Today I let my Savage(R) out (Picture Heavy)

[bushmaster1313]

The Savage 1895 and later, the Savage 1899, were way ahead of their time.

As far back as 1917, the Savage Arms Company had the permission of Chief Lame Bear to use his likeness:

One nice thing about a vintage gun that has been used -- but not abused -- is that there is no reason not to take it to the range or into the woods for some more of what it was made to do.

This 1927 99 G in .300 Savage is a takedown model. Over the years while in my possession it has at times worn a Stith mount, which allows the mounting of a scope without drilling the front bridge:

and at other times a Lyman aperture sight which yielded excellent results at 100 yards:

Now it sports the old style rear leaf sight and it's time for some Savage(R) romping at the range.

Some people make the mistake of using the square hole under the forearm as a wrench to unscrew the takedown barrel

 

[bushmaster1313]

Collectors of the older Savages want a rear bridge that was not drilled post factory for a front scope mount. In the 1950's, the factory started to drill the front and top bridge of the receiver to mount a scope. At this time the factory moved the "Savage" name down to the left side of the receiver so the holes would not go through the name.

 

[bushmaster1313]

At least in 1927 or so, the barrel, forearm and butt plate were numbered to the receiver

When I got the rifle it was at about 80 years old, and the forearm fell off each time the gun was fired. I sent it to a gunsmith who works on vintage rifles and shotguns, and he said that the spring holding the forearm latch in place was all twisted and tangled. He installed a new spring and the rifle was good to go. With vintage rifles and shotguns you want a gunsmith who knows -- and cares-- about working on older guns.

 

[bushmaster1313]

The 1895 and the 99 both employed a lever action and an internal rotary magazine. Compared to the Winchester 94, this allowed for accurate and deadly pointy bullets (Spitzers). The left side of the receiver has a window which allows the shooter to view a brass round counter disclosing how many rounds are in the magazine:

 

[bushmaster1313]

The protrusion underneath the receiver, in front of the trigger and above the lever hinge screw is called the "Lever Boss." Savage stamped the front of the lever boss with a code that indicates the year of manufacture. I for got to look if this gun has a stamp on the Lever Boss.

 

[mauser9]

Very nice. Great to see some craftsmanship from the past. Thanks for the great pics.

 

[Jim NNN]

Thanks for the nice pics of a classic gun. I've always admired them and wanted one.

 

[Ole Joe Clark]

I'm jealous.

Beautiful rifles.

Have a blessed day,

Leon

 

[bushmaster1313]

Thanks for the nice pics of a classic gun. I've always admired them and wanted one.

This one in NOT for sale, but there are lots and lots of very nice '99s that are for sale (by others) on the Internet and at gun shows. Many collectors like a gun which is "pre-Mil," i.e., with a serial number less than 1,000,000. These should have the internal rotary magazine. Make sure from the seller that the magazine operates properly. Also, as stated above, with the older models, collectors prefer a receiver that has not been drilled post-factory through the "Savage" name stamp on the top of the front receiver. Be careful with 99's from before 1960 that are chambered in .243 Winchester. Many of these were rebarreled to look like relatively rare pre-1960 .243's and the magazine does not work all that well with the .243 round.

The .300 Savage is the classic round for a Savage 99. Compared to the .243 it packs a bit of a punch and is more expensive. But the fun of owning and shooting a vintage 99 is, IMHO, worth the effort. The guns themselves are not that expensive, especially compared to an unmolested pre-1964 Winchester Model 70.

 

[shouldazagged]

I have wanted one of those for sixty years, and never acquired one. Now I couldn't use it, but still...

 

[bushmaster1313]

I have wanted one of those for sixty years, and never acquired one. Now I couldn't use it, but still...

An elegant weapon . . . from a more Savage time.

 

[Peak53]

I've wanted one of these for quite some time. Now, pretty sure I need one. The cartridge performance is not that different from the 30-30, but the cool factor may be greater. I don't buy guns any more, but .... thanks for the tips.

 

[bushmaster1313]

The cartridge performance is not that different from the 30-30, but the cool factor may be greater. I don't buy guns any more, but .... thanks for the tips.

