anyone messed with 200 gr bullets for 300 Sav?

[MacEntyre]

From a discount table I bought 60 Nosler 200 grain jacketed spire point bullets measuring .307". I thought I would try them with my Savage 99. In a Speer reloading manual, I found data for a 200 grain jacketed bullet. They shot it from a Savage 99, starting with 38 grains of Reloader 15. Turns out there is not much room for more powder, because the bullet seats well below the neck when the cartridge overall length is 2.58". The bullet has a lead base, but a very thick jacket that makes a rim around the base.

I've made accurate loads using a 200 grain lead flat nose bullet with a gas check. Since it is flat nosed, the bullet doesn't seat below the neck. It performed surprisingly well at 100 yards, grouping as well as anything I've loaded in 300 Savage.

I don't have any good reason for using heavy bullets in this caliber. It's just for fun... and deer hunting.

Has anyone else messed with heavy loads for 300 Savage?

[Old Savage]

Generally they are considered to heavy to be the most efficient. Ken Waters covers it in his Pet Loads if I recall correctly.

[Old Savage]

Yes - he did try some loads - 760 was the best velocity wise 2288 with maximum loads. 4064 worked nearly as well as did 4320 and 3031.

[MacEntyre]

...the best velocity wise 2288 with maximum loads...

That's about what I'm supposed to get, according to the Speer manual.

Of course, they are not the most efficient, but it's fun. I've loaded everything from 47 grain round ball, and 100 grain half jacket round nose plinkers, to these 200 grain spitzers.

[Old Savage]

The old fella that had mine originally did that sort of thing minus the roundball. He got very good accuracy with 130s and with 150 gr Silvertips and 4064. Apparently at one time they were available as a component.

If you are not shooting far an impact speed of 2000+ should work fine I would think for hunting. Waters mentions that OAL is a problem with other than round nose. But, you can always try them and see how that works.