Savage 99 First Rifle?

My buddy just picked up a 50's vintage 308 '99 in beautiful shape. He looked at it at the shop then gave it back.

When he was in the parking lot leaving the owner ran out asking him if he'd take it cheap. I think he paid $325 or something. Shoots darn straight and is worked in just enough to be smooth as heck. I'm jealous!

Awesome rifles!

One of the older guys in our moose camp uses one. I'm 45 now, he's pushing 80 and I remember him using it when I was a kid. Always admired it. 308 as well.
 
Owned one, a dream to carry, so well balanced and nimble. Smooth lever as well. Accurate with the stock irons.

Some say they're ugly, but I think there's something about them that makes them beautiful tools.

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I love my 99. Over paid for it at Shooters Choice years ago. At the time I was impatient, didn't know any better and jumped at the first one I saw in person. She is nothing more than a post mil E with the aluminum rotary magazine and old school safety. The stock was poorly refinished and someone inlet a toonie into the stock. Just a disgrace hahaha.

She does functional well, holds an inch and a half at 100 yards and the bore is clean. I restocked it and went from a peep sight to a scope.

I have two factory stock sets and some weaver bases I'd like to offer to another 99 lover for the cost of postage. I was hoping there was a kid out there somewhere with a beat up old 99 in need of some TLC.
 
About 55 years ago as a 13 year old kid - I shot my first RIFLE - my "surrogate" big brothers and hunting/shooters mentors had me shoot their Savage 99 250-3000 - OUCH!!! About 40 years later I just HAD to get one for myself. Yes they are a MASTERPIECE of engineering and ingenuity BUT I take umbridge with their butt heavy balance and the resulting NASTY felt recoil. Unless you REALLY DON'T LIKE THE KID - introduce them to the world of rifle shooting with a little more user friendly rifle and caliber.
 
The rifle I carried as a kid was a mint 1900 Obie Swedish Mauser 96/38 6.5x55. Still have it and still mint.

My main critter gitter was a 1954 Remington 760 in 270. Used it for 25 years and still have it.

You can see I have a thing for classic rifles. I have a '94 30-30, an older marlin 444, cooey 60 in really nice shape because I figured out how to make it cycle when noone else could. I love that cooey too.

One I DONT have yet is a 99. One day.......They are just plain pretty.
 
I've been pretty well convinced for a number of years that I should have a 99. I just wish I knew more about them to make an inforrmed choice. Maybe there's something in the safe I could peddle or swap for one.
 
I love my 99f .308 ....just sold an e model, but still looking for another 99f .308 so this way I can hand one down to each of my boys! In my opinion the models without the brass counter just aren't the same, it's part of its charm.
 
With the 99's you need to be aware of cracks near the tang in the stock.

I like to clean my rifles from the breech with a cleaning rod rather than a boresnake, so that's another down side.

The Marlin's are also a great option in 30-30 for a first rifle. So is a Rem 600 Mohawk in .308.
 
Chefhunter said:
I love my 99f .308 ....just sold an e model, but still looking for another 99f .308 so this way I can hand one down to each of my boys! In my opinion the models without the brass counter just aren't the same, it's part of its charm.
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Yeah, ain't the same without the brass counter!

I missed a chance on one in 300 savage one time too. Damn. Never again.
 
superted said:
About 55 years ago as a 13 year old kid - I shot my first RIFLE - my "surrogate" big brothers and hunting/shooters mentors had me shoot their Savage 99 250-3000 - OUCH!!! About 40 years later I just HAD to get one for myself. Yes they are a MASTERPIECE of engineering and ingenuity BUT I take umbridge with their butt heavy balance and the resulting NASTY felt recoil. Unless you REALLY DON'T LIKE THE KID - introduce them to the world of rifle shooting with a little more user friendly rifle and caliber.
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I agree that the design of the stock requires you to adjust your technique. You don't shoulder a Savage 99 the same way you would a Winchester 94. My dad has a 1909/1910 Savage 1899 rifle in 30-30, with a hexagonal barrel and Rocky Mountain front sight. Just a beautiful rifle. But the first time I shot it, I punched myself in the face with my own thumb. You have to cradle it into your shoulder and really get a good cheek weld. It's not a beginner's rifle. Many 250 Savages wore the deluxe stock with pistol grip and shotgun buttplate. I would bet that contributed to your discomfort.
 
