Home Forums Lever Action Central Lever Actions - General Why Is The Savage 99 So Popular?

Gun season has yet to begin, but you are what you are.

My two were brought to bag with arrows. And you're right about one thing. YOU are what YOU are. Loser.

Winchester 88's are handsomer

Seems like a lot of CF ‘99 enthusiasts are from the NE and Midwestern states. It’s interesting how the culture and the people you grew up with influences your tastes. Sounds like the ‘99 is pretty much inherently accurate in most calibers. I’ve seen some beautiful pics of ‘em on this forum!
It seems like Bill Ruger totally copied the design for his popular ‘96 lever action. Matter of fact, if you can find one, they are about as pricey as some ‘99’s! What are your thoughts on the similarities?
Here in My area of Texas, we like revolvers, Marlin and Winchester levers, and bolt actions.

I appreciate the input men!

I had a 96/22 and a 96/44. The 22 was garbage, sent it back to Ruger 3 times for warranty repairs in the first year or so I had it.

The 96/44 was a decent little rifle. It handled really nicely, and the action was very smooth. The short throw was nice, too. I could run the action without taking my hand off the stock wrist. It wasn't particularly accurate though, and it kicked like a mule hopped up on cocaine compared to any other 44 mag rifle I've ever shot. I did take a few deer with it, but ended up trading it off because I just never could get it to shoot as well as I wanted.

Here in Pennsylvania, I've never seen one in the woods or on the range. Not many for sale either, folk buy them as investments!
I do REALLY like them though. Had 3, 2 .300s and a .30-30. All SPOOKY accurate, reliable and handle WAY better than their looks wold indicate. Triggers are poor compared to a Marlin or Winchester, and the actions not nearly as smooth. The cock on closing messes some folk up a bit. But if you reload, there's no doubt if you have sticky extraction.
Good solid hunting calibers don't hurt either. Their uncommonness compared to Marlins and Winchesters adds to the " cool" factor. They're still actually high tech, even by today's standards. Workmanship and quality of design/ materials are excellent, blows away anything but dedicated custom work today.
I love my muzzleloaders. If there were nothing else a available, I'd be happy.
But I wanted something different. Just for kicks and giggles. Could have bought a Marlin or Winchester. For half the price...
Nope.
I bought a VERY little used 1948 production 99 EG .300 caliber. Points like my finger, spooky accurate. OLD school classy. Nothing like them.

Cool story

Spent the afternoon shooting with friends and took along my Ruger 96 in 17 HMR. It is scary accurate but has a heavy trigger. Been wondering if the aftermarket 10/22 trigger group is interchangeable. We were popping spoons we stuck in a crack on a log, and small rocks , then the spoon fragments. The other two guys had never shot one but giggled like little girls when they blew small pieces of things into the forest.

The closest thing to a 99 for practicing is the Marlin 56/57.

Knew a lot of hunters back in the 70’s that used 99s to hunt deer in NW PA - ALL of those guys were older hunters. My grandad was one of them and if my grandad had one they had to be cool! I’ve always admired the design and feel of these rifles and did manage to accumulate several over the years (including my grandad’s) - mostly in .250-3000 but have .300s, a .303 and a .32-40.

Personally I think they are way better looking than the crap being offered today - nothing but tools (effective but no soul).

PennDog

p.s. May pick up one this week in .25 Tomcat!

I never shot the 22 enough to gauge the accuracy. It spent more time out for service than it did in my possession. Once I did get it back in fully functional order I traded it off pretty much immediately.

The 44 at its best was about a 5MOA rifle, and that was after a lot of load fiddling. A 240 XTP over A#9 was very nasty on the deer I popped with it at 40-60 yards, though.

The 99 is cool with the following:

Case colored lever

Awesome take down

Spring loaded lever

Very robust deep rifeling

Variations of models and calibers

Scopes up real nice.

Down sides are

Tang cracks

Triggers are not that shiny

Not a time lasted treasure like a
Marlin or a




Marlin.

This guy's^^^^ been in the opium again! LOL

Savage 99’s would still be in production if they were as cheap to make as Marlins and Winchesters. They were almost always more expensive, many folks that were barely making it could only afford a 94 or 336.

As well, Winchester 94’s and Marlin 336’s aren’t really the same class as the 99. One design that did 22HP to 30-30 to 308 to 7mm08 to 284 to 375 with minimal change? And side ejected from the beginning?

When did the 94 and 336 come out with a chambering that broke the 3000fps mark? Savage 99 did it in 1914.

Nothing wrong with any of them, my dad’s 336 will be the last gun I ever let go of. Appreciate each for what it is. The 94 and 336 for a feel back into the mid-1800’s, the 99 for a gun for the 20th century.

I've got plenty of good looking, accurate bolt guns with fabulous triggers if I need something that'll reach out. In the woods, where I do most of my hunting, I'll take one of my Winchester or Marlin levers over a 99 {or BLR or Win. 88} any day ending in "y". A proper lever gun needs an exposed hammer and under barrel tubular magazine.

Thank you for admitting you need to go to a much later designed bolt rifle in order to meet or surpass the class of rifle that a Savage 99 is.

It's a shame that the Savage 1899 family was never a "proper' lever gun.

Absolute gun porn...

I wouldn't say they're popular. But there is a good amount of 99 fans here on the campfire.

I like them because of an old article I read in PA game news when I was a kid. Always wanted one. I've had a couple .300s and a .375 Winchester. Pretty neat rifles.

Seems like people either love them or hate them. To me, they carry like a dream.

-Jake

I have a 99 F in 308 and it shoots pointed bullets and groups as well as most bolt actions. What’s not to like. It also balances perfectly in the hand and comes to shoulder easily and perfectly aligns the sights. Oh yeah those sights! It actually has sights so the Hunter gets to choose irons or scope. My son has a 99 EG in 300 savage made in 1934. Still shoots straight and functions flawlessly so let’s add longevity to its attributes. There is a lot to like in those 99’s. Almost forgot to mention I reload so you can customize your load for your game and rifle. Yep I likem

Accuracy and longevity are definitely both solid attributes for the 99.

5 shot group of 110 Nosler ETips from my 1899A in 303 Savage that was made in 1909, using a Marble's peep sight.