Loads for Savage 99 308

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bogie

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I have a fairly recent Savage 99c 308 and am working up loads for it. I have been told to stay away from max loads listed in the reloading manuals because the receiver cannot take the abuse. Loading 150gr Accubonds and Hornady Interbond 150. May get into some 165.
Is there any truth to this and where might I look for loading info for this specific rifle?
 
I have loaded full trottle load with 180 SST for my uncle for years in is 99 308, no problem at all and many mooses down... JP.
 
They were designed to handle modern 308 SAMMI spec loads. All loads shown in manuals do not exceed these specs, so you are good to go. Sometimes like many rifles your most accurate load will not be a max load.
 
Your 99 can safely shoot any factory .308 load, so a handload that duplicates the factory load is just fine. Any decent 150 gr bullet ahead of 43.5 grs of 3031 is a good load, and if that 150 is a TSX, it's an excellent load, and with it there is no need to increase the bullet weight.
 
my 99 has seen nothing but my handloads since 71 and they're ALL 308/180s but not quite max- off by about a grain or 2 it's been in my scabbard for years- with the 308 you can take down anyting within reason, and still make that 300 yard shot you SHOULDN'T
 
Bogie I never owned the 99, but I reloaded lots for coworkers with the .308 99.
The 99s were known for their tight chambers pushing typical load pressures a tad higher than say a bolt gun like a m70.
With their intial weak primary extraction, the part of the cycle that breaks the fired cartridge case free, a hot load that you try to cycle quickly on a follow up shot may stick momentarily.
The interlock spirepoint in 165s are absolutely deadly on deer. These are what I caledl the economical "premium" deer bullet.
My standard handload of a 165 Hornady FB spirepoint over 46.5 grs of WW748 with CCi250 primer is very accurate and a proven deer flopper by my self and scores of others who bought the load. This load probaly took 80 deer with 100% reliability rating at our eastern typical ranges of 30--150 yds.
The only extraction complaint I ever had was from one 99 guy on fast follow up shots. For his rifle alone I dropped 1 gr to 45.5.
Seemed to that care of that issue. So if I were loading for yours I probaly work up to 45-45.5 and call it a day.:)
 
I reload mine with BLC-2 at 44.5gr shooting a 168 nosler billistic tip and it does a great job. I never have problems with it. Try different loads and see what works best for you and your rifle
 
Thanks so much everyone. I also sent off an email to Hodgdon since they have been around. Mention of the SAAMI spec came up too. My Sierra book suggests an ideal load for 150gr as 43.8 of the 3031 powder too and I was shooting some of that today. Have some Interbond 165gr as well as some Nosler Accubonds and Hornady Interbond 150s too. Going with the 43.8 seems to be good. Love this little rifle and I dont want to kill it using nasties so going with this. Thanks again.
 
It is poor practice to start with a laod like 43.8

Start low with say 3 of each in 0.5 gr increments and work up. Find out where extraction gets sticky, or primers flatten too much, and back off a grain. See how the groups form. If you get cloverleafs at 42.5, that would be better.

It is not so much about SAAMI max, but what the rifle handles well. 44 gr would not blow up the gun, but it might be a miserable load.
 
FYI the 43.8 load is a Sierra recommended hunting load for 150gr 308 and this rifle seems to like that a lot. Loaded up some Hornady and Win PSPs as well as some Accubonds and it was love all over. Seems my little darlin loves the Accubond and is giving a less than MOA with this load. I have worked up several powders and the 3031 but this seems to be a magic load for the 99C.
Didnt like the Hornady Interbonds at all and the Winchester stuff was all over the place. GO figure.
 
I managed to get some Hornady Interbonds in 165 but the store does not have them in Accubond. Will work up some and let you know. May just switch all my loading to Accubond. Not hideously expensive like the Nosler Partition and man they are accurate. Nobody seems to think I should be able to get MOA out of a levergun.
 
if mine can do it with 180's( and on a good day less than moa- it likes to open up a bit as it warms up- if i counted less than 5 shot groups ( like some folks do- 3shot groups) i could claim moa all day long- 44 grains of 748, 180 grain spire points, cci mag primers, so can yours
 
t-star said:
if mine can do it with 180's( and on a good day less than moa- it likes to open up a bit as it warms up- if i counted less than 5 shot groups ( like some folks do- 3shot groups) i could claim moa all day long- 44 grains of 748, 180 grain spire points, cci mag primers, so can yours
Click to expand...

My 5 shot groups have come in under 2" with my stated receipe, seems I always have one shot that likes to wander, not sure if its me or the hot barrell, or whatever.
 
Was trying IMR 3031 with 165 grain nosler partitions in a Browning BLR. Had terrible trouble with pressure even at minimum loads. A fellow at the range said switch to RL15. I did and will never use 3031 again.
 
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