Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Deer Hunting A Savage 99 Thread

The Pump Rifle thread has gone to 53 pages. The Deer Rifle thread has a surprising number of folks touting their Savage 99's. This is a rifle that's been out of production for 20 years. It's well worth a thread of its own. I don't see any other rifle out there with such a following. My question is WHY? More to the point: How can such a popular rifle be out of production for so long?

I'd never really even thought of a Savage 99 until I came here to the 'Campfire in early 2002. It just never showed up on my radar. I'd come of age as deer hunter in Ohio, so shotguns were always my thing. Even 20 years into deer hunting, and I really did not have mature tastes in rifles. I had 2 centerfire deer guns, a Remington 742 and a Winchester 760, both in 30-06. I used them when I hunted Kentucky. They were quite adequate. In 2002, I bought a Marlin 336 in 30-30 and had really high hopes for it. After one season, I came away disappointed. Since I'd been a slug gun hunter and knew what a 30-06 could do, the 30-30 just wasn't enough. I was looking for something more.



Gradually, the Campfire's influence began to work its way into my head. Everyone seemed gaga over the Savage 99. I started looking into it. It seemed like a good gun. The 300 Savage looked like it was about midway between a 30-30 and a 30-06. That sounded about right. I asked my buddy, Big Bob about it. He was a retired gun editor. Bob said it was a great gun, but warned me away from the 300 Savage. He felt it was too likely that now that Savage had dropped the 99 from production the 300 Savage was going to be orphaned. He suggested buying one in 308 WIN.

That's what I got. In the summer of 2003, I got a Savage 99 in 308 WIN, and began working up a load that was far enough off-MAX that it would resemble a hot 300 Savage. 150 grainers did not work at all well in the rifle, so I tried 165 grain and hit paydirt. I also had trouble with the brass. I had bought a lot of military brass. I was having trouble with sticky ejections after the first reload. Somebody on the 'Fire from Canada suggested using consumer brass. I've been shooting from the same bunch of once-fired Federals ever since.

I bagged my biggest-ever buck that year. I bagged an even bigger one in 2007. To date, my Savage 99 has scored several big bucks, including the camp's #1 and #4 bucks. I hunt with it religiously on The Opener, and usually hunt with it whenever I'm in a stand. I hunt with it until I get a buck, and then retire it for the season. My longest shot has been just inside 150 yards. Most of the shot with this rifle have been within 30. Still, after all this time, I can't really tell you why I like it so much. There is just something about how it feeds and how the bolt closes that just makes it seem right.

99F 300 Savage

I have one I bought from Fireball2, it’s a 308 also. I was surprised how accurate it was. I eager to hunt with it.

I have a 1953 M99R, 250 Savage. Shoots very well with the 87 gr Hot Core, not bad with the 100 Hot Core. It's a little bulky and heavy by todays standards, but I've taken several deer with it and it always gets the job done.

I picked up a 1969 savage 99f in 308 last sunday at a local fleamarket for 300.00.

Iv got savage 99s in 22HP, 250 sav. 303 and 300 sav. and have taken Deer with all of them!

i had a 99a in 308. It was mint. Had the worst trigger of any rifle I ever shot but it was a beauty. I just wish id kept it though. Maybe I coulda found someone to fix that trigger

I got my 1st 99 in 2004 and have owned a dozen or so since then. I have taken 10 deer, 1 antelope and a bison with them. Still have a 1958 99F in 300 savge. I have taken deer with the 300, a 250, 243 and 308. Full disclosure I missed a doe with a 1912 take down 303.
Ken

Would love to have one of the older ones (pre war?) with the Schnabel fore end and the altogether more "svelte" look.
.300 or .250. Wouldn't much matter which.

Got my first (and only) 99 about 5 years ago from a friend who was a 99 afficiando Its a ‘51 model EG in 300Sav. Surprisingly accurate with mild loads and 165 Deep Curls. I carry it a lot when hunting where shots will be fairly close. It’s also my nighttime hog gun. sweet rifle...fun to use. Only thing I’d change is I wish it had a 22” barrel instead of 24”.

