Just got a Savage m99E in 300 Savage... - Page 2

gb_in_ga · May 18, 2024, 10:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by oldbear1950

truth is if you look closely at the reloading manuals, you will see the 300 savage will do anything the 308 will do. And when Eugene Stoner and others came up with the 308/7.62x51 it was based on the 300 savage case. In fact they started with the 300 savage round and for some reason chose that 7.62x51 instead. Not sure why, as the 300 savage will do anything that will do

Oldbear1950, I know why that change was done. 2 reasons, really. First, .300 Savage was the cartridge used in the initial prototypes of what would eventually become the M60 belt fed machine gun, which was intended to be based on a short action as opposed to the long action M1919. While it gave nominally acceptable performance, the sharp shoulder of the .300 Sav gave some concerns about feeding reliability. Second, the .300 Sav didn't have quite the velocity intended, that of the Milspec .30-06. 2600 fps vs 2800 fps with a 150 gr bullet. So, an "Improved" .300 Sav was created. This became the 7.62x51 NATO (.308) that did meet the specs.

FWIW, I once had a Savage 99 in .300 Sav (rotary mag with brass round counter), and I loved it. It was my grandfather's rifle. But, years on, it turned out that my father's older brother had a desire for it, and because he had the better claim I gave it up to him. Sadly. Yes, I handloaded for it. I turned over my ammo and dies, as well, as I knew I would never have use of them again.

snoeproe · May 19, 2024, 04:07 PM

I have 2 99’s, both in 300 savage.
A 1941 EG and a 1982 E, series A.
I remember when dad bought the E new in 82. He bought the EG when it came into my uncles sports store in the late 80’s in a lot of guns a widow was selling on consignment. He gave the EG to me when I was around 15. I guess I have pops to blame for my fondness of the savage 99. After pops passed away, I ended up with his guns. The boy is 11 and will get his grandads savage 99 E when he’s a few years older. Keep the love of the 99 savage alive. It’s an absolute Wonderfull rifle. Mine are family heirlooms.

bamaranger · May 28, 2024, 10:58 PM

The Savage 99 was still a relatively common sight in the deer woods up until I was a teen, and the .300 Sav chambering was common as well. Never owned one, wouldn't pass up a bargain, but 99's have escalated in price a good bit in recent years. Several gun scribes have penned articles on the rifle and of course they are not making any more of them so as supply dwindles and demand is still present, prices climb.

Trying to convert a .300 Sav to .308 is likely an exercise without much purpose. The .300 Sav ammo is still available in sufficient quantities to hunt, and as noted by others, handloading and forming cases from .308 are good options.

The cartridge is fully capable. I've got a 20" barreled '06 carbine that is particularly obnoxious to shoot, especially with the heavy slugs the stubby rifle seems to prefer. I download '06 cartridges to .300 Sav velocities and the combo has been a perfectly adequate killer of whitetails for me.

snoeproe · May 31, 2024, 11:31 AM

They were a rifle that was way ahead of it’s time when they came out. A lever gun that shoots pointed spitzer bullets. They are a fully controlled round feeding system type rifle. They have the cartridge counter number on the side of the rotary magazine rotor (except the later E and C models). They have a cocked striker indicator on them.
The he 99 is not a tactical gun. But it’s an outstanding hunting rifle.

May 28, 2024, 10:58 PM	#28
bamaranger Senior Member Join Date: October 9, 2009 Location: North Alabama Posts: 8,351	99 The Savage 99 was still a relatively common sight in the deer woods up until I was a teen, and the .300 Sav chambering was common as well. Never owned one, wouldn't pass up a bargain, but 99's have escalated in price a good bit in recent years. Several gun scribes have penned articles on the rifle and of course they are not making any more of them so as supply dwindles and demand is still present, prices climb. Trying to convert a .300 Sav to .308 is likely an exercise without much purpose. The .300 Sav ammo is still available in sufficient quantities to hunt, and as noted by others, handloading and forming cases from .308 are good options. The cartridge is fully capable. I've got a 20" barreled '06 carbine that is particularly obnoxious to shoot, especially with the heavy slugs the stubby rifle seems to prefer. I download '06 cartridges to .300 Sav velocities and the combo has been a perfectly adequate killer of whitetails for me.

May 19, 2024, 04:07 PM	#27
snoeproe Member Join Date: December 10, 2023 Posts: 39	I have 2 99’s, both in 300 savage. A 1941 EG and a 1982 E, series A. I remember when dad bought the E new in 82. He bought the EG when it came into my uncles sports store in the late 80’s in a lot of guns a widow was selling on consignment. He gave the EG to me when I was around 15. I guess I have pops to blame for my fondness of the savage 99. After pops passed away, I ended up with his guns. The boy is 11 and will get his grandads savage 99 E when he’s a few years older. Keep the love of the 99 savage alive. It’s an absolute Wonderfull rifle. Mine are family heirlooms.

May 31, 2024, 11:31 AM	#29
snoeproe Member Join Date: December 10, 2023 Posts: 39	They were a rifle that was way ahead of it’s time when they came out. A lever gun that shoots pointed spitzer bullets. They are a fully controlled round feeding system type rifle. They have the cartridge counter number on the side of the rotary magazine rotor (except the later E and C models). They have a cocked striker indicator on them. The he 99 is not a tactical gun. But it’s an outstanding hunting rifle.