The Life and Times of the Savage Model 99, One of Americas Greatest Lever Action

SHELL SHUCKER said:
I've only owned 2 of the 99's, both model A style. My first one was in 250-3000 which was a decent shooter, but only with the lighter 87 gr bullets due to the slow 1 in 14 twist barrel. My second one was in 375 Win that was very fast on game and a hard hitter with the 250 gr factory loads on big stuff like moose & bears. I sold that rifle to an amigo's father who got 3 nice moose with 'er. Nice rifles overall, but for me, I've generally gone with hammer guns like the Win 92 & 94's.
Click to expand...

I've had a couple in years past. While I have nothing against either their function reliability or calibres they're available in, they're not the lever action model or style for me. The point of my lack of appreciation is more toward the aesthetics. To my eye, ;) a lever gun 'needs' an external hammer. In addition to a couple of 99 Savages I've also had a couple of 88 Winchesters. Presently in the safe are few Marlins, a GBL in 45-70, an old 94 in 44-40 and a 444. My favorite lever gun is the 348 WCF deluxe model 71 Winchester in my safe.
 
Last edited:
The guy I usually hunt with has a late production 99, I was absolutely amazed by its accuracy, handling and a trigger better than many bolts I have owned.

The one thing is I think that they are ugly as sin lol. I could get over the lack of an exterior hammer but the pistol grip on a lever is sacrilege for me

I saw what may be a custom 358 on gunbroker or another American site, might be a custom job but fits the description of the limited run
 
madtrapper143 said:
99F in .300 Savage. One shot Remington 150 grain Corelokt. Has to be one of the best eastern deer rifles ever built. Some one please find me a Williams FP99S peep for it.
yT77hIe.jpg


Darryl
Click to expand...

Have you tried Elwood Epps Darryl? They seem to have a good selection of Williams sights and accessories... I have not checked if in stock though...
 
I love my 99 in 300 savage I have
I had a 308 model 99 I sold I should have never sold
I sold my other 99 in 300 but I bought another one after
 
303EppsFan said:
In the book The Blue Tiger missionary Harry Caldwell talks of the Sav 99 in .22 HP that he killed tigers with in China. It was very effective.
Click to expand...

Years ago, a Mrs. Betty Wendle a resident of Barkerville, used the 99 Savage in .22 HP on Grizz hunts in the B.C. central interior. I have a photo of her and her husband Joe at the end of one such successful hunt. In '55 we moved from downtown Edmonton to downtown Barkerville and five months, lived about 100 yds from the Wendle home. I had the opportunity to visit their home and saw her other Grizz trophies, all taken with her 99 Savage in .22 HP.
 
Johnn Peterson said:
Years ago, a Mrs. Betty Wendle a resident of Barkerville, used the 99 Savage in .22 HP on Grizz hunts in the B.C. central interior. I have a photo of her and her husband Joe at the end of one such successful hunt. In '55 we moved from downtown Edmonton to downtown Barkerville and five months, lived about 100 yds from the Wendle home. I had the opportunity to visit their home and saw her other Grizz trophies, all taken with her 99 Savage in .22 HP.
Click to expand...

only few years ago ... love when our memory is still there.

in saguenay someone took a polar bear with a 300 savage a while ago. i think i was not born yet but heard and saw a picture of it.
 
medvedqc said:
only few years ago ... love when our memory is still there.

in saguenay someone took a polar bear with a 300 savage a while ago. i think i was not born yet but heard and saw a picture of it.
Click to expand...

:)Just had a birthday yesterday. I know there was a 4 and a 7 involved,;)just can't recall in which order, 74 or 47. Anyway, still mobile and still on the right side of the grass. We lived in Barkerville for 5 months in '55, then a few years later, Barkerville became a historic park. The photo I mentioned earlier of Mrs. Betty Wendle following a successful Grizz hunt where she used a 99 Savage in .22 HP is on the way to you as we speak:).
 
Johnn Peterson said:
:)Just had a birthday yesterday. I know there was a 4 and a 7 involved,;)just can't recall in which order, 74 or 47. Anyway, still mobile and still on the right side of the grass. We lived in Barkerville for 5 months in '55, then a few years later, Barkerville became a historic park. The photo I mentioned earlier of Mrs. Betty Wendle following a successful Grizz hunt where she used a 99 Savage in .22 HP is on the way to you as we speak:).
Click to expand...

happy birthday Johnn, a little late to the party.
 
300 Savage
Factory ammo is still out there but not nearly as available, or as cheap as 308. One only sees either 150 grain or 180 grain ammo. It's surprising that we don't see 300 Savage ammo in 165 grain...?
 
I have never been much of a lever guy but I have owned 4 or 5 of these over the years. Usually I sold them after a couple of years and then regretted it and bought another. Finally I decided that this couldn't go on and bought one in .300 savage to keep and use. It's a great rifle, it just took me a while to realize that I needed one. It will be staying.
 
peterf said:
I have never been much of a lever guy but I have owned 4 or 5 of these over the years. Usually I sold them after a couple of years and then regretted it and bought another. Finally I decided that this couldn't go on and bought one in .300 savage to keep and use. It's a great rifle, it just took me a while to realize that I needed one. It will be staying.
Click to expand...

I’ve never owned one but thought of getting one many times and this thread just rekindled the thoughts. A nice one in 300 savage would fit the bill quite nicely, I would think…
 
saskbooknut said:
I'm always suspicious of a writer who can't get the most basic facts straight.
.303 Savage uses .308 diameter bullets.
Click to expand...

If you read enough you will find out that Savage made .303 Savage Jacketed ammo. in .311 , in the beginning
even though their barrels were .308 groove dia. This practice did not last long & they went to .308 dia.
I can't find the source 4 that right now but I have read it several times in the past.
Yes I collect 1899 Sav. rifles. I have 1 Montreal Home Guard with Bayonet . I have a Moose Horn Savage Cartridge Box
if you know what that is.
 
saskbooknut said:
I'm always suspicious of a writer who can't get the most basic facts straight.
.303 Savage uses .308 diameter bullets.
Click to expand...

Check this out. I also emailed this guy ten years ago to ask about that; he stands by his statement that some early .303 Savage ammo was loaded with .311" bullets, although the bore size was always .308".
 
Interesting read. I inherited a Savage model 1899, manufactured in 1912. 22hp caliber. I wrote Savage to get info on it and they sent me this in a email : Savage Arms is no longer able to perform Historical lookups of firearms. As of July 2020, we transferred our Historical records to the Cody Firearms Museum. They will be professionally conserved and archived there, ensuring they are preserved and accessible for current and future Savage collectors. This process is ongoing, but all historical requests should be directed to the Cody Firearms Museum.

https://centerofthewest.org/explore/firearms/

For information on modern production guns (1995 and newer) you are welcome to contact the Savage Service Department.


Savage Technical Services

I still have 1 remaining box of new cartridges for it aswell.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom