I have it on good authority that is is physically impossible to kill a deer with a 300 Savage. Just kidding. I personally am using a 416 Rigby or 9.3X74R on deer currently (they don't move much after impact). When I first started hunting elk as a boy in Washington I used a M1896 Krag and my Dad used a M94 30-30. We killed many Roosevelt elk.
I cannot understand the desire for super mags either.
Haveing killed many deer with anything from a 22rf to 45 cals. Most deer hunters are served very well with the common cals. The only time the mags are really needed is out past 400yds but even then a good hit well work from the lessers. The mags make it a little bit easyer to happen. But with the lazer range finders hitting at the longer dist. is no longer guess work you don't have to worry about being off by 50 or 100yds. So as long as you know your drop and can have the correct hold over( I use mil dots) the extra vel of the mag isn't as important. When you make a good shoot and hit the deer in the chest with any bullet over 50grs or so at over 1000fps and get inside the chest the deer well die. But it is always nice to have a good blood trail and a little extra if something goes wrong. So the point that Iam trying to make is use the gun that you like for what ever reason know what you and it can to then enjoy your self.
Posts: 19396 | Location: wis | Registered: 21 April 2001
I must disagree with you. I have butchered several deer over the years that survived chest hits (scare tissue was observed in the chest cavity). During the rut a deers' blood thickens. In other words, there is more clotting agent present. This is undoubtedly, due to the fact, that deer fight and injure themselves in the process so over the millenia they evolved this seasonal ability. If your bullet does not produce sufficient tissue trauma there is a very good likelihood that the deer or elk for that matter, will clot up and pull through.
Also shooting at long ranges (say over 350 yards) is not a no brainer simply becasue laser range finders tell you how far away from target you are. You still need to practice at those kinds of ranges so that you understand your rifle/loads ballastics and utilize your mil dot reticle properly. Also, wind is still a key issue at ranges past 400 yards and a little more difficult to fudge for.
I'm a big-bore nut and for what I think are good reasons. Having said that, the one rifle that my grandfather left us is a Savage 99 in 300 Savage. Just finished refinishing the entire thing. It will always be a cherished and capable part of our family.
At the sport shop in my little town I saw a Rem 760 pump in 300 savage. It was made in the late 1960's, according to the owner of the shop, and was in suprisingly good shape. Also, whoever owned it put a lyman peep sight on it. Price was $400. I went back 2 days later and it was gone. I guess i'll have to keep using that super-hyper velocity long-action cartridge I've been shooting - 25-06. Oh, wait, that's an older cartridge, too. Oops, I didn't know that they made good high velocity deer cartridges back in the day.
I just rescued my Grandfathers Model 99 Savage(Cal 300 Savage) from 15 years of gun cabinet purgatory. This gun put a lot of elk and deer in the freezer when my Grandfather used it. It will be put back into service as my short range brush gun.
I can remember when someone showed up during deer season with a 300 Savage, he was held in awe by us kids and smirked at by our parents who used 30-30's, 38-55's, 32 Specials and 25-35's...I remember wanting one of thoes 99EG's in 300 Savage more than anything on this earth..I prayed at night before I went to bed that I could somehow own one.....but when that day came that I bought my first rifle, I went with a Rem 722 in 257 Robts....but I have always had a couple of 99's since thoes days and do to this day a 308 and a 250.
I want a Savage 99. I was looking at 2 today, one in 300 Savage and one in 303 Savage. Personally I want one in 250 Savage. Out to about 300 yards a 300 Savage will kill a deer just as dead as any rifle around and the average shooter should not be shooting past that. Infact, how often does the average deer hunter kill a deer past that? I would have to say not often.
------------------ When in doubt, empty the magazine.
The Savage 99 is one of the all-time great rifle designs. The .300 Savage is also a great cartridge. I hope someday to have my father's .300 M99. It was my grandfather's and between the two of them, it has accounted for untold numbers of deer, elk, black bears, and a few moose. Every time I pick it up, I think of my grandfather, and I think of the great times I have hunting with my dad. Sorry I am being a bit nostalgic, but the recent events can make a guy think a bit....
