Does anyone out there have any 284 loads they've found to work well in a Savage 99. I began using Hornady 139gr over RL-15. I had backed off max almost 2 grains but still get unreliable extraction. In addition, with the ogive of the Hornady, I figure I'm a way back off the lands due to the depth I've had to seat the bullet to work in the magazine. What bullets and powders do folks use to balance these issues out? I'm not sure if I want to keep reducing the RL 15 or switch to IMR 4350 with a different bullet and start over. Your thoughts?

I WISH I had a Savage 99 in 284!
They are a bit hard to find... I do own several 99's just not in 284.

I just moved to NC. I went into one gunshop and they had a Model 99 in 284, the other shop down the street had a Model 99 in 358...they were giving them away because nobody was interested in them. I got them both for a price that would have been a good deal on one of them. The 358 is dialed in, I'm still playing with 284.

Hey Col K, A less sleek Bullet will help you get closer to the Lands with the 284Win and still fit the magazine. Nothing at all wrong with Round Nose Bullets for the distances the M99s will be accurate.

With the Rear Lock-Up design, the M99s only significant fault is Case Stretch. If you approach typical Bolt Action level Loads, you are going to get Insipient Case Head Separation(ICHS) on the first couple of shots.

Just check for it with the old bent Paper Clip to create an L-shaped Feeler Gauge. And put a Chisel Tip on the edge with a pair of side-cutters. Once you feel the Groove inside the Case where the Pressure Ring is located, it is time to Trash those Cases.

So, I'd encourage you to go with Starting Loads shown in the Manuals and see what kind of Case Life you get "before" adding more Powder.
-----

The 358Win in a M99 brings back a lot of excellent Hunting memories I had with some guys at Cherry Point and LeJeune. Saw a lot of 1-shot kills with them on Deer, Hogs and Bears. The Bullets of choice were both the Hornady 200gr RN and the 200gr SP. I've found the SP to be a bit tougher and works best through the shoulders.

You can also get the ICHS with the 358Win. We made Cases for them with Pulled-Down 7.62NATO Cases. They lasted a few more shots than civilian Cases.
-----

When you clean each rifle, place a Spent Case in the Chamber to catch the Trash from the Brush as it springs open. And Hoppe's makes a Nylon shafted T-shaped clean rod to allow you to clean the Chamber with a 44cal or 45cal Brush by going in through the Ejection Port and giving a few turns.

Built up Trash in the Chamber might be contributing to your Ejection Problem. It just takes awhile to get an old one clean without removing the barrel. But, it is probably just having the Load a bit too Hot for the way the M99 Lock-Up flexes.

Best of luck to you.

quote:

Originally posted by Col K:
I just moved to NC. I went into one gunshop and they had a Model 99 in 284, the other shop down the street had a Model 99 in 358...they were giving them away because nobody was interested in them. I got them both for a price that would have been a good deal on one of them. The 358 is dialed in, I'm still playing with 284.

Are you trying to make the rest of us suicidal? It's working! I dearly love all M'99s, but especially in those two chamberings, the .250-3000, and the solid frame (not take-down) .22 Hi-Power. Those 4 = "Nirvanna" for me.

Good point on making sure the chamber is clean.

Have you tried (gasp) factory ammo?

Get a good reloading book and cut two grs off the max and that is the Mod 99 load most of the time.

I have a Model 99 and a Model 88 Winchester in 284. Both of them are the most accurate with the 139 grain Hornady and IMR 4350. The Savage needs to have the bullet seated slightly deeper than the Winchester to feed from the magazine. I prefer the flat base Hornady to the BT because there is less intrusion into the powder space. I have never had any extraction problems with either. The Model 88 is more accurate than many bolt actions but the 99 is definitely lighter.

Done a lot of reloading for my model 88 Win.
150 grain bullets worked well with it with IMR
4350 Gr. I have a 2.8" LH Rem 700 in 284 and the only load that meets my accuracy is 145 gr
Speer and H or IMR 4350. RL 15 usally works in most 284. And 145 Grain Speers have a Ogive very forward.

I have owned a bunch of 99Fs in .284 but everytime I bought one the price would go sky high and I'd sell it..My son won one in the West Texas Big Deer contest when he shot a real big buck on our ranch..I custom stocked it for him. The .284 dotes on IMR-4350 and my sons rifle likes the 130 gr. Speer and its a awesome deer bullet..Use bullets of 150 grs. and under for the 99...

They are certainly collector items in the 99 and getting high dollar in the Win. 88s also.

I just got a 284 in a 99 and haven't worked with it yet. I plan on trying the 145 Speer Grand Slam as it's a bit short for it's weight and ought to do for caribou and moose.

Trying to find some RWS cone-points for the same reason.