.300 Savage

Infobox Firearm Cartridge
name= .300 Savage


caption=
origin= flagcountry|United States
type= Rifle cartridge
service=
used_by=
wars=
designer= Savage Arms
design_date=
manufacturer=Savage Arms
production_date=1920
number=
variants=
is_SI_specs=
parent=
case_type=Rimless, bottleneck
bullet=.308
neck=.339
shoulder=.446
base=.471
rim_dia=.473
rim_thick=
case_length=1.871
length=2.60
rifling=1-10"
primer=Large rifle
is_SI_ballistics=
bw1=150
btype1=FMJ
vel1=2765
en1=2547
bw2=165
btype2=PSPCL
vel2=2676
en2=2624
bw3=180
btype3=SBT
vel3=2503
en3=2505
bw4=
btype4=
vel4=
en4=
bw5=
btype5=
vel5=
en5=
test_barrel_length=24
balsrc= [http://www.accuratepowder.com/data/PerCaliber2Guide/Rifle/Standarddata(Rifle)/308Cal(7.82mm)/300%20%20Savage%20pages%20257%20to%20258.pdf .300 Savage Reloading data at Accurate Powder]

.300 Savage cartridge is a rimless, .30 caliber rifle cartridge developed by the Savage Arms Company in 1920 which was designed to replace the less powerful .303 Savage in the their popular "Savage Model 99" lever-action rifle. [http://www.chuckhawks.com/savage_99.htm The Savage Model 99 by Jon Y Wolfe at Chuck Hawks] ] Despite having a short case and a rather stumpy neck, the cartridge is capable of propelling a convert|150|gr|g|sing=on bullet at over 2,600 feet per second (790 m/s) with an effective killing range of over 400 yards (364 m).

History

The original intent of its designers was to offer a cartridge that could approach the ballistics of the .30-06 Springfield, while at the same time utilizing a smaller case that could be cycled through a short-action lever rifle. Although it fell somewhat short of its ballistic goals (by about 150 ft/s), its performance outclassed other contemporary .30 caliber lever-action cartridges including the .30-30 Winchester and .30 Remington. It soon became a popular deer and medium-sized game cartridge among North American hunters, and by mid century nearly every major US firearms maker offered a .300 Savage chambering in at least one of its rifle models. [http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0BQY/is_2000_Jan/ai_57886792 Farewell to the Savage 1899 by Holt Bodinson in Guns Magazine Jan 2000] ]

The .300 Savage distinguished itself further by serving as the parent to the .308 Winchester (7.62x51mm NATO) cartridge, a round that was developed for the US armed forces in the 1950s and which is still in use today. [http://www.chuckhawks.com/300savage.htm The .300 Savage by Chuck Hawks] ]

The Savage Model 99 lever-action rifle is no longer in production, and over the past two decades or so the .300 Savage has faded in popularity, eclipsed by its own progeny the .308 Winchester and other more powerful short action cartridges. However, it continues to be marketed by several ammunition manufacturers.

Ironically, Savage Arms no longer regularly offers a rifle chambered for what may be the most famous cartridge the company ever developed. Despite its decline as a sporting round, the .300 Savage remains quite popular with handloaders who are able to utilize newer smokeless powders and more aerodynamic bullets to obtain optimum performance from it. [http://www.chuckhawks.com/subscribers/rifle_cartridge_page/300savage.htm The .300 Savage by Chuck Hawks (subscription required)] ]

Performance

Pressure level for the .300 Savage is set by SAAMI at 46,000 CUP. [http://www.accuratepowder.com/data/PerCaliber2Guide/Rifle/Standarddata(Rifle)/308Cal(7.82mm)/300%20%20Savage%20pages%20257%20to%20258.pdf Reloading data at Accurate Powder] ] The .308 Winchester operates at a higher pressure of 52,000 CUP, which is one of the basic reasons it outperforms the .300 Savage.

ee also

* .303 Savage
* .308 Winchester
* .30-06 Springfield

References

External links

* [http://www.savage99.com Savage 99 Web site]