Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Savage Collectors Should I buy this gun.....?

Hello,

First Post. I am looking to replace my father's 99 with something as close to what he had as possible. Late 60's or early 70's 99c in .308...
I have found a c in .308 but savage99.com does not recognize the serial number as valid. I have heard that later models are not built as well so I wanted to check the year of manufacture of this one before purchasing.
Serial # is B9577XX. I can PM the full # if someone is willing to date this for me...
I thought I read that anything over 1,000,000 was lower quality. This seems to be close enough to that magic # to ask if it may be suspect. There is no letter on the front of the trigger guard.
[img:left]http://www.snapagogo.com/photo.php?id=59710[/img]
I plan on hunting it so not overly concerned about collectability and value. The current owner is a dealer and has not fired it to comment on how it shoots or handles.


Thanks

June, 1975. Some don't like the tang safety. Fit and finish is lesser than with the earlier one but it will kill deer same as the others.

Looks like a winner. Take off Uncle mikes White Washers. Put on a leupold and your good to go.

The early 99C's from 1965 to about 1969 had a lightweight barrel. The serial numbers with letter prefixes started in Dec '68 and were placed on the left side of the receiver. These are not to be confused with the pre-1960 six digit serial numbers that were on the bottom of the receiver in front of the lever boss.

Thanks for the advice. Sincerely appreciated. I have another one to go see for a second look at a local dealer for comparison. Older with the rotary mag and slim forestock. Lots of wear on the wood and steel. Has the lever safety, not tang... but in a .308. It sure handled nice... sight picture just naturally lined up in a swift single motion. I'll grab the serial of it and research that one too.

I know the mag is one of the highly desirable features of these guns, but the convenience of the clip for a truck gun has merit.

I wonder if the older one with a bit of wood restoration would be the best option...

Sounds like the older one is an EG. Fairly rare to be found in .308 and usually the price reflects that.

I have one post mil 99 now, and have had several others in the past. All have been tack drivers! If the looks don't dissuade you, the quality is there.

Many don't like the pressed checkering and inferior wood. I personally don't care for removable mags, but being left handed and used to double shotguns, find the tang safety a welcome change.

I just looked at this older one. It is a 99 E in .308. The serial number is 11454XX.the wood is rough but could easily be refinished.rotary mag is brass not aluminum.very small crack above lever. short barrel carbine seems quite light.
does 1953 seem right to you?
price is just $350.

Don't look to me for advice....I'd bring em both home!

yep! what Gregintenn says.

That's the post 1 million E-conomy model. Made in the '60s. Price sounds right for the condition.

Well I bought the local one... I'll take a few pictures when I get a moment. I plan to restore the wood as best I can and leave the natural patina on the steel. Will fire it late next week and bring it along on the deer hunt.
Can anyone narrow down the year a bit? Certainly looks to be 60's vintage... 11454XX

Barrel: 18 inch. bright bore, sharp rifling, no pitting - looks super clean.

Sights: front....gold bead on raised ramp rear... rear is a leaf with no more than a tiny dimple to see the front bead through.

TAPPED for scope mounts

Forearm: Straight tapered with V shaped checkering and rounded tip

ButtStock: checkered pistol grip

ButtPlate: black plastic (maybe rubber?)

SAVAGE MODEL 99E (on frame ring top)

Barrel Address: (need to check once I disassemble) - going to use it first...

SERIAL NUMBER: 11454XX (located on underside of receiver in front of the lever boss) (no lever boss code)

FEATURES: Drilled for scope mounts, lever safety. No jeweled bolt or gold plated trigger.

I will wait a bit on the other one... if another one doesn't show up I may get that as well... if it doesn't sell quick.

Is there a factory load available with a 150 grain Barnes TSX? Any recommended choices for deer out of an 18 inch barrel? I have used Nosler partions in my 7mm but have only seen 180 grain for the .308 which I suspect might be a bit heavy for a Muley.

Thx!

Good for you. Try the Barnes 130 ttsx.

1967

should be a 20" barrel, measure from the rear of the receiver ring.

You are correct. Measured at 20"
Pictures... one of the 'least desireable' 99 ' s according to a recent thread.

[img:left]http://smu.gs/1jIf43B[/img]
[img:left]http://smu.gs/1VxFDt7[/img]
[img:left]http://smu.gs/1KUTsKe[/img]
[img:left]http://smu.gs/1jIfneN[/img]
[img:left]http://smu.gs/1KUTxgS[/img]
[img:left]http://smu.gs/1Gr8KSH[/img]

Just the thing to lurk through the dense brush with.

That pattern of pressed checkering is referred to as the Double-Diamond. It was the first pressed checkering pattern used. This E does not have a counter window but other wise the action and brl are the same as the pre-mill's. It will kill deer with the best of them.

It looks about like the one I mentioned in the "least desirable post" above. Can't go wrong at that price if the bore is good.

Is there a factory load with that bullet? Thx.