Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Savage Collectors Savage 99 "long" actions

I just acquired a Savage 99 action ONLY whose serial number is about 960xxx. I haven't got it in my possession yet, so I'm relying on memory. It is supposed to be circa late 1950s, in 308 Winchester.

1. Will the receiver, or other action part[s], be marked with its original caliber? If there are no markings, how can I verify the action is 308/243/358 compatible? Or, for that matter 284 Winchester compatible? How can I verify this is a "long" action?

2. Are all rotary magazine 99s after a specific date, or above a specific serial number, "long" actions - that is, satisfactory for 308 Winchester-length cartridges?

3. Will original, or "shorter" rotary spools and their associated parts fit and function correctly in "long" actions?
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If I am asking the wrong questions, or I'm unclear, please ask for clarity; I'll do my best.
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I don't know how helpful photographs will be. Here are thumbnails of the action.

1) No, it won't be marked. That was on the barrel. All 900,000 series receivers are compatible with the 243/308/358 though, so no worries.

2) See above. All 900,000 and above receivers handle 243/308/358.

3) Gonna pass on this one, haven't taken them apart or tried swapping.


As a sidenote, a 243/308/358 is a SHORT action receiver. A long action would be for a 30-06, 270, or similar cartridge. The 900,000 series is just slightly modified internally to accept longer cartridges than the 250 Savage and 300 Savage. It's still not anywhere near big enough to accept 30-06/270/etc, so it still a short action.

Also, the 284 didn't come along until 1964, and you probably don't want to mess with trying to make that receiver into a 284. Not as easy as it sounds since there's differences with spools and internals from what I hear.

3) The 243 might work but I know that you will need to find a 358 rotor to make the 358 work. The 308 rotor will not do for the 358.

Joe, I think he was asking if the spools and internals from pre-900k series guns would fit into a 900k receiver?

JMO, but I do not think so. 250 and 300 spools are available for the newer actions, 303 is not, not sure about 30-30.

Wow, I'm batting a thousand lately.

Just got up from nights was a little groggy when I read this thread earlier.

Thats OK Joe we
always thought you were alive and alert 24-7.LOL
NoRm

It appears that you have a complete action or will assume so. Go to the top of the Forum and find the posting on "Savage 99 parts..." that Tal35 posted. Find the photo of the rotors. Look at the two on the right. One is a 358 the other a 308. If you look at how the cartridge sets you will see that the neck areas are different. You should be able to set a cartridge in our rotor and determine how it fits. It would be one of five cartridges, .243, .308, .358 and less likely .250 or .300.

Short answer: No.

Please identify parts sources for side lever safety "long" or internally lengthened 99 actions like I just acquired.

My gunsmith of choice has been Tim at Grizzly Custom Guns in Columbia Falls, Montana. If, for some reason, he is not comfortable working on my 99, please recommend gunsmiths, preferably in Montana, with whom you have personal experience who work effectively on 99s.
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Regarding the tang safety 99s:

I have been told the trigger-sear assemblies are different from my 99's version. Are any changes present to accommodate the tang safety, or is the assembly an improvement/deterioration? Other than trigger, sear, safety are parts from tang safety 99s and late side lever 99s usable in the other action?

Picked up my 99R today. Clean, in very good condition, with crisp, tight parts-to-parts fit.
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Can anyone point me toward a source for steel alloys used to make 99 action's parts, circa late 1950s? During its production life, did Savage make steel alloy changes?

I think you lost us. Do you need parts for you 99-R?

I doubt that there is anyone here that can answer that question. Not even sure you will find anyone at Savage that will know or will tell you.

Try Savage and see if they will help.