How to Use a 30-30 in a Savage 303 Gun

The .303 Savage cartridge was originally designed in 1894 by Savage Arms, intended as the primary cartridge in the Savage 99 lever-action rifle. Winchester's Model 1894 was the most popular lever-action rifle at the time (and is to this day), and more proprietary ammunition, the 30-30 cartridge, was made for this particular firearm than any other. As such, it has become common for gun enthusiasts to shape a 30-30 cartridge to fit the Savage 99.

Things You'll Need

  • 180-190 grain .308-inch 30-cal. bullets
  • Standard .303 Savage brass cartridges
  • Rifle primers
  • IMR smokeless gunpowder
  • Bullet press
  • Dies
  • .303 Savage shell holder
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Instructions

    • 1

      Attach your bullet press to a level counter. Connect the priming head to the bullet press. Load the press magazine with primers.

    • 2

      Insert the .303 Savage shell holder into the bottom of the press (refer to individual press manual). Clip the individual .303 Savage cartridge into the hold and run the press once to seat one primer. Repeat for all ammunition.

    • 3

      Attach the IMR powder dispenser to the press. Dispense only 33.5 grams of IMR powder per cartridge so as to limit bullet velocity to 2090 ft/s. Dispense more powder per case at your own risk.

    • 4

      Install a seating die on the press. Clip on the cartridge in the shell holder. Insert one 30-30 bullet into the .303 cartridge and run the press once. Repeat with all desired shells.

    • 5

      Load the new cartridges into the Savage 99's loading port. Extend the Savage 99's lever once to chamber a round. The weapon is now ready to fire.