303 Savage

kjohn

kjohn

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Okay boys, start rolling your eyes! I just bought a nifty old Savage 1899, circa 1914, in .303 Savage. I have a box of ammo, but am not planning to use that. Has anyone any ideas for cartridge conversion? Or know where I could find brass? I have "The Handloaders Manual of Cartridge Conversions" by John J. Donnelly. He lists 220 Swift brass. Anything else? 30-30 is close. Thanks in advance for any help.:p :p
 
Well now you didn't hear it from me :D
The experts say you can't use 30-30, but for years I have useing it for hunting!
My only rule is I only load it once & after it's fired throw it away. The web is about 3 thou smaller & may cause a problem after repeated reloads but for one fireing & hunting...well it works for me :)
 
Senior and oldbadger: I kind of suspected that 30-30 might work. I'll also try some 30-40 brass and do up some lead loads. I don't plan on entering the Olympics with the old thing, but I would like to take it whitetail hunting for a day or two. The last three years I've used a 1950's 32 Winchester Special, and though maybe I'd try something different. Around here, whitetail deer are pretty stupid and usually offer a nice broadside shot, easy to put one just behing the front leg, in the boiler room. I'll let the boys with their bazookas take the long shots!! :p :p Thanks for the tips. kjohn
 
.303

There was an article in a recent Handloader or Rifle magazine by John Barsness in which he described making .303 Savage brass from .30-40 Krag. He also included some load data and advised that it appeared to have the same case volume as a .30-30 and so he used the same bullets and loads in both.

Regards,

Outdoors
 
For all you would use in it keep looking at gun shows--I usually manage to find a box or two of shootable/reloadable stuff every year--$30-50 per box though. (I actually just use 40 rounds of brass for my .303 as I don't shoot it too much).

44Bore
 
Had a fair stock of new 30-30 brass on hand, so I'll load up 10 and try them. I ran the brass up in a 7.62x39 FL die to push the shoulder down a wee bit. Looks okay. Thanks for the tip!!:p :p
 
.303 Savage loads and cases

I have been able to get used brass on ebay.ca and Huntington's has new Norma brass at $34.95 USD per 20 cases.Any loading data for .30-30 Win. will work in a .303 Sav. my best results have been with 28.0 grs of IMR 3031 behind a 170 gr flatnose bullet.If you want to use .220 Swift brass the tech guys at Reddington reloading can give you the necessary process for the conversion.Old Dominion brass stretches after each firing and needs trimming. Winchester brass will go several firings before having to be trimmed.Good luck and hope this helps.
 
Update: I pushed the shoulder down a wee bit on 10 new R-P 30-30 brass, used a Lee gas checked 180 gr lead #2 bullet, powdered with a 2.2 Lee dipper of IMR 3031, 28.9 gr., collet crimped them. Had to seat them quite deep in order to eject a loaded round. Very pleasant to shoot. Used a high tech rest (truck door) to fire warning shots at a rock in a deep gravel pit. Seems to be reasonable old rifle. Cases are swollen from firing, primers backed out a bit (usual for too small case and lighter load). Cases are clean, no sooting.:p :p
 
i used .32 win shell neck size in relation to a .303 sav was the closest and the resized quite well and worked in my sav 99,,,,,blair
 
I have access to 2 boxes of vintage 303 savage but it is expensive..
I heard that they may be making some new stuff soon..but may just be a rumor
 
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