That echos my thoughts / experience, so when a 99EG in 300 Savage showed up at the LGS, it followed me home.

Growing up I always thought that they were misshapen and ugly verses say a Winchester M88, but then I bought that '56 99F .300 Savage for the kid at a gun show and can understand what I'd been missing all these years. The kid doesn't hunt, so it is my back up rifle, but kind of a travesty that it doesn't get out more. I put a low mounted mat finish Leupold Vari-X III 1.5-5x20 with the heavy duplex on it and it points like an extension of my arm. I'm trying to bestow it onto one of the stepsons, but they don't understand how nice it is. The 99 was certainly way ahead of it's time. I was talking with a collector and he said that when the 99's came out, it was the ranch hands that were buying the M94's and that the ranch owners were buying the M99's. It sure carries better than my custom bolt action. Once upon a time I wrote down my perimeters of what ballistics would make the ideal whitetail cartridge for the way that I hunt deer. Then I compared those numbers to a list of cartridges and came up with the .30-40 Kraig and .300 Savage as being about perfect ballistic wise. More than a .30-30 with less recoil than a .308. I am glad to see so many .300 Savage aficionados on the campfire.

classy gun, has always been on my bucket list,,,,, nice posts everyone

Another 99F takedown, this one is a 30/30. It gets carried around here a bunch.

My favorite is a 1957 99F in 300 Savage topped with a Leupold M8 6x. Kills stuff dead for me.

They have been a big part of my hunting life. They are great rifles to carry. I killed my first deer and first elk with one.

I got a .300 Savage 99R in1961 used. Sold it when I went in the Marines (1966). I used it on a bunch of stuff. Way too heavy but accurate.. Folding tang sight. First rifle I loaded for.

Next, a 99E in .308 Win (1972). Sold it in 1987 to pay for an '06. Great rifle.

These days, I have an 1899 .250-300 Savage TD. It was made in 1917 and is in very good shape. Likely reblued and has holes drilled for scope bases. Has a folding tang sight and a Leupold 2-7x33. OK with 100 grain bullets and REL-15 or factory loads (1.5-2.0" 3-shots at 100 yards) , Much more accurate with 87 grain Hot Cores (1" or less 3 shots at 100 yards).

I just gave my dad's Model 88 .308 to my oldest boy so I will be looking for an early .308 99F with a lever lock safety, maybe a .300 Savage. They are my idea of a great woods rifle. If I get a .308 I will load it to .300 Savage performance levels. More is not needed for most uses.

Hey! How'd you get a hold of my rifle!?

Second look, guess it's not mine, we're OK. Mine has a lot less blue left on it and a redfield receiver sight. It's a transition period 99 featherweight takedown from 1923, receiver stamped as an 1899. It was given to my father in the 30s, he gave it to me as my first rifle in 1973 (he'd switched to a 1957 vintage 300 svg 99F and held on to the older one).

[quote=shaman]The Pump Rifle thread has gone to 53 pages. The Deer Rifle thread has a surprising number of folks touting their Savage 99's. This is a rifle that's been out of production for 20 years. It's well worth a thread of its own. I don't see any other rifle out there with such a following. My question is WHY? More to the point: How can such a popular rifle be out of production for so long?

I'd never really even thought of a Savage 99 until I came here to the 'Campfire in early 2002. It just never showed up on my radar. I'd come of age as deer hunter in Ohio, so shotguns were always my thing. Even 20 years into deer hunting, and I really did not have mature tastes in rifles. I had 2 centerfire deer guns, a Remington 742 and a Winchester 760, both in 30-06. I used them when I hunted Kentucky. They were quite adequate. In 2002, I bought a Marlin 336 in 30-30 and had really high hopes for it. After one season, I came away disappointed. Since I'd been a slug gun hunter and knew what a 30-06 could do, the 30-30 just wasn't enough. I was looking for something more.



