Thoughts on Savage 99 lever in 308?

[Mr.Harry]

Thinking i’m Going to trade into with one with a Browning A bolt medallion 7mm mag I just never learned to love. For whitetail. This would be both my first 308 and first lever. Thoughts?

[Tex1001]

Savage 99 is one of those designs that never should have gone away and everyone missed.
I had a 99 in 308 years ago and traded it. I've been trying to find it ever since. The best I can do is a 99E in 243 and an 1899 take down in 303 savage.
Be advised, if it's a 99C the magazines are cruelly expensive. If it's a rotary mag, you're golden.
_______________________
I don't have Alzheimer's- My wife had me tested.

[Ivan the Butcher]

Obviously a later model 99. Ammo is plentiful. But the heart and soul of a 99 just doesn't have pressed checkering!

Ivan

[Mr.Harry]

Originally Posted by Ivan the Butcher

Obviously a later model 99. Ammo is plentiful. But the heart and soul of a 99 just doesn't have pressed checkering!

Ivan

Would you take one, in late model, in excellent condition, for 753.? With a Leupold 3x on it?

[AR_Black]

I had one, it hurt to shoot - both shoulder and trigger finger. It was a lightweight model (I think). Model 99C with a detachable magazine, 22-inch barrel.

7.62x51 ammo didn't work - DAG Headstamp (German?) - had to beat the brass out of the chamber with a wooden dowel. But standard .308 ammo worked fine.

My Dad wanted one in .303 Savage, but I found the .308 pretty cheap as it was cosmetically challenged. After we both played with it, I sold it off.

---

Good info at these links:


The Savage Model 99


Savage 1895, 1899, and 99


.

[federali]

I've owned two 99 Fs, a .243 and a .308. I also had one in .300 Savage but I forgot the specific model. The .300 Savage was considerably more accurate than the other two.They're great woods guns but my experience with this model indicated that they were not capable of great accuracy. The .308 also had some stinging recoil. In comparison, my Winchester Model 88 in .308, which many shooters love to hate, could easily hold three rounds under a nickel on the 100-yard bench.

Yet, I miss having a Model 99 and I'd like to have one in an obsolete or hard-to-get caliber, such as another .300 Savage or a .358 Winchester.

[Mr.Harry]

I’m not a collector, i’m A hunter/shooter. My pal who is a collector and hunter said I should jump on this gun. He has one in 300 Savage with the rotary and would take this gun at cost either way.

[Buford57]

If you don't like the Browning, by all means try the Savage.

I've had 4 over the years: .250-3000, .243 and 2 .308s. Loved the .250 and wish I had it back. Never shot the .243 (cruddy painted birch stock) Traded into it, traded out of it. The standard model .308 was a beauty, but recoil was too much for my bride and it was traded for a Winchester 100 in the same caliber. The other .308 was some kind of anniversary production with an octagon barrel and a crescent butt. Killed at both ends. I was shooting lightweight .45-70s for fun back then, but I still could not bear to load the magazine a second time on that 99.

If I could get into a 99 in .300, .250 or .308 for under a house payment now, I'd jump on it.

[jinx]

I inherited my Dads 99 in 308. Use it to this day. Have no complaints at all.

[Mr.Harry]

It couldn’t possibly kick harder, nor be more unpleasant to haul on shoulder, than the gun i’m Thinking of offering up in trade. I’m so over that rifle. 7mm mag does nothing for me in the north woods that this savage wouldn’t.

[Mr.Harry]

I’m going to lose value. In the trade. But whatever.

[Mr.Harry]

I want a 308, and I want a lever. I just think I have to. Thanks all for the input. I’m pretty sure this will fit the bill.

[Mr.Harry]

Originally Posted by Buford57

If you don't like the Browning, by all means try the Savage.

I've had 4 over the years: .250-3000, .243 and 2 .308s. Loved the .250 and wish I had it back. Never shot the .243 (cruddy painted birch stock) Traded into it, traded out of it. The standard model .308 was a beauty, but recoil was too much for my bride and it was traded for a Winchester 100 in the same caliber. The other .308 was some kind of anniversary production with an octagon barrel and a crescent butt. Killed at both ends. I was shooting lightweight .45-70s for fun back then, but I still could not bear to load the magazine a second time on that 99.

If I could get into a 99 in .300, .250 or .308 for under a house payment now, I'd jump on it.

Thank you for your input and I am going to.

[daddy bear]

I hunted with 99Fs in .243 and .300 for several years. Then I got a gap in college educations for daughters and changed over to costlier (but not better) rifles.

