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OP
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The post by tarheelpwr looking for a 99 barreled action got me thinking about a laid-away project.
I have a 99F in .308 from around 1957 give or take. SN 905xxx, can't make out letter in boss code (uneven stamp). Receiver has most of its blue, a little carry wear. Barrel bluing in good shape. Stock is good, no cracks, does have sling swivels added. Problem is a pitted bore. Shifts point of impact around 4 to 6 inches at 100 yds from clean to fouled bore. Had to leave it fouled thru hunting season (which couldn't have helped the pitting!), starting to lose trust in cold bore first shot, so stopped using it. Picked up a take-off .308 99F barrel a while ago, but put it all aside.
So, maybe you smart folks can point me in the right direction. Options: 1. get the replacement barrel installed and see if it behaves and becomes a reliable shooter. 2. send it off to JES Reboring with the original barrel for conversion to .358. 3. sell it off.
If it matters, I have a 1923 vintage 99F in 30/30 that I use when I don't want a scope, and a Kimber Montana in .308 when I do. The Kimber replaced the .308 99F as my main deer rifle. Will also inherit a 1957 vintage 99F in 300 Savage when my father decides to stop hunting (hopefully not too soon).
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Campfire Kahuna
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Campfire Kahuna
Joined: May 2011
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Consider a 338 Federal rebore.
_______________________________________________________ An 8 dollar driveway boy living in a T-111 shack
LOL
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Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
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If the receiver will load and feed 358, I'd think hard about JES.
“ The Savage 99 Pocket Reference”. All models and variations of 1895’s, 1899’s and 99’s covered. Also dates, checkering, engraving.. Find at www.savagelevers.com
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I'd go with JES and make it a .358. From my perspective the .338 Federal is an answer looking for a question. If you do your part the .358 kills critters DRN.
Go tell the Spartans,Travelers passing by,That here,Obedient to their laws we lie.
I'm older now but I'm still runnin' against the wind
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Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
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i would sell it. Good money after bad type thing.
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Campfire Tracker
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Sounds like the perfect candidate for a JES rebore
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JeffG
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Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
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I would screw the new .308 barrel on and put the money saved into more ammo. What can you do with a .358 that you can't do with a .308? Are there grizzly bears or something where you live? Plenty more .358 stuff on the shelves than there is .308 stuff? Perhaps one likes the bit more added recoil of the .358?
All in jest (mostly). Do whichever makes you happier.
"You can lead a man to logic, but you cannot make him think." Joe Harz "Always certain, often right." Keith McCafferty
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Campfire Tracker
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Unless money is of no concern then by all means give JES the business, commerce is good for the economy. Otherwise I ditto gnoahhh's remarks.
PS - The .308 like the .06 is a great cartridge. Too bad they are considered "ho hum" these days.
Last edited by S99VG; 06/14/16.
"The universal aptitude for ineptitude makes any human accomplishment an incredible miracle." John Stapp - "Stapp's Law" "Klaatu barada nikto"
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Campfire Tracker
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I'd put the 308 barrel on....
"When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro." Hunter S. Thompson
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Campfire Oracle
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Campfire Oracle
Joined: Oct 2002
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If I had a 308 barrel, which you do, I'd have it screwed on.
"Dear Lord, save me from Your followers"
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Campfire Kahuna
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Campfire Kahuna
Joined: May 2011
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.338 Federal is a sweet cartridge ballistically.
_______________________________________________________ An 8 dollar driveway boy living in a T-111 shack
LOL
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Campfire Tracker
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OP
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Have thought about the .338 Fed before. I'm mainly a northeastern hunter these days, don't need the ballistics of a .338, don't want the recoil thru that narrow steel butt plate. If I take a trip farther north or out west for bigger stuff I have a .350 REM Mag to take along. Yes, a .358 will also add recoil, unless loaded a little lighter to around 35 REM levels.
You .308 guys are right, it will do pretty much anything I want in a 99. So would a 300 Savage, but couldn't find a nice one for sane $$ when I was looking. The down side is I wouldn't get to try a .358!
Guess I am leaning towards putting on the .308 barrel, that's why I bought it to begin with.
