The classic .303 Savage cartridge performs on par with the .30-30 Win. Handloading components and dies are relatively easy to come by, but load data for modern powders is sparse. (Shooting Times photo)
Arthur Savage established the company that bears his name just before the turn of the 20th century at a time when smokeless powder development was in its infancy. As many readers know, he developed a lever-action rifle with a unique internal rotary magazine. He offered it up for military trials chambered for the .30-40 Krag round, and when it was not accepted, he developed the civilian Model 1895 chambered for a then-new rimmed, bottleneck .30-caliber round first known as the .30 Savage (later called the .303 Savage). Initially, four versions of the cartridge were offered, including a smokeless round topped with a 190-grain jacketed bullet, which had a factory-rated muzzle velocity of...