Savage 99 308; anyone have one, need ammo advice!

Chefhunter

Chefhunter

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I just bought a 99e 308 took it to the range today and tried to get it zero'd (i was in a rush and had dark targets). i tried 150gr rem core locks as well as 150gr fusion... the fushion was a little better, my best groups were 1.75" and 1" ( a one off i think) but the rest were on average 3"-4"all at 100 yards. i went thru a box of each.... i'm not used to the rifle yet but it shouldered really well and the lever cycled smoothly, just felt really good to shoot the girl! i have an old scope chief 4x on it and i think i'll keep it, i like the way it looks. I'm looking for any advice on which factory ammo performs best in your 99's and also whats the best groups you get with yours.
if i can average 1.5" i'd be very happy!!! is this rifle capable of 1.5" or better?
Thanks in advance for the info!
 
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I seem to average about 2.5 inches with some 180 grainers that my 99E likes at 100 yards. seems pretty consistent, and I routinely do between 5 and 6 inches at 200.
 
Thats about the average I got with any of the 99s I had...Some did a bit better with certain ammo, but nothing major...Best one I had shot @ an inch consistantly was fitted with a custom barrel chambered in 257 Roberts....
 
Mine hates remmington 150 gr sp and likes federal and Winchester 150gr sp. I got about 3 inch groups with remmington and 2 inch with the others. Hand loading was easy I got it down to 1 inch in no time. Even ttsx shoot 1 inch groups at 100 yards.

Ps. My 99c was my first firearm I purchesed on my own (in 2000) it will never be sold.
 
Sounds like i have to learn how to hand load......just got to figure out how to buy the gear without my wife knowing LOL. I picked up a box of federal 150's and winchester 180 today we'll see how they work out....i'd be happy with 2.5"
 
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Very little known fact is that 99's will sometimes bind at the forearm.

Simple fix is to put a small rubber o ring between the forearm and barrel stud, might tighten up your groups.
 
MadDog said:
Very little known fact is that 99's will sometimes bind at the forearm.

Simple fix is to put a small rubber o ring between the forearm and barrel stud, might tighten up your groups.
Click to expand...
I did it with mine and the two factory loads i've tried in 150 gr group under 1.5".This is the lightweight carbine in.300 sav with 20" barrel.Just starting haND LOADING AND CAN'T WAIT TO SEE HOW IT WILL DO.
 
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i dont have a model 99 but my winchester model 88 went from 2-3" groups with everything i tried
to 1"-1.25" with 150 gr federal soft point ( blue box)
 
Thx for the info guys, picked up a box of 150gr federal yesterday and i'm going out to pick up some o rings. itching to go to the range but can't get out till after newyears!
 
You may want to try resting the receiver, not the forend, on the bags when shooting; some shooters do that with all lever rifles with two-piece stocks. I generally do that and all three 99's I had (two .250's and a .300) are or were consistent MOA rifles.
Just for testing ammo and handloadws, I usually shoot with a 3-9X scope dialled up, regardless of what scope I will put on the rifle later. It's easier to shoot tiny groups with a bit more magnification, once the hunting scope is on it's all about knowing where that first shot is going.
FWIW, the most accurate factory ammo in my .300 Savage is Federal blue box, ditto in my .280 Remington.
 
If you do the math it doesnt take more than a couple more boxes of ammo to have paid for a press and a set of dies. 150 or 165gr boat tails. My 99C 308 gave consistant 1.5in groups with 43.8grains of IMR3031 pushing 150gr boattails. I was told by many others that shoot 99s that this is about what you can expect. The Sierra manual lists this as a consistantly good "hunting" load.
 
Kilo Charlie said:
You may want to try resting the receiver, not the forend, on the bags when shooting; some shooters do that with all lever rifles with two-piece stocks. I generally do that and all three 99's I had (two .250's and a .300) are or were consistent MOA rifles.
Just for testing ammo and handloadws, I usually shoot with a 3-9X scope dialled up, regardless of what scope I will put on the rifle later. It's easier to shoot tiny groups with a bit more magnification, once the hunting scope is on it's all about knowing where that first shot is going.
FWIW, the most accurate factory ammo in my .300 Savage is Federal blue box, ditto in my .280 Remington.
Click to expand...

Hey thanks Kilo Charlie. i will try resting the receiver while bench shooting my Savage 99c in 308. It is my backup moose gun and I want to find ammo that it likes.
 
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