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Joined: Nov 2005
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Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
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And after installing the new .308 barrel, you find the POI still shifts then you know other forces are in play such as fore arm bedding, sights/scope issues, etc. While getting to the root of problems such as you described may be frustrating, they are also issues which challenge our intellects and that is never a bad thing.
"You can lead a man to logic, but you cannot make him think." Joe Harz "Always certain, often right." Keith McCafferty
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If the receiver will load and feed 358, I'd think hard about JES. My .308W 99E would not accept more than one .358 cartridge in the magazine. I was contemplating ordering a .358 rotor from Numrich when I read on this forum that JES will modify a rotor as part of the reboring service at no additional cost. A phone call to JES confirmed it. He got my business. JES is as good and fast as everyone has said. Unless money is $225 (+ one way shipping) short, a .358 99F is a sweet addition to any hunting armamentaria. The ability of shooting cheap .38 spl pistol bullets with a modest load of Red Dot is a economical plus.
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Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
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While we are on this subject would some one/several some ones please put some ruff prices with:
1) replace the .308 brl with another .308 brl.
2) rebore the original brl to .358 and installing.
3) rebore the original brl to .338 Federal and installing. I'm guessing this might be the same as #2.
For #2 & #3 would you replace the rotor with a .358 or just open the neck area in the .308 rotor?
For #2 & #3 would you need to tweak the cartridge guide?
I know little about the subject.
Savage...never say "never". Rick...
Join the NRA...together we stand, divided we fall!
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Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
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While we are on this subject would some one/several some ones please put some ruff prices with:
1) replace the .308 brl with another .308 brl.
2) rebore the original brl to .358 and installing.
3) rebore the original brl to .338 Federal and installing. I'm guessing this might be the same as #2.
For #2 & #3 would you replace the rotor with a .358 or just open the neck area in the .308 rotor?
For #2 & #3 would you need to tweak the cartridge guide?
I know little about the subject. Last I talked to JES, reboring was $225 including return shipping. He'll cut the barrel for an extra $25 if you want to shorten it. He also suggested the 358 over the 338. He said some guys were seeing pressure issues with the 338 using factory ammo.
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Joined: Nov 2005
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Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
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A good smith or machinist can install the .308 barrel for half of that, depending on how hungry he is and whether headspace issues arise. I do my own barreling now. (And no, don't ask! I don't have an FFL.)
"You can lead a man to logic, but you cannot make him think." Joe Harz "Always certain, often right." Keith McCafferty
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Campfire Tracker
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A good smith or machinist can install the .308 barrel for half of that, depending on how hungry he is and whether headspace issues arise. I do my own barreling now. (And no, don't ask! I don't have an FFL.) Sure, that's just for labor, but you still have to buy a barrel. JES is a good deal, for a moderately good product. If you can buy a good brand new barrel for $200, and find someone to chamber and mount it for $200, You'd have yourself a great deal, and an accurate shooter. I can't see going to the trouble of trying to save money just to end up with a mediocre shooter.
"...One Nation under God, indivisible, with Liberty and Justice for All"
JeffG
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Has anyone ever done a 99 thumper? Bigger than .38 bore?
I should think you could build a 450 bushmaster and get it to feed from a 284 drop box magazine...hmm, maybe I just uncovered my next adventure!
"...One Nation under God, indivisible, with Liberty and Justice for All"
JeffG
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A good smith or machinist can install the .308 barrel for half of that, depending on how hungry he is and whether headspace issues arise. I do my own barreling now. (And no, don't ask! I don't have an FFL.) Sure, that's just for labor, but you still have to buy a barrel. JES is a good deal, for a moderately good product. If you can buy a good brand new barrel for $200, and find someone to chamber and mount it for $200, You'd have yourself a great deal, and an accurate shooter. I can't see going to the trouble of trying to save money just to end up with a mediocre shooter. "JES is a good deal, for a moderately good product." I've never done business with him but I'm not sure what you mean with this statement.
Last edited by S99VG; 06/15/16.
"The universal aptitude for ineptitude makes any human accomplishment an incredible miracle." John Stapp - "Stapp's Law" "Klaatu barada nikto"
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