Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Savage Collectors Savage 99 Looking for Recommendation

I have decided on getting a Savage 99 in 308 caliber for deer hunting. My problem is deciding on which version or model. With all of the different versions with letter designators, which one should I go for? I will try to find one in excellent condtion, not requiring much gunsmith work.

Looking for recommendations.

Thanks,

Jack

The detachable magazine is available, however, you would be better off with the rotor type, less problems.
Steve

Capt,



1)Best would be a 50's F (or EG, R), 900,000 and above with lever safety



2)Tang safety models...F, DL, 99A Saddle Rifle (straight grip)



3)Model E (only because of the ugly wood...same metal as the other models)



4)Model C or CD (clip)



5)Misc.



Remember, the .308 was not added till 1956 so you can forget about all the Pre-WWII models. Look for a rifle with condition if you can wait. Take what you can find if you can not.



Rick....

Hi capt
I got a 99f 308 with a top tang safety I like it because I'm left handed the top safety is better for a lefty. I also have a 99f 300 sav lever safety not really much difference in power. a deer will never know. so don't over look a nice 300
good luck Plab

Good decision, Capt. Jack�

I really like my half-century old (1953), Serial #709xxx, �late EG� model 99 in .300 Savage. The lever is �butter-smooth� and it shoots sub-minute-of-angle groups with a variety of different powders including IMR3031, IMR4064 and what I�ve found best� IMR4895. In my particular �99�, I�ve found it to be the most accurate & give the highest velocity� a winning combination for any rifleman. My chronograph indicates a muzzle velocity for a 150 grain Nosler Ballistic Tip bullet to be averaging 2675 fps out of my rifle�s 24 inch barrel with about 13 to 14 ft/lbs. of recoil.

The .300 Savage cartridge was used as a �design model� for the .308 Winchester. The .308 has a slightly greater powder capacity and is loaded to considerably higher SAAMI chamber pressures than the .300 Savage, so naturally, it produces higher muzzle velocities with the same weight bullet. But� on the terminal end, the deer, black bear, elk or moose won�t know the �difference�.

Frankly� I prefer the .300 Savage as opposed to the .308 Winchester because the Model 99 is fast becoming an American icon and there�s really no better �deer cartridge� than a .300 Savage. It does everything well and does it with very little recoil. Many experts claim that the Model 99 in .300 Savage caliber is �THE� best� �THE� most perfect deer rifle/cartridge going. It has also been said that most of the bullets manufactured for �deer rifles� by the well-known bullet makers are designed to give their best performance at �.300 Savage velocities�.

And so, by choosing a Model 99 the .300 Savage cartridge, you have �THE� classic deer rifle in �THE� classic deer cartridge. How can it get better than THAT?!?

If you reload, don�t BELIEVE all those �old wive�s tales� about the .300 Savage being �hard to reload�. That�s TOTAL BUNK!!! I�ve reloaded thousands of .300 Savage cartridges and I find them no harder to reload than a .222, .338 Winchester magnum or any other bottle-necked cartridge to reload.

Soooooo... don't pass up a nice Model 99 just because it's in .300 Savage rather than .308 Winchester. Think about "tradition" and having a truly "classic" deer and black bear rifle... and maybe you'll find as I found... that the Model 99 in .300 Savage caliber is the one you really want.

Just my 5� worth (�inflation� ya know� <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> )


Strength & Honor�

Ron T.

Thanks to all for the excellent advice. I was only considering 308 due to ammo availability. Since I do not reload, is ammo in 300 Savage readily available?

I am in no rush, so I will try to find a "99F (or EG, R), 900,000 and above with lever safety " per Rick99's suggestion.

Will get back to the group when (if) I locate one.

Thanks again.

Jack

Winchester, Remington and Federal all are producing .300 Savage cartridges at this time. There may well be others but since for the most part I handload I don't pay that much attention to what is factory loaded. I have noticed that the choice of bullets in factory loaded cartridges is somewhat limited but since for the most part the two most widely used bullet weights for this cartridge are 150 and 180 grain that's not much of a problem. The factories advertise the 150s at around 2650 fps and 180 around 2350 fps. Deer won't really notice the difference when hit with the .300 Savage vs the .308 since the original .300 Savage 150 grain loading was developed to equal the original 30-06 150 grain loading in a short magazine rifle. At the time of its introduction it did and still only trails it by 250-300 fps.

You'll find a lot more under 1,000,000 .300 Savages than .308s since .308s were only produced 900,000-1,000,000 and .300 Savages were produced starting around the early to mid 200,000 range and up.

I would also appreciate any suggestion on gun dealers or other sources that may have a 99 available.

Thanks.

HI capt
Wild wood inc. China maine (207-968-2138) ask for craig tell em Paul sent you They have some nice 99's they might have one you would like and they warrentee their stuff.
Plab

Paul, I called Craig and he is now on the hunt for a nice 99 in .308 for me.

Thanks,

Jack

Capt. Jack;

Are you a Sea Captain?

Bring LOTS of clam$ with you if you go shopping in the "wild woods"

Prices tend to be "wild" too.

Capt Jack: If your still looking for a M99 .308, I have the following:
M99A(late model w/tang safety), straight stock, schnable fore-end,
no checkering, 22" barrel, serial #C419,xxx, new condition(no super-
ficial scratches on wood or metal), only mark is on inside of opened
lever(1 1/4"), wood shows some figure just forward of buttplate.
If interested, let me know how I can contact you.
Sincerely, contender

Hold out for a model F ,and like everybody else said 300 or 308 there is not much diff.. Just buy a nice one, pre 1 million serial #. Food for thought, I just shot my 308 model E through my chrony with Rem 150 factory cor-loks, Average velocity for a 10 shot string was 2705 fps. 20 inch barrel 308 = 22 or 24 inch 300. you should be able to find a variety of 300 factory ammo, but there is def. more 308 choices.Good luck, Mark. OH, I know where there is a very nice 300 EG , but the asking price is 495 US. I bet with this economy , you could get it for less. Mark.