SavageT...
Your "educated guess" is correct concerning the date of introduction of the .300 Savage cartridge. I found two places that referenced the date the .300 Savage was introduced. I believe there is a 3rd. place that referenced it as well, but I couldn't find it in my quick search.
Look at the first paragraph on page 4-16 and the 2nd. line on page 6-3 of Doug Murray's book, "The Ninety-Nine" (3rd. edition). Both references indicate that the .300 Savage cartridge was "introduced in 1920", as mentioned previously by "jhm". :-)
In 1920, the original "short action" cartridge, the .300 Savage, did duplicate the then-current ballistics of the .30/06 which was a 150 grain bullet at 2700 feet/per/second (fps). Current factory ballistics for the .300 Savage are 2630 fps for the 150 grain bullet whereas improvements in rifle powders over the years currently allow the .30/06 cartridge to drive a 150 grain bullet at over 2900 fps.
I'm getting an average of 2675 fps from my handloads in my Model 99 (EG)/.300 Savage made in 1953. The rifle is very accurate... averaging in the .6" to .7" range (3-shot groups) at 100 yards using 41.5 grains of IMR4895 (a maximum load) a 150 grain Nosler Ballistic Tip, boat-tailed bullet in front of a maximum charge of IMR4895 using Winchester standard large rifle primers and Winchester cartridge cases.
This load may NOT be safe in your rifle... so drop the powder weight 10% to about 37.5 grains and work up to the best, safe load for your rifle.
Many experts believe that the .300 Savage is, perhaps, "THE" best deer cartridge ever designed since most game bullets seem to work perfectly at .300 Savage velocity and ranges. As a result, one of the best deer cartridges ever designed is 83 years old.
Gee... who'd have EVER "thunk" it :?:
:-) :yeah:
Ron T.