Gradually, the Campfire's influence began to work its way into my head. Everyone seemed gaga over the Savage 99. I started looking into it. It seemed like a good gun. The 300 Savage looked like it was about midway between a 30-30 and a 30-06. That sounded about right. I asked my buddy, Big Bob about it. He was a retired gun editor. Bob said it was a great gun, but warned me away from the 300 Savage. He felt it was too likely that now that Savage had dropped the 99 from production the 300 Savage was going to be orphaned. He suggested buying one in 308 WIN.

That's what I got. In the summer of 2003, I got a Savage 99 in 308 WIN, and began working up a load that was far enough off-MAX that it would resemble a hot 300 Savage. 150 grainers did not work at all well in the rifle, so I tried 165 grain and hit paydirt. I also had trouble with the brass. I had bought a lot of military brass. I was having trouble with sticky ejections after the first reload. Somebody on the 'Fire from Canada suggested using consumer brass. I've been shooting from the same bunch of once-fired Federals ever since.

I bagged my biggest-ever buck that year. I bagged an even bigger one in 2007. To date, my Savage 99 has scored several big bucks, including the camp's #1 and #4 bucks. I hunt with it religiously on The Opener, and usually hunt with it whenever I'm in a stand. I hunt with it until I get a buck, and then retire it for the season. My longest shot has been just inside 150 yards. Most of the shot with this rifle have been within 30. Still, after all this time, I can't really tell you why I like it so much. There is just something about how it feeds and how the bolt closes that just makes it seem right.

[/quote

Grandpa had a 99eg, in 300. I finally got an eg, from 1959, in 308. Really accurate. Now I gotta find a dang deer, when I'm carrying it.

Killed my 1st coyote, muledeer and elk w/ a 99 in 300 Savage. Had one as my truck gun for 10 years until it was stolen. If I ran into one for sale in 250-300 I would buy it just because it was one of Frank Glaser's favorites.


mike r

It is with my deepest regrets I must admit I don’t have a 99. I was in the market for one in 300, 308 or 243 a few years ago; but I found a NIB BLR in 308 for the same price as many people were asking for a used 99. Couldn’t pass it up, and while I like the BLR a whole lot, I wish I would’ve gone for the Savage.

As a teenager I was a Winchester 94 guy and was offended buy the look of the 99. It was just too "Buck Rodgers." As an adult I saw the error of my ways. The 99 I've hunted most with is a 99F in .308 Winchester made in 1957. It has worked well for me, but is not my favorite. I have a takedown G made in 1927 in .300 Savage that is the one I like the most.

I have one a .250 . Had a .300 and 358...

My friend Jeff has one to sell. A 250-3000.
If someone want one let me know and I'll put you in touch with him.

I thought I wanted one when I was about 18, and went to a shop to order one, but the guy talked me into a bolt gun instead. I probably should have ignored his advice. I went with a 700 BDL in .308, and was never truly happy with it.

I still have never owned one, and rarely see them for sale, except maybe in .243, which doesn't interest me much. I'd like to find a .300 now, and I know a guy with a safe full of them (and other chamberings), but he's still collecting, not selling, and isn't likely to let any go.

I guess I'll have to keep on with my M70s and that old Marlin 336SC, which is a fun gun to shoot. And kills stuff if you shoot straight (doesn't everything?).

You see them in the classifieds here quite often, plenty in GunBroker.

Killed my first deer with one. 300 99RS

My 99 300 savage is special to me. It was given to me just before my friend passed. His wife saved up and surprised him with it after the was discharged from the USAF in 1954.

My 308

I picked up my first 99 a few years ago; been hooked ever since. A bit of trivia: Savage produced over 30 model variations over the years (not counting caliber variations). I'm amazed at the design simplicity, quality and accuracy of these fine rifles, especially those made before 1960.

Every year I rotate a couple older models into the deer stand just for the nostalgia. One of my favorites is this 1946 EG in .300 Savage with a vintage first-year Weaver K4 scope mounted on a Stith mount; darn rifle will shoot 1" groups at 100 yards if I do my part.


I also have a couple early 20" rifles in .303 Savage and .30-30 Win that are just a pleasure to carry.

