Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Savage Collectors Barrel Band, Baby

Well, I got a Lyman 30 1/2 tang site for my BB. A couple of questions: first, do you guys think I’ll have to change the front sight? Any recommendations for a good front sight? Which direction do I drift off the old rear sight? And what filler plug would you recommend for the old rear sight dovetail. I’d like to get one that blends with the barrel. Photos to follow.

If anybody is interested there is a 99H 250-3000 in what appears to be nice original condition up for auction at Poulins auctions in 7 days.

I would fire a few rounds and see where it prints with the stem of the tang sight down as far as it will go. If the stem looks like it could go farther but won't take it out and see if there is a pin in the bottom.

Knowing where the rounds print from the center and at a measured distance will allow you to calculate the front sight height needed if shooting high.

Blanks are where you find them and in all styles and time periods. If you can't find an old one you might have to shape one from a new blank and experiment with some cold blue to duplicate the condition you want.

Sight comes out to the right when looking from the butt end of the rifle.

The front sight pictured on the gun is not an original Savage sight anyway. Looks like a Remington to me.

Got a letter for the barrel band. It was sent to Sears, Roebuck & Co. in June of 1935. Again, not the most exciting news but worth a shot and completes the picture for this rifle when my heirs sell it in hopefully many decades from now.

Thanks for the follow up info.

Rick, can I send you a serial number and is it possible to tell if it was originally a barrel band? I have a 250-3000 that sure looks like it but the front sight is completely wrong. Someone drilled and tapped it at one time but it is in great shape and shoots superbly.

Are you asking if I can tell if it was originally a 99-H from the serial? The answer is "no". Might tell from good photos of the rifle.

The earliest Barrel Band 99H I have in my data is in the 330xxx range.

The earliest .250 Barrel Band 99H I have in my data is in the 342xxx range. (About 60 later than yours...I found a note on your rifle in my data. We weren't sure at that time if it was a 99-H. Different butt stock and front sight.)

Did you check to see if the wood was serialed to the rifle?