I'm sorting through a buddy's pile of 300 Sav. brass. He had 2 cans. Looks like the 300's in one can are all the "expanded" bases. The other can looks OK.

I can't see any other difference other than the expanded case head/base. They mic to .473.

Would this happen if you shot the 300'sav in a 308?

Nope.
They were fired in an old 99 with sloppy chamber.
FL size them and shoot.

I agree.
many of those savages got stretched out some, even though the 300 data in most books was held down for them.

OK, they're going in the recycle bin.

Yep, sloppy 99 chamber.
When I was young and foolish, I had an Arisaka that had been chambered for the 300 Sav. Got reloads for a guy at work who had a 99. 2 out of 20 had head separation.

Tough way to learn.....

I got one of those cut off chambered 31 savage rifles.
once I fit the cases and used the proper bullets it shoots a lot better than I thought it would.

quote:

Originally posted by dpcd:
Nope.
They were fired in an old 99 with sloppy chamber.
FL size them and shoot.

I have a .300 Savage 99G made in the 1920's. Fired brass comes out waaayy expanded. I segregate brass just for that rifle. I "full length" size using a Redding neck sizing die. It sizes the over expanded body down just enough to chamber easily. If I used an actual full length sizer the brass would probably only make two firings before separating.

Id toss them, lot of difference in a 300 case and a 308 case, work or not I don't know and don't care..I can think of a number of reasons not to use 300 Savage and 308s being switched out either way, other than using 308 or 243 and a set of case forming dies, and thats a waste of time and too expensive...seems to me a 300 savage in a .308 would have a very very short neck? would it not. Id sell the 300s and buy .308s..

300 and 308 are very close, but that is not the problem anyway. You do not need case forming dies to make 300s from 308; but that is not germane here.
He has a sloppy 99.

easy peasy conversion.
size, trim, done.

no conversion necessary.

My buddy passed away a few years ago, all the rifles are sold and the 2 - 300's shot fine, I know because I had all his rifles at one time and I shot both the 300's.

He reloaded for everyone in his hunting gang/club. Just wonder why half the cases were segregated. I'm guessing one of the guys had a 99 with a sloppy chamber. I thought maybe they were fired in the wrong rifle.

PS Right my 99 , Left his TD was completely done over.

Candy

Nice 99s;
These things are hunting rifles, made to fire factory ammo, one time, maybe 5 times a year. They were not tight target chambers or lock ups. They are hammers meant to kill deer. Back in the hills in the 50s and 60s they were the third most common deer rifle; the Win 94 and Marlin 336 were #1 and 2. No scopes of course. Only bolt actions were the sporterized 303s and Mosins that Sears sold for $9.95.
I know, everyone on AR has one that is super tight, but that is not what I have seen.

I was at the range one day ... saw about 2 boxes of short necked 308 brass out on the ground ...

you guessed it ..

Why is the question? I don't care to shoot short necked cartridges in any gun, it messes up the throat in time..I have two 99s presently and have owned several dozen of them over the years, they are the best saddle gun I know of..Both of mine are extremely accurate at an inch or better..The 250-3000 is incredibly acccurate and its a takedown which goes against all thats holy..Classic gun, built the old way on a lathe..If one glass beds a 99 forend tight and butt stock completely, it like any quality rifle will shoot an inch most of the time.