I just started bullet casting and hope to take my first deer with my own bullet this fall using this 1901 model 1899B chambered in .303 Savage.

Damn, that gun is old!

...an engineering marvel, considering when it was engineered!

I had a mid 1970s 99 in 250-3000 Im sorry I sold it.

its good to see more people coming over to the "light" the younger generation are in to black guns and don't know what they are missing

Other fun stuff to do with a Savage 99, along with a Hammond Game Getter, 22caliber Ramsets and Hornady 32 caliber (.310) lead balls.

What's that funny looking blue black stuff on the receiver of your 99?

LOTS of things are fun. 99s. ARs. Lots of things. In fact there aren't that many guns that aren't fun to shoot really.

We like the 1892 in 32-20 too!

Mr Dave, that makes your 99 Special in more than 1 way.
IMO it’s Super KOOL !!


I have had two 99s. One was in 243 that I got for my son. It shot well but there was some problem. The bolt or lever lock up was difficult. I never could
figure out the problem. At the time I didn’t know a g smith I trusted so we traded it off.

The other 99 was an unusual model to me. It had a bulbous fore end that I didn’t like. It was a 358 Win and shot very well.
It also had the Brass cocking indicator & Brass rotor with round counter.

I should have kept it but someone offered me a NIB Ruger SS Super Redhawk, so.....
I don’t miss that particular 99 but certainly would like a diff model with schnobel fore end and 300 S or 308 W.
Nothing says CLASSIC any better than Savage 99.


Jerry

Same pictures I have posted on this board before...but here they are:


1917 1899 H in .22 HP




1911 1899A in .303 Savage


Somewhere around here I have pictures of a smallish 4x4 mule deer with my 1930's (ish) 1899 EG in .300 Savage and an antelope with my same era 1899G in .250-3000 Savage.

How do you like the 303? I’ve seen a few around for cheaper than the 300 or 308 models, and I like cartridges that are a little less common that can strike up a conversation. On a side note, since moving to NC I’ve seen lots of used 99s for sale, in WV I never came across a single one. Gonna use that as leverage against my wife to get one before we move back in a few years

Sorry, it looks like I fat fingered the keyboard (among other things) last night. That is an "A"; not a "S".
Anyhow, due to the stock drop of those older "A"s, the rifle has a goofy feel to it as you're aiming.

Other than that, it's nothing more or less than a .30-30, which isn't a bad thing.

Some day I will shoot another deer with the ol' .303.

My first 99 was a 99A 308 Saddle Gun. Didn't like it for some reason and sold it to a buddy over 30 years ago, he still has it. Then I got one in .375 WInchester. Killed my biggest bear and some nice blacktails with it. Fell in love with the 375 and the 99 because of how easy it was to flame a running deer with a Savage lever gun and the mild recoil. They carry soooo nice with that round bottomed receiver and especially the models with the 22" medium weight barrels.

Used that .375 for a couple decades but always used bolt guns for longe range work. I hated the way bolt guns carried and operated, so I began researching 99's in other cartridges that might shoot further than the .375. Long story short and LOTS of 99's later, I now hunt with a 99 in .284 any time there's a chance for long range shooting. And a 99 in .284 does shoot long range! Anything short range I generally use the .358 now since it pushes the same 200 grain bullet weight I use in the .375 but several hundred fps faster.

The deeper you get into hunting with them, the more you appreciate how fast and accurate they are. They can shoot 600 yards across a canyon, or jump shoot deer at 40 yards with the same deadly efficiency. There really isn't any compromise, especially in the .284's. I've put together or found quite a few customs to scratch itches Savage didn't make. .270 Titus, .17-22/250 are a couple oddballs. A very useful 99 is one in .338 Federal. Shooting 160 grain ttsx bullets I can't imagine a better all around rifle and cartridge for North America, unless it's the .284.

For fun, shoot the old ones with the longer 26" barrels in 30/30 and 38-55. Most Savage guys shoot 303, but I never understood why when 30/30 components are so readily available and cheap. For a good long time 303 brass was unobtainium, but I understand it's available again.

