Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Savage Collectors My first Savage 99

First off, while having owned several bolt actions, I just picked up my first Savage 99 today. It's been something I have always wanted since my early 20's (25+ years ago).

Anyways, I was wondering what the Savage experts could tell me about this gun. The stock finish and bluing appears original.

The barrel says 99E series A. The serial number on the action shows D89730*. It has a Williams rear site (is this original?). The safety is the lever type. Lever is case hardened. It is chambered for the 300 savage. It is drilled and tapped for bases.

The stock has deep checkering, but the finish appears to be more of a stain. Similar to the stain on the birchwood 10/22 stocks. In a couple of small spots, the stain has come off, exposing wood. Also, the checkering is on the bottom of the round forend portion of the stock.

Questions:
1.Is the rear Williams site original?
2.Where was the gun manufactured?
3.When was it manufactured?
4.Is this just a shooter (the lower quality 99)?
5.Is the checkering pressed or cut?
6.What kind of wood is the stock?
7.Should I use a small base die for reloading ammo for this rifle, or will regular FL dies work just fine?

I bought this rifle on another gun auction site. It is in surprisingly good shape.

Did I do OK at $400.01/shipped? Please lie to me if I didn't.

I plan to hunt with this. Now, since I have plenty of scoped bolt guns, I am wondering about using the open sights during the rifle doe season we now have here in Iowa (Jan.2008).

Any info would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks-
Mike W

Welcome, Mike. You did good @ 400 on a birch stocked, press checkered shooter made in Westfield, Mass. Keep on keepin' on--them Savages are truly awesome.

Thanks XCIX. I am biting at the bit to get out and shoot this rifle. For a lever action, the trigger seems halfway decent to me.

My lack of experience with the 99's leaves me not yet even knowing what the twist rate is for the 300 savage barrels.

I would like to check the magazine to see how far out I can seat bullets. The farther out, the more powder capacity.

Anyone with proven 300 savage loads to recommend?

Mike,

You have yourself a self guided deer killin machine there. Excellent hunter. All class... Great job on the price. Good for you Sir...A+
RAS

1 - yes, I think that is correct.
2 - Westfield, MS. Should be on the barrel
3 - 1982
4 - no interest in the late E's as collectors but a great shooter. Wood is not as pretty but the action and barrel are the same as the others from that period.
5 - pressed
6 - birch?
7 - shouldn't need them

Does your stock have a monte carlo and finger groove forearm?

Mikewerner,

Action length on that should be the same as the 308, so Cart OAL shouldn't be an issue unless you are using the heavy weights. Necks are shorter than the 308 so watch that.

Thanks for all the comments and gun information.

Rick99- It does have the monte carlo and the finger groove forearm. But the open sights seem to still line up ok, even with the monte carlo buttstock.

I plan to shoot 165-180 grainers and was wondering what the optimum bullet weight was for the 300 savage (given the twist rate of the late savage 99's).

When you guys talk of the drop in quality of the guns coming out of Westfield, are you referring to the metal work as well as, say, metal to wood fit? Would it be worth getting another higher quality stock for this rifle, or did the quality of the action also take a dive when they took manufacturing to Westfield? I know this is a shooter, but would like to improve on the stained birch handle.

Tried to reply yesterday, but our rural electricity went down as I was typing, a result of a very bad ice storm here in Iowa. We do not have electricity or water yet (I am at work right now). I sure hope I do not have to revert back to any old 'subsistence' laws for survival out there.

I'd take good care of that stock. It was only made for about 3 years and if the late E ever becomes collectable it should be one to have.

There are no good replacement stocks that do not require fitting and finish. If you can do the work then no problem. If you can't and you are not happy with what you have then it might be smarter to sell yours and buy one you like.

Your E still has the lever safety and other than the funky stock it is still a quality Savage