.303 Savage Shooters

[Ray Newman]

Gents: RE.303 Savage.

If you have one and need some extra brass, I have 37 pieces of re-formed 30-40 Krag Remington brass needing a new home. Originally loaded by the now-defunct Graybeard's Wildcats. Problem is that the brass will not fit my Redding 303 Savage shell holder. So it needs a good home.

If you can use it, let me know and I'll send it you via Priority Mail -- no charge. Send me a PM.

[earlmck]

What a nice thing! PM Sent

[Ray Newman]

EarlMck: check your PM.

[Pete44ru]

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Good on you, Ray !


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[Old Savage]

Congrats Earl

[shortwheels]

I am all set for 303 brass, but what a kind thing you are doing !!!

[earlmck]

Here is what I'll do with the brass shortwheels --
this is my favorite 303 Savage load: 117 grain Ranch Dog 32/20 bullet sized on down to .309 (although this 303 takes .311 bullets fine also) pushed by 10 grains of Green Dot for a bit over 1600 fps.

303SavCartridges7360.jpg

And here is my rifle that shoots those cartridges

Sav99in303.jpg

Better shot of the sight -- these "Tang-ceiver" sights are my favorite for the 99s

[earlmck]

The brass arrived yesterday while I was busy checking/sizing the very bullet I like to shoot in the 303 Savage. I was really curious as to what needed to be done to 30/40 Krag brass to turn it into 303 Savage brass. Nonte's "Home Guide to Cartridge Conversions" says to turn down the rim diameter, swage the base, trim to length. It looks to me like the fellow who did this conversion went ahead and lathe-turned the base as well as the rim, rather than swage the base. They look beautiful:

303SavAndKragBrass7365.jpg

303SavAndKragBrass7366.jpg

An original Krag cartridge on the left, the converted cartridge in the middle, and a newly made PRVI case on the right. I think you can see that the Krag case is just a bit too large diameter rim and just a scosh too fat at the base. So a little lathe work turned the Krag brass into fine looking 303 Savage brass. My 303 dies are Lee, and the shell holder they sent with the dies was their #11 which is the same holder that the 44 magnum uses. It fits these converted Krag cases perfectly. And on the Hornady Progressive I use their #9 shell plate which is for the 44/40 but works so well with the 44 mag and 303 Savage I don't bother with anything else. And these converted-Krag cases slip right into it just fine also. And oh yes -- they chamber just fine in the rifle (that was the first thing I tried )

Here they are loaded with the 32/20 bullet sized to .309 and 10.5 grains of Universal (throws better than the Green Dot I have been using for this load).

303SavLoads7367.jpg

Thanks much Ray! I'll see if I can't put them to use maybe as early as tomorrow (a couple of us are going to try for a little shooting if the wind isn't ridiculous).