3030 Savage

emmab

emmab

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Hello my friend has his fathers Savage model 99 made in 1912. I have one made in 1900. Here is a picture of my friends.


Here is a pic of mine

My Savage model is clearly stamped as being chambered for the .303 which is no surprise My friends we’re not so sure. The last 0 in the caliber marking is in a different font and
Id think m99 3030 win less common?
What caliber is my fiends 99? Is there any way of checking serial numbers or the something else What are the two bore sizes and would mic’ ing the bore work. Cheers
Thanks in advance.
 
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They both have the same bore diameter. The "0" on your friends looks like a bubba stamp job. The 30-30 case is a bit longer than the 303, and narrower at the base. I wouldn't fire a 30-30 in a 303 even if it will chamber.
 
Serial #'s will only tell you when it was made unless its worthwhile to send the Cody firearms museum $75us and get it lettered.
I just pulled a 303 and a 30-30 out to check. A 30-30 will be swallowed by a 303 chamber (but would probably fire based on the rim),
a 303 leaves about an inch sitting out of the chamber on a 30-30. Bore size is the same-.308. So just try putting a 303 into your friends rifle, but I would say its 30wcf.
 

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Just a guess but a 303 rechambered to 30-30? Whoever did the job added the "0" to show the new chambering hence the different font?
 
klaus enuff said:
Just a guess but a 303 rechambered to 30-30? Whoever did the job added the "0" to show the new chambering hence the different font?
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Re-chambering either which way 303>30wcf or 30wcf >303 I don't think would work without a pretty extensive barrel set back that would really cause issues with the forearm.
1912 was a busy year for Savage,turned out the most guns ever,22000 so on final assembly the worker realized mistake and gave a 0 stamp a whack.
 
It is a 30/30 for sure. Less common than the .303 Savage in the 99 but much easier to feed nowadays. Savage was much like Marlin back in the day. Seems like they both refused to put the Winchester name on their rifles even the acronym WCF. Marlins were marked 30/30 as well not 30 WCF as was accepted at the time. Even the 32 Winchester special was marked 32 HPS by Marlin. Really confusing to some people at the time and moreso now.
 
Interesting. With these old rifles, one runs into situations that need to be sorted out carefully. Posting a problem on here usually brings out the answer, or at least good advice on what avenue to take.
 
Shoot a .30-30 in it. If the case looks OK it is likely .30-30. If the case splits or swells out of spec it is a .303 Savage. Just kidding don't do this. I do know that Savage marked early .30-30 barrels with "Savage 30" and later with "30-30". That is not a Savage factory stamping for 30-30. It is a Savage factory marking for .303 Savage then somebody stamped an extra 0. God knows why but that gun needs some careful chamber spec inspection before firing.

Darryl
 
I believe the early Savage 303 had a groove diameter of 311-hence the name 303. This was later changed to 308. Iy might not be a bad idea to slug the bore.
 
All 1895/1899/99's in .303 had a bore of .308. Some Savage factory loaded ammo used .311 bullets to increase pressure and velocity, but is recommended to not use jacketed bullets above .308 diameter.

And to the OP, let us know what your friend finds out as inquisitive minds would like to know!!!
 
The ammunition test was performed and the chamber consumed both calibers. It’s a mystery but leaning towards.303 savage.cheers and thanks for info!
 
emmab said:
The ammunition test was performed and the chamber consumed both calibers. It’s a mystery but leaning towards.303 savage.cheers and thanks for info!
Click to expand...

If it accepts a .303 Savage cartridge, don't fire 30-30 in it.
 
I wonder if an unscrupulous individual stamped the extra "0" so as to fool an unsuspecting buyer into thinking it was the more desirable 30-30 chambering?
 
Share some pics of my 1899 30-30 barrel markings.

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^^^ my 30-30 takedown is marked identical to yours from what I can see.

Is there a 1911 dated patent marking on top of your rear site?
 
I can see no other markings on the rear sight, The bluing is a lot deeper than the rest of the rifle, so it might have been changed, not sure.
 
Looks like a damn inspectors mark and he hit it right there, must have been a Monday morning.

Take it to a smith and have him cast the bore before your friend does some damage.

Yukon has a couple good points especially about a rechamber. With the forearm off has the escutcheon for the dovetailed forearm mount been messed with at all or on the inside of the forearm to make the forearm match with it?
 
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