Newly acquired savage 303 model 1899.

The Duderino · February 1, 2013, 12:44 PM

I just acquired a 303 model 1899 manufactured in 1911. It was my great grandfathers gun. It has the octagon barrel and round counter with the crescent butt plate, however the forward guard was ruined and needs to be replaced. My grandfather had a piece of wood cut to fit. My questions are, where can I actually purchase ammo for this rifle, can I use 30-30 shells, and what is the vale of this rifle? If anyone has info or could help I greatly appreciate it.

RevGeo · February 1, 2013, 12:58 PM

No, you CAN NOT use 30-30 ammo in a .303 Savage. Try Midway for ammo. Some guys at gunshows have ammo for older guns. The .303 Savage is a fine round in the same class as the 30-30, but the ammo is not interchangable.
Depending on where you are the values is probably between $500-750.
Bummer about the fore end. That's a nice gun.

**Mike Irwin** · February 1, 2013, 01:04 PM

Value of the rifle is absolutely impossible to determine given that at the time they could be ordered with a significant number of custom accessories and enhancements, and these can dramatically affect the price.

Anymore, and remembering that gun prices are HIGHLY regional, a nice condition 1899 can bring well in excess of $1,000, and that's just for a factory standard model.

I THINK that Hornday is loading .303 Savage ammo once again, so you might try that route.

The Duderino · February 1, 2013, 01:51 PM

Thanks for the info. I found a fore end online that I am going to use to replace the one that was custom made. The last time the weapon was fired was about 20 years ago. I am stoked to get it out and put some rounds down range.

30-30remchester · February 1, 2013, 09:27 PM

One of the downfalls to collectors is the forend. Even though you have found an "original" period forend, the original to the gun were serial numbered to the gun. Any collector will disassemble the gun to check for matching numbers. Is there a possibility to get some pictures? Hornaday no longer loads the 303 Savage caliber, but custom loaders advertise this caliber on GUNBROKER.COM. Simply go to AMMUNITION catagory and type in 303 Savage.

bamaranger · February 2, 2013, 02:41 AM

I walked into an old hardware store in MS not too long ago, and there was a vintage box of .303 Sav ammo, a partial box mind you.....marked ".42 cents each." The old clerk counted them out and took exactly that for them!

Jack O'Conner · February 2, 2013, 09:29 AM

This shop stocks 303 Savage ammo:

First Stop: 605 341 5211

Jack

**Mike Irwin** · February 2, 2013, 02:11 PM

Crap, I thought Hornady or Privi was still booking it.

Guess I'm going to rethink looking for a .303 and keep looking for either a .38-55 or a .30-30.

The Duderino · February 2, 2013, 05:20 PM

here are the pictures i took.

The Duderino · February 2, 2013, 05:22 PM

one more

The Duderino · February 2, 2013, 06:09 PM

30-30remchester, I understand that the for end is important to collectors, but I will never sell this weapon. My great grandfather bought it brand new and I plan on keeping it in the family and passing it down to my boys. I knew no one in my family had done any real research on it and I definitely appreciate all the info you guys have given me. I am just excited to get it out and sling some led and see how this goes. Last time it was fired it had some major recoil and my grandfather was not a small guy by any means.

30-30remchester · February 2, 2013, 08:24 PM

DUDERINO, it is nice to hear you are keeping this piece of family history. The metal can be cleaned up using 4 aught steel wool soaked in WD-40. When aquiring a forend make sure it was for an octaganal barrel. Lastly the recoil you mentioned puzzles me as this caliber is very mild, especially when firing in a full weight rifle. Check and clean the bore well and take a good look to check condition. Even if the bore is pitted, I have had good accuracy.

kahrguy · February 4, 2013, 05:50 PM

The Duderino check Pm for ammo

February 1, 2013, 12:44 PM	#1
The Duderino Junior Member Join Date: February 1, 2013 Location: NC Posts: 5	Newly acquired savage 303 model 1899. I just acquired a 303 model 1899 manufactured in 1911. It was my great grandfathers gun. It has the octagon barrel and round counter with the crescent butt plate, however the forward guard was ruined and needs to be replaced. My grandfather had a piece of wood cut to fit. My questions are, where can I actually purchase ammo for this rifle, can I use 30-30 shells, and what is the vale of this rifle? If anyone has info or could help I greatly appreciate it.

