Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Savage Collectors .308 Precision compare: Savage 99 DL 1964 - Savage 1895 commemorative 1970

Hello Savage collectors,

I would like to ask you for your opinion regarding the precision potential and the manufacturing quality comparing a
- 99 DL from 1964 to a so called
- 1895 commemorative modell from 1970.

Both guns are in calibre .308 win.

I own the 99 DL but I am not very lucky with the acuracy.

Now someone is offering me a commemorative modell with its long octagonal barrel. I don't like the shiny look of the commemorative gun but I could imagine the acuracy might be better. Thats what is important for hunting.

Is there a difference in the manufacturning quality of Savage 99th from 1964 and 1970?

1000 € is a lot of money for the shiny gun but I think it is a realistic price in Germany as 99th in .308 are very seldom here.

By the way, a few weeks ago I sold my low cost 99E in .243 without counter for 400 €, a reasonable price as I think.

Many thanks in advance for your appreciated opinions
and best regards from Germany

Pasche

Pasche,
I've heard reports that that the shiny one's are quite accurate. Boy are they gaudy though. However, I have DL's and have great luck with them too. Don't think I've ever had a bad Savage 99.

How hard is it to get a 99 into Germany from outside? Maybe someone here could help facilitate the purchase of one you could import?

I have a 1965 DL in 308. When I bought it it had the real tall see through scope mounts on it. I do NOT like them. On a bench at 50 yards it was very accurate. Pretty much 3 holes touching. It has a very nice trigger on it also. I took the old scope and mounts off and put lower mounts on it. The first 3 shot group was excellent. The next group moved up and to the right 6 inches. Then the group just started moving all around. I'm pretty sure The mounts are not tight or the scope is no good. My first impression is the gun is very accurate. I haven't taken the time to work with it. Never shot one of the Commemorative's, Joe.

Pasche, from what I've seen it looks like most folks bought the 75th Anniversary rifles as collectibles and never hunted them or shot them. Of the ones I've seen that were hunted, it seems like a good percentage of them had the crescent buttplate cut off and a recoil pad added - because that crescent buttplate with a 308 could get painful if you don't have it seated properly on your shoulder.

Never heard any glowing reports of the accuracy of the 75th Anniversary rifles, but never heard anything bad about them either.

Have you tried removing the forearm from the DL and shooting it with the receiver resting on a sand bag or whatever you use for support? Uneven forearm pressure has been the cause of many poor shooting 99s. It is best to have it float off the barrel. Some folks have bedded it solid as well. The first step is to see if it is the cause.

Those octagon 308's feel heavy, and balance pretty far forward when I've handled them, never owned one.

+1 on experimenting with your forearm;
- when shooting from a rest, support under the receiver, not under the forearm.
- experiment with shooting without the forearm, still supporting the receiver.
- try a rubber o-ring under the forearm screw, just snug, not muscled tight.

Sounds like you undervalued your 243E if $1000 feels correct for the anniversary 308, or vise-versa

Thanks for al your appreciated comments and advices! ;-)

Before I shot my DL the first time, I had taken off the forearm and placed a plastic ring under the forearm screw. Now a sheet of paper passes through barrel and forearm.
I always take care of having the support under the receiver.
One point I do not trust in is the mount and the scope.
As a next step the DL will get a new mount (weaver bases with Leupold QRW rings) and a new Zeiss Scope "Conquest 3-12 x 50".
Then I will take it for a try again with different kinds of leed free amonition and I will aditionally make a try without forearm.

@JeffG: The value of guns in calibre .308 is generally much higher here in Germany than of guns in .243. This is because of the fact that you are not allowed to hunt on wild boars and red deers with .243. But we have so much wild boars inbetween, that you can always expect them coming when you are out for hunting. .308 is allowed as a universal calibre for all kinds of wild animals.
I payed 760 € for the DL, thats a regular price for a regular 99 in Germany. The commemorative modell is something very special here and it is equipped with a diopter sight - that makes a value of 1000 € ok.

I'll keep you informed how it is going on with the story.

Many thanks again to you all and best regards from Germany

Pasche

Pasche, there have been a number of new Weaver 2 part bases where the bases are junk. There are good ones also, just warning you there are some bad ones out there.

I will wager Asbach to export, once you get your scope and mount sorted, that your 99 will easily shoot minute of boar hog. Prost from Idaho!

I would pass on the Commemorative.

I'm willing to bet that your issue is one of a combination of scope, mounts and ammo.

The DL is usually a very accurate rifle and the 308 cartridge is one of the most inherently accurate as well. Have you tried different ammunition?

Also, I would like to note that your writing skills in the english language are very good. I wish my German was half as good.

You should buy the Commemorative if it is within your means.

I recall a discussion many years back about the accuracy of the 24" octagon barrel. Not a lot of them get shot much, as noted but I've never heard a bad word on them either.

The only concern I would have, and it is unsubstantiated, is if the ammo is not good or too "hot" for the action. I have stretched cases and split cases in 308 actions, but the 99 308 actions I owned ( never a dl) were always accurate 4 minute of hog.