Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Savage Collectors 99 buttstock question

I took the buttplate off my recently aquired 99EG .300 Savage to check the tightness of the buttstock/ action screw. I understand that it should be tight but not gorilla tight. Anyway I tried to loosen the screw and I couldn't budge it. It is either too tight or the oil on the screw dried and cemented the screw on. Leave it alone or try harder to get it off?

While I had things apart, I noticed it had the serial number stamped into the stock and it had the manufacture? date stamped in ink below the serial number: March 16, 1945. Was this typical to have the date stamped in ink?

Also, I noticed the serial number stamped stamped on the inside face of the buttplate. Oddly, it was correct except the 3rd number. 426xxx instead of the actual serial number of 427xxx. Is this another never say never thing?

Thanks to all who reply.

Pends on why you need to take the stock off. If you don't have too....why mess with it?

What if you strip the screw head or break it or crack the tang trying to twist too hard? For what?

Leave the stock bolt alone but post pictures of the date stamp...first I have heard.

Well, I understood that you have to take the buttstock off to check that there is clearance for the upper and lower tang to avoid the stock splitting. Besides, don't you have to remove the stock to clean the action?

I knew when I put it back together I should have taken a pic. Ok, I'll have to dig it out again and remove the plate.

Hey, you asked:

Impact wrench should take it right off. Then your broken gun will be nice and clean

That date stamp from that era has surfaced in the last few months - this is not the first. Just a flash in the pan effort apparently.

If you don't have a tang crack by now I wouldn't screw with it. Not much inside there that needs cleaning so don't lose any sleep over that.

OK, great, that really answers my questions. The date stamp may have had a reason back then, or at least they thought that it did. Nice part is that it definitely dates the manufacture date of the rifle. Thanks.

I agree with Lightfoot in that IF the action, safety, etc. is working fine, why risk damaging the wood to remove the rear stock. But, if you NEED to remove the rear stock, I would spray the SMALLEST amount of PB blaster (using a plastic tube) down into where the bolt head is, leave the rifle standing barrel down for an hour, then with a flashlight (to line up blade) and a tire iron (type from GM cars of the 70's) try to remove the stock. IMHO the tire iron blade (hub cap removing part) fits the stock bolt slot perfectly, and the diameter of the tire iron keeps it centered in the round hole in the stock. It's a trick I learned here from Don or Jed (can't remember who). I'm not doing the work, so use your better judgment. I've heard stories of cracked stocks or tools coming out the side, but it's never happened to me. -TomT

TomT: Might as well leave it alone, like it's been said, but that's a very clever idea for removal!

I think this is the 2nd or 3rd from that timeframe where it had the date. Definitely not normal outside of this, tho. Would you mind giving us one more digit, and leave just the last 2 x'd out? Would like it for my records.

Or you could do what I do and just hacksaw the stock off through the wrist to get at the bolt with a pair of ViceGrips. A little Elmer's Glue when your all finished and no one will be the wiser. (Ah sheesh, now some dumb elbow out in the sticks will actually try that.)

As others have said, leaving well enough alone should do no harm. That said, I'm kind of anal about stripping any new gun down for a thorough inspection/cleaning just for peace-of-mind that there aren't any gremlins hiding in there that'll jump out and bite me in the ass when I least want them to. Or at least to clean up a century's-worth of dried grease and oil.

Calhoun: PM sent.

Ideally, it would be nice to clean but considering the tiny amount of use that it will ever see from me, it's probably completely not necessary.

now i'am going to have to check my 446o0o

In the past I have used a slotted screw driver bit on a 3/8" drive ratchet. That being said the rifles were of no concern as they were parts rifles and I never had an issue with breaking the stock, bolt or any other issues. Just a little more mechanical advantage and it came loose. I would be very careful if I was doing this on a good rifle.

Blair

It would be pretty interesting if others would check WWII vintage 99 rifles to see if they also had a date stamp under the buttplate. There had to be a reason for it since it wasn't done all the time.

I have letters for 44 and 46 I think and don't remember ever seeing a date stamp... Though I am not sure I ever took them apart.

Hah, a probable answer to the buttplate number. Took the forearm off and noticed that someone stamped it 426 also instead of 427, like the buttplate. In this case they stamped a 7 over the 6 to correct it.

Can't check the buttplate on my lucky EG for a date since it's a replacement, but I do have a "5" stamped on the bottom of the barrel like you do. That's 2, so maybe it does mean 194"5". Be interesting to know if anybody else with 425,000 thru 432,000 series shooters had dates on the buttplate or a number on the bottom of the barrel.

an impact driver that you strike with a hammer will remove that stock bolt . I have one and have used it several times for this.
just don't use a 5 lb hammer . they will work with a 3/8 extension from a socket set.

plab

Checked 4317XX and has a "5" stamped on the front of the receiver where the EG stamp would normally be. No date stamp on butt plate nor a "5" on the barrel.