One of my great gun regrets is that in the early eighties, I was offered a jewel of a 99 takedown .250 Savage in an original leg of lamb travel case. The price was not a steal, but certainly not outrageous. The rifle was in high condition and showed little use..........

Jack

[Absalom]

Originally Posted by AR_Black

....
7.62x51 ammo didn't work - DAG Headstamp (German?) - had to beat the brass out of the chamber with a wooden dowel. But standard .308 ammo worked fine.
.....

Mine had exactly the same fussiness: great with standard commercial .308 hunting ammo, not happy with any surplus military 7.62mm.

[k22fan]

When I was active shooting Savage 99s I owned and reloaded for over a dozen of them. As long as the barrels were not hot, some of my 99s were minute of angle 100 yard rifles. I could remove the barrel of my take down .300 Savage mid group without enlarging the group! On the other hand, rifles with a more rigid lock up are better for range bums that spend their week ends developing loads off the bench. Brass life of higher pressure rounds like .308 is very short in Savage 99s. Logically, I should not own a 99, but every time I was smart enough to sell all my 99s I was not without one for long. I have a couple of them in the closet. Other guys have the same problem with Colt Peace Makers.

Since the majority of them only come out of the closet for deer season short brass life does not effect most owners.

[Double-O-Dave]

I bought my Savage 99c a few years ago. The existing recoil pad was as hard as a rock, so I added a Limbsaver recoil pad and a Nikon scope. The piece will shoot dime-sized groups from a rest at 100 yards with factory 150 gr. JSP ammo. I've taken several does with it, as well as a small hog. I'm very fond of this rifle. Tex1001 is correct in his comment about the magazines (well said, by the way). The magazine, unless it's being reloaded/unloaded lives in the rifle's magazine well. Maybe I'm nuts, but I specifically choose the 99c for the detachable magazine feature.

Regards,

Dave

[BearBio]

I have a pretty well "bubba'd" 300 Savage we use for a camp rifle. Was my wife's first big game rifle 30 years ago.

Nothing great but goes "bang" every time and hits where you point it!

[SteveA]

I have 4, one .308, a pre war .250 and two pre war .300s. Love them all. I'd trade off the 7mm in a heartbeat.

[MichiganScott]

I inherited my aunt's Model 99 in .308 with a Schnabel tip and a straight stock. She had the stock cut down to fit her, so there is only sentimental value.

It came with a cheap Bushnell 4x in see-through mount. I ripped the scope and mount off, planing to change it to a low mount and better scope. Darned if the rifle didn't handle like a fine shotgun. I never replaced the scope and have killed two deer with it when I felt like hunting with my aunt.

[kthom]

Originally Posted by Mr.Harry

I want a 308, and I want a lever. I just think I have to. Thanks all for the input. I’m pretty sure this will fit the bill.

Value to you is all that is really important, Mr.HARRY. As long as the M-99 is in good mechanical condtion and functions properly, I think you will be pleased. If it looks good, even better, but you are going to use it, so function definitely trumps form. As you said, you don't like what you've got at all, so it should be a step up at least!

[LVSteve]

I'm curious as to why this design freaks out with NATO surplus. Mind you, it is generally loaded pretty hot with a medium fast powder as I discovered with my 7.62 converted Mauser. The recoil impulse is pretty sharp. Maybe that does not agree with the mechanics of the Savage 99 design.

[Wyatt Burp]

Originally Posted by MichiganScott

I inherited my aunt's Model 99 in .308 with a Schnabel tip and a straight stock. She had the stock cut down to fit her, so there is only sentimental value.

It came with a cheap Bushnell 4x in see-through mount. I ripped the scope and mount off, planing to change it to a low mount and better scope. Darned if the rifle didn't handle like a fine shotgun. I never replaced the scope and have killed two deer with it when I felt like hunting with my aunt.

If you have a straight grip .308 I think it must be the lighter Model 99A without checkering. I think this is the coolest newer (post 1970) Model 99. I think they came out in 1971. It had the look of the pre-war guns yet a tang safety. Does that sound like your rifle?

[Mr.Harry]

Originally Posted by kthom

Value to you is all that is really important, Mr.HARRY. As long as the M-99 is in good mechanical condtion and functions properly, I think you will be pleased. If it looks good, even better, but you are going to use it, so function definitely trumps form. As you said, you don't like what you've got at all, so it should be a step up at least!

Yep, and while I haven’t handled it yet (it is on hold for me), the very reputable LGS has it rated Excellent Condition. That alone makes me feel better about the loss of value in the Browning. I don’t think you see these turn up in such great shape all that often. Or if you do, they disappear just as fast as they surface. I’m on it.