I did break down and buy a Kimber 25/06 last year rather than build a 25-284 in a 99, mostly due to the headache of finding gunsmiths that will build custom 99's. That's about the only drawback to a 99. They rarely give you trouble, but finding a good 99 smith is a crapshoot. I have taken apart and repaired many of mine for various reasons (I sometimes buy junk intentionally to learn on) and find them a lot of fun to work on. They would have been unimaginably hard to engineer, design and build, but they are NOT hard to work on, at all. It's very enjoyable taking them apart on the bench and spending the afternoon getting to know each one. Parts are available from several sources, eBay, the collectors here, Numrich.

There's no downside to a Savage lever action rifle. They work great, are accurate, shoot pointed bullets, are fast, carry well. For the guys that hunt foul weather and don't want to use blue and walnut, you can get your 99 coated and paint the stocks, making them perfect for rainy hunts. I highly recommend powdercoating rather than some of the thin garbage coatings that scratch too easy. Powdercoating wears like iron and is completely waterproof.

If you don't find a 99 that suits your needs, make it. You won't regret it.

This model is called the DL, and is often marked 99M on the receiver. The M stands for Monte Carlo, or the raised comb on the rear stock. That's my favorite hunting model 99, but I prefer the earlier ones (1960-64) with the cut checkering rather than the later stamped. The hardest one of those to get would the the 1964 (one year only) 99DL in 284 with the cut checkering. It took me many years to find one and I know of only two or three.

The comb on the DL gives good scope alignment. This model was available in 22" and 24" barrels depending on year. I prefer 22" models. Savage made a DL called the PE that had super high grade wood and engraved receivers that is gorgeous, if that's your thing.

The Frazier History Museum in Louisville, KY has a lot of high-grade 99s on exhibit (it used to be called the Frazier Arms and History Museum, but the PC pantywads talked them into changing the name). It's worth the visit if you're in Louisville for other reasons.



They have a lot of high-grade Marlins on hand, too, along with Teddy Roosevelt's Big Medicine .405 Winchester and his H&H double rifle, and all kinds of armor and other things, along with historical presentations.

I got this 99G in 1976 which was the first but, certainly not the last. I had been shooting cast bullets for several years in hand guns and decided to try them in this rifle, so I worked up a load for the up coming deer season. Killed a couple of bucks with it that season which hooked me pretty good on the 99's and cast bullets. Thinking back, I believe all the deer I've killed with it has been with cast bullets.

The fifth from the bottom would look much better in the light that is in Pennsylvania, i’ll Send you my address you can ship it and I’ll take some pics. Then I’ll send it right back.......,,,

Yes, you pegged that one to at 'T.' Mine came with a knot in the wood and the finish told me it must have been out in the rain a little too often. Still, it fit like a glove, when I scoped it, it came right up to my eye, and all the imperfections meant I could hunt it hard and not have to worry about ruining anything. That's how I like my deer rifles.

99-A, 250-3000

I got a dandy 250 that was my Grandma’s, need to put it to use... love 99’s and love 250’s....

Never owned one personally. I'd like to give one a whirl. I can appreciate their part in firearms history. Cool rifles for sure.

Love mine, it's a M99c in .308, & is knock about hunting rifle.











It's developed enough corrosion & pitting, from our climate, that it's going to be repaired/re-blued this year !

Blowed the horns clean off of him! Might want to cut the charge a trifle. Looks cold up there. We use to have snow to hunt in here. Pretty rare anymore.

My interests in rifles is firmly rooted in the pre-war era. Winchesters, Springfields, and Krags- "as-issued" or modified/sporterized. For load experimentation and general shooting off the bench they fulfill me. But, for hunting here in the deer woods of Maryland and Pennsylvania give me a Savage lever gun. For that purpose my preference is for pre-1920 takedown carbines, and the cartridges Savage offered during that period are all certainly up to the task: .22 High Power, .303 Savage, .30-30, and also the rare(er) .25-35. The .250-3000 made its debut during that time period too. And every now and then a .32-40 or .38-55 will raise its head.

