Range Report: My .303 Savage 1899-H

[Pete44ru]

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I finally took the ca. 1914 Savage 1899-H, that I snagged @ the CT Cabela's last Spring, to my gunclub's range to zero in anticipation of this Fall's annual Maine deer hunt.

After I got it zeroed with the red dot sight, I shot a 2-5/8" [EDIT: 1-5/8" (doh)] 100yd 3-shot group with the factory loads - Hornady .303 Savage 150gr JSP's - so it looks like I'm gonna be good to go.






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[PriseDeFer]

What a beauty. You will make the forest happy with that one. What red dot are you using?

[harry]

Wouldn't that be 1 5/8" since you started at 1"

[EdinCT]

That will do! Sure hope you get the chance to prove what Ken Waters said about the Maine guides stating of the superior ballistics of the 303 Savage. I have a bunch of 180gr round noses I would love to try in one someday.

[Sixgun]

Wouldn't that be 1 5/8" since you started at 1"

Good catch Harry.....Pete smoked a joint before he read the measurements. I always knew those 1899's shot better than what he quoted.

Hey Pete, I HAD one of those H's in .303 but it was no where near as nice as yours. Mine did like a 175 grain cast with IIRC 18 or 20 grains of 5744.

[Pete44ru]

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Well, DOH . ( I guess I shot myself in the foot, too )

Yep - It looks like I was having a senior day when I read the rule..........

The red dot is a Tasco I bought NIB @ a yard sale several years ago for $20.

I've owned/shot/hunted with several Savage 99's before this one ( a .308 M99-A, a .300 M99-EG & a .300 M99B), and can say that this lightweight M1899-H is the best handling rifle of the lot, in addition to being much lighter than the others.

Thanks for the heads-up on my faux pas, AND the kind words.


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[hondo1892]

Nice rifle. The knife looks like its almost as large as the rifle. How long is the blade?

[AJMD429]

Oh it is horrible and terrible and I have to go purge and vomit and cut myself, because < gasp > you put a m-m-modern sight on a classic vintage rifle...

Far better you just shoot and miss, or hang it over the fireplace with a proper vintage buckhorn sight.

What sacrilige...!

[/humor&soapbox modes off]...

It is GREAT to see a century-old firearm still bring home dinner. Red-dot sights are great, on ANY gun; you use what sight is best for you.

[Pete44ru]

Nice rifle. The knife looks like its almost as large as the rifle. How long is the blade?

The blade length is 9-1/2" - It's a Cold Steel Trailmaster Bowie that I re-handled in Ebony a few months ago.

Here's my thread on the re-handling: http://www.levergunscommunity.com/viewt ... ie#p763128


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[Old Savage]

Perfect gun for the Maine woods.

[Merle]

When I lived up in Maine I was told the old timers preferred the .303 Savage for moose. They really liked the 190 gr bullets over the 170 gr in a 30-30.

[KeithNyst]

Nice shooting; nice rifle! I also have a 1899-H, but in .30-30. Agree it is a great handling rifle with it's 20in lightweight barrel.

[guido4198]

Thanks for sharing.
If I had a place to hunt, I have always thought an older Savage 99 in one of the less common calibers would be a treat to own and work up a good deer/hog load for.
With my "aging-eyes"..I'd also opt for some kind of optical assistance, but I suspect it would be a low power old school steel Weaver scope, but that's just me. I get what AJMD429 is saying, and hope he's just busting chops. I applaud WHATEVER it takes for you to get that beauty back in the big-game woods where she belongs.

[earlmck]

Nice rifle, Pete. I have one pretty similar -- they surely are light and handy. Just outa curiosity, where did you find factory ammo for that lil' lady?

[Merle]

Nice rifle, Pete. I have one pretty similar -- they surely are light and handy. Just outa curiosity, where did you find factory ammo for that lil' lady?

http://ammoseek.com/ammo/303-savage

try this out

[Pete44ru]

Nice rifle, Pete. I have one pretty similar -- they surely are light and handy. Just outa curiosity, where did you find factory ammo for that lil' lady?

http://ammoseek.com/ammo/303-savage

try this out

Earl, I just googled ".303 Savage ammo for sale", and got several different vendors, all selling the same new Hornady 150gr JSP loads @ slightly different prices - so, I just ordered a couple of boxes from the least expensive vendor (I received the ammo within the week).


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[earlmck]

Much thanks Pete, and Merle. I had no idea anyone was producing 303 Savage factory loads. My old girl never gets fed anything but my reloads, but friend George will be happy when I tell him about the fodder available for some of his new acquisitions.

A couple months ago I inspected one of these at a LGS. Clerk assured me that Savage designed these so you could shoot 30/30 ammo in the 303 but not vice versa. The BS you can get fed at the gun counter!

For those of you not totally familiar with the 303 Savage, it does not accept a 30/30, nor does a 30/30 rifle chamber a 303 Savage, though the cartridges could easily be mistaken for each other just by looking at them.

[Pete44ru]

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I often wonder why Winchester (or any other .30-30 ammo manufacturer) never made a 190gr heavy boolit commercial load like Savage did for their .303........................



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[Nath]

Thanks Pete.
I enjoyed your report.

That is a nice rifle.

N.