Savage .303 bullet diamter?
Anyone know what diameter the Savage .303 bullet is? I have an opportunity to pick up a 99, and I want to know how hard it will be to get factory ammo or bullets to handload. Also looking for level of power, is it around .308 or .30-30? Thanks guys.
0
-
308 diameter bullets
30-30 class
It's available pre-rolled from OWS and, perhaps, Cabalas obsolete line.
It can be made from 220Swift brass and (I've heard) 30-30 brass
Some guys like a mag full of lead, I still prefer one round to the head.0 -
Tailgunner gave you a good place to start. It's not impossible to find and I think you can find brass, but it gets tougher every year. Might also try here on GB and go to the older gun shops in your area. Sometimes you poke around their shelves or ask, they might even happen to have some buried in the storage and give you a deal to move it. Try also now at gun shows as 'tis the season. 0 -
Hi Bill,
Here is comparison of the 300 Savage to the 308 Winchester both using a 150 grain bullet looking at velocity and energy up to 500 yards. This is useful to illustrate the performance of both cartridges.
Hope this is helpful.
Regards,
Heavyiron[8D]
"If I don't see you nomore on this world, I'll meet you on the next one, and don't be late!" - Jimi Hendrix0 -
This is a PS to the previous reply.
The legend for the graphs is:
308 Winchester = Red Line
300 Savage = Blue Line
Regards,
Heavyiron
"If I don't see you nomore on this world, I'll meet you on the next one, and don't be late!" - Jimi Hendrix0 -
Well excuse me - I read 303 but substituted 300 Savage in my mind or what is left of my mind. I appreciate the correction because it makes a difference.
Then here is some ballistic info for you about the 303 Savage with 150 grain SP bullet.
36 grains IMR 4064 Velocity = 2400 fps; Energy = 1919 ft/lb
Here is a link to three handloads for the 303 Savage.
http://www.handloads.com/loaddata/default.asp?Caliber=303 Savage&Weight=All&type=rifle&Order=Powder&Source=
Here is some info you better be aware of when considering bullet size for the 303 Savage. This is quoted from Cartridges of the World, Frank Barnes, 10th edition:
"Dogma holds that the 303 Savage is not a true 303 but instead uses standard 0.308-inch bullets. However, current SAAMI specifications call for a bullet of 0.311-inch. Measurements of bullets on three lots of each of two makes of World War II era facotry loads yields mixed results. Some were 0.308-inch+, others 0.310-inch+."
Best of luck.
Regards,
Heavyiron
"If I don't see you nomore on this world, I'll meet you on the next one, and don't be late!" - Jimi Hendrix0 -
Two things on the 303 Savage.
1. My father has one (Model 1899)and I reload for his all the time. IT USES A 308 CALIBER BULLET. I had the same question too so I mic'd some Remington factory ammo and the caliber was 308. The 303 British uses the .311 bullet. The two are easily confused since the Savage is so much harder to find.
2. If you are looking for ammo, I purchased 20 boxes Remington 303 Savage ammo last year from Franklin's Sporting Goods in Athens, GA(www.franklinsofathens.com). They had a lot more Remington and some Winchester also. It may be gone now though. I don't think they realized how rare the stuff is because they only charged me $12.75 per box! I have seen a couple of boxes on Winchester here and there but it is usually only one box and they want $35.00 for it.
The 1899 is fun to shoot. My father mainly uses it for deer population control(doe tags)due to the range limitation with open sights and ballistics. It works every time! Power-wise I would say that it is just shy of the 30-30.0 -
We need to be absolutely clear about this. You can probably shoot a 0.308-inch diameter bullet in the 300 Savage. However, the SAAMI spec for the 303 Savage bullet is 0.311-inches diameter.
Here is link.
http://ammoguide.com/?catid=194
Regards,
Heavyiron
"If I don't see you nomore on this world, I'll meet you on the next one, and don't be late!" - Jimi Hendrix0
Please sign in to leave a comment.
Comments
7 comments