[LLOYD17]

I love old Savage centerfire rifles. The 99 is a great rifle and is another one of those guns that couldn't be manufactured today for any sort of profit.

I traded a commercial HSc for a 99F from the late '50s (pre-mil) that hasn't been d/t'd. The iron sights do their job well at 100 yds and it's all I'll ever need at UP deep camp. It does have quite a kick but it's handy as hell and I'm not doing extended range sessions with it.

***added some pictures from last camp. Only had this doe come through.

[ISCS Yoda]

I recollect my late ex-father-in-law had a Savage M99 in .308. Fabulous rifle. I love lever guns, Savage 99s are classics, and .308 is my favorite rifle chambering so I know what I WOULD DO!

[Wyatt Burp]

Here's the two I always post when the subject comes up. Both were my dad's. One is a 1955 Featherweight .243 with a stock carved by my dad in the early 60s. These were the only Featherweights with a thick forend. I think they were hollowed out keeping the gun at about 6 1/2 lbs.
The other is a 1948 .300 Savage (Model EG). Probably the most common model. I was given this one on my 40th B'day. After my dad I'm the 3rd owner. The original owner carved 18 notches in the forend for every deer killed by him with it. He used open sights. I added the Alaskan scope and Stith mount which was given to me.

[bigolddave]

If you only want one rifle, do NOT get a Savage 99. You get the rifle, then you get the book(s), then you get the bug, and then you start looking for a bigger safe. The darn things are habit forming, and the variety of models and calibers is mind boggling. First one, then you will see a nice EG, and then an R, and then an F, and then, and then......

[Mr.Harry]

Originally Posted by bigolddave

If you only want one rifle, do NOT get a Savage 99. You get the rifle, then you get the book(s), then you get the bug, and then you start looking for a bigger safe. The darn things are habit forming, and the variety of models and calibers is mind boggling. First one, then you will see a nice EG, and then an R, and then an F, and then, and then......

Ha, not a “one rifle” thing at all. It’s a one LEVER thing. But I think this is what you intend to warn me about. It’s ok, I don’t have the financial means to over-accumulate, or else I wouldn’t be trading off the 7mm which is a fine gun, just one that doesn’t suit my purposes or tastes all that much.

[Tex1001]

Originally Posted by LVSteve

I'm curious as to why this design freaks out with NATO surplus.

The 99 is a very elegant Edwardian era design. Its lockup is very strong but the bolt locks in the frame at the bolt's rear. Think block in mortise.
Very strong but there could still be some bolt flex
_______________________
I don't have Alzheimer's- My wife had me tested.

[k22fan]

My first was one of the Schanbel tip & straight grip 99s made in the 1970s to mimic a pre-war style. Wyatt Burp & MichiganScott described the model above. Mine was a .250. I wanted one during the 70s but didn't buy it until the early 80s when my budget was plumper & I could buy it used. For deer I thought it was a great combination of fast handling, low recoil and light weight.

Also during the 1980s I had a 99M with the Stith scope and mount show in Wyatt Burp's picture. My Model 99M was an unusual 99 in that it was an early post war rifle with a high comb for scope use and a fat fore end. It was a .300 Savage. No other scope would fit in the mount and the mount would not fit any other type of rifle so the combination is probably still together where ever they are. It cost my $180. Those were the days. During the 1990s one issue of the Blue Book of Gun Values about tripled 1899 and 99 values. That brought an end to casual collecting shooting various 99s.

Originally Posted by LVSteve

I'm curious as to why this design freaks out with NATO surplus. Mind you, it is generally loaded pretty hot with a medium fast powder as I discovered with my 7.62 converted Mauser. The recoil impulse is pretty sharp. Maybe that does not agree with the mechanics of the Savage 99 design.

99 bolts spring back a tiny bit. Resizing for solid case shoulder to chamber shoulder contact does not eliminate the case stretching. That's why brass life is short with 45,000 to 50,000 CUP cartridges. It never even occurred to me to test military cartridges in Model 99s but the easy answer is the elongated military cases are not shrinking back enough to unbind the bolt.

My favorite Savage 99 cartridges are .23-35 and .30-30. I can forget about case stretching while reloading cast bullets in .30-30s. No .25-35s or .30-30s were made after WW II. The classiest .30-30 I ever saw was a 28" octagon barreled Savage. The two .30-30s I owned were not any where near as fancy. However, Savage 99 guys thought one of them was special. It had a light 20 inch barrel, straight grip, slender forend and saddle ring.

