All we got drawn for this year was non trophy Mule. I got a pair of 1899 Savage 303s. A 1901 Carbine and a 1910 Rifle both headspaced correctly and good shape.Does anyone have a decent load using 150gr psps.Using a 100 yr old rifle w/iron sights should be a hoot compared to what we normally hunt with.

TKS.

RR.

RR. You can use any 30-30 Winchester data to work up your loads for the .303 Savage. Just substitute the spitzer bullet of your choice, and stay within the 30-30's boundries.
I load 30-30's to .303 Savage specs with a 190 gr. cast lead bullet. Good load for large deer.
Paul B.

I had some luck with the 150 Hornady round nose, and 34.0 grains of 4064, but that is pretty old data, you might want to start about 30.0 and work up.

The best thing about the 303 Savage over the 30-30 was the 190 gr. bullet. It simply seemed to kill big game better....that is the impression I have gotten from seeing game shot with it by a close friend who used it on deer and elk with spectacular results. He didn't like the 150's....

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Ray Atkinson

ray@atkinsonhunting.com
atkinsonhunting.com

Paul B,

Would you elaborate on your 190 grain cast bullet? What alloy or how hard is it, how fast do you drive it, and does it expand on deer? I'm growing interested in hunting deer with cast bullets in my 30-30 and .308.

Thanks much
BigIron

Ray, when the .303 was a better killer of deer, it also had a velocity edge over the .30-30. When the .30-30 velocity topped 2000 fps the .303 died.

I have a 1899 perch belly that I absolutely love, and half a case of Winchester Silver Tips. Best saddle gun ever made.

Big Iron. The bullet I use is the RCBS 30-180-fn, a gas checked bullet. I use plain old wheel weight metal. Bullet is loaded to about 1950 FPS with W-748. I really can't say if it expands or not. They pass clean through deer. Most deer I've shot with the 30-30 have been less than 100 yards.
I haven't had much luk getting decent velocity from a either the .308 Win. or 30-06, so I use those mostly for competition in a private postal match amongst some internet friends. A couple of other bullets you can try are Lyman's #311041 and 311291. I used to use the latter before I got the heavier RCBS bullet. It ran around 179 gr. in wheel weights for me.
I sized all bullet to .310 Diameter.
Paul B.

[This message has been edited by Paul B (edited 09-08-2001).]

Thanks for the info . I don't have any 180or 190 rn or fn so I'll have to stick to 150 rn or psp .Tried 165 & 180 bt but they won't feed properly. I would have to use them as single shots. hmmm could happen

RR