed on a couple of boxes of 300 Savage (not 303) at a local GS that were marked $63 each. I had second thoughts and returned to buy them for the brass, otherwise my 81 Remington might sit quiet. They were gone. I see pallets of 5.56 mm and 9 mm in one large local GS. I jokingly asked if they had any 300 H&H. They proudly showed me a box of 375 H&H at $6/round. The ammunition industry is collapsing down to a few calibers.
DWalt
Member
You can find .303S reloading data in some of the older reloading manuals. Or you can use starting loads for the .30-30. IMR 3031, or propellants in the same range, are probably the best for use with the .30-30, .30 Remington, and .303 Savage. I have an early Savage 99, the takedown version.
DWalt
Member
Very simple to form .300 Savage cases also. Use .308 or 7.62x51 GI brass. One pass through a .300 Savage FL die, then trim the neck to length. I use a tubing cutter. I have made hundreds of them. The .308 case is essentially the .300 Savage case with a longer neck and a slightly different shoulder angle.
While 30-30 can still be found < $30, 35 Rem, 303 Sav, 300 Sav, 45-70, 32 WS, and cartridges of that ilk are running between $3 to $4 per round. When I find NOS for a good price, I snag em. Glad I reload.
ArchAngelCD
Moderator, SWCA Member, Absent Comrade
The level of greed these days never ceases to amaze me. When a dealer gets an old box of ammo for a few dollars and asked $65 for the 20 rounds, it's just not right. I also don't want to hear they ave to charge that much because of the replacement cost. They aren't going to replace it, they only have it because it's very old stock they came across while cleaning the store room of they bought in a lot from an estate or auction.
Nice old box, quite collectible too. IIRC this is a 1930's/40's era box (would have to grab the Winchester book to be sure). Any hard to find caliber is bringing a premium nowadays. Shooters competing with collectors tends to run the prices up!
I remember that round, very well.
My father would take me with him when he went up into central California
to a deer club located up in the rolling hills near St Helena, that belonged
to an Italian family, that worked in the wine industry, there.
The old Italian hunters had very old semi-autos, that shot various 30 & 32 caliber hunting ammo
used for the small Black tail deer in the area.
Your 303 Savage was one of the rounds that was used as well as the 30 Remington.
With all the bushes and trees in the area, these loads were perfect, for the fast shooting
needed to score a hit or a fast follow up shot, before the deer could disappear in the cover.
While my father went hunting, I got to fish the Bass pond that they had,
behind the cabin, to see if a bass or panfish would grab my offering.
Life was good, back then.
My father would take me with him when he went up into central California
to a deer club located up in the rolling hills near St Helena, that belonged
to an Italian family, that worked in the wine industry, there.
The old Italian hunters had very old semi-autos, that shot various 30 & 32 caliber hunting ammo
used for the small Black tail deer in the area.
Your 303 Savage was one of the rounds that was used as well as the 30 Remington.
With all the bushes and trees in the area, these loads were perfect, for the fast shooting
needed to score a hit or a fast follow up shot, before the deer could disappear in the cover.
While my father went hunting, I got to fish the Bass pond that they had,
behind the cabin, to see if a bass or panfish would grab my offering.
Life was good, back then.
DWalt
Member
The .303 Savage had a reputation for deep penetration on larger game. It was probably because the factory load used a 190 grain bullet. I have handloaded the .303 Savage with 220 grain FMJ military bullets (taken from old .30-40 Krag military cartridges). Surprisingly, they grouped fairly well at 50 yards. I figured they might be too long to stabilize well.
Tex1001
Member
Prvi Partisan still makes .303 Sav brass.
Graf carries it. It is now in stock..
Lee makes good dies.
30-30 bullets work very well.
ETA:
The price has gone up slightly but its cheaper and waaayy
more dependable than stone age ammo.
Graf carries it. It is now in stock..
Lee makes good dies.
30-30 bullets work very well.
ETA:
The price has gone up slightly but its cheaper and waaayy
more dependable than stone age ammo.
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Alk8944
US Veteran
.303 Savage 190 grain bullets
While standard .30 caliber bullets work well in this cartridge Barnes makes a 190 grain flat point bullet that is specific to the .303 Savage if you want authenticity. I bought two boxes a few years ago, probably from Graf's. I did buy some Prvi Partisan .303 Savage brass from them, price was about the same as any other standard caliber rifle brass at the same time.
While standard .30 caliber bullets work well in this cartridge Barnes makes a 190 grain flat point bullet that is specific to the .303 Savage if you want authenticity. I bought two boxes a few years ago, probably from Graf's. I did buy some Prvi Partisan .303 Savage brass from them, price was about the same as any other standard caliber rifle brass at the same time.
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