I took my savage 99 .308 to the range for the 1st time today.
I had shot it a fair amount off the hood of my suv as well as off hand. And i actually took a very big mule deer with it this year.
But I mounted a Nikkon Pro staff 2x7 on it after hunting season. And decided to try it with 165 grain bullets.
My prior shooting was with 150 grain speer flat base and W 748. And the 1st load shot great so all i did was up the charge a little and go hunting.
Today's load was Imr 4064 under a Sierra 165 grain Boat Tail.
1st i love the scope ! I had bore sighted it at home, so 1st shot at 50 yards was 2 inches high and about the same right.
8 clicks left put the bullet right where i wanted it.
Over to the 100 yard range and Three shots were .73 inches center to center.
So now i have used two bullet and powder combinations. Both shot well under moa.
I have and will keep a bunch of other rifles.
But for all the hunting i do in Oregon this rifle would do it all quite well. and the 1st two loads i tried would get it all done...tj3006

Why would you submit that post without pics??!!

I might try and do some pics but i find it difficult !
Just about anything i would do on a computer i find difficult...tj3006

TJ, have you run either of these loads over a chronograph? I have a Browning A-bolt II in 308Win and though it is really accurate with IMR4064 powder under a 165 grain Hornady load the velocity is only 2425 fps at the muzzle + 10'. I hear about people's hand loads running 2650-2700 fps and while I can load up to that speed I can't hit a bull in the backside with them. Oh well, I shouldn't let this bother me!LOL

I have not chroneied any loads in this rifle, but i have the same loads in others.
2425 is pretty slow , if i cant get 2600 for a 165 , i would keep looking...tj3006

I have a magazine 99 in 308, likes AR-Comp and 168hpbt.

quote:

Originally posted by tjroberts:
I have not chroneied any loads in this rifle, but i have the same loads in others.
2425 is pretty slow , if i cant get 2600 for a 165 , i would keep looking...tj3006

Why keep looking if it shoot well and kills well vel isn't all that important.

I have killed dozens of deer with my 300sav at just under 2400fps with 165gr corlcts.

The best way to ruin a hard hitting kill them all rifle is to croney it.

I could do well enough with the low velocity, but
My rifle is a .308. I would sttle for 2750 or so with 150s and 2600 for 165s.
Both should be easy to get from the .308 , i hope for 2800, and 2700...tj3006

Middle of the book 150s .300 kills bout anything.

Years ago I elk hunted with a group of guys in a cabin in the western cascade mountains of Washington state. The owner of the cabin had for many years been the cook for an outfitter who offered horseback hunts in the area. His idea for the ideal rifle was a Savage 99 .308 that he had shortened the barrel to 16 inches to make it easier on a horse.

That rifle looked like it had been left outside all year, there wasn't much finish left on either the metal or the wood. To "enhance" the looks even more he had carved a tally of animals he had taken with it, the list included deer, elk, bear and mountain goats. I'm sure that short barrel reduced velocity quite a bit and the muzzle blast was pretty awesome but whatever he aimed at didn't seem to know the difference. The .300 Savage I have with a 24 inch barrel probably is a little faster. But that rifle fit his needs and served him well.

Enjoy that 99 of yours they really are a great rifle.

I forgot to post that i put a box of 150 grain Hornady White tail factory ammo through the old girl and it shot great too !
...tj3006

quote:

Originally posted by p dog shooter:

quote:

Originally posted by tjroberts:
I have not chroneied any loads in this rifle, but i have the same loads in others.
2425 is pretty slow , if i cant get 2600 for a 165 , i would keep looking...tj3006

Why keep looking if it shoot well and kills well vel isn't all that important.

I have killed dozens of deer with my 300sav at just under 2400fps with 165gr corlcts.

The best way to ruin a hard hitting kill them all rifle is to croney it.

+1

My M99, 300 Sav shoots 150gr BTips at 2440. Drops deer like a hammer. Wouldn't use it on an antelope hunt. But for 300 Savage country, it recoils lightly, brass lasts a long time, and the deer are DRT. A couple hundred fps would not be noticed by bambi. Fun rifle!!

I have hunted deer and elk with a couple .308s in the Savage mod. 99F (1950 era) for years. They are my elk hunting saddle guns..Both look like crap, no blue left, and driftwood stocks, but they both shoot one inch groups most of the time with about any load..I did glass bed the forends and butt stock...I shoot the 180 Nosler at an average of 2600-2650 FPS with WW-748, H4895 and Varget..

My deer load is 48.5 grs. of WW-748 for 2800 plus..

The Savage 99 is one of my all time favorite rifles..I also have two in the great 250-3000. One is the rare 250 Savage in the 1950 99F, the other is a beautiful minty old 99E TD, both are extremely accurate. Gotta love the 99.

Olarmy,
I remember the days in our family elk camp when my uncle showed up with a 99 Savage in 300 Savage, and took a lot of kidding about that big ole gun..but it sure killed elk with aplomb, and I always said when I got big Id have one of those big 99s...The rest of us shot 25-35s, 30-30s,250-3000s and one 30-40 mod. 95 Win showed up one year, and he too received his share of kidding...Those were the days, and everybody got their elk and I don't recall a single elk getting away wounded..