Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Savage Collectors Life's Too Short To Hunt with an Ugly Gun...

Life's Too Short To Hunt with an Ugly Gun...

Well, it seems that "no deer" was tagged by me during the late November rifle deer season, as I passed on a fat doe I jumped and put the scope on -- but I held off on taking the shot, as I really want a buck...

But if you're gonna have an empty tag, at least you can hunt with a pretty gun -- and it's a Savage 99 at that!



That's my Savage 99A in .250-3000 that I had refinished and then had professionally checkered earlier this year, after finding out that it was so "slickery" (slick and slippery) last fall when I had to put ugly rubber patches on it (short term) just to get a good grip. (Those worked well, as I tagged a big doe last fall.) Last year I had a larger Leupold 2-7X scope on it, but this year I've downsized to a Leupold VX3 1.5-5X; it's got plenty of power for the woods I'm hunting and the smaller size and weight look and feel so much better on the gun.

Oh well, we still have 2 weeks of blackpowder hunting here in Maine and the Solunar Tables look great for the last 2 days (the end of next week), so I'll get back out there yet again.

As you can see, there's at least a 6 pt and 8 pt around my stand -- if they didn't get shot yet, that is.......





( The Primos Proof Gen 2 game camera takes awesome photos -- without recording hundreds of "wind shots" like my old Moultrie one did... )

Old No7

A big thumbs up to you!!

I like the checkering.

Take heart. All is not lost. My 99A in 300, my favorite deer rifle out of many to choose from, took a fat five point this afternoon here in PA. Don't know what it is, but I can just plain shoot that little rifle and I mean shoot it well.

Good choice on putting some checkering on the 99-A it really does improve the handling of the rifle.

I purchased my 99-A 250 Savage several years ago from the widow of the man who had it checkered.



It has accounted for several deer. This is the latest one taken the 18th of this month.

That's a beast. Congrats.

I agree with the title. This was my first year hunting with my 99F and the hours in the stand were a little easier with such fine workmanship to admire. That and it’s 60 year history to contemplate.
It must have taken more deer then I because it shouldered so easily and took an 8 pointer.
Those 99-A’s look like I’m going to have contemplate one of my own at some point.

308Ti 257 Roberts 308Win

Roundoak,

That is a pig of a deer. What was the weight? My friend busted an 8 point recently that weighed 184lbs, dressed.

RAS,

I did not get the deer weighed, rather used the Pennsylvania Game Commission deer weight tape. The buck's girth was 44" that equals 212# estimated dressed weight.

I love the checkering on that gun...

I admire that checkering too.

I love that rifle.....period. Enjoy gazing at it every time Roundoak post it.

You fellas could own one, there's several for sale right now, and checkering costs about $175. I love that rifle too!

Yes, very nice checkering on that one.

Not only did mine "need" checkering -- as it was so slick and slippery -- it was awful orange colored "before" too...

Here's a before and after image of mine...



I had my guy add the checkering closer to the front of the receiver, per a pattern I drew up, as that's where my left hand holds it. Nope, it's not a "vintage Savage checkering pattern", as I had reviewed many of those online, but it works best for me and provides a secure grip.

I love the .250 Savage -- I just wish my late father was here to hear that I was hunting with one... He would have loved this gun.

Old No7

Much improved #7


What else you got we can look at?

Gee, that's my only 99...

But how do you like this as an alternative to checkering???

I did this years ago to my T/C Omega deer rifle (inline BP).

Old No7

Cool camel toes. That works and looks good!

Nice 99As gentlemen!

Some people see hoof prints and others see.... For me, I'm afraid that image of a hoof print has now been scared for life.