I owned a Japanese made M94 as my first rifle. I enjoyed it as a blacktail deer killing machine, but had to sell it. Seemed good to me then, but I had no experience to compare it against other rifles. Then I owned bolt action rifles exclusively for 30 some years. In the last two years I have bought 99s and enjoyed them for their carriability, handling, and the rotary magazines, not to mention the variety of rounds which can be shot from them. Recently I flirted with a Browning BLR, and bought one brand new. It looked interesting, had a magazine , was well fitted, etc. but I had it for less than a week before I decided that it paled in comparison to my 99s, and I traded it off for another 99. There are other interesting and well made levers guns out there, but I just see no comparison between them and the 99 inasfar as handling and loading, let alone beauty.
