Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Savage Collectors Savage 99 in .358 Winchester

I recently bought this 99 in .358 Win. from a neighbor that was moving. He'd used it as a saddle gun while operating a guide/packing service in Wyoming nearly 20 years ago. The price was $600, all that I could afford at this time.

It's condition was 95% or better for the metal work, but the stock and fore end finish was pretty badly scratched. Enough so, that I refinished it using Formby's Furniture Restorer and 0000 steel wool. It wasn't much of job to clean it up to bare wood, which I restained with Minwax' Gunstock stain, and a cpl coats of Minwax tung oil.

I'm a shooter and reloader, so I worked up a cast bullet load with RCBS' 200 gr FP and 4759. The combination gave me 1650 fps and inch and a half gps. at 100 yds from my porch rail with a Leupold M8 2.5x scope mounted. I zeroed the rifle for 125 yds, a good all around distance for Kentucky deer hunting here on our farm. Another combination with Hornady's excellent 200 gr RN bullet and 748 gives similar group sizes, albeit at 2200 fps.

It's a great gun for that purpose, fun to shoot and recoil is quite manageable. The whole rig weighs 8.6 lb., loaded with a sling attached.

I'm wondering about the manuf. date and any other information on this straight stocked 99. What did Savage call it in their catalogue, how many were made, approx. value with a refinished stock, etc. Serial number is: C454xxx

Here are a cpl pics; the buck was a 180 lb beauty, I took on the 2nd day of our season here in KY.

Best Regards, Rod (the other Savage is my EG in .300)

Both beautiful guns! You'll really enjoy the 358, it's a wonderful cartridge. Time frame is approx. 1977-80 for the 99-358 brush gun.

Fireball: I can load 4 .358 cartridges in the Brush Gun, but 5 in the .300...is that normal? The magazine won't allow the the 5th round to be inserted. That makes a 4 shooter, certainly no problem, but curious when compared to the .300...same case body diameter as you know.

Here's the cast bullet load. RCBS 213 gr FP as cast from WW+1% tin, sized 0.360", lubed with 50-50 alox/beeswax. 19.5 grains of Bartlett's reclaimed 4759 powder = 1650 fps.

Penetration was through and through, breaking a rib on entry and exit and chipping the spine as it passed through. Exit hole was the size of a 50 cent piece. Hellofa deer and elk cartridge I'd say.



Rod

Rod,
The 358 should take 5 alright. I've seen some 99's that the fifth round needed to be wiggled into place. Also have some that the fifth cartridge makes the whole assemblage rattle to beat the band, so I stop at four anyway.
Somehow I get the vibe that four ain't gunna be a problem for you in the filling tags department.

early -mid 1977, great looking guns, nice deer.

norm

Thanx guys. Any thoughts on the recoil pad? Original I think. And the sling swivels?.

And you're right, 4's plenty. I'm new to Savages, the EG being my first several yrs ago. Can't get over the accuracy of them...two piece stock and all that. The EG will do an honest 1-1/4" for 3 shots on demand, and this .358 looks like it's capable of similar performance with some load work up.

That cast bullet load was the 2nd I tried. 18.0 of 4759 shot every bit as well but I wanted a bit more velocity. With 200+ grains of square shouldered SWC, I doubt that higher speed is necessary on our brand of deer. Should probably add: [i]these are my loads, and I have no pressure data for them, as such they appear safe in my gun...you should work up if you're interested.
[/i]
I found a 200 piece supply of Hornady .358 brass on line, but ended up making my own from L-C military 7.62 brass expanded to .358 in the RCBS FL Sizing Die. The military brass expanded very well with Imperial Sizing Wax, but shorten about 0.020". And if you lose 'em in the tall grass, you're not on your 69 yr old knees for an hour searching. LOL

My .300 has a mediocre trigger at best, but this .358 was great as I received it. And that always helps. Both guns are more accurate than I can hold any more.

'Preciate the responses...Rod

Happy hunting Rod. Best wishes all around for a speedy recover from the Savage illness.

Both cool rifles. I love both cartridges. Great looking deer as well.

Congrats.

I think any 99 chambered in .358 for 600-bucks is a steal!

Ain't that the truth!!!!!
Nice looking 99's and a really good looking buck.

Steve

Here are a cpl add'l pics. Rod

The load I use in mine that we discussed on castboolits is probably about factory .35 Remington ballistics, obviously, the rifle is capable of more. I've shot nothing buy cast in mine since I got it and it has shot all of them well, not picky a bit. For a nice plinking load, the Lyman 358311 160 grain RN revolver bullet works great in front of nine or ten grains of Unique.

I spent quite a bit more on mine than you did and it's not as nice. I still think it was worth it.

Thanx Rich...don't know if I have 358311 (I do have the .44 equivalent), but I do have 358156 in both the Lyman and Mihec versions and plan to try them both.

When you get the chance, Rich, would you check out your front sight versus the one depicted in my latest pics. It doesn't look anything like the one on my .300 99 EG. Also, can you confirm that the sling swivel studs and recoil pad were a part of the gun from the factory.

Best wishes, Rod

I have the same basic gun. I have only seen one shot kills. I use the Remington bulk bullets from MidwayUSA. They're 200 gr in round nose and protected point. I use the RN in brush and pointed in open fields. Nothing runs far with the 200 gr.358. It is pre-expanded compared to the 308 Winchester, by 50 thousandths of an inch.

I have the same gun, and its going bear hunting Monday morning. Will be using 200gr Hornady Interlock bullets over 45 gr of TAC.

The pad and swivels are factory original equipment on this model.

Charlie

I got my first .358 Winchester in 1966. The Savage 99F. I got a buck with it that year up North, in PA and other places over the years. and many others thereafter.

Most game was taken with the Winchester 200 gr Silvertips however all my CF taken game was with my handloads. I have reloaded since 1953.

I have other 358 rifles including this Steyr Daimler mannlicher full stock carbine at the bottom of the picture.

Some awesome .358's... Had one in a 99, my pal has it now!!

The Steyr Mannlicher .358 is my holy grail. It's great to see one

I bought mine new in 1979, it came with that same recoil pad and studs for detachable swivels.

I think I paid $229 for it. I saw a minty one a few years back with a price tag of $1800 but the dealer said he'd let it go for $1400.

I load 200 gr Hornady spitzers over 51.5 gr of IMR 4320. Velocity is about 2500 fps and gives 1.25 inch groups (3 @ 100). I tried TAC but my rifle didn't seem to like it.

Dale

Yes. Just as has been stated above. Mine was born in '77 bought new in the box and had both.