I really like the unusual rifle calibers; those that are not necessarily obsolete, but not very common. I like the calibers that everyone at the range does not have, and when they ask you, "What caliber is that?" and you tell them, they look at you like you are speaking a foreign language. Some examples I have is a .225 instead of a .22-250, a .244 (6mm Rem.) instead of a .243, etc.
With that in mind, I sold my .308 built on a Mauser action, and bought a .300 Savage in a Remington 722. The rifle is in great shape and I got it for a very reasonable price. I am really looking forward to shooting and reloading for it. I believe it can do anything the .308 can do. Anybody else have one?
joe

I have a couple of .300's. One a Savage 99, the other a Mauser Brazilian 94.

In the 722 it will be very close to the .308 in performance. The only real drawback to the .300 is the short neck which can limit your ability to shoot cast bullets. Otherwise, it is a joy to shoot.

I have two that I inherited. One from each of my grandfathers. Both are Model 99 Savages. One from the '30s and the other from the early '50s.
Both have Weaver (El Paso) scopes on them and both shoot respectable.

Try the Barnes 130 TSX with 4198. Can touch 2900 with sub MOA in a 99, in a 722 should be tack driver. That load kills medium game like the hammer of Thor.

Love 99 300s !

The actual internal powder capacity difference filled to the base of the neck of the .300S and the .308W is negligible. In fact, with .300 commercial brass versus .308 military brass, the capacity difference may even favor the .300S. In the strong Rem 722 you should be able to essentially duplicate .308 performance -- but realize that .308 performance is often overstated to begin with, so be happy with around 2700 fps with 150 grain bullets. I load my less robust Savage 99 to around 2600 fps.

i love my 99s.

used a lot while guiding.

caribous didnt like it that much.

quote:

Originally posted by Joe R. Lock:
I really like the unusual rifle calibers; those that are not necessarily obsolete, but not very common.
joe

Me too! Sold my 223's and now have 22 Hornet and a 204 Ruger. Sold my 30/06's and now have 270WSM and 7x57.

quote:

Originally posted by Stonecreek:
I load my less robust Savage 99 to around 2600 fps.

That is about what I got from my 99 in 300 Savage with a good dose of Rlr 15. The 308 is a superior round in every aspect, but the 300 is a sweet little round in its own right. I have never been without a 300 savage in my arsenal for very long. The biggest issue IMO is the case head seperation tendancy with the model 99's. But in a good bolt rifle you shouldnt have that problem.

I have formed 300 cases from 308 and I think that factory 300 brass is typicaly thinnner, I could be wrong about that. But the 308 is designed to be a much more intense round.

The 300 is a fabulous deer round and seems to have the same accuracy characteristics inherint in the 308. It also responds well to the plethora of powders designed for use in a 308 and is a pleasant round to shoot, recoil is similar to a 7X57. Almost non existant..

Enjoy!

I load my 99 300 a bit on the light side the 99s are not as tough as a bolt gun. I have had no trouble killing many dozens of deer with a 165gr at 2400fps.

If you want 308win preformance buy a 308.

I just don't understand trying to turn a round into something it isn't.

Same goes into trying to turn your 308 into a 30-06 or a 06 into a 300WM or 300WM into a 300WB

I found it is just much easier, safer to buy the proper round for the vel one is trying to get.

But each to their own.

The beauty of using the 130 TSX, especially in modern 99, like my pre mil R, is that it is long for weight so it is accurate, The 4198 load reaches almost 2900 fps in a 24" bbl and most important, it kills like the hammer of Thor.
It will outpenetrate any 150-180 gr bullet designed to expand at the velocities available in the 300 Savage. Try it, you'll be sold.