.303 Savage

[Forester]

A friend of mine was lamenting to me today about how expensive .303 Savage ammo was, if you could find it. He has his Grandfather's Model 1899 and would like to be able to shoot it. Of course, I mentioned the possibility of me loading rounds for it if he bought the dies and components. Then I started doing some research. Apparently, factory brass for this old round may be harder to find than hens teeth. I was told that 30-30 brass can be reformed to make .303 savage but when I looked on the internet there was references made to using 220 swift brass for this purpose.

So I put it to the board. Is there anyone here loading for this old "obsolete" cartridge? If so, what are you using for components.

On another note, can anyone tell me the difference between the Savage Models 1899 and 99? I thought that the 99 was just an abbreviation of the 1899 nomenclature but apparently that is not so. In looking at pictures of the two models, they look identical to me.

 

[thadheth]

Yes, 303 Savage ammunition and cases are difficult to find ($40-60 a box - and higher for the collectibles - seems to be the going rate at Auction Arms and GunBroker). Sorry, I cannot offer any information about reforming other brass. As for the "1899 vs. 99" question, Douglas Murray's book "The Ninety-Nine: A History of the Savage Model 99 Rifle" (3rd Edition) includes a chronological model index, showing that the 1899 models were produced until 1921; the 99 models begin in 1920, so there's a bit of overlap.

 

[Jim Watson]

Buffalo Arms has .303 Savage brass from Norma at $1.51 a pop and reformed from .30-40 Krag at $1.31.
Privi Partizan makes it but Graf's shows it as out of stock.
Midway has the Norma, too:
Norma Brass 303 Savage - MidwayUSA

I have read of using .30-30 brass and just letting it bulge, maybe with a wrap of Scotch tape to center it in the chamber and keep the fireform bulge concentric. Light loads only.

Nonte says .30-40 Krag but it takes lathe turning the rim diameter down and swaging the head diameter down.

Donnelly says .220 Swift by annealing, neck expanding, sizing, trimming, fireforming. Discussion at:
303 Savage Brass Mfg. Will tell how

 

[an1966]

Midway just got a shipment of norma 303 sav brass. I got some and just finished working a load up and am very happy with it.

IMR 4895 @ 29 gr
Hornady .308 rnd nose 180 gr
large rifle primer
overall length set at 2.515

I loaded 3 difft powder wts to test this being the best group, 3 shots at 50 yrds and I can cover them w a quarter. Out of a mdel 1899 built in 1902 26'' barrel

 

[2152hq]

I know the head size of the 303 Savage is an odd one, but from the previous postings here indicating that 30-40 Krag will work with a bit of head swaging,,then 303 British should also work with the same swaging and trimming.

I use both the 30-40 and the 303B to make 6.5x53R Mannlicher. They need a bit of head swaging, trimming and of course neck sizing. Sounds like the the two rounds aren't that far apart aside from the caliber.

With Norma brass available in 303 Savage at the present time,,seems like a good time to stock up though and save yourself alot of work.

I should check into it too and see if it's an easy way to get to the Mannlicher case w/o all the work.

 

[gregintenn]

The 1899 is to the 99 what the 1894 Winchester is to the 94 Winchester.

 

[Forester]

I'm not going to mess around with reforming other cases. I have about 80 once fired cases coming from a friend on another board. I may pick up some more from Graff's while I am at it.

Thanks for all your help on this thread. Keep it coming if someone has something else to add.

 

[Texasflyboy]

I recently loaded several hundred rounds of .303 Savage for a friend with Model 99.

I about tore out what little hair I have left trying to find a suitable bullet that would fit within the COAL, but happily discovered that the Squibb Bullet, of which I have several moulds for (The Hensley & Gibbs Deign #20) was perfect for .303 Savage.

The Hensley & Gibbs #20 is a 165-170 grain gas check Pointed cast bullet that drops from my moulds about .311". I size to .311" and used Horndady gas checks with a cast bullet load of 2400 powder.

He happily reports that the loads are working perfectly and the groups are respectable enough to plink and target shoot for fun.

The mould and bullet:

 

[tbury]

Savage Collectors - 24hourcampfire

The guys on this board can tell you anything you need to know about the savage 99 and .303 savage. They even let each other know when and where .303 brass is available.

 

[Big Cholla]

Forester: I have some loaded .303 Savage and some brass. I don't remember just how much of each. I also have a set of reloading dies. I will report back tomorrow on how much of each I have. PM me if you are interested. ........ Big Cholla

 

[DWalt]

Two good ways to make up .303 Savage brass:

1. First, get a set of .303 S dies from Lee. Resize and trim 30-30 brass. Cut a 4" long strip of masking tape about 1/4" wide and wrap around the base just ahead of the rim. This centralizes the smaller .30-30 base in the larger chamber. Load with bullet and fire form. Remove the tape. I've made and fired hundreds of these with no incidents. Just don't exceed .30-30 level reloads, and start with good .30-30 brass, not old and corroded stuff.

2. You can also use .220 Swift brass and no tape is needed. You just have the hassle of expanding the neck to .30" in several stages (or use a tapered expander plug), and neck annealing. I have made up some cases this way, and they work fine in my M1899. I have read that some shooters have reported problems with extraction due to the smaller diameter rim of the .220, but I have personally had no problems. I understand that Remington .220 brass works better than Winchester, and that's what I used.

.303 Savage in the 1899 is a great combination. You can use pointed bullets, not the case with the .30-30 in the 1894 Winchester. You must not exceed the maximum cartridge overall length, or they will not fit in the Savage magazine. For plinking, I load with 110 grain .30 Carbine jacketed bullets, of which I have many, but have also loaded with jacketed bullets up to 180 grains. The original factory loads used a 190 grain bullet. That is probably why the .303 Savage had a great reputation for deep penetration and effectiveness.

 

[Forester]

Thanks guys. I have some brass now and a set of dies. Time to get to work.

 

[BUCKAWHO]

303 Savage

Hi....I use the same bullets to load 303 Sav. as I do to load 30-30 Win. ammo.....150 gr. RNFPs from Winchester. Saves stocking another type of bullet. 170 gr. RNFPs would work also. BT

 

[BUCKAWHO]

Hi....I just load the same Winchester 150 gr. RNFP bullets that I use for 30-30s. BT

 

[ttstudio]

303 savage brass

Good news is that new brass is again in stock at grafs.

Graf & Sons - The Reloading Authority - Your Source for Shooting Supplies

I just bought several hundred rounds at about $48 per hundred. looks very good, brand new not reformed with correct headstamp. Usually the supply is limited and takes a long time from sellout to restock so get it soon.

 

[David LaPell]

I always remember Graf & Son's having .303 Savage brass. I had a Savage 1899 in that caliber about 10 years ago that I sold because it was too hard to get ammo for. Makes me wish I still had it though.

 

[JCN]

I bought some new (not vintage) ammo from a guy named "Sailor" in Owen, WI about ten years ago. 190 grain with correct headstamp. About $25.00 for 20 rounds. Excellent stuff, kilt a deer,too.