Savage 99 or Browning Lever - help me decide

I

Iron Glove

CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Rating - 100%
44   0   0
Location
Hope and Tulameen
Looking at getting either a Savage 99E or a Browning lever in 308 as a back up for hunting. Want a lever as I'm a lefty and the 308 as an alternative to my 30-06. Looking at buying used, prices are about the same.
Any comments on preferences of these two? The good and bad of each ?
Thanks.
 
The Savage may appreciate in value; the Browning may not. I think the Savage is prettier....an impractical consideration to some, but important to me.
I prefer either a hammer or a tang safety, if the Savage has a lever safety it loses a point there. I also prefer the safety and convenience of a drop-out magazine for unloading; the Browning wins there. That option was on the 99C, but you're looking at a 99E, I assume in .308 Winchester.
You'll seldom hear complaints about either of these rifles. I personally own a Savage, but I did consider the Browning. It's a compact, tough little rifle, and some of my friends use them for moose. I think the 99 is a shade less convenient, but would be my hands-down choice if it were me.
 
I own both.They are both good guns.I'd still take the 99 over the browning though.The 99's look and feel better to me.Where I differ with Kilo Charlie though is on the "c" model.I much prefer the classic rotary mag and lever safety for the 99.The pre million serial mark rifle are better quality than the post.Personally I would look for a pre mil 99F(featherweight) in .308.

The tang safety may be a better option for a lefty but I doubt that the lever safety would cause too much trouble for a lefty.I've lent some of my 99's to a lefty friend and he never mentioned any problems with it.
 
I also have both. I like the half #### for a safety on the browning. I have no problems with the savage lever safety and I am left handed, I usually release it with my thumb over the top as I prepare to raise the rifle. So that is not an issue for me. If you are paying the same price for a BLR and a 99E you are either getting one heck of a deal on the BLR or paying too much for the 99E. Bare rifles the 99E should be around $300 depending on condition where the BLR will be around $450. I personally would look for a different style of 99 if I was buying it for hunting. I don't like not having the cartridge counter nor do I like the birch stocks. There are lots of models to choose from that are different weight, barrel length etc that you should be able to get something that works for what you are doing. I must warn you if you get one, you will want more and there is a good chance that it won't end up being the backup rifle :D
 
SuperCub said:
I see some pretty good buys on 99s in 300Savage these days. I'd be tempted to go for one of those.




.
Click to expand...

+2 :redface:
Used my Uncles BLR for a couple years but they aren't in the same group as the 99 IMO.
As Blair mentioned hold out for a different model too, the 99E stands for economy model, that should say enough there. An EG, R or F would put a bigger smile on your face in the long run and have better value.

Only nice thing with the BLR is the detachable mag. The rear sight on them is very fragile and a joke really. Their LOP was too long unless your arms are like an ape.
 
my vote = savage 99

SuperCub said:
I see some pretty good buys on 99s in 300Savage these days. I'd be tempted to go for one of those.
.
Click to expand...

+1

Can't argue with that.... there's also the ones that show up in .308 Win, too.

I've had both 99's and BLR's in .308 Win.... currently have one 99 and no BLR's... guess that says something.....;)
 
I have a 99e .300 and I know its an economy model in but I love that gun!!!
that gun is accurate, easy to carry in the bush, reliable and has shot quite a few deer.
 
Thanks for all the comments guys, I think I'll look for a nice Savage, the Brownings just seem to be too much right now.
Best I can find at the various dealers sites are 99E's ranging from a bit of a beater @ $395 to a much nicer one @ $495.
Missed out on a real nice one last month for @ $350 - I snoozed and I loosed !!
I'll try the upcoming HACS shows in Burnaby.
 
I would take a Savage 99 in 284 or 358 over any rifle in the world. I get better accuracy out of my bolt rifles, but they are bolt rifles and serve a different purpose all together.

The Marlins and Winchesters are classic, beautiful, and handle extremely well but the 30-30 leaves alot to be desired and the newer rounds chambered in these rifles are nice but still come short of what I come to expect from a 308 in it's entirity.

The BLR is bulky and down right ugly. It is built by a company more concerned with their logo then the actual value and quality of thier products. The BLR is a fine hunting rifle but is not in the same class as any lever action rifle designed in the late 1800's. They don't build them like they used to is a very true comment.

If you want the best lever action available well you could spend alot of time looking. Each have thier pro's and con's. But if you want to see a beautiful lever try and find one of the bad boys made by Sako, a finwolf I believe it was called. If you can't find one of them, you will be hard pressed to beat a 99.

Called me biased, but I think very little of the BLR, and outside of the old mauser based Brownings, and BBR's, I don't believe any Browning is worth the tag that hangs from its barrel.

My two cents anyways.
 
have 300 f and 308 f. 308 from 1956 and 300 is from 60. Been hunting with these since i was a kid. I have carried the browning and the weighting is just not the same as the savage. Looks and fit of the savage are better IMO. You will be hard pressed to find a more carry friendly lever. The post 60's f's should be more affordable since most seem to think the build quality went down a little then. But i love it since the safety was moved to the tang then. 300 and 308 are great calibers but the 300's are getting harder to find if you don't reload. Check the bore and crown cause most of these were chosen by serious hunters and they were probably kicked around a bit. But i will tell you they can take a beating and come out shining. Also check the top of the stock directly behind the tang as they have a tendency to crack there and when they start they wont stop.

Good luck
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom