.300 Savage and 125-130 grain bullets

[filmjunkie4ever]

Has anyone done much with any of these as a "closer range coyote and deer load?"

I used to shoot the 130 grain Hornadys at about 2750 with a mild charge of 4064 years ago but never tried them on a deer.

Any thoughts on performance?

Before anyone dives on the obvious grenade of the 125 AB or BT, I tried some 150 BTs in this rifle and it splatters them all over the place. It does NOT like boat tail bullets it seems.

And yes this is from a wonderful old Savage 99 EG with a 4x Leupold M8 on top.

I seldom use it for hunting anymore so a plinking/varmint/occasional deer type load.

Thanks fellas!

 

[Tobey284]

They work great. I run them a little hotter with 3031 out of a 24" barreled remington. Kids have killed deer, javelina and antelope with em. If you crank up the velocity a little the 130 tipped tsx is a great bullet in this rig, my oldest boy put one lengthwise through a cow elk at 350 yards with the little 300 (there are BETTER choices for elk bullets but those little buggers work). During my texas days I often shot white tails with 130 Hornadys in my 30/06, worked very well.

 

[wvchevy3]

Dale ,The 125 gr Btip is a DRT bullet for .308 caliber rifle for Deer sized game inside of 400 yds. There are plenty of posts here about the accuracy and lethality of it in .308Win and 30/06. I think it would be a great combo for your 99. Good luck Lee

 

[wvchevy3]

Dale let me know if you need a bag of 2nds to try, I will send them your way.Lee

 

[1Shot]

Just because you think that your rifle will not shoot boat bullets because it did not shoot one make and weight BT does not mean that your rifle will not shoot BT bullets. Give 42 - 43 grs IMR 4895 a try with 125 Ballistic Tips a try. It will run between 2850 and 2950 fps and is AWESOME on deer. I have used this bullet in lots of 30 cal. firearms. As long as you keep it under impact velocity of 3000 fps it does a great job. IF you can not come up with an accurate load because it is true that your rifle will not shoot BT bullets I think the new 125 Hornady SST is a flat base bullet and I have heard good things about it but never tried it. If you want a bullet that is fragile so it really comes apart get some Speer 125 TNTs if you can find them. If you want a bullet that is a middle of the road in toughness for deer and softer for more expansion on varmints the 125 Sierra which is a flat base bullet will fill that notch.

 

[cloverleaf]

Dale ,The 125 gr Btip is a DRT bullet for .308 caliber rifle for Deer sized game inside of 400 yds. There are plenty of posts here about the accuracy and lethality of it in .308Win and 30/06. I think it would be a great combo for your 99. Good luck Lee

Dad shot 130 Gr speer boat tails out of his 7Mag loaded down to @ 2900fps. Every time that gun went off a deer fell down. No exaggeration. Cant see how you can go wrong with a 125 if you can make it accurate. Far as that goes .... Guy did some reloading 30 Cal reloading for a friend using 150 Gr BT's. Accurate and deadly as I recall. CL

 

[filmjunkie4ever]

Thanks for the advice fellas.

Lee, I may take you up on that but for now am buried in a few other projects and I have the .300 in the shop right now getting checked out by a gunsmith.

I think my accuracy issues with the 150 BT may have been due to some forward pressure issues with the fore end. I had to have the barrel set back due to headspace issues a few years ago and that gun hasn't shot the same since.