Author Topic: 300 Savage in a Contender? (Read 1039 times)

The Duke · « **on:** December 10, 2003, 07:00:46 AM »

Is this a safe chambering in a Contender? It seems to be a very efficient cartridge for it's age. It's about the same size as a 308 Win but operates at a lower pressure. I have it in a 1899 Savage rifle and I love it.

spinafish · « **Reply #1 on:** December 12, 2003, 10:36:33 AM »

J.D.Jones will rechamber for the 300 Savage and he chambers his Contender barrels for the 300 Savage. He had offered the advice not to try and might it a .308,but factory rounds would be fine.

Orygun Mark · « **Reply #2 on:** December 13, 2003, 05:04:05 PM »

I have a 14" 300 Sav barrel and I only use handloads in it. I really don't think a steady diet of factory loads would be good for it. Just my opinion.

Jay HHI6818 · « **Reply #3 on:** December 14, 2003, 02:42:09 AM »

Funny you mention the 300 Savage. I was at a gun show yesterday and the TC dealer had a 14 inch SSK 250 Savage on the table.

BLACK BEAR · « **Reply #4 on:** December 14, 2003, 05:20:48 AM »

I had Bullberry build me a 300 Savage for my Contender several years ago. Wicked killer on the two antelopoe I took with it. My only problem was when I loaded some Barnes X bullets, the pressures jumped and the gun actualy popped open. Should have listened to J D Jones.

RL-15 and Hornady 150 grain BT bullets gave good velocity and MOA accuracy. Need to blow the dust off that barrel and try it again.

BB :grin:

RoyB · « **Reply #5 on:** December 14, 2003, 11:59:52 AM »

I shoot a "30 Something" which is basically a 300 Savage Rimmed. I use 307 brass that is simply formed in a 300 Savage FL die and trimmed to length. I took a 30 Herret barrel which already had the grove for the rim cut and the proper extractor, ran a 300 Savage reamer into it and voila! "30 Something". It can be done by hand without a lathe. The barrel shot terrible as a 30 Herret, but now as a 30 Something, it shoots fantastic. I can get a 150 grain Nosler Balistic tip to 2500 fps with Vit N-140 powder with no signs of pressure. Tip the gun up and the cases fall right out.
I shot a 300 pound black bear right between the eyes from 83 yards last year. It is easily my favorite barrel.......

Graybeard · « **Reply #6 on:** December 14, 2003, 12:33:19 PM »

Quote

I can get a 150 grain Nosler Balistic tip to 2500 fps with Vit N-140 powder with no signs of pressure.

WRONG!!

Do the bullets come out the end of the barrel? If so that's an excellent sign you have pressure. Love that one JD, thanks for it.

Seriously folks at the pressures that are even remotely safe in the Contender with a round with this case head size there can be no obvious EXCESSIVE pressure signs. They don't show themselves that way. You might be at the frame stretching level and still there are NO VISIBLE signs of EXCESSIVE pressure. If you hear a bang and the bullet exits the barrel you HAVE pressure.

As to the safety of the .300 Savage in the Contender. As safety conscious as J D Jones is if he wasn't absolutely POSITIVE that factor loads were safe I'm certain there is no way he'd chamber one and yet he does. Did so for me.

GB

HL · « **Reply #7 on:** December 17, 2003, 07:21:02 AM »

I've been shooting a 15" contender in 300 savage for right around 17 years now. I have loaded it hot but since have backed off quite a bit.

Using Hornady 130gr bullets, I chrono'ed my load at 2460fps. With the 1/2 to 3/4 inch groups I get with this load, that's fast enough for me. It's worked great out to 150+ yards on whitetail.

I know there are many new wildcats out there in 30cal., but looking at the ballistics, I can't justify a new barrel for nominal or no gain in velocity or accuracy.

So many calibers, so little time. That's why there are so many shooters, all the calibers get used by someone. To each his own.

Good shooting,

HL