Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Savage Collectors caliber breakdown for 99s

Here's a broad question for the experts. What percent of total 99 production would each caliber be? Are the older commercially unavailable calibers as collectable?

There is no way of knowing how many of each caliber were produced and yes, older calibers are certainly collectable if still in original condition/configuration. Tom

** As Cataloged **

Pre-WW1 (1899-1917)

22HP, 25-35, 250-3000, 30-30, 303, 32-40, & 38-55.
I would rank the 32-40 as the least common in this era.

Between WW1 & WW2

22HP, 250-3000, 30-30, 303, 300
I would rank the 22HP as the least common in this era.

Betwee 1945 & 1959

243, 250-3000, 300, 308, 358
I would rank the 358 as the least common in this era, but none of the 243/308/358 are common in either the 99EG or 99R.

Between 1960 & 1983

22-250, 243, 250-3000, 7mm-08, 284, 300, 308, 358, 375
I would rank the 7mm-08 as the least common in this era.

**NOTE** This distribution estimate is just a SWAG on my part, not based on any particular expertise, as I claim none.

Jeff

I would argue that there is a way to know or to make a damn good statistical estimate... that being said, it will likely never come to light as that ability lies in private hands.

I would say that the majority of production would be .300 Savage caliber.

I agree with Drew. There has to be some accurate numbers somewhere! No doubt the 300 sav. is the most common.

I'd put the 375 with the 7mm-08.

Noah

I'd disagree in a major way... there are a lot more 375s out there than 7mm-08s. I see more than a dozen 375s for sale a year... maybe two or three in 7mm-08.

How many of you guys here own a 99 in 22-250?

One .22-250
One .375
No 7mm-08

The problem with the later rifles (Series A) is that we know how many years a model and caliber were produced but we have no way of knowing what the annual production was.

Had one, sold it off. The 375's seem more common to me than the 22-250 or 7mm08.

Have 2 myself
Very Nice shooting and accurate also,

And 2 in 7mm-08
1 in 375 also

Must be a geographic thing, because I see two or three 7mm-08s in as many years, and no 375s. The first 375 I've seen in a shop in easily six or seven years I bought a couple weeks ago. But the 7mm-08 is exceptionally popular here in north central PA.

Noah

I based my comment on internet sales... I pay very little attention to where they are being sold from but I see a LOT more auctions then what passes through GB and AA in a year... there are more 99s for sale in PA then any other area of the US... I am quite confident of that as it is one of the few things that has really stood out to me...

I bought 6 or 7 99s one day at an auction in north central PA...

If we combine the 2 variables of model and cartridge, I would rank the following combinations of post-1960 "cataloged" 99s as "Uncommon":

99A in 300 Sav
99A in 375 Win
99A-BG in 375 Win
99C in 22-250
99C in 7mm-08
99CD in 243
99DL in 250-3000
99DL in 284
99E in 250-3000
99F in 250-3000
99F in 284

This list is in alphbetic order.

Jeff

Im quite positive I have seen 99Cs in .300 Savage.

99C's in 300 Savage were made in the 1990's (maybe early 2000's). I'd count them as "Uncommon".

I believe the ones I saw were sometime in the early 80s.

I only recognize "cataloged" configurations.

I believe that the 99Cs may have been "cataloged" in 300 Savage early in their production run, but I don't believe that they were "cataloged" in 300 Savage after 1970+/-. If you can cite a catalog source, year and page, I'd be interested.

I did a matrix of Savage firearms (in EXCEL) as cataloged, but I don't have a copy on this PC.

Jeff

PS - I do recall that a couple of the larger wholesalers had Savage 99Cs listed in 243, 300, and 308 since 1990 (when I got my FFL), but there were never any available for sale.

I don't watch the auctions much unless I'm looking for something specific, so my sample population is much smaller, consisting mainly of making the rounds of NC PA shops and gun shows. Your data is most likely more accurate -- I'm feeling the elephant's tail, and you're feeling the flank.

I do agree that the Savage 99 is world-famous in Pennsylvania and still enjoys a high degree of interest, loyalty, and intended use in the field. The NC PA Spring gun show circuit is in full bloom, and the firehalls are chock-full of 99s on the weekends. This is Savage 99 "Ground Zero" in these parts.

Noah