It's always a tough decision when heading out as to which one to take. This day the M1899H takedown .303 Savage got the nod:



190 grain soft (10-12bhn) flat nosed cast bullet, 28 grains 3031, 110 yards.

In early '81 I picked up a used 99C(.308) in a trade. It shot two types of factory ammo very poorly. I kept studying it and saw that the fore-end was putting quite a bit of upward pressure on the barrel. I kept adding washers to the fore-end "stud" aka forearm hanger/sanding the channel too until I got the forearm free floating. It was a tack driver then, especially with the "then new" Frontier ammo (loaded with the Hornady 150 IL)! Trigger was pretty nice too. Shot so well I never loaded for it, and back then all I used was a Lee Loader/RCBS scale. I put one of the first Leupold M8 (?) 2.5 fixed power on it. I hunted with it a few times, never got a kill. I then traded it off for some cash and a new RCBS RockChucker loading kit. Still use it too, in fact its the only press I've ever owned! I had other rifles back then and the 99c was just a project. It was one of "those" I wish I still had. ha. Out here in Utah, you can still find a lot of old 99s, mostly in 300 Savage, in pawn shops/gun stores. I always keep my eye out for another nice 99c though. I too was raised with the M94 and the 99 "looked weird, but when shouldered....oh how sweet it is! ( said with Jacky Gleason voiceover, ha)

I've got one in .300sav and recently a .375win that I bought to use in Ohio. Great guns to carry!
-Jake

Between my father, an uncle, 4 cousins and myself we have at least 11 Savage 99s that I know of. One .358, three .308, three 30/30 and the rest in 300 SVG. A few are scoped, many have williams or old redfield receiver sights - don't think anyone uses the original barrel mounted leaf sights.

I have a 1923 vintage featherweight in 30/30 and a pre-mil 99F in .308. The 30/30 was my first rifle - when you grow up hunting with a 99 nothing else really ever feels as responsive or "carryable", but I do use other rifles too.

My dad got me hooked on the 99. He carried one for decades and shot a lot of deer with it. It went to my brother when we split up Dad's gear after he passed. I owned several over the years, including a nice EG in 250 that I wish I'd hung on to. I got the chance to buy a 300 EG off one of the original members of our camp, and it's the one I carry now. I've always liked the clean lines and feel of the 99. 94's just feel loose and sloppy to me. The older Marlin's are a good gun, but they just don't feel as good as a 99. My son and I are going to the Savagefest in Wisconsin in August and I'm hoping to pick up a 99 in .243. After all, my granddaughter is 1 year old now-it's time to get going on this! I've always thought it would be fun to get a bunch of guys together for an "all 99 hunt". Plenty of 99 guys here at the fire. It would be a good time.

My thots as well plus the 336 is too heavy for the performance level.

Jerry

Interesting thread to the see the fondness for the old 99.. I have had several.. Now I have one a 250 that belonged to my FIL... 4 or 5 years ago, I had a couple of them out to hunt antelope and deer.. The low combs, and safety position were just a pain after a life time of bolt actions.. So I sold all but the .250.. Never missed them a bit.. All with what you learn to use I guess.. My family in general used lots of 99's, but my grandfather was a bolt action man, and I learned from him.. Nice to see all the 99's appreciated by others..

The first rifle I bought when I turned 18 was a Brush Gun in 358. Still have it, nearly 40 years later. I had started hunting with a Win 94 (32 Spl, not that piddly little 30-30 ) but Dad and nearly all the guys at camp had 99's. In fact, of the regulars, only 1 guy used a bolt gun, one a used a 94 and the rest had 99's. That was in Northcentral Pa. in the 70's. Just me and Dad left, maybe one other guy but I haven't seen him in years. Bummer.

I also was one who thought the 99 was homely and ungainly looking compared to a Winchester 94 . But then I became interested in them because of the rotary magazine and unique design. I started watching to buy one.

Had an uncle who hunted all his adult life with a 300 Savage 99 EG. He loved that rifle.

