Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Savage Collectors Contemplating a 99 trade....

So, I just became a 99 owner back in October of last year. I picked up an early '50s vintage model in 300 with a Weaver K4 in a Stith mount. Nice wood and finish with only a couple of updates to it that were made many decades ago. I like it and am excited to own it but am thinking that I don't want to reload for another cartridge. I'm surely not going to pay $30+ a box for factory stuff. That, and the LOP is a little short for me. So, I'm thinking about looking to trade for a comparable model 99 in .30-30. I don't mind paying $14 per box for that and already planned on reloading for my current .30-30. So, what should I do? Or maybe I should ask, what would you do?

Hi Friend. I would buy a reloader set and learn to reload it is easy. no mater what caliber you decide on you will soon be paying $30.00 + for a box if you can find any at all. ammo will only become scarce and more expensive in the future.

That said a single caliber for multiple guns would be the way to go even if you reload.

Reload for both. Keep the 300...buy more rifles.
Repeat as needed for therapy.

Let's start with the basics.
1. Does what you hunt only need a 30-30 ?
2. If you shot 10 boxes a year, your additional cost for the 300 would be $150. Two fillups in my Cummins RAM.
3. Can't imagine buying a less powerful cartridge on the same platform due to reloading aversion. A 300 with a 130 TSX and a max load of 4198 just blows away any 30-30 load.
4. A really nice 99 in 30-30 is worth quite a bit more than a 300 so your downgrade will cost you.

On the assumption that your 99 is an EG, has a Stith no drill mount, small objective K4, has not been hacked off at either end and you wish to sell it, drop me a PM.

I do reload. For almost a dozen calibers. That's why I don't want to start another.

I don't need the power of the 300 for hunting. I'll use a .25-06 or a .30-06. I'd even use my 6.8mm. I like the .30-30 round because it's so classic. It'd be nice to load spitzers in it too. I guess the 300 is classic as well. Like I said, I'm just contemplating the possiblity.

You can order the 300 Savage ammunition online from smaller sources for under $30 a box, course then you have to add shipping in.

Or, if you are already set up for reloading, buying a set of Lee dies for $30 and some brass are all you need add to load for 300 Savage. Standard .308 150gr or 165gr bullets that most reloaders already have for other cartridges work fine, standard primers, etc.

At normal whitetail hunting distances, the 300 Savage is an ideal hunting rifle. It just plain works.

A picture is worth a 1000 words.

Always have liked that picture.