Finally Fired my Savage 99. Couple questions

BigGameHunter

BigGameHunter

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I wanted to first thank everyone for the information regarding my Savage 99 that i recently purchased off of a friend of my grandpas.

I put 25 rounds though it today (both old and new). It is a very nice shooting gun. Accurate and smooth action.

However: I did run into a problem. When it was loaded once it got down to the 3 or 2nd round it would spit 2 rounds out when ejecting. One spend casing and then the live round underneath. All of the other rounds cycled fine just that one spot when there were 3 left in the gun it would do this. The action is spotless inside and there is nothing that seems out of the ordinary except one other detail. The cylinder was sometime tricky to fill with 5 rounds. I would get it, but took some effort. I know when hunting you only need 3 but for target shooting I really like having it filled to capacity and dont consider just loading it with 4 to be a fix to that as even when the gun was filled with 3 or 4 rounds it would also still spit the 3rd and 2nd last round out at the same time.

Edit: I just read somewhere that you can adjust the rotary mag spring tension and I was wondering if it is too light/tight and that is why it is allowing 2 rounds to come out at once?

Has anyone else ever experienced this problem? What should I do. There really are no gunsmiths around here so I am hoping it is just an easy fix as I really like the gun and plan on using it. Like I said everything else is fine. Ammo used were Federal (new 180gr) and Some older 150 grain. So I don't think its an ammo issue. The brass spindle moves freely when unloaded and pops back into place with no problems. If anyone can shine some light on this and help me get this gun working flawlessly that would be great. Thanks again.
 
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Does anyone have any idea. From the rest of the shooting besides that I think this is one of my favourite guns now. Such a slick action. I can see why people collect these gems.
 
Can't help you out - but I'm following your thread closely as I'm wondering if I have the opposite spring problem. Very rarely, and only with flat-ish pointed bullets, the new round jams on the ramp on its way out of the magazine, and only the last round. I'm wondering if a little more spring tension might pop them up and over a little better.

RG

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Sounds like your rotor is wound too tight. When you have trouble getting the 5 rounds in that is normally the issue. It is a fine line between too tight and too loose. Here is a clip from another forum on adjusting the rotor. It is one of those jobs that is seems that you need 3 hands to do. Most people won't tackle it because it can be tricky. I have done a number without any issues.

"If you look just above the cartdidge counter window, you'll see a small screw. If you remove the forend and look at the end of the receiver you'll see a ring that is slotted. You'll need a flat bladed screwdriver with a slot cut through it so it fits well into the slots on the ring. Now being careful. loosen that screw above the window. It only has about 6 or 8 threads on it IIRC and then it's a straight shank beyond that. DO NOT FULLY REMOVE THIS SCREW YET!!! While you are loosining that screw, you want to have the slotted screwdriver in place holding the rotor from turning. On the rotor, there are a series of slots around the diameter for that screw above the window to engage. If you rotate the rotor ever so slightly you can feel the slot on that screw. Holding the rotor in place, gently remove the screw. Once that screw is fully removed you should feel resistance on the slotted screwdriver. This is where you have to be careful. 2 people really help, although I did it alone. Rotate the rotor only slightly (clockwise if too tight and counter-clockwise if too loose)and place the screw you removed back into the hole you took it out of. You'll feel it contact the rotor. Carefully rotate the rotor until the screw engages the next slot in the rotor. Replace the screw once it's in a slot and thread it in. You want to go no more than one slots adjustment and I think you should be OK. I hope I haven't confused you any more than you already might be."

It was posted by Longbeard King who is also a member here.

Good luck!
 
It is possible that it might also be an issue with the cut-off and its spring. That is the metal piesce that moves in and out just above the magazine.

44Bore
 
I actually after shooting it gave it an even more thorough cleaning. I only had 4 rounds but I fired them through it and it cycled them fire. They were different rounds but it worked no problem. Maybe it was just the newer ammo or there was something making the rotor not move perfectly. I will get another box of ammo and put it through just to be sure.
 
BigGameHunter said:
I actually after shooting it gave it an even more thorough cleaning. I only had 4 rounds but I fired them through it and it cycled them fire. They were different rounds but it worked no problem. Maybe it was just the newer ammo or there was something making the rotor not move perfectly. I will get another box of ammo and put it through just to be sure.
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Thanks, Blair for posting the information. If I'm understanding BigGameHunter, a good cleaning solved his problem. I'm sorry I don't get over here as often as I should, but am happy to help if I can. Good luck with your 99 BGH!!!!
 
The rotary magazine on the 99 is a little bit dirt sensitive. Add to that the usual male tendency to take stuff apart, to see how it works, and you might have a spring that it to tight, or loose, coupled with a bit of dirt. With my 99 I had to take the mag apart and clean it. I don't think it had ever been done.
I had a manual, and maddog's advice to help with that.
It worked perfectly after a good cleaning.
He's mobile right now, so he may not get to this thread for a bit. I suggest you PM him with either questions, or a link here.
 
Thanks. I am gonna put another box of shells through it again just to be certain as functionality/reliability is the most important aspect of firearms to me.

A perfectly working gun is always more important than looks(Which is why most of my new guns are either Savage or Ruger, not the prettiest but always go bang when i pull the trigger and do what they are meant to as a tool).

Thanks again for all the positive responses and I will post again once I have some actual groupings made up. Eventually I would like an original peep sight and really dial it in as I do not want to drill for scope. Everything will be left original even though it is not the most collectible version of the gun (99F). It is still almost 90 years old and has a lot of the original finish on it (I would say around 80%+ in Good-very good condition but that I think is conservative and I do not know how to gauge that). It is collectible but shoot able to me.and it would be a shame to mess with that. Maybe one day if its rusted all up and needs a refurb then I may consider but for right now a peep is the only thing I will do to it. Should be a great up north rifle.

Thanks again.
 
BrotherRockeye said:
don't rule out 44Bores suggestion.It's the first thing that came to my mind and if it's sticking will allow a round from the mag to pass.
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Yeah when I first got it it was kinda stiff but now after i got right in there that piece floats nicely and moves very smooth. it may have been one of the contributing factors. I will fire another box through and I'll know for sure now that I have a good amount more information to go on. Thanks!
 
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