February 1, 2013, 01:04 PM	#3
Mike Irwin Staff Join Date: April 14, 2000 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 33,141	Value of the rifle is absolutely impossible to determine given that at the time they could be ordered with a significant number of custom accessories and enhancements, and these can dramatically affect the price. Anymore, and remembering that gun prices are HIGHLY regional, a nice condition 1899 can bring well in excess of $1,000, and that's just for a factory standard model. I THINK that Hornday is loading .303 Savage ammo once again, so you might try that route. __________________ "The gift which I am sending you is called a dog, and is in fact the most precious and valuable possession of mankind" -Theodorus Gaza Baby Jesus cries when the fat redneck doesn't have military-grade firepower.

February 1, 2013, 01:51 PM	#4
The Duderino Junior Member Join Date: February 1, 2013 Location: NC Posts: 5	Thanks Thanks for the info. I found a fore end online that I am going to use to replace the one that was custom made. The last time the weapon was fired was about 20 years ago. I am stoked to get it out and put some rounds down range.

February 2, 2013, 02:41 AM	#6
bamaranger Senior Member Join Date: October 9, 2009 Location: North Alabama Posts: 3,633	.42$ each I walked into an old hardware store in MS not too long ago, and there was a vintage box of .303 Sav ammo, a partial box mind you.....marked ".42 cents each." The old clerk counted them out and took exactly that for them!

February 2, 2013, 09:29 AM	#7
Jack O'Conner Senior Member Join Date: July 11, 2005 Location: Lancaster County, Pennsylvania Posts: 1,320	This shop stocks 303 Savage ammo: First Stop: 605 341 5211 Jack __________________ Fire up the grill! Deer hunting IS NOT catch and release.

February 1, 2013, 12:58 PM	#2
RevGeo Senior Member Join Date: September 18, 2011 Location: North Idaho Posts: 146	No, you CAN NOT use 30-30 ammo in a .303 Savage. Try Midway for ammo. Some guys at gunshows have ammo for older guns. The .303 Savage is a fine round in the same class as the 30-30, but the ammo is not interchangable. Depending on where you are the values is probably between $500-750. Bummer about the fore end. That's a nice gun.

February 1, 2013, 09:27 PM	#5
30-30remchester Senior Member Join Date: April 18, 2009 Location: mountains of colorado Posts: 977	One of the downfalls to collectors is the forend. Even though you have found an "original" period forend, the original to the gun were serial numbered to the gun. Any collector will disassemble the gun to check for matching numbers. Is there a possibility to get some pictures? Hornaday no longer loads the 303 Savage caliber, but custom loaders advertise this caliber on GUNBROKER.COM. Simply go to AMMUNITION catagory and type in 303 Savage.

February 2, 2013, 02:11 PM	#8
Mike Irwin Staff Join Date: April 14, 2000 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 33,141	Crap, I thought Hornady or Privi was still booking it. Guess I'm going to rethink looking for a .303 and keep looking for either a .38-55 or a .30-30. __________________ "The gift which I am sending you is called a dog, and is in fact the most precious and valuable possession of mankind" -Theodorus Gaza Baby Jesus cries when the fat redneck doesn't have military-grade firepower.

February 2, 2013, 06:09 PM	#11
The Duderino Junior Member Join Date: February 1, 2013 Location: NC Posts: 5	30-30remchester, I understand that the for end is important to collectors, but I will never sell this weapon. My great grandfather bought it brand new and I plan on keeping it in the family and passing it down to my boys. I knew no one in my family had done any real research on it and I definitely appreciate all the info you guys have given me. I am just excited to get it out and sling some led and see how this goes. Last time it was fired it had some major recoil and my grandfather was not a small guy by any means.

February 2, 2013, 08:24 PM	#12
30-30remchester Senior Member Join Date: April 18, 2009 Location: mountains of colorado Posts: 977	DUDERINO, it is nice to hear you are keeping this piece of family history. The metal can be cleaned up using 4 aught steel wool soaked in WD-40. When aquiring a forend make sure it was for an octaganal barrel. Lastly the recoil you mentioned puzzles me as this caliber is very mild, especially when firing in a full weight rifle. Check and clean the bore well and take a good look to check condition. Even if the bore is pitted, I have had good accuracy.

February 4, 2013, 05:50 PM	#13
kahrguy Senior Member Join Date: October 1, 2012 Posts: 356	The Duderino check Pm for ammo