Question about loading for the Savage 99

Hitzy

Hitzy

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So I've been loading "girl loads" for a buddy's kid who hunts with a Savage 99 in .308. They decided they wanted a scope on it, and I got tasked for that as well....wasn't hard, so no worries there. I also figured I may as well zero it for them and took it out for a shoot today.
I've been FL sizing for it, which I know is recommended for lever guns, but this thing is very smooth, and I'm wondering with the "girl loads" I'm running in this thing if I could get away with neck sizing?
Anyone neck size for one of these, or is it just a real bad idea....lol
 
It depends on the pressure. If the pressure is low enough that the cases aren't staying expanded after firing, you can get away with neck sizing for a lever. Take some fired cases, neck size them, and see if they chamber easily. If it works, go for it. I'd check after each firing to see if they need a FL sizing as they will creep up in size even with low pressure loads.

Right now I'm working on loads for a Swede rolling block in 8x58RD and find that when I stick to the black powder pressures (24-26k psi) the brass barely moves at all. It expands to seal the chamber as there isn't much soot on the cases but they seem to snap back to FL sized dimensions almost. I don't know how high you could go in pressure and still keep the cases from expanding too much.
 
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125's at around 2600fps with WC735, I had to drop mag primers in to get a quicker burn and better neck seal. Probably not even hitting 40,000psi with this load, or just barely.
I guess I can load a few dummys up just to check, I have a bullet puller and can take em apart after.
 
I load for a couple of Savage 99's, I wouldn't neck size only unless it was for range testing accuracy loads, the lever can get sticky to extract fired shells at times, OK for the range but not so much fun when hunting. I like to FL resize just enough to get the case into the chamber with very slight lever pressure. You can try to crimp your loads if you are getting too much blowback residue on your necks, this usually works.
Good Luck
BB
 
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I loaded for a few 99's over the years. They can be fussy compared to a bolt rifle. I would not neck size only for them. I like the Hornady head and shoulders gauges that you can put on a digital callipers to measure the position of the shoulder. Bump the shoulder back 0.002" or so with a "small base" full length size die and you will have a fully functional load that works every time and will not stretch excessively. Accurate, good case life, and no sticky cases with normal pressure loads.
 
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