[LoboGunLeather]

My experience with the Savage 99's has included a take-down model in .22 Savage Hi-Power, a carbine model in .250-3000 caliber, and two 99-F's in .300 Savage. Of those I always preferred the .300 Savage rifles, one with a 4X Weaver and the other with an old Lyman receiver sight. More than adequate for anything here in Colorado (elk, mule deer, etc) out to 200 yards, and I have very seldom thought about shooting at longer ranges at any game critter (most of my freezer meet has been taken at 80 yards or less).

The .308 Winchester cartridge is nearly a ballistic twin of the .300 Savage, but with a longer neck that favors both the handloader and the heavier bullets. I've been a handloader for nearly a half-century, and a bullet caster for nearly as long, so I would be working either one at, or slightly above, .30-30 Winchester power levels, and never worry about terminal performance within reasonable ranges.

[maglvr]

A trade you will likely never regret! And on the off chance you did, A bolt's are a dime a dozen. Go for it, and never look back! JMHO.

[Drm50]

I have owned quite a few Savage 99s, the bulk being 300s &
303s. I've only owned one in 308. I traded it to a buddy and
has put a lot of rounds through it, including GI ball. It ears
everything he feeds it with no problem. He has shot a lot of
coyote with the ball ammo to reduce pelt damage. The 99 is
a slick fast handling woods rifle. I would have kept it but I'm
into the older models. I shot the 308 a good bit and never
thought of it as a kicker, no worse than any 308 of the same
weight. I like 99s and 308 cartridge you can't do better. I've
BLRs and while a nice rifle and accurate, it just doesn't have
the point ability of a 99, for me. I regret the 250/3000s and
22 Hi-powers that I traded off. They will cost you a arm and a
leg today. Any 99 in decent shape starts out at $700 in this
area.

[Usmc5811]

My father had always wanted a 99 in 250-3000 for years but never found the right one. About 5 years ago I went to an estate sale and there was a late ‘50’s 99eg in .243 for $350 out the door. I took it to my dads and let him drool over it as I told him I already had a collector interested. Needless to say my name was mud for about 48 hours until my daughters showed up to give there paw paw his Father’s Day present. This thing looked like it just came off the rack with a serial number under one million. He was tickled pink. He does have a .250 Savage now but I believe the .243 has more meaning.

[MichiganScott]

Originally Posted by Wyatt Burp

If you have a straight grip .308 I think it must be the lighter Model 99A without checkering. I think this is the coolest newer (post 1970) Model 99. I think they came out in 1971. It had the look of the pre-war guns yet a tang safety. Does that sound like your rifle?

That's the gun. It replaced her pre-war 99 that was stolen with the rest of her collection in the early 1970's.

What really impresses me is the handling with the cut stock. I'm 6'-3" and my aunt was about 5'. I just focus on the target, mount the rifle, and the sights are right on.

It's got a slow barrel, even with the shorter barrel. That really doesn't matter. It's a 200 yard rifle with open sights.

[growr]

So......did you make this trade or not? If so, does it shoot well for you?

I inherited my grandfathers, then my Dad's ,now mine, Savage 99 250-3000 with a set of Lyman sights on it made the same year I was...1956

Handles very well, is an easy rifle to carry all day and the 250 Savage really is a very good cartridge for Montana deer and antelope.

I shot a very nice 4 point Mule deer last deer at a measured 125 yards using an 85 gr. Nosler Balllistic Tip. One shot...One kill. The bullet did EXACTLY what it was designed to do.

That hunt was a nostalgia hunt for me as I got to use the Savage to make the shot and Dad's old Herters #2 Improved hunting knife to field dress it.

So I got to go hunting again with both my Dad and Grandpa both of whom have been deceased for a long time.

Thanks Dad...Thanks Grandpa!!!

Randy

[gregintenn]

Best deer rifle ever made. If you don't have one, don't cheat yourself.

[TXBryan]

My Model 99 in .308 accounted for the first dozen or so whitetail deer I harvested. It's a model 99E made in the sixties and I bought it used in 1974 for $75. It had the nastiest, cracked and peeling, birch stock I've ever owned but it sure could shoot. I sent a letter to Savage in the late 80s asking if they would sell/send me a replacement stock of higher quality not knowing what to expect. Four weeks later I received a package from Savage with a brand new, and very nice, finished, two-piece walnut stock. Included was an invoice for the stock and shipping and I was thrilled beyond all measure of customer service expectation. It needed some fitting and I kept the original but it's still in use and looks a heckuva lot nicer.