I bought an old half worn out 1930's 99 that looked like a EG, but it was too rough and I sold it. A couple of years ago I bought a fairly clean 1950 99 R in 300 here on the fire and it happened to be in my hands when I got the largest Whitetail I've taken.

Beautiful old buck! Nice job!

That's a nice one roundoak.

303 Savage:


35-30/30 Savage::

great bucks! I can see a palmetto in the last swamp buck pic.

Thanks Fireball2!
I never tire of looking at pics of those beautiful trophy blacktails you've taken.

Dale, I thought I made you a very fair offer when I said I'd take that gun off your hands for $100.00. 'Still torqued that you didn't accept! All joking aside, that's a really nice rifle buddy. Congrats to you sir.

Everybody views things with their own eyes. As for me, I always thought the 99 was a much better looking gun than the 94. It doesn't have that tube magazine under the barrel, and it doesn't rattle like a can of nuts and bolts when you open the lever. Then there's the issue of getting a scope on top of the older 94's. No such issue with the 99. The choice of available rounds on the 99 is different too, without the necessity of RN or flat tipped bullets. I'd be remiss not to mention our member, MILES58 who worked up a very accurate load for my 99 based on the 130 gr. Barnes TTSX. The gun is much more accurate than I can possibly shoot it with this load. It would be interesting to see what a different scope and a trigger job would do to this old warhorse, but it'll wear a Weaver K-4 for as long as I carry it. What my son does with it after that remains to be seen.

I scoped and worked up a load for a friends 99E in .243 in the late 70's. It was my first dealings with any 99. It had a spongey, almost "doubleaction revolver" trigger pull, but broke consistently. I finally got it shooting a speer 100sbt into about 1", it was tight enough that, off the bench, I could hit a rotten egg at 100yds ( my shooting buddy was a bachelor back then and always had out of date eggs in his fridge! ha) When I got the 99C a few years alter, I found that I MUCH preferred the tang safety.

Y'all gotta stop this.. nobody want's 99's. Horrible gun. Stay away from them at any cost. If you run into a nice one at a gun store, let me know and I'll make sure nobody else accidentally buys one of these horrible rifles. Heck, I've sold all mine off......

Buy a Remington.



1902, used hard but still very, very cool:



Couple from the 1920's



1935




1945



1952

C, what calibers???

303, 303, 300, 303, 300, 300.

Darn.. bit too narrow.

1903 - 32/40




1910's - 22HP




1940 - 250-3000




1950's - 308




Post-1960 - 284

Calhoun, very nice collection!
That's also a Hell of a buck there!

There's a pic of mine on here from years ago, a 1927 99F TD - 300 Savage.
Was given to my grandpa from grandma that same year as a Christmas gift from money she saved while.working in a logging camp.
It's killed a ton, or more, of deer.

Friend gave me an older 1899 EG takedown in 300 Savage a few years ago.
It had been a real education in both the caliber, and the rifle, as great hunting tools for a woods hunter.
Bonus is it's pleasant to carry, pleasant to shoot, and flat out effective.
Gotta be the most underestimated package ever.

YES Indeed, that's a great buck. Now y'all know he didn't have to shoot it, don't ya ?

When the buck saw that Classic 99 he knew the gig was up and he killed (keeled) over.


Jerry

Note the smile on the deer's face!

He died happy.

Heck, they love that gun so much I shot a forkhorn in self defense a few years earlier when it charged me. I think it was a "What do you mean you won't shoot me? I'll MAKE you shoot me with that beautiful old gun!!!" moment.

Dang, someone scratched up that .32/40 real bad, you oughta see if someone can buff those scratches out.

Calhoun, one of the prettiest bucks I ever seen and I'm not a youngster. powdr

Hi shaman,

You have a gorgeous rifle chambered for an excellent big game cartridge.

Wisdom has done caught me. A fast-handling, lightweight .308 Win is perfect for all Western big game hunting. I do love my Sako rifles, but up high were air is thin and breathing labored, a ham sandwich is heavy. I could put your rifle to good use.

I've also learned the wisdom of closing distance and shooting at a 100 yards than farther.

