303 Sav Hunting Load

[Northern Canuck]

Just wondering if anyone reloads the old 303 Sav for hunting? I have a few loads I found but thought I would ask. Looking for 170 to 190 grain bullet weights to use on Whietails.

 

[madtrapper143]

Use .30-30 data for the 170 grain loads. Works well. As for the 190 are you shooting cast or jacketed?

Darryl

 

[Northern Canuck]

I was hoping to shoot jacketed. I have lots of different .308 bullets for my 30-06 and 300 RUM I could try,but I don't think they would perform very well at low velocity for hunting. I do have some reloading data from an old manual that is helpful. Sure wish I could find a few boxes of Barnes .308 190 Originals to try. I think they would be close to the factories.

 

[mbogo3]

Ken Waters Pet Loads............180gr RN/30.5gr IMR4320 The rest are for 150-165gr bullets

 

[Northern Canuck]

Thanks. I will have to look for bullets after all this madness ends.

 

[btridge]

slug your bore, 303 savage was built with 2 different bore diameters.... makes a difference on safe loads.

 

[mbogo3]

Win data 170gr/33.5gr-win 748 /2090fps/32,000 CUP...........................190gr/32gr-win 748/2000fps/34,000CUP<->[can sub a 180gr bullet]................Ideal Handbook....IMR3031-28-30grMAX/170grbullet.....180gr/29-32gr IMR3031

 

[madtrapper143]

Hawke makes a very nice 190 just for the .303 Savage. They are not cheap but are perfect for the old savage. There is a little outfit in Alberta that stocks them. Google is your friend. Check out the 24 hour campfire Savage collectors section for more .303 Savage info than you can digest in two years.

Darryl

 

[Northern Canuck]

Thanks good info. I will check that out.

 

[mbogo3]

With commonly available .308/180gr bullets why bother with the extra pain looking for 190gr?

 

[Big bore dinosaur]

Buddy was some barns 150gr I'm going to start doing load development next week..
I believe they will make a good close range bear hunting boolit

 

[madtrapper143]

With commonly available .308/180gr bullets why bother with the extra pain looking for 190gr?

Most .308 180 grain plus bullets are too heavily constructed to work well at .303 Savage velocities. Plus the 190 was the original load and some like the retro nature of it.

Darryl

 

[mbogo3]

They worked fine shot from a 30-30.

 

[Northern Canuck]

Found some Barnes Originals .308 (30-30) 190 grain FP bullets. Will have them next week to get working on a load.

 

[madtrapper143]

They worked fine shot from a 30-30.

Glad they worked for you.

Darryl

 

[Northern Canuck]

We slugged the barrel and it is .308. Actually just received 2 boxes of Barnes .308 190 (30-30) FP bullets and have a box of Hawk 190 grain on the way. Now to pick a powder.

 

[mbogo3]

Imr 4320

 

[Northern Canuck]

Thanks. I picked up a box of the 190 Hawks and 2 boxes of the 190 FP Barnes Originals. Just working up a load using Leverlution powder. I may have to go buy some 4320 to try it.

 

[The Outsider]

A couple of Ken Waters loads I found in an old Handloaders Digest...

Maximum loads for .303 Savage with a 190 grain bullet is 33.5 grains of 3031,
or 36.5 grains of 4320.

 

[lledwod]

Terry Weiland wrote an article last fall on new powders in the .303 savage. I enjoyed it. (Either in Rifle or Handloader magazine)

My go to load, for now, is 34gn IMR4064 behind horned 150 round nose, good for about 2100fps out of my 26" barrel. (Probably from Ken Waters) Shot my moose with that load two years ago.

Leverevolution was a real eye opener for me this spring! Weiland suggested max load in his rifle was 42gn behind 150gn bullet, I loaded 5 up with 41gn leverevolution behind those 150gn Hornadies, for 2510,2528,2524,2500,2514fps!

I would love to try the 190 Barnes but have not been able to find them (probably can't afford them either)

I guess my post is a little off track ... hope to hear how the 190's work out for you.