Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Savage Collectors Savage 99 .250 gunsmith

Hello this is my first post to 24 HOUR CAMPFIRE. I have need of a gunsmith for my Savage 99 chambered in a .250 Savage. The 99 was made in 1950 and has been a reliable firearm. Was given to me by an Uncle who is now deceased so has family history for me. When fired the case sticks in the chamber. shooting Winchester Super X factory loads. I personally have shot over a hundred rounds through this firearm with no issue. The fired brass when inserted into the chamber slips right in, the action closes easily. When attempting to cycle the lever the case will not extract and the action is stuck. I cleaned chamber, no luck. Sent the 99 off to a gunsmith who said all it needed was a good cleaning. When returned did the same thing. Scratch one gunsmith from my list. Would like to find gunsmiths who are familiar with the Savage 99. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

Allen, welcome to another 99 owner!
First off while trying to do anything with your stuck case remember where that muzzle is!
That out of the way a quick first move is to push down on the rear of the bolt while trying to extract. This will show if the fault is with the chamber or the mechanism . Let us know and many here can give better advise then me.
Ps are these rounds reloads or factory?

Thanks deerstalker. As always safety first. All I have shot are Winchester factory rounds. I'm going to the basement and give the bolt pressure a try. Thanks

Any luck? Hopefully someone else will chime in.

Applied thumb pressure to the rear of the bolt when attempting to cycle the action and cartridge remains stuck. The bolt lowers down on it's own when levering the action. I called and left a message with a gunsmith in Missoula MT who is knowledgeable with the 99 but have not heard back. My search continues.

You might try Gostomski's Gunsmith Service. They're located in Mount Savage, Maryland. (Great name for a '99 gunsmith!) He and his son are experienced '99 gunsmiths. They did some stock work for me and the work was top rate and reasonably priced. Good luck.

Try a different brand of ammo.Could be a brass headspace issue.Probably a little short and a little backthrust when fired lock's the bolt.

Now is a bad time to try and find a box of Remingtons, but if you happen to have some, try them. I haven't been able to find Winchester ammo for mine in years. I switched to the 100 gr CL's probably 20 years ago and they function as should in mine.

Thanks DME I will contact Bill tomorrow. Much appreciated.

Thanks sqweeler have some Remington ammo and it still sticks. The quesy continues.

Thanks JoeMartin have some Remington ammo as well and has the same results. Probably the chamber is in need. To be determined.

Just to make sure we fully understand:
1) after firing the shot, is the lever and bolt locked up, such that you can't work the lever to open the action, OR
2) does the lever work and the action opens but the case stays stuck in the chamber?
3) and whichever one of those it is (or something else I've not considered), how do you "fix" the problem, such that you can chamber and fire another round?

The answers to these might help the folks responding to help you.

Good luck with it!
Rex