All I usually run into in .308 Winchester are the 99C's. I'm wondering if rotary mag .308's are rather uncommon?

Not really. Plenty of 99E's, 99F's, 99DL's. 75th anniversary's, 99A's.

I picked up a really nice 99 DL in 308 for $350 about 5 years ago, I was surprised how much it kicked. I shot 240 rounds through my M1, then 100 rounds through my 03a3, and my shoulder was fine. I shot 25-30 rounds through the DL and I was starting to flinch bad and my shoulder was sore, Joe.

They are available in the EG and R models although a lot harder to find. I have one in both.

Well dang, you piled up over 300 rounds of rifle shooting... Ya, my shoulder might be sore too!

Guy

The day at the range with the M1 and 03A3 were different days than the 308 DL. The M1 is gas operated so it doesn't kick bad, the 03 isn't too bad, but they are both 30-06. I thought the 308 would be a push over. But, I guess the 99's are a bit lighter. I shot 3 boxes of shells and a couple friends shot a round or two. OOPS, I just noticed I added wrong. I shot 3 boxes that would be 60 rounds. I was sore at the end, Joe.

Slip a recoil pad on your rifle when shooting it a lot. Here is a pic. of a 99 with a "SLIP-On" pad by Pachmayr at the range.

Sitting on a few here, mostly DL's but some F's, E's and R's in the mix. Not hard to accumulate at all.

Savage 99s in .308 appear to be "well done" and not "rare" at all!

A .308 99F with its original narrow, steel buttplate is not the best rifle for extended range time, especially in just a t-shirt. Can leave a mark!

Like many traditional hunting rifles, 99s weren't made for shooting paper....did anyone ever get a sore shoulder shooting a buck? I hope not; that'd be some really lousy shooting!

(S99VG, why must you torture us with irrelevant pix of lovely M-Ss???? Testing our Savage fidelity?).

7 or 8 here, I forget. DLs, post and pre mil Fs, 2 EGs, one E

My 300 Weatherby convinced me to buy a Caldwell Lead Sled for zeroing it at the range. It is one piece and a lot handier than using a front rest under the forearm or receiver and a bag under the toe of the buttstock so I use it to zero everything. It required laying the 99 over to work the lever and the forearm had to sit on the front mount. Then they came out with a Lead Sled that had two rails to allow long magazines to fit through it and an adjustable front mount that could be moved back so the receiver is resting on it. Ideal for the 99 because the lever goes between the two rails and the receiver can rest on the front mount. Pics below. It absorbs the recoil of my 18" barrel 99F pretty good even without any lead on the tray. David

I wish I owned that dungeon of firearms but I'm afraid I can't lay claim to that particular torture session - unless you count me amongst the suffering! Nice collection of rifles, especially the full stock Mannlicher at the top!