Thinking a 243 might be a nice addition to the stable. Of the three, EG, R,F, ofthe3 non top safety choices which is the most common?

The F is the one that you're most likely to find in .243, but it's uncommon and quite pricey.

F fer sure. I felt really blessed to get a great shooter grade 99F for about $500. Haven't seen but 1 or 2 of the other two mentioned and alot more coin. What a great little deer gun. Or whatever gun. From coyote to elk, the bullet determines.

Absolutely no shame in plugging a tang safety .243 though...

http://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php/topics/10721328/1

Fireball2, I saw your 99A. Does look great, a shooter grade F sounds like a more appealing option though. Of course your A is a bird in the hand so to speak.

Never seen an R or EG in the 243. Before I started accumulating 99"s, the first one I owned (1979)and traded off quickly was an F 50's model. Big mistake!

A few years later I started collecting 99's and was sorry that I got rid of the first F. Purchased one today and should be delivered next week. Hard to beat the 50's F's in any caliber. Now have the 300/ 250/ 243/ 284 (tang Safety cc), guess the group wouldn't be complete without the other cals. "Man I need help" That is locating the other cals within my price range. GW

I am making payments on one. It has a serial number of 9355xx and the LBC is near impossible to read. Nice shape, no slings studs and looks like scope screws never turned.
How many premil F in .243 were made? I will post pics when I eventually get it home...probably after Christmas.

243 F is the most likely one you'll find. They come up, but they're pricey.

I had a pre-mil 243F which consistently shot half-MOA with 75g bullets. Someone here talked me out of it years ago. I traded it for something I needed more of course..., I've been looking for another 243 since then. That was one of my dumber moves.

I have a deal with Jimmy300 for his 243R, which is the only one I've ever come across. There are a couple 243 EG amongst members here, but I don't think you'd talk any of them into selling.

Smiley, your new rifle, by the serial number, is a 1957 production. It is not uncommon to not be able to read the date code (LBC) stamped on the lever boss.

Whoops, forgot the later 99E in our conversation, although you specifically omitted it. There's one for sale now on a very popular gun auction website with a buy now of $525. Currently bid at $375.

When somebody asks which premil 99 model in 243 they should look for, one doesn't answer "99E".

it was that whole non top safety thing...

Early 99E with a counter window is 99% pre-mil rifle to me.


...there, I said it. Hope I don't get kicked out.

Jeff, you can't get kicked out, you're much too nice a guy. If you did get kicked out, I'd go with you and we could start our own little Tinkerbell Club.

The 99e seems is heavy compared to the 99f. Thinking all due to the funky wood used on the E. Got one of each though in 243.

Thanks Rick. Trying to figure out now how many years premil .243s there were. First year is ?
Thanks for the 1957 date.

The first date stamps on 99F's in 243 was 1955. Catalogued in 1956.

Did we have a thread on the early 243's having some mechanical problems? If so what serial range was that in? GW

The only talk about it I remember is 2 premil 99F's in 243 that were in the 700,000 serial number range. They worked fine as single shots, but the internals were still the shorter version and wouldn't handle a full magazine.

Thanks

I couldn't remember the problem and locating through search is difficult. GW

Thanks

I couldn't remember the problem and locating through search is difficult. GW