The .300 Savage is a lot pointier

They did make '99's in 30-30. I think they bring a premium.

 

[Alk8944]

bushmaster1313,


Above you make the remark "Some people make the mistake of using the square hole under the forearm as a wrench to unscrew the take-down barrel".


I won't argue the point, especially since the insert fits the barrel stud quite loosely, but if not intended to be used to remove/install the barrel then what is the purpose of the square insert?


I had never owned a Model 1899 as I had never found one that "grabbed me", until a few weeks ago I found a .303 take-down. Had to have it! Unfortunately it had a recoil pad fit, D&T for a Redfield mount, present, no rear sight, just a filler, and damaged front sight. At one time it had a Marbles or Lyman tang sight mounted, long gone. Except as noted condition virtually identical to yours. Made 1929.

 

[bushmaster1313]

bushmaster1313,


Above you make the remark "Some people make the mistake of using the square hole under the forearm as a wrench to unscrew the take-down barrel".


I won't argue the point, especially since the insert fits the barrel stud quite loosely, but if not intended to be used to remove/install the barrel then what is the purpose of the square insert.

It was probably intended as a wrench back then. But today it would be a mistake to use it as such as the forearm could easily crack from the stress.

 

[DWalt]

I also have a Savage takedown, but mine is in .303 Savage. The early ones were also made in .30-30, .22 Savage High Power,.250-3000, and .300 Savage. Later, it was adapted to more modern calibers such as the .243 and .308 Winchester, and several others.

While most of the early Savage 1899s and 99s were chambered in .303 Savage, they are not as popular as later ones as there is no longer ammunition easily available. I make my own .303 brass out of .30-30 cases. It works OK even though the .303 case has a slightly larger diameter. Just resize .30-30 brass in a .303 die. No trimming to length is required. The re-formed case blows out to fit the .303 chamber. I usually run a couple of turns of 1/4" wide masking tape around the .30-30 case head above the rim to centralize it for the first shot to get even expansion, then remove the tape. Load using any .30-30 data.

The .300 Savage as a caliber exists principally because of the Savage 99. After WWI, Savage wanted to add a caliber similar to the .30-'06 to their line, but the 99s action was too short to use the .30-'06 case. So they shortened the case to fit, resulting in the .300 Savage. The later .308 Winchester is virtually identical to the .300 Savage dimensionally, except it has a longer case neck. It is very simple to make .300 Savage cases by running a .308 case through a .300 Savage FL sizer die and cutting the case neck to the proper case length. I have made several hundred such .300 Savage cases that way. Passing up any rifle chambered in .300 Savage at a good price is foolish, as the .300 Savage is also the ballistic equal of the .308. Even though .300 Savage factory ammunition is not too easy to find these days, it is still made. And if you can't find any, just make your own from .308 brass.

 

[raljr1]

My Dad had a model 99 takedown in 300 savage that was the first center fire rifle I ever shot. I begged him to leave it to me, but he left it to my younger brother....long story there, but years later I found a similar vinyage takedown that I bought. Mine had been drilled and tapped, but it was the first one in good shape that i could find at a price I was willing to pay.

They are as accurate as most basic bolt actions, and ballistic equivalent to the 308.


Robert

 

[Bakebfr480]

Very nice!

 

[Elksticker]

I love the pics! This old 250-3000 may have a few things less desirable to collectors but a person couldn't put a high enough price on it anyway. It was bought new around 1916 by my grandpa and has been in the family since. Who knows how many deer, rabbits, coyotes and what all it has taken in a hundred years since. I know my brothers and I have accounted for a few. You have some great photos of a great gun on here, I hope I can get one to work!

 

[stansdds]

My only experience with the Savage 99 was many years ago when I was in college. A friend of mine had inherited his dad's model 99, chambered in 300 Savage. We took it to the range, 100 yard firing line.

The 300 Savage misses 308 Winchester ballistics by about 200 fps, but the round is more than enough for eastern whitetail deer, which is what my friend planned on hunting. His model 99 proved to be more accurate than your average Winchester or Marlin lever action in .30-30, and almost as accurate as a bolt action. The Savage 99 was a great design, too bad they are no longer made, but I expect they would be expensive to make today.