Imagine all the largest of big game animals that were reduced to table fare by the .300 Savage. Now .300 Savage bullets bounce off of big game.

Sadly, I regret to opine that your friend is right: the excellent .300 Savage might just be dropped from ammo manufacturers' lines.

The American icon Model 99 in .300 Savage was the perfect rifle/cartridge combo when hunting skills were required.

shaman, I hope your rifle brings to you many years of fabulous hunting seasons. It is an excellent rifle chambered for an excellent cartridge.

Steelhead,

That is one classic big game rifle, with a peep sight, that has proved itself where it counts: in hunting fields. That nice buck obviously wasn't clued in that the .300 Savage isn't more than suitable big game medicine.

Don't get me wrong, please. I appreciate the 300 Savage and I agree that it'll get the job done in most situations:

That said, the 300 Savage will not do anything that can NOT be done with a 308 Win. It can be loaded down to savage performance levels.

Personally I wish the 99 had NOT been discontinued BUT the 300 Savage can be loaded FOR a long time in the future.


Jerry

short 99 Savage story,my dear old neighbor Benny who killed many deer and some moose with his 99-300 was coming to the end of his hunting days,so I always made sure old Benny and his wife got plenty wild game meat ,they just loved wild game meat. about 25 years ago the weekend before Minnesota rifle deer season friends ,neighbors and relatives came over to my place to sight there rifles in on my 100 yard range,many times I did helped them and shoot their rifles for them. well old Benny at over 80 years old always came over too and the 1st time Benny came over one year he brought his old trusty Savage 99 with a old weaver 4x scope on it and asked me to see how the old girl would shoot and he handed me 5 shells from his pant`s pocket and none of them were a match brass or bullets. when I looked thru the scope it look like it was raining and that day was still and sunny so I put the rifle on my cement bench and on my front and back rests,i had never handled a 99 before and with this old scope I was just hoping to hit 9x11 sheet of paper but I had a 1 1/2 bulleye in the middle ,so I tried my hardest for old Benny to shoot his rifle well and to my surprise the first shot hit the bulleyes high and when I shot the other 4 shoots I had a 1 inch group high in the bulleyes,old Benny said that`s good enough and put that old 99 back in his car. since that day I have always had a lot of respect for Savage 99`s and now I plan on buying a Savage 99 243 from Fireball2 ! and yes I am excited !

Never was a fan of the 308 in the 99. Seen too many get sticky.

Pass me the 300 Savage, all day, everyday.

They're even great rifles to take with you whilst fishing.

Bamboo and steel. Late 50's 99F in 308






Rainy days. The old takedown 99F in 300

Well Steely, IF you down load the 308 to 300 Savage performance.....

it won’t be sticky.

Jerry

WTF would I do that when I can just shoot a 300 Savage?

Perhaps you like to own stuff that don't work as it should, I don't

I can't even load a 300 savage load past mid range in a model 99. Too much spring in the action.

They Handel like a 30/30 kill like a 30/40.

I've heard that.

The 358 Win in a 99 I had did not suffer from that. I was able to load full throttle loads, killed deer & turkey with it.


Jerry

300 Savage vs 308 in 99's... 300 has half the kick, 90% of the power, and both kill deer almost identically. 308 handles heavier bullets much better.

Nothing wrong with either one. I hunt with a 300 Savage, and the only two times I've needed a second shot is when I failed to place the first shot where it belongs. 23 deer killed so far with it, two needed a second shot.

Indeed, the .300 is pretty close to an ideal deer cartridge. When I want more .30 performance, I step up to a bigger cartridge, bypassing the .308 and going right to .30-06. I'm one of those rare people who never saw the need for the .308 since I owned more '06's and .300's over the years than Carter's got Little Liver Pills.

Very interesting about the 358 handling loads......

I always pondered that......

Perhaps why Marlin jumped their ER model to the 356 in lieu of a more necked down caliber...

The bigger the bore........the sweeter the whore?

I feel only gnoahh is qualified 2 comment at this point.....pardon the pun.

I run a few 99's pretty hard and they work fine. I don't get all this talk.