thinking of joining the Savage 99 cult

Tudenom

Tudenom

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Hey guys

I’ve been pondering over lever action rifles chambered in a deer cartridge for a while, but Marlin / Winchester prices are getting too spendy and I’m thinking that I should get to know what the Savage 99 is all about.

What would you look for in a Savage and what pit falls should I avoid?

I’m good with converting common brass into rare brass so the cartridge case isn’t a problem. I’m also cutting my teeth on casting, so if it’s a common caliber (25, 30, 35, 38) then I’m game. I like long barrels and iron sites so just about everything is on the table.

What do the guru’s suggest as a good starting place for an inexpensive example (say less than $1000)?
 
Buttstock cracks at the tang can occur. Repairable.
Probably the only less than common cartridge is the proprietary .303 Savage.
These rifles were made for a long time - many were used with corrosive ammunition, so check bore condition.
Many were not drilled and tapped for scope mounting at the factory.
.250-3000 is the classic caliber; .300 Savage may be the most common.

Rebarreling starting with a blank is a bit of an ordeal.
 
Look for a good example..take your time and pay what it take to get it.
Stay away from worn out..they are money pit.

I did not know a sav 99 cult was existing..they were not that popular in their days. I owned one in .300 sav and was not impressed. I prefer a Win 1886 or 1895 anytime over that design.
 
Savage 99s are beautiful machines. I own 99s in 300savage,308, 250-3000 and 358Winchester. Start with a 300Savage, most common calibre, therefore cheapest. Get model with brass rotary round counter. Obviously get best bore you can find. many will have blue wear on bottom of receiver from carrying. Not an issue for a hunting rifle. 300savage performance approaches 308 in efficiency. Good luck finding a nice one and enjoy.

24hour Campfire website has a very active Savage 99 forum. Peruse that and you will learn a lot about these old rifles.

24

Oh yeah, I find it a plus they are not that popular these days, it will save you some $$.
 
I collect , shoot & hunt with Sav. 99's since 1970. The best bang for your buck in a Hunting 99 is the Model 99 EG
in .300 Sav. . Not overy exspensive , powerful enough , accurate enough , often drilled & tapped 4 a scope.
Shot my 1st. deer , bear & moose with one. My daughter uses it now , to kill her 1st. 3 deer.
 
Janeau said:
Look for a good example..take your time and pay what it take to get it.
Stay away from worn out..they are money pit.

I did not know a sav 99 cult was existing..they were not that popular in their days. I owned one in .300 sav and was not impressed. I prefer a Win 1886 or 1895 anytime over that design.
Click to expand...

There sure is. Watch a vintage one in good conditions show up on the EE and see how long it lasts. They are like wolves hiding behind every tree LOL
 
cooey43 said:
I collect , shoot & hunt with Sav. 99's since 1970. The best bang for your buck in a Hunting 99 is the Model 99 EG
in .300 Sav. . Not overy exspensive , powerful enough , accurate enough , often drilled & tapped 4 a scope.
Shot my 1st. deer , bear & moose with one. My daughter uses it now , to kill her 1st. 3 deer.
Click to expand...

I’ve looked at a few 99’s that came up on the EE, asked the seller the model number and neither knew what they had. Seems like a few uninformed sellers around. I downloaded a listing of 99 models and will have to see where I stored it on my computer.
 
I have seen more than a few model 99R listed as "model 99" by guns shops. Again no idea of what they have. The late model 99E with hardwood stock and no cartridge window counter are good buys for the money. Not desirable by collectors they make good solid and accurate hunting rifles. They are a little higher in the comb making scope use much better. They are factory drilled and tapped. Mainly in .300 Savage and .308 Winchester some .243 Winchester chambered guns turn up. (at higher prices) Takedown models usually have some issues with seized takedown or loosening of fit over time. The nicest deer rifle you could want is a 99F in .300 Savage (easy to convert .308 brass to .300 Savage). Again late models have higher combs and are more suitable for scope use. The 99C model (box magazine fed) are the least desirable in my opinion. They are popular with hunters who are in and out of vehicles through the hunting day but are not near as smooth and as classy as the rotary brass magazine models are. Take your time and do a lot of research. Unlimited info is available at the 24 hour campfire Savage collectors forum. Guys there are real good with people new to model 99 rifles and have a world of knowledge to share.

Darryl
 
First, be assured that I am not a 99 guru ... I have a half dozen, the earliest being an 1899 250-3000 take-down built in 1915. It still locks together tightly, and is very field capable. Those early 250s have a slow twist rate (1 in 14) and tend not to stabilize heavier/longer bullets real well ... trouble usually starts around 100g.
 
My go to deer rifle 1948 in .300 Sav.
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Having more luck than being diligent, I stumbled across a 1920ish 30-30 99 take-down carbine in scruffy looking condition. Bought it anyway, then gave it to Deaner to work his magic. Came out as a very nicely refinished little firearm.

I have had two .303 99 rifles, but sold them both. I am satisfied with the one I have. I have shot cast bullets and found it to be accurate (my "accurate" may differ from others) and nice to operate.
 
Shot my first moose with a savage 99 with the rotary clip
I had 4 more all 308's
Just love them
MY my 2 latest are savage 99's with he magazine.deadly on bears!!!!
 
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3macs1 said:
There sure is. Watch a vintage one in good conditions show up on the EE and see how long it lasts. They are like wolves hiding behind every tree LOL
Click to expand...

3macs1 has a good point here. "Good One". So many M99's have been rode hard and put up wet so when a very good to excellent M99 shows up here on the EE it's gone fast. The M99 was a sleeper for a long time but folks have woken up to how great a rifle they really are.

I have only one M99 a 1955 featherweight in 308. Bought it 25 to 30 years ago when fine examples were still common. They're still out there just good examples are not as common as they were.
 
My first hunting rifle was a 99 in 300 Savage. Cool rifle. I sold it and probably shouldn’t have. I do have a line on a 250-3000 though. I will pick that one up I think to replace the 300
 
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