Mould for Savage model 99E, 300 Savage

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  • Last Post 15 May 2014
csparks1106 posted this 03 March 2014

Just wondering what bullet mould would be best, and also gas check or no gas check. .300 Savage isn't a blistering speed bullet. Am I going need to get a lubrisizer or can I tumble lube them.Thanks

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onondaga posted this 03 March 2014

http://www.castbulletassoc.org/view_user.php?id=7953>csparks1106

I believe 30 cal cast shoots best when they fit of course, heavy bullets are usually the most accurate in 30 Cal too. To me that means 160 gr and up in 30 Cal. You will probably find your own favorite after a while at it!  The Lee C312-185-1R shoots the most accurately for me in 30-30, 308, 30-06 and 7.62X39. It is a round nose gas checked heavy 30 cal bullet that is large enough for me to size for a variety of calibers and really shoots well.

For hunting I just have to have a really big meplat flat nose bullet with substantial weight. I chose the RanchDog 165 gr FNGC for Deer hunting. That design is now available from Accurate molds. My RD mold even casts large enough for me to size/check at .3125” for 7.62X39.

For small game hunting with 30 Cal I like the Lee 314-90-SWC, it is a light weight flat nose, bevel base pistol bullet that is large enough to size for all my 30-31 cal rifles.

30 Cal is the most popular caliber to shoot cast and 30 cal has the largest variety in selection of molds. So you have a wide selection.

I use tumble lube for all my cast bullets regardless of design, weight or load. Fit is much more important than lube for accuracy. I have invested time in custom honing Lee push through bullet sizing dies to get exactly the sizes that shoot best for all my rifles.  I gave up on and sold all my pressure lube traditional stuff after the first time I tried tumble lube decades ago. I currently use commercial 45:45:10 tumble lube for everything I cast, even muzzle loading bullets.

The RD and the Lee C312-185-1R and my small game bullet:

http://s30.photobucket.com/user/rhymeswithwhat/media/454510.jpg.html>http://s30.photobucket.com/user/rhymeswithwhat/media/C312-185-1R.jpg.html>http://s30.photobucket.com/user/rhymeswithwhat/media/6grTiteGroup.jpg.html>

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R. Dupraz posted this 03 March 2014

csparks1106:        With that short necked .300, one problem that you will probably run into on selecting a cast bullet for your .300 Savage is finding a bullet design that will not extend below the neck of the case and still chamber. Same thing that I have been faced with in the .308 Winchester. Of course this depends on the throat length but chances are it's not that long.       Two bullets that I have found that work well in the .308 are the RCBS 30-180-SP GC with two grease grooves and the 308-165-SIL with one grease groove. The latter is the most accurate for me and the one which I use most.      I would look for a bullet mold with one grease groove with short base bands and 165-175 Grns. Maybe two bands, maybe. My RCBS cast loading manual #1 shows some others in the .300 Savage section that might work as well. Also you might want to check NOE.        If you are interested, I could send you a few of the RCBS 165's and 180's to try.  

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rockquarry posted this 03 March 2014

I no longer have a .300 Savage, but used to shoot the RCBS 30-180 FN, Lyman #2 alloy, sized to .310", about 180-185 grs. I used 29 grs. 2230 powder for a muzzle velocity of 1,925 fps. Any heavier charge and accuracy deteriorated.

Of course, the bullet base must be seated below the case neck, a procedure that, in my experience, does not present a problem. Make sure gas checks are crimped on.

If I were loading it today, I would probably try straight ww alloy and different powders including 5744, H4895, and Reloder 7, though 2230 made an accurate load.

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Chargar posted this 03 March 2014

There may be others of which I am not aware, but Cramer designed and produced a mold/bullet for the 300 Savage with it's short necked case. It is their No. 45.  I don't know how hard it would be to find one of these. I have had good results with it in the 308 Winchester case, but it tends to roll snake eyes when speeds get much above 1,600 fps. I have no spent enough time playing with it, to get it figured out like I would like. So many molds and too few days.  

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Ed Harris posted this 03 March 2014

The short neck of the. 300 Savage and its 12” twist limit the selection of suitable bullets. The original cast bullet for the .300 Savage was the 150-grain #311414. The Lee C.312-155-2R for the 7.62x39 or RCBS. 30-165SIL should also work.

73 de KE4SKY In Home Mix We Trust From the Home of Ed's Red in "Almost Heaven" West Virginia

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rockquarry posted this 03 March 2014

Going through my old notes, I found I also tried a bullet cast from NEI mould #311.155 GC in the .300 Savage. This was designed by C.E. Harris for use in the 7.62x39. It's a short bullet that weighed 157 grs. cast from an alloy approximating Lyman #2. This bullet is probably short enough that base may not extend below the case neck, though I can't remember for sure.

I used 28 grs. 2230 for a muzzle velocity just under 2,000 fps,an accurate load.

Some years later, Lee copied the design; may still be available from them.

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tturner53 posted this 03 March 2014

Ed Harris wrote: The short neck of the. 300 Savage and its 12” twist limit the selection of suitable bullets. The original cast bullet for the .300 Savage was the 150-grain #311414. The Lee C.312-155-2R for the 7.62x39 or RCBS. 30-165SIL should also work. Hi Ed, could you expound a little more re. the 12” twist? I read conflicting info from time to time about the best twist for a .30. I strongly encouraged a young man I know to buy a Savage 99 in .300 Savage and am still trying to interest him in cast bullets. My understanding is that a slower twist allows pushing heavier bullets faster without losing accuracy.

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Ed Harris posted this 03 March 2014

Standard twist for the. 30-30, .300 Savage and. 308 Win. is 12". While this permits higher velocities without leading, it limits uility with subsonic loads with heavier bullets, or in stabilizing long-nosed, spitzers and jacketed boattails overabout 180 grains.

The original factory loads for the. 300 Savage were a 150-grain spitzer SP at 2600 fps, or a 180 at 2400.

73 de KE4SKY In Home Mix We Trust From the Home of Ed's Red in "Almost Heaven" West Virginia

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onondaga posted this 03 March 2014

http://www.castbulletassoc.org/view_user.php?id=7953>csparks1106:

If you want to go with a 150 grain gas check bullet....

A 150 gr Really big flat-nose hunting bullet that would accommodate the short neck of the 300 Savage, is gas checked and can be crimped on the top band center for short necks:

http://www.accuratemolds.com/bullet_detail.php?bullet=31-150L-D.png>http://www.accuratemolds.com/bulletdetail.php?bullet=31-150L-D.png

There is many designs in 30 Cal at this site and you can specify band diameters and nose diameter for nose riding as you want and specify alloy you will be casting. The above mold I suggested would be a true meat puncher for hunting with that particular flat nose in a 300 Savage. With #2 alloy, gas checked and sized for your rifle, I believe you could accurately get 2200 fps with H4895.

Gary

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csparks1106 posted this 03 March 2014

Wow, I've gotten a crazy amount of info here. You folks are incredible. Thank you so much for all the reply's. I know there's a lot more to getting the right sizing die than just buying one, but what is the correct procedure? I've done a lot of reading and some things I've read twice. I don't know if I have read anything that discusses the procedure for checking the diameter of the barrel. I think I figured this out a little too late for my .38 special, as I've gotten the mould and sizing die already. I got the Lee TL 358-158-swc mould and the Lee .357 sizing die. I may not have to size the bullets, but if I do, they may need to be sized differently, or am I wrong?

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onondaga posted this 03 March 2014

http://www.castbulletassoc.org/view_user.php?id=7953>csparks1106

It is not hard for rifles to get the right size bullet. The largest diameter bullet that will chamber is the best size. You can do that by trial and error or do a chamber casting and buy or modify a bullet sizing die that sizes bullets to fit the chamber throat with a slight drag when chambering rounds. 1/2 of one thousandth of an inch less than chamber throat diameter is the smallest you should go for bullets that fit rifles.

You can get there a variety of ways and sometimes your as cast bullet size is just fine when you luck out or have correctly ordered a custom bullet casting mold.

Very experienced casters can actually control as cast bullet diameter up to about .002” also, just by changing casting cadence or pot temperature or both. But that is a difficult skill to develop.

Gary

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admiral posted this 10 March 2014

In my 1927 99G I use the RCBS 30-150-FN. My rifle's twist is a little slower than 1-12” and it dosen't like bullets much over .900” long.

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csparks1106 posted this 07 April 2014

Can anyone give me a link to rcbs load data for the 300 savage. I can't seem to find anything. I am loading a cast rcbs 308-165-silh that R. Dupraz gave me to try. Need to know all the rest now.  Thanks.Charlie

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norm posted this 08 April 2014

RCBS cast bullet manual data for 300 Savage with 308-165-SIL. Reloder 7 25 gr for 1857 fps and 27.0 gr for 2019 fps, SR 4759 19.0 gr. for 1766 fps and 21.0 gr for 1922 fps, Unique 11.0 gr for 1469 fps and 13.o gr for 1626 fps. Try 4227 if you have it available. It sure does well for R. Dupraz in his 308 Israeli Mauser. Check the match reports for charge weights and reduce 2-4 gr. to start.

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R. Dupraz posted this 08 April 2014

csparks1106:   The actuall weight of those RCBS 30-165-sil bullets is 178 grns with GC because they came from a mold that has been lapped out.   An old tattered Lyman #44 loading manual lists a range of CB loads for the 183 grn. and  IMR4227. 16 grns -- 1457 fps 21 grns -- 1706 fps   The accuracy load was 21 grns at 1706 fps. But I would start on the bottom end first. The rifle used was a Savage 99  

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csparks1106 posted this 08 April 2014

I forgot that I had a link to castpics.net. I looked it up on there and got some different load data. I'm going to experiment.

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csparks1106 posted this 09 April 2014

Here's a pic of the loaded bullets that R. Dupraz sent to me. http://s777.photobucket.com/user/csparks1106/media/AF31FC18-3B61-430E-8280-0C769899E64E.jpg.html>

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csparks1106 posted this 09 April 2014

Loaded with 12 grains of Alliant Unique.

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Dutch4122 posted this 12 April 2014

Sure would like to see a range report on those in your .300 Savage when and if you get a chance.

Was thinking of trying the BRP version of that design in my .300 Savage 99R in the near future.

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csparks1106 posted this 17 April 2014

We loaded up 10 of these last week and shot them. Zero leading, and very light recoil. Didn't check the speed. Must have bumped my scope during deer season because they were way off target. Ran a few factory loads through just to verify my suspicions and they werent any better. and it was sighted in with those factory loads. Thinking about replacing the old Bushnell with a camo Nikon 6-14 anyway. As soon as we get the new scope on and load some more rounds, I'll let you know how it comes out. 

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