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Recently acquired pre-mil 99F 308 with a cut butt. It was slicker, lighter and handier than I'd imagined it would be. BUT, I did not like the pad nor especially the angle of the cut and promptly started messing with it. Ended up deciding to change the angle completely and put a different pad on it. By then I had a few marks on it... THEN got to looking and thinking and looking and thinking and decided to cut the flutes. Figured WTH it's already been demoted to shooter, right? Whatever, what's done is done... A bit of sanding, a few coats of Tru-Oil, some buffing and here it is. Didn't sand the forearm at all just added oil. To ME, it's aok; the lighting was poor for pictures. Additional struggles: first go at the scope mounting was no bueno and had to do some shimming to get things to line up within reason, I hope. The 2-7 Heavy Duplex suits it well I think, and yes the rotation was intestinal... Hoping to sight in this weekend... Oh, and the only suitable pad I had was a whiteline - I didn't have the heart to do that so it's painted black! Have to DRAW THE LINE somewhere - right? LOL

If it works for you, then it works for me too.

Yep, ended up looking decent enough for hunting. Though I'd have considered painting the entire pad black.

I think the rifle looks fine with the flutes on the comb. The factory should have done that anyway and did on some. I would have went with a different pad though but it ain't my gun. You have to please yourself.

Yeah, and I would've re-cut the checkering too. All in all a nice job though. The ventilated pad gives it a retro 50's look. Just how short did the butt stock end up? Looks pretty short but that could be from the angles in the pics.

Bottom line, if it shoots well and suits you that's all that matters.

Is it just me or does it seem like more people in the past modified the 99's than other brands and models? I'm sure back in the day other brands and models were modified it just seems like some of the mass of 99's produced were modified in one way or the other. Anyway just thinking......

Steve

Me thinking is scary!!

Steve,
Nobody modifies 99's. That would be an act of sacrilege. Even speaking it is heresy.

Have a nice day.
Roy

...no, nobody here anyway.

I think this wood refinish, and fluting looks great, definitely A-OK!

I never could warm up to ventilated pads, but recoil pads fix a whole range of poorly cut butts.

In response to modifying 99s in the past, I've seen quite a few chopped and padded pre-64 Model 70s as well as other makes. I think the "must do" mods for updating rifles in the 50s and 60s was installing kick pads and drilling for scope mounts. It would be interesting knowing how many rifles "went under the knife" in those decades and transformed into what today we call "shooters." But I really can't blame those guys for being short sighted to the future value of these firearms as we, for most things like this, should live for the day.

Oddly enough the one gun from that era that I rarely see having been modified is the M94 Winchester.

Didn't kick hard enough to need a pad, and was hard to mount a scope on with it's top eject. Nobody wanted a big flat forearm for bench shooting a 30-30 either, so it seems. Just about perfect for what it was intended for.

I would have 2 say the model 1894 winchesters. Are the mostly molested that I have seen. Then of course the springield 1903s get lots a bubba love also.

You Idaho guys always have to be disagreeable. BTW, that was a pretty nice 99F 308 when I sold it to him, even better now! I like the fluting.

I have a 1967 F with the flutes on the comb. Also has a vented recoil pad added, which helps with a .358.

I have many rifles with steel buttplates, a few savages and several old military. It has occurred to me that no matter how soft the steel they used on the butt the dang thing can hurt to shoot! As nice as it is to have a Savage with the original steel butplate, I never really mind shooting one with a rubber recoil pad. I think you did a bang up job with the stock and recoil pad, and if it makes the gun more bearable to shoot, then so be it. It's still a hansome rifle, and cudos for using a classy Leupold scope to boot!

I think the reason a lot of 03s and 03A3s went to the "chop shop" was because good old Uncle Sam sold them off for way under price. You once could get a brand new 03A3 for 13-bucks, which was dirt cheap even in the 1950s when compared to the price of new rifles or used guns, given you could find a used one.

gnoahhh, It's ~12.5". The length was roughly 1/8" more when I got it but it slanted opposite I have always thought correct, it was longest at the heel. Anyways, made it so butt down against the wall the barrel tip is about 1 3/4 from the wall, or there about's. Flutes are ala old Kimber, the only way I know.

NOW what about sling studs? Kidding! At least I didn't paint it, huh Roy... LOL. Really though, thanks for the square deal. A couple things I'll add is how pleased I am with the Tru-Oil, great stuff. Last year someone posted in the gunsmithing forum about using Mr Clean Magic Eraser to buff away the shine and it works like a champ. Looks mucho better without the flash - including the red pad.

Happy New Year all ya'all.

No problem with me adding sling swivels. The butt stock is already altered. For the front I'd add the type of swivel that screws into the forearm stud. I also think that the quick change slings look good on 99s. Boyt used to make a nice quick change sling, but their quality really took a dump when they moved production overseas.

Ok... Got a couple range sessions in and noticed that upon closing, the lever contacts the wood about 1/2" behind the receiver. Guessing that this is not desirable with the breakage potential?

Easily remedied and may take the opportunity to fit a 1" pad for a bit more length. And add a rear stud....

See if you can find someone to make that lever into a "Big-Loop" model. Now THAT would be cool!