Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Savage Collectors Which model to put a scope on?

I have an early 50’s R or a late 70’s A saddle gun i want to put a scope on, i have not used either of these to hunt with before. To me the saddle gun doesn’t look right with a scope on it when i hold it in place. I would be using a redfield wideview with either a burris or redfield mount, that i have lying around. Let me hear your opinions.

I would scope the rifle with a flat shooting caliber, like a .22 High Power, .250-3000 or .300 Savage. The only Savage 1899's I have in my safe are .303 Savage and those don't benefit from being scoped as they're 100-150 yard guns that work best with irons.
Gary

Depends on your eyes.
Scopes help out old farts a lot.

I just sold a series A saddle gun in 250 to a forum member here. When I had it it wore a Nikon 3X9 plain Jane on Weaver rings and was a tack driver. I agree with Miner49er.

To my eye the look of a Redfield Widefield when mounted on any M99 leaves a lot to be desired. YMMV

+1 to the widefields. I had one on a 99F for about five minutes and couldn't bring myself to leave it on, although they are great scopes.

I would love to have a scoped 99F in 250S.

What calibers?

What power? Wide front and rear or just rear?

Mainly just looking for the guys opinions who use an R or an A saddle gun, R is 300, A is 308

Put it on the R

I like 3.5x10 gloss Leupolds, weaver bases, Burris signature Zee Rings on the 99’s I have. The old Redfield bases clutter up the looks of a rifle. They were all I had at one time, but I don’t like them now.
I use Talley bases and split rings on bolt guns.

Use the R to paddle the canoe, the scope to drive the tent stakes in, and the A to hunt with.

Thanks John. I put a Leupold 1.5X5 with a one piece Leupold mount. I had some trouble at first. Pulled the scope and mount off, put it back on, and it looks like it will be driving tacks again. It will be the rifle I carry on opening day in WV, in your honor.

Size wise, I like the aesthetics of a 2-7x on most 99s, the older Leupold 2-7x28s better than anything with a larger objective bell.

The only R that I shoot has been rebarreled in 220 Swift and has a 1960's vintage Redfield 6x in a Redfield turn-in mount.

I don't care for straight grip stocks, so I don't own any post 1960 99As, but when I did own a 99A-Brush Gun in 375, it had a Weaver K3 PCH in a Weaver mount.

After you've scoped a dozen or so 99s and then hunted with them, you find your sweet spot, 'cause everybody is different.

260 Remguy, almost all the 99’s i hunt with have redfields on them, its just what I like best, and they havent let me down yet. Im leaning towards the R, the A just doesn’t look right with a scope on it to me, so I’ll leave that one without.

Thank you Joe. I am counting on a pic of a big West Virginia 12 point showing up here this fall!

It sounds to me like you already made your decision. If you like the A without a scope then leave it that way and go with a good peep. The R, in comparison, is a beast and you might as well reconcile yourself to the weight issue, not think about what the scope would add to it, and use the rifle accordingly. On another note, the R may have better potential for accuracy - which is not damning of the A in any way.

I shot both rifles today, i will be scoping the R, less felt recoil, and it was more accurate.

If you want real class put a Nickel 4X on it. Many Europeans like Savages for battue

Yep, $3,700+ for a Hubble.