Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Savage Collectors What are my chances of finding a nice pre-million 99 in .243?

I was thinking of someday getting a Savage 99 for the fun of owning and shooting it.

Most appealing would be a .243 with a walnut stock, and from what I read, the easiest to resell is a pre-million with the brass round counter.

What are the chances of finding one of these and what would the approximate price be for one in used but not abused condition.

VERY good if you have DEEP pockets.

Not what I wanted to hear

The bad news is that that's the way it is if your looking for something with collectable value. The good news is that there are a lot, relatively speaking, of good shooters available. It all depends of what floats your boat.

I BOUGHT A POST MIL, HAND CHECKERED, IN 95% CONDITION FOR $800 WITH A PEEP SIGHT. I WATCHED A PRE MIL DO $1800 2 WEEKS AGO ON GUNAUCTION.COM

The postmils in 243 sell real easy around here, they just aren't worth as much as a premil.

$1800 for a premil in 243 is insane unless it has the box with it - except maybe for a REALLY nice 99R in 243.

I bid n the pre mil until $1125, then in the last hour it blew up!! I thought it was insane also, however rifles are worth what the market bears, unless you happen across one.

It's a little easier to find low post-mil F's in .243. They have nice checkered walnut stocks but are cursed with the gold trigger and tang safety. Not the greatest photo but the farthest one to the right is an example. For me it is a good compromise vs. the price of a pre-mil and the little bugger shoots good too.

You should be able to find a nice pre mil for under 1000 if you keep your eyes open.

I know of very early post mil 243 99F (marked 99M) for $650. Checkered vs pressed wood. It is in really nice shape. It is like a 1000 over a million.

I think most 99EGs in 243 would bring that kind of money pretty easily.

I am really ignorant when it comes to the 243 caliber. But how different from it is the 250/3000? Please advise. Thanks.

The .243 is a .308 case necked down to .24 caliber whereas a .250/3000 is a shortened .30/06 cass necked down to .25 caliber.

Their muzzle velocities using a 100 grain bullets are extremely close according to my popular reloading manual. However, the earlier .250/3000 Savage rifles are not able to stabilize a 100 grain bullet due to their slower 1:14 twist. They made their reputation by being the first cartridge to attain a 3,000 fps muzzle velocity (with an 87 grain bullet). Later models used a 1:10 twist and could stabilize up to a 117 grain bullet. Thus, the original name, a .250 diameter bullet at 3,000 fps... I.E., ".250/3000" later shortened to just ".250 Savage".

Below is a comparison of the highest muzzle velocity attained by each caliber using a 100 grain soft point bullet according to my well-known, name-brand reloading manual's tests.

Savage 250/3000 (2.515" OAL)
100 grain jacketed soft-point
37.0 grains of IMR4320
M.V. = 3115 fps

.243 Winchester(2.650" OAL)
100 grain jacketed soft-point, boat-tail
46.5 grains of H450
M.V. = 3,032 fps


Strength & Honor...

Ron T.

As far as practical terms, I'd say a 1 in 10" twist 250 Savage and a 243 are identical in performance for all practical purposes. The 1 in 14" twist 250 Savages are limited by a lack of premium bullets that will stabilize, but there's some good ones that work just fine for most hunting.

Jmho.

Ya, someone offer me that kind of money and I'll do the paperwork and get my EG in 243 right out to you.