Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Savage Collectors 99 lever safety carry

Over the last 2 years I have picked up 2 99's an F and a EG both 300 Sav. Both have the lever safety. I am going to carry one or the other at various times deer hunting, sometimes moderate terrain and sometimes pretty rough. Most of the time shots would be 100 yds or less.Do you carry yours hot safety on or cold safety on or off ? Safety on will block the lever from accidentally opening if snagged by brush or branch. Just want to know what YOU guys do and what condition of readiness you carry them. Please no verbal slanging matches. Mb

I've never been concerned with carrying a 99 with the chamber loaded and cocked while the lever safety is engaged. But I still wouldn't rest my elbow over the muzzle when I'm reaching for my peanut butter sandwich...

Perfect advice Jeff, except for your sandwich choice...........just saying.

AGREED BUT I WANT PLENTY MEAT IN MY SANDWICH

My barrel is always hot, safety engaged, except when I am getting in and out of a tree, when I am walking in a line of men or when the gun is in or on any vehicle.

One in the chamber and safety on if I'm hunting.

I appreciate you guys sharing your personal experience. Thank you
Mb

What he said ^'

Dale

I do a lot of still hunting and jump shooting blacktail deer, bear, and rabbit. Always one in chamber, half the time safety off, if I can tell I'm in the zone and the terrain is safe.

Like most chamber hot safety on

+1 on this.

Hot chamber safety on seems to be the majority. No problem with it. Actually working with the guns I thought them to be to noisy working the action for cold chamber carry for deer under 150 yds ( they would just plain hear you working the action and spook). Not picking on the 99 cold chamber on 94's ,336, 760's, 86's ,any semi auto and alot of bolts is a noisy affair in the hearing range of big game.Thanks again for your responses. Mb

Levers do tend to be a bit noisy. I've got an 1873 Winchester repro, and that is probably the loudest action I've ever heard. The rifle runs smooth as butter, but the elevator toggle.... "clunk clack!" I sure wouldn't want to try to get the drop on anything with an empty chamber with it, cause your chances of success would be be slim to none at any range the rifle is effective at.

You ever forget to chamber one, draw down on a critter and hear that sickening click when you pull the trigger? Jacking the lever is noisy. But clear it before getting in the vehicle always.

I did that my very first year hunting alone as an adult... never since, but I have tried to pull the trigger with the safety on quite a few times 😳

I had been hunting for years when I did that. The elk took off before I could chamber a round.

My BinL were calling coyotes and one came in and m rifle went "click" and the coyote stood there staring at me. My BinL came and apologized for poaching one in front of me. I thanked him and said I never saw it. A couple years later fessed up to it and it has been a joke between us for awhile now.

Chamber empty

+ another 1

The only rifles I don't carry with one up the spout and safety on (or hammer on half-cock) is a Martini. They typically don't have safeties (or a hammer to put on half-cock) so I'll keep one up the spout with the lever down.