Home Forums Lever Action Central Lever Actions - General New Lever Rifle question

I am looking to buy a new lever action rifle, but I am wanting to stay in the calibers of .308, 30.06, .270. The only one I have been able to locate are Brownings. Does anybody else know of a company that produces a new lever action in the calibers above? If not, any experiences with the Browning? Will want to put a scope on it once it is mine to own.

Thanks!

Don't know of any other new ones, but I'd look hard at an older Savage 99 with a rotary magazine. They can be had in .308. I love mine.

That's your only option for a new gun in the mentioned chamberings. Had one for awhile, they're not my cup of tea. I go for the more traditional design (and American made) lever guns. Some people like them so maybe one of them will chime in.

now there's a lineup!

Fireball 2 - are those all the same make? Different calibers? I am not opposed to the savage 99 in a 308. I will look into these. About how old would a savage 99 be? I assume they do not make new one's?

No, they don't make 99's any more. But they made them for 100 years. The .308 was a late comer in the 99 and required some design changes to accommodate the cartridge. .270 and .30-06 are too long for the action.

You can find one in .308, if you want one.

Aside from that, the browning is the only modern option I know of in the calibers you prefer. Those cartridges were designed for bolt actions in mind. The pointed bullet style is not compatible with the more common lever action designs. Browning and Savage stack the cartridges like many bolt actions.

The Winchester 1895 also came in .30-06, but I think that would be a hard to find rifle.
I suppose someone might be making a reproduction of that rifle?

Perhaps someone else will chime in with other less known options.

Another question. What is the difference in 99A, 99C, 99E I saw one say 99CD. There seems to be a few on gunbroker in 308 that I have my eye on, within my price range.

Thanks Guys, I have the urge for a lever action.

99 Savage is a keeper!

Sherwood

I really like my Browning BLR in 358 Win. If you are considering a 308 Win then you should give the BLR a serious look. I have no experience with the long action BLR's but I've read that many don't like the way they handle compared to the short actions.
But Browning still makes BLR's in 30-06 and 270, so someone must still be buying them.

My BLR with proper handloads is very accurate. It also fires quickly as lever actions do. I shot a small black bear in thick cover this season with mine and I couldn't ask the rifle to perform any better than it did. Points well too.

Dan

Id vote looking for a Savage 99 as well.

If you're not completely married to the 308 Win, Marlin loads their 308 Marlin cartridge. Performance is close to the Win.

My favorite 308 levergun is the pre 64 Win 88 by far. I also like 99s.

You couldn't give me a BLR....

Post 64 Win 88 in 308 in classifieds right now....

I bought my BLR in .270 Win with the pistol grip stock last January and I'm very happy with it.

Sako made a lever rifle called the Finn wolf. Rare and priced accordingly. There is one on GB right now. 308W. $2250 BIN

If the BLR isn't doin' it for you, the Savage 99 is a great option.

If long action is what you want, maybe a Remington pump?

I think then 95 is being made now in a reproduction in .405 and 30-06.Don't know about .270

308 in the 99 is one of the most accurate 309's I have had. had a EG that would shoot one hole @ 100 yards. got stupid and took it with me to a gun show and let someone talk me out of it. I have been trying to find another but no joy so far.
I had a BLR for years and it was a fine gun also.

308's were introduced in the Savage 99 line in 1956. Ones made from '56 to '59 are the most desirable from a collector point of view, and probably have the best fit and finish and are all hand made. 1960 and on they used more stamped parts and switched all models except the 99E to a tang safety.

The 99C's and 99CD's have a removable magazine, holds 4 in the mag and one in the chamber. All other models have a rotary magazine and differ mostly on the stock and barrel. A 99F would be a featherweight with a featherweight barrel, a 99E probably has the shortest barrel at 20", etc. Some models are VERY hard to find, such as a 99EG or 99R in 308. Others are verey easy to find, such as a 99E or 99C in 308.

I much prefer the rotary magazine, and given a choice for a hunting 99 in 308 I would look for a pre-1960 99F with lever safety or a 1960's 99DL with a monte carlo stock and tang safety. Just my preference though.

I love this guy. He hit it. Late 1950's lightweight 99F in 308 or Early 1960's 99DL (marked 99M) tang safety model. Both are lightweights, DL has a Monte Carlo stock for better scope alignment. I have found either model for less than $500 in excellent shape. If you want a true collector gun, lay for the 308 in a 99R or EG. It will take awhile. 99R has pregnant stock dimensions front and back, 99EG has the curved schnable forearm and slim buttstock.

The thing about a Savage vs. most others, is you can run almost any pointy bullet you want, accuracy and trigger are great, resale is there, no stupid hammer to deick with when jumpshooting game or hunting with a scoped rifle.

I'd never buy a Winchester mushtrigger 88 when I could own a Savage.

+1 for a 99F in 308. An absolute joy to carry in the woods. Recoil is a bit heavier, but not horrid.

..show-off, now tell us what calibers you're slingin'!

Some of us just call that picture a pretty good starting point.

Yeah, I know that by now! It's the one time I stacked them up together for a photo, so I keep recycling it. I'll be honest, I'm out of storage room for more 99's , so until that's remedied, I'm stuck. I have a safe in the shop for tools that could come inside though...

I've also discovered that there are other makes and models of guns on the market. Who knew?

Jeff, nothing unusual for cartridges, except the 270 Titus. 22-250, 250, 7mm-08, 284, 300, 308, 358, 375. Missing a few to be sure, but don't really need any, besides maybe a 30-30. Got some customs ready to assemble if I could find a smith locally. 22-250 AI, 250 AI, 375 16".

Porn, just plain old unadulterated PORN!

Another option is a Marlin 308MX. Yes, I know it is not a "real" .308 but for all intents and purposes it is close enough.

As far as BLR's go several people with more knowledge than myself said the cocking stroke is to long with the long action rounds such as the .270, 30-06, etc. Their advice was to stay with short action cartridges.

Can a scope be mounted to all Savage 99's or is there something that I need to watch for? I will want to put a scope on one if one doesn't exist.

The older Savages that were not drilled for a scope at the factory have writing on the top of the receiver in front. Sometimes they are drilled after the fact, through the lettering. If not factory drilled, it's anybodies guess if they were done well.
I'd look for one with the writing moved down the side and factory drilled and tapped on top, if it were me and I wanted to shoot with a scope.

Factory d&t for modern standard scope bases started around 1950 for the 99R, 1956 for the 99F, and 1956 for the 99EG. Everything after that was factory d&t for scopes.

Prior to this, any modern d&t for scope bases would be after market. I've got more than a few, the majority are very well done and work fine. Just not "correct".

There were also a lot of non-standard d&t jobs for odd things, ranging from holes for side mounted scope bases like the Echo or Weaver T7, to differently spaced top holes.

If an earlier rifle is d&t, it's best if the bases come with it. Otherwise ask for pictures to check to make sure it's standard, a lot of the non-standard bases are a serious pain in the neck to find.

1930's 99T that was aftermarket d&t:





There are also the Stith mounts, which allow certain scopes to be mounted without the drilling of extra holes. Rear base is secured in the tang sight screw holes, front base is secured in the rear sight dovetail. Works for any 1899 or 99 made after WWI up to 1959 (on earlier rifles the rear sight dovetail is too far forward to work well). Comes in 3/4", 7/8", and 1" versions. Here's a 7/8" version with a Lyman Alaskan 2.5x with post reticle on a 1941 99EG in 250-3000:

Bought a Savage 99 in 308win. No letter after the 99. In really good shape. Serial number starts with 929XXX. Any approx. date on this gun? Had a scope already mounted.
Thanks guys for all the info.

Will try to post picture in a bit.

Look on the front of the lever boss for an oval with a number and letter. I.E. `13L. Number is the inspector, you can ignore that. Letter is the year starting with A in 1949. Skip O and Q. They're normally poorly struck or hard to read.

My bet is your 99 is an F lightweight, but that's just a guess. However most of the F's will say 99F. Otherwise it's an EG or R.

17J The J may be an 'I' had to get the magnifying glass out. The J/I is hard to read.

No thumb safety. What is the piece called that locks the lever in place? Will it shoot when that is in the lock position? Didn't want to pull the trigger until I had a round in it to see.

Thanks,

That is called a lever safety. The tang or thumb safety you refer to came a few years after your rifle, in 1960.

Yep, the lever safety is the safety. Shouldn't fire when it's engaged.

1957 sounds about right, don't have my sheet with me. Only three models made at that time. The 99F is most common in 308, it will say 99F on the barrel and have a rounded forearm and the barrel at the rear sight dovetail will be thicker than the rest of the barrel. The 99EG will have a thin forearm with a schnabel tip. The 99R will have a fat and wide forearm that is significantly wider than the receiver and a rounded end on the forearm.

Found it. 99F.

Any concerns with use of any ammunition? Plan on shooting mostly 150 grain and a mixture of factory or handloads. Handloads would not be hot, but normal book loads.

Thanks.

Just one mans opinion,
But stick with the .308. Long action lever guns don't do it for me.
On the other hand a model 95 Wincheter saddle ring carbine in 06 would be very cool.
And don't forget the Winchester 88. I have a Winchester 88
And a savage 99F, both .308s and over all the savage gets the nod. ...tj3006

No problem with any factory ammo, and if you don't load them hot then any hand loads should be fine also.

Good luck!!

Do not see a 99PE in that picture. You need one.

I have a "Remchester" (Miroku(sp?) reproduction) 95 in 30-06 & do like it. Not sure if it is also made in the gay chambering.

To the OP, you can not mount a scope on this lever gun, due to the action style (top eject).

My main deer rifle is a M99c, in .308 & I love it !!

Whoops.