Several years ago I bought a Model 99 (no letter suffix) made in 1952 (I think) in .300 Savage with a 24 inch barrel and a very early El Paso Weaver variable scope (1.5-4.5) all in great condition. It belonged to a friend and it was his Dad's lightly used mule deer rifle. It's smoother and classier than my 99 in .308 and, frankly, not very different from a ballistics point of view. Both had rotary magazines and that's one thing I wouldn't pass on a used 99 - you want one.

Bottom line is I wouldn't pass up a nice, older, 99 in .300 Savage if deer was the primary quarry. I handload for both and there's simply not that much difference with 150 grain bullets or lighter. Good luck!

[stansdds]

I had a friend who had an older 99 chambered in 300 Savage. I was amazed at the accuracy of that lever action rifle. Far more accurate than the Winchester and Marlin lever actions to which I was accustomed. The rotary magazine allowed for the use of spitzer bullets and the recoil of the 300 Savage round was quite controllable. I would have paid him good money for that rifle, but it was one he had inherited from his late father and it would never be for sale.

[fyimo]

I had a Savage Model 99 made in the 1950's in 300 savage. I gave it to my Grandson as his first rifle. He killed his first Mule Deer and his first Elk with it. He told me that every time he's at the range with it someone wants to buy it from him.

[azhobo]

Mine is a 70's E model in .308. Rotary mag, and the same ugly birch wood talked about by some others. I got it pretty cheap, needing finish work on both wood and iron.
My $0.02 worth......
I have a Remington 740 in .06, a Winchester 94 in .30-30, and the 99. The Savage is probably my favorite of the .308 dia. class. I like the action, I like the accuracy, and most of all I like the way it comes up and on target. It's well balanced, with no additional forward weight to overswing. (rotary mag!) I've never been affected by recoil, it doesn't seem to be all that heavy, maybe because it's not a lightweight, dunno.

The wood... boy is it ever ugly, I agree. But.... I took my problem to the local Woodcrafters shop, seeking advice. Pretty knowledgeable dude there told me about "wood dye". It's an alcohol based stain that actually did penetrate the birch, evenly. It took some trial and error, but I'm real pleased with my results. It gets mistaken now for factory walnut, something I'm pretty proud of.

Military brass? I admit to not buying surplus ammo, but I DO buy military, once fired, 7.62 X 51 brass to reload. Before I get to reloading, I separate the military brass from the commercial brass. Then I lube the pre-polished, decapped military brass a bit more than I would the commercial brass, prior to resizing. I find that this method brings the thicker military cases into commercial spec's, after being squeezed through my RCBS carbide resizer die. I always trim to length AFTER the resizing step. To date, probably in the area of 250-300 military cased rounds through the gun, never one sticky case.

Bottom line for me is, get on top of that one, pretty sure you'll be happy with it. And, if not, there's plenty of guys willing to take it off your hands. Pretty big demand for decent 99's.
Good luck.
Bob

[Wyatt Burp]

In the mid 1990s Savage 99s and Remington Model 8 & 81s littered gun and pawn shops around here at prices from $200-$325 or so. I bought one worn looking .243 Featherweight 99 like the one I posted earlier here for $175. I kept the peepsight and later sold the rifle for a slight profit. Then prices skyrocketed. I think a pre-war featherweight or SRC in .30-30 would be great to own.

[bigolddave]

You bet! I have a T in 30/30, and it is a dandy!

[MichiganScott]

Originally Posted by azhobo

Military brass? I admit to not buying surplus ammo, but I DO buy military, once fired, 7.62 X 51 brass to reload. Before I get to reloading, I separate the military brass from the commercial brass. Then I lube the pre-polished, decapped military brass a bit more than I would the commercial brass, prior to resizing. I find that this method brings the thicker military cases into commercial spec's, after being squeezed through my RCBS carbide resizer die. I always trim to length AFTER the resizing step. To date, probably in the area of 250-300 military cased rounds through the gun, never one sticky case.

Bob

What is this carbide sizer die you speak of?

[azhobo]

Originally Posted by MichiganScott

What is this carbide sizer die you speak of?

I'll be away from home until probably mid October, so can't give you numbers, but I can say for sure it's made by RCBS.
Sorry, I can't help more at this time.
Bob

[mauser9]

Another I should have invested in like the Marlin made 1894 model and the Ruger 44 mag carbine. Talk about 3 rifles that have increased in value in the used gun market. Very well made guns!!

[gregintenn]

Since none of these are 308s, I know what I'd do.

[Mr.Harry]

Just got it -