I too, love the 99 Sav, I have all the old calibers .22hp, .250, .25-35, .30-30, .303, .32-40, & my all time fav 26" .38-55 that shoots like a house on fire with 220 Horns at 2100fps, yes 2100fps thru 2 chronys & NO pressure, curved but plate kinda hurts at time thou specially of the bench.
I used to have a 7mm Rem Mag in a weatherby vanguard. It was a sweet, deadly, accurate gun and it left many a scope mark on unwary eyebrows. Its gone now and Ive inherited my dads 300 savage with a mauser action. If P.O. ackley could kill black bears with a 17 caliber javelina then there is no game in my part of the country that would justify the abuse on oneself from the use of a large magnum IMHO. Im with you 100% oldtimer..
Posts: 10145 | Location: Tooele, Ut | Registered: 27 September 2001
The 99 Savage is my sentimental favorite rifle. I got one used about the time I really learned how to hunt deer. It's chambered for .358 Win. Since then I bought another one for my son.
The 99 Savage is far superior to the other levers of it's era.
Id like some opinons. My 300 sav has an old mauser bolt action and a manlicher stock. It also has a dual hair trigger but its still just a 300 savage (with heirloom sentimental value as well). Ive been considering selling my 30-06 with a stubby barrel to finance getting the 300 made AI. I figure that should make it comparable to a 308 which is a real nice load IMO. Good idea or bad idea?
Also I saw in my speer book that the SAAMI max for a 300 s is only 46,000 cup but the book also mentions that is "in deference to its use in lever guns". Does that mean my bolt 300 should be safe at max and possibly more?
Posts: 10145 | Location: Tooele, Ut | Registered: 27 September 2001
Wstrnhuntr, "just a .300 Savage", please re-read the above posts, it is not just a .300 Savage. With heirloom, sentimental value and set triggers I personally wouldn't even give consideration to modifying the chamber. Leave the rifle as original and enjoy it, then pass it on to the next generation. Bill
Believe me "Just a 300 s" was for lack of a better term, I love this gun. The smith I was taliking to suggested simply making it into a 308, another classic, but you have a good point. Maybe Ill just work up some good loads for it as it is, put a couple bucks into a bench and maybe a chronograph instead. It looks like some real good velocities can be had with a 130 gr bullet.
Thanks again.
[This message has been edited by Wstrnhuntr (edited 09-29-2001).]
Posts: 10145 | Location: Tooele, Ut | Registered: 27 September 2001
Wstrnhunter, That old Mauser may or may not have collector value but it would be better and easier to re-chamber it to 308 Win as opposed to a 300 AI...thats what I would do.
From a different point of view a 300 Savage can be handloaded to 308 velocities in a good bolt action....
I was in a local gunshop a while back and the owner, a friend, knowing I am a sucker for cheap guns, said "Have I got a deal for you, Bill." Normally, this is where I say "uh-oh" and prepare to ease back out the door. But he then handed me a little bitty rifle unlike any I had ever seen. "It's some kind of old .300 Savage. Somebody drilled about six holes in the left side of the receiver for a scope mount and the stock was cut for a kid. $120 and it is yours." I looked at it and the stock was indeed a mess, beat up and cut to about a 12-inch pull or less. But I worked the action -- very smooth -- pulled the bolt and looked down the barrel -- very bright and crisp. I bought it. The old-timers of course, will recognize it was a Savage Model 1920, one of the lightest factory sporters ever made in highpower configuration. It comes in about 6 pounds, even with a 24-inch barrel. I have since had a new stock of original dimension duplicated for it, and when I get the rifle bedded,the stock finished and the extra receiver holes filled I will have one of the sweetest little .300s on the planet. I will either mount an old 2 or 3X scope, or perhaps hunt up an original peep for it. It is the kind of rifle that makes you want to stuff your riding pants into your 16-inch lace up boots, pull on the green Filson forester's jacket and a Borselino hat and GO HUNTING! Thank gosh I have the .38-55 Marlin ready to go for the current deer season, but maybe next year ...
The .308 was adopted by the military only because the neck was too short on the .300 Savage to work well in machine guns. The 300 Savage was the standard the Army used for balistics when the 30-06 was dropped.
Posts: 1275 | Location: Fla | Registered: 16 March 2001