A 99 is certainly a classic rifle, no argument on that point, but in all my years of shooting I have never owned one. However, I can't really look on a a 308 Winchester calibre as belonging on a classic, hand me down rifle. To me, a classic calibre for it would be 300 Savage or 250/3000.
I first saw a 99 Savage in the 1930s when I was ten years old and going to a one room country school in the boon docks of bush land northerly Saskatchewan. Our teacher was a married man who lived in a house about a hundred fifty yards from the school, across a creek and up a hill. On a nice spring day at recess, the teacher was out in the yard with us, when a large hawk was circling over head. One of the boys, who was about 14 said to the teacher, "Can I shoot that hawk with your rifle?" The teacher told him he could, if he would go and get the rifle, "from my wife." The boy took off in over drive, soon returning with a 99 Savage in 22 Hi Power calibre and a handful of shells.
Sadly, the hawk was no longer over head, so we all missed out on any further action.
The boy would have had a life time story, if he would have hit the hawk, and believe me, a lot of boys at that time in the boon docks were pretty darn good shots.
 
H4831 said:
A 99 is certainly a classic rifle, no argument on that point, but in all my years of shooting I have never owned one. However, I can't really look on a a 308 Winchester calibre as belonging on a classic, hand me down rifle. To me, a classic calibre for it would be 300 Savage or 250/3000.
I first saw a 99 Savage in the 1930s when I was ten years old and going to a one room country school in the boon docks of bush land northerly Saskatchewan. Our teacher was a married man who lived in a house about a hundred fifty yards from the school, across a creek and up a hill. On a nice spring day at recess, the teacher was out in the yard with us, when a large hawk was circling over head. One of the boys, who was about 14 said to the teacher, "Can I shoot that hawk with your rifle?" The teacher told him he could, if he would go and get the rifle, "from my wife." The boy took off in over drive, soon returning with a 99 Savage in 22 Hi Power calibre and a handful of shells.
Sadly, the hawk was no longer over head, so we all missed out on any further action.
The boy would have had a life time story, if he would have hit the hawk, and believe me, a lot of boys at that time in the boon docks were pretty darn good shots.
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I've posted this photo in past but here goes again, in line with your mention of it.



The rifle and calibre was the choice of Mrs. Betty Wendle for her successful Grizzly hunts.
 
H4831 i agree with you on caliber choices, it's just that i grew up with the .308 and love the versitility of the round....it evokes memories of hunting with my old man.
 
Chefhunter said:
H4831 i agree with you on caliber choices, it's just that i grew up with the .308 and love the versitility of the round....it evokes memories of hunting with my old man.
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The .308 is far cheaper to shoot, I'll give you that. However, I've never cared for the later 99s in .308. The Schnabel forend is gone and the removeable box mag defeats the purpose for me. The wood in general looks like lower quality walnut too. The .300 Sav will do anything the .308 will do with modern powders and bullets. But, to each his own, I guess.
 
I had an 1899 in 25/35 but couldn't try it as I couldn't find ammo.
So I sold it at a gunshow to a fellow seller.

It shouldered well, nicely built.
I liked the flip up tang peep site and the safety on the loop.

If it was in .243, 30/30 or .308 I would have kept it.
 
Chefhunter said:
H4831 i agree with you on caliber choices, it's just that i grew up with the .308 and love the versitility of the round....it evokes memories of hunting with my old man.
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H4831 and I came from the same part of the country and I suspect from a previous generation so we both equate the 99 to the original calibers we used in our childhoods. Of interest ,my favorite hunting rifle is the Win 88 in .308 - known as "the Great Provider" for the number of deer and moose it provided for our table.

Re:the brass counter? If anyone wants one AND has the courage to take the coiled magazine spring apart (which isn't recommended) to install it - they are welcome to it. Its been sitting in my parts bin for years!

And no that first 99 I shot sure didn't have any fancy cheekpiece stock or recoil pad - I didn't know back then how you had to mount it to avoid the bruising of that snappy 250/3000. It sure is one of the classics! Interesting stories from you all!
 
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