Savage 99DL issues

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RickV

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Just bought a Savage 99DL in .308. It shoots 2.25 inches high at 50 yards with the rear sight as low as it can go. The sights appear to be factory.
Shot 4 shots with 2 shots not ejecting the cartridge. The last cartridge had to be rammed with a cleaning rod to remove. The gun had not been used in while. The bore is good. The blueing is 90 percent and the stock in very good condition. No Tang cracks. No sign of abuse.
Called the dealer - he won't take it back - said it was a consignment and already paid the guy his money.
Feeling ripped - what to do? I can replace the sights for a bit a trouble but the failure to eject is worry. The ejector claw appears fine. The cartridge is just really jammed. Used 150 grain Reming Core-Lokts.

Any ideas would be appreciated

Rick
 
Well - The chamber could be a bit dirty or rough - either from lack of cleaning, rust, or machining marks. (You say its been sitting for a while) Look at the spent cases - are they badly scuffed...
All the above faults are correctible - from cleaning the chamber to polishing with very fine emery cloth. The later effort is a bit more involved for a lever action, but a competent gunsmith should manage it.
 
Rick, got your p.m.

I'd go with cosmic and have the chamber polished, sounds like it's just hanging up on something.

I've got the same problem with a 99C of mine that won't eject either but it's a different problem than yours hopefully.

Did you check the primers on your spent casings? Are they backing out? The 308's weren't known for headspac issues on the 99's mainly the 284's, 22-250's and 243's were. A series rifles weren't made as well as the pre-mil Savage 99's. The parts used were alot cheaper, this was Westfields attempt to cut costs and keep the 99's running but they dropped the line with only a few made by Llama in around 2002. I've got a few post mil and A series 99's that I still use for hunting but the real nice 99's were made before 1960. Gimme a partial serial number and I'll date your gun but it'll for sure be made after 1960, the DL's only surfaced around that time.

If the dealer you bought it off won't honor a return ask him if he'll at least fix it for selling you a gun with problems, if he won't post his gunshops name here so we all know to stay away from him.
 
Another thing you can try is using a black magic marker on a casing and run it in and eject it, look at the casing and see where the chamber is catching on the casing where the marker has been worn off.
 
Cosmic - I have brushed out the the chamber (20 gauge brush) and swabbed with gun solvent. I am planning on shooting the gun today. I rechambered the spent casings and they are not sticking as bad but I expect a newly fired casing will stick.

MadDog - thanks for posting a reply. I will approach the dealer again. If I don't have any success - I will try getting the chamber polished as Cosmic suggested. The serial # is B279450 with a rotary magazine, aluminum counter and a tang safety - I have thought it to be late 60's early 70's. I bought it for deer hunting. It doesn't action as smooth as some older .300's I have handled. I thought maybe it just needed some cleaning and a little oil but given what you have said about the quality for that time period - it is probably inherent.
 
Talked the dealer today - he refused to come good for anything at first. He said he is not responsible for used guns and that the bottom of the receipt says he is not liable for used guns. Funny, I specifically asked him about the condition of the gun at the time of sale and he didn't say it was a consignment or final sale or anything. After questioning him on his lack of revelation and that as a dealer he should be responsible for what he sells or at least say so openly if he is not, he indicated he would talk to his gunsmith on Monday. Chalk it up to experience I guess.

Anyway I had talked to a local gunsmith who is quite reputable and he suggested I take steel wool and oil to the chamber or use 400 emery cloth. I used the 400 emery cloth with gun solvent as I didn't want to get pieces of steel wool in the rotary magazine. I didn't improve it any as the spent casings still gets stuck . If all else fails I guess I will take it to my local gunsmith - I asked him for a specific estimate on polishing the chamber and he said a minimum of $120. As a result I never made it out shooting - no point yet.
 
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