I inherited a model 99 take down in 303. It was bought by my great grand father in 1921. I have a couple questions. I actually inherited it 20 years ago but finally took posetion of it only 3 weeks ago.. Long story.
first some basic info, The gun was improperly stored by my aunt for a while. the bluing was damaged but I would say the gun is over all in great shape. The lever action is what I would call factory tight. It's like new. The barrel rifling is in great shape. The gun has very little wear.
1. It has a 410 barrel and no front stock for this barrel. Guessing the stock was lost somewhere during it's many moves from one relitive to the other. What does the front stock look like and is it something I can replicate?
1.2. does anyone have a 410 stock for sale?
2. that said, the 410 barrel has a loop clamp, for lack of a better description, just the clamp. is there anything else I am missing?
I've also discovered the rarity of 303 savage ammo and plan on buying from the dealer that has some in stock. Funny thing, I went to a local gun show and only found 3 rounds that a fella had loose. Yes, I bought them. 3. Reloading 303 Savage, which dies are prefered? RCBS or Lee?
On another side note, I inherited several other guns. model 94 winchester in 32ws, model 1884 springfield trapdoor, a double barrel 12 gauge shotgun(wall hanger)..really poor condition.
Ken sounds like a nice rifle, im a big fan of the 303 the forend on the 303 is the one to use on the 410 barrel also! 303s are easy to reload for, about any load for the 30-30 will work for the 303. always open the leaver when you change the barrels. DO NOT use the forarm to unscrew the barrel. 303 dies all about the same I due like RCBS tho. life time warrenty. others will have more info. for you, enjoy your 99 and Welcome to the Form!
I second RCBS, they have a great warranty and honor it without hesitation. Other makes of dies are all good too, but I have a little "home town pride" for RCBS.
"The universal aptitude for ineptitude makes any human accomplishment an incredible miracle." John Stapp - "Stapp's Law" "Klaatu barada nikto"
Yes to RCBS dies and RCBS reloading equipment. Great customer service and as S99VG said, warranty cannot be beat, no matter how old their product is.
To sit back hoping that someday, someway, someone will make things right is to go on feeding the crocodile, hoping he will eat you last--but eat you he will. Ronald Regan.
RCBS let me down when I sent them a custom die with a stuck case in it. They said they couldn't remove it, but would sell me another for almost $300. They still had a record of making the first one. I declined and had them send it back. I drove it out with a hammer and drift and it works fine.
My impression is that they were more eager to sell me a new $286 die than they were to help me with the old one.
_______________________________________________________ An 8 dollar driveway boy living in a T-111 shack
I use Lee exclusively now, had a couple of RCBS dies in 250 Savage and 300 Savage and got tired of broken deprimer rods. Never had a single problem with Lee dies.
“The Savage 99 Pocket Reference”. All models and variations of 1895’s, 1899’s and 99’s covered. Also dates, checkering, engraving.. Find at www.savagelevers.com
That fore arm for the .303 barrel should fit the .410 barrel too, if they came together as a set originally. Pics would help.
.303 ammo is wherever you can find it. Good that you contemplate reloading them. As for dies, I'll chime in too. I prefer Redding dies these days, and C-H4 dies when it comes to off the wall stuff. Not a thing wrong with RCBS. Heck they comprise over half of the dies in my die chest. (If you're breaking depriming pins there's gotta be something rotten in Denmark. I haven't broken a pin since Bush the Elder was in the White House.) To be honest, I don't see anything wrong with Lee dies too. I have a couple sets of them. But the last half dozen sets of new dies I bought were Reddings, for no better reason than I like them. In a word, they're all pretty good.
Last edited by gnoahhh; 02/24/15.
"You can lead a man to logic, but you cannot make him think." Joe Harz "Always certain, often right." Keith McCafferty
Unfortunately it doesn't appear that the 303 forearm stock would work with the 410. The attached image shows both barrels. Since the 410 barrel has a different attachment than the 303 you can see the dilemma. Unless I am missing something..
The other thought is that I wonder if this 410 barrel was bought with the PE 243 that was sold years ago..? This was a newer 99 than the one I have now.
Nothing amiss. The two barrels attach to the same fore arm via different latching systems. The .410 barrel uses the clamp arrangement on the barrel to impinge upon the tip of the wood. Not one of Savage's better ideas, but I think their goal was to avoid making the barrel too thin under a dovetail slot needed for the latch hook such as is used on the rifle barrel.
Did the set come to you with its original carrying case?
Last edited by gnoahhh; 02/24/15.
"You can lead a man to logic, but you cannot make him think." Joe Harz "Always certain, often right." Keith McCafferty
Yeah, when the 410 barrel is clamped down on the forearm it will dent the wood and mar the finish on the end of the forearm.
It's the way they were made.
Cased set with the 410 barrel here:
“The Savage 99 Pocket Reference”. All models and variations of 1895’s, 1899’s and 99’s covered. Also dates, checkering, engraving.. Find at www.savagelevers.com
It almost surely never had a case with it. The cased set was almost exclusively for a 99G in 300 Savage, not 303 Savage.
Never say never, but the 410 barrel was available separately and so it was most likely just those two.
“The Savage 99 Pocket Reference”. All models and variations of 1895’s, 1899’s and 99’s covered. Also dates, checkering, engraving.. Find at www.savagelevers.com