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Posted: 6/8/2009 7:02:23 PM EDT
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I have a chance to trade something I'm trying to sell for a Savage .300 lever action. I have been told it is approx. 45 - 50 years old. From what I have read they are great deer hunting rifles. Anyone have any other insight on them. The ammo I have found is over 1.00/round, which is spendy. Any opinions on these rifles?
Thanks, |
| I have never owned one but quite a few years ago a friend wanted some loads for a 99. I tailored the loads to the rifle and it was pleasant to shoot and had good accuracy. The round is no barnstormer but is more than adequate in the right loading for 300 yd. kills. The action, although a lever, was smoother than the typical lever action. Have kinda wanted one ever since. Just haven't found one at a price I am willing to pay. |
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I have had one for years. they are smooth well balanced rifles as long as you don't scope them. the stocks on the older ones are for open sights and when scoped get kinda ackward to shoot well. the .300 savage is a great round, and you are correct that it is expensive to shoot now. that has only happened in the last 5 years. the good news is if you reload. IMR 4064 is in the sweet spot for 150gr bullets and shoots them at 2800fps......which is what the .308win and 30/06 does. with heavier bullets the .308win outperforms the .300sav and with other powders it lagged behind the .308 also. RL15 might workwell also, but i don't recall any data for it in my books.
IMHO the Savage 99 with open sights in the .300 sav caliber is one classic combo that is hard to beat even with modern guns/calibers.....especially when loaded with 150gr bullets and IMR4064. advntrjnky |
| The one I loaded for was scoped (3-9x32 I believe) and I didn't find it out of balance. The problem comes when people stick big scopes with big objectives on a compact rifle. This way you use shorter rings and the problem with stocks made for iron sights is reduced to almost unnoticeable. You learn that when you have to use slugs for deer hunting. A shotgun with a scope too high will beat you badly if you don't set it up right. |
| My dad has had one for almost 20 years. He really likes it, and I do too. I shot my first deer with it. It would be on my short list of rifles to own if I didn't already know I was getting one some day. The going rate on them seems to have gone north of $500-$600 for one it decent shape. |
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