Making 300 Savage from .308 win brass

[Northwest Cajun]

Hi guys,
Is it as easy as running 308 brass through a 300 savage die then triming a little off the top? Which would be better brass to use military or commercial?
I'll be using Varget and 150 gr bullets in a Model 99 that was made in 1929.
Any replys would be greatly appreicated

Cajun

[Mike Irwin]

Yes, it can be that simple, as long as your rifle doesn't have a super tight chamber. If the chamber is really tight, you'll probably need to use small base dies.

You're not moving the shoulder enough to thicken the neck at all, but doing outside diameter neck measurement on a couple of finished rounds is always a good idea.

Why not simply buy .300 Savage cases? Midway carries them?

[Northwest Cajun]

Thanks Mike for the reply,
I'm about to order a 1000 rounds of 308 win brass for my M1A1 and I figure I will have a few left over
I'll make a few and see how it shoots. If it still shoots well, I'll use it as back-up to my scoped 30-06 this fall for deer.

Cajun

[C.R.Sam]

Do NOT use 300 Savage loading data. Start low and work up. You will have different case capacity with your remanufactured cases and could get into a pressure pickle.

Sam

[Mike Irwin]

Actually, Sam, you USE .300 Savage loading data, starting at the suggested loadings on the low end and load up.

Essentially case capacity of a non-military shortened .308 case is the same as a newly manufactured .300 Savage case.

[C.R.Sam]

The neck will be moved back 0.032", the body will be reduced somewhat for the full length. Thus making the brass thicker at all points and thereby reducing the capacity of the newly formed case to somewhat less than standard. This with civillian brass. If military brass is used, the reduction will be even more.

I suggest starting load be a bit below published 300 Savage starting load.

Not a bad idea to trim and fully form a few .308 cases and then compare the average weight with new 300 Savage cases.

Sam

[Mike Irwin]

That's what I would have thought, too, Sam, until I actually DID this some years ago.

Effect on case capacity in grains of water?

Of the 20 Remington .308 cases that I reformed to .300 Savage, the difference in water weight between a similar number of Remington .300 Savage cases was less than 0.5 grains of water.

In other words, not enough to worry about if you start where you should, at the low range and work up.

With those 20 reformed cases I ran some loads that were well above Hornady book pressure with 4064, or well into .308 ranges. There were absolutely no overt signs of pressure at all.

Moving the case neck back that small an amount simply didn't have a truly measurable effect on the capacity of the case.

[C.R.Sam]

Sounds like the .308 brass was thinner than the Savage......soooo, when it got all squinched down to size, it came out right.

That's a problem with only havin spec drawings for external dimensions on most cartridges. Gotta try to be sure.

If the external dimensions are alike, weighing the cases will give an indication of relative capacities without gettin wet. BUT, only if ALL external dimensions are alike.

Happy birthday Mike.

Sam

[Northwest Cajun]

Thanks Guys,

I've asked this question to Hodgon, since I will be using Varget.
I'll let you all know what they say.

Cajun

[Northwest Cajun]

Here is what Larry from Hodgon said,
"The starting loads will be just fine in the reformed brass".
&
"For the 300 Savage with a 125 gr. bullet and Varget powder use, 35.0 gr start 40.0 gr MAX. with the 150 gr bullet use 34.0 gr start 38.5 MAX"

Cajun

[Mike Irwin]

Cajun,

Any particular reason why you're going with a 125?

I've found that neither of my .300s, a 1936 99 nor my Remington 722, shoots the 125s very well.

The .300 is pretty much a cartridge that is tailor made for 2 weights -- 150 and 165.

My 99 can do slightly more than 1 inch at 100 yards with Hornady 165s (Williams receiver sight), the Remington will do about 3/4 inch with the same load (Leupold scope).

With Sierra 165s the Remington will do a little under 1/2 inch.

[C.R.Sam]

Cajun, thanks for puttin up the response from Hodgon.

Enjoy it.

Sam

[Northwest Cajun]

Mike, I'm starting at the bottom and working my way up.
I'll try the 125's and 150's to start with , then mabe try some Hornady SPBT 165's. I have all of them on hand at the moment.
I just made up 5 125's and 5 150's, both with what Hodgon recomended starting at. I'll head out the range this week and post the results.
I'll take my chronograph, but what kind of speeds can I expect with the loads I'm using?
Cajun

[Mike Irwin]

Cajun,

With Varget, I have NO clue what speeds you might expect.

I've never used that powder before. Sorry.

[Northwest Cajun]

Range report:
125's 35.0 gr Varget 2089 fps average of 5 shots,
150's 34.0 gr Varget 1971 fps average of 5 shots,
165's 33.5 gr Varget 2015 fps average of 5 shots.

My next loads will be in the 35.5-36.5 gr range with the 150 & 165
If I can get 2400 fps with either bullets I might think about it as a back up this fall to my scoped 30-06 for deer (black tail)
Cajun

[Mike Irwin]

Well, with the 125s you're about 700 fps of of what is really in the right ball park of 2,500 to 3,000 fps.

With the 165s your about 75 fps off the LOWEST velocity shown in my Hornady 4th edition.

If not with Varget, you should be able to make 2400 to 2500 fps. with the 150 or 165 EASILY.

[C.R.Sam]

IF....the capacity of your cases is bout the same as original .300 Savage; your velocities look low. As Mike noted.

I show starting load velocities for 150gr using IMR 4320 to be well over 2,400' sec. Other powders starting loads comparable. From Lyman Reloading Handbook.

Your chamber, barrel etc will do their own thing but I would think that you would do better than shown on your chrono.

Sam

[Northwest Cajun]

I realise the speeds are VERY SLOW. It's a neet old gun and I dont want to push things too hot. Thats why I'll be happy with 2400 fps.
The reason for Varget is I get it in 8 lb jugs. I use it for all my rifle loads(.223,.308,30-06,& 45-70) K.I.S.S.

Cajun