Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Savage Collectors Cartridge counter

My 99 has the cartridge window on it. Loading the magazine full with the action closed, rounds 1 and 2 show through the window. 3 shows halfway, while 4 and 5 are not visible. If you push down on the rotor 3, 4, and 5 are there and complete. Is the rotor mis-stamped are is there an adjustment that needs done? <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" /> Dean

probably wrong rotor for that cartrage, as that is what happens,

What caliber is it chambered in Dean?

It's a 250-3000. If it is the wrong rotor why do the cartridges fit?

Since the .250 is fat round using a rotor for a smaller diameter shell would gradually turn the rotor so the numbers would no longer show. Did I get that correct?

I've been on the Savage Foum for over 4 years and I don't think I know much more now about identifing rotors than when I started. This is a subject that needs a lot of input and discussion.

Patch...give use some details on the rifle. Model, serial...etc.

I've got a couple extra rotors but sadly they're not for a 250-3000, one is a 30-30 the other a 303 Savage. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

It is Model 99G .250 take-down. Serial #330,XXX. Everything appears original except perhaps the rear sight. Do the rotors have a # on them like the buttplate, forearm, etc. ?

MD,

Is there a difference in the rotors or is that just what caliber rifle they came from?

No numbers and I think there are only a few that have the caliber marked on them. I thought some rotor calibers were interchangable but not sure.

If you have any experiance please post. Right or wrong it would give us a place to start.

<img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> As I posted earlier in another thread, I had some feed problems with one of my "F's".The gun was .308 cal. In attempting to learn the rotor spring adjustment process I wound up having the rotor assembly in my hand. The only numbers I saw on mine were the index numbers for showing remaining cartridges in the magazine. It is also my understanding, I may be wrong, that a rotor for .308 will work for .358. I would be interresting to know if the rotor is different for a rimmed cartridge. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Rick, those are just the caliber of the guns the rotors came out of. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

I have 2 that are marked a 303 and 22 hp, I used a 303 in a 243 bubba, parts gun and it works fine with no modifications

My rifle feeds just fine. The cartridges load in the rotor easily, just wondering why I couldn't see the number through the window after 3. Like I said, thought maybe there was an adjustment or something.

Would the markings be visable without having the rotor out of the rifle? I would guess these might be from Pre-WWI rifles.

Your Bubba rifle must have been on a pre-900,000 serial action (?).

Patch, I have completely dis-assembled/re-assembled five M99 rilfes with the rotary magazines.

Thre magazines are spring tensioned and it's possible to have every thing 'work', but due to improper tension, the proper number doesn't show thru the little cartridge counter window.

IF your rifle shows between 2-3 with a full mag, ( one chambered or bolt closed on empty chamber??)

I think the rotor spring needs to be wound up a bit..:)pre-loaded more if that makes sense.

To check and see IF you get it adjusted right, one <dummy> cartridge in the magazine should bring the number '1' into view squarely in the little viewing window in the receiver side.

I would be surprised IF somewhere in time someone replaced the rotor with an incorrect on..Jim

If you turn the rotor all the way around by hand ,you can usually see the cal # stamped on the tapered part of the rotor at the front through the loading opening ,it is very hard to see, Hubert <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Hubert, That's correct.Magnifying glasses like one gets at the drug store for reading and a good light help see the caliber stampings, tho they are faint.

Some of the rotors are badly tarnished and the cartridge numerals can be hard to read thru the little window also, but one can open the action and use his finger to rotate the rotor around until the '1' appears and get an idea how much the spring-winding needs to be wound up for proper adjustment.
It's possible to overwind it 100%, but you'll know if you do that because you won't be able to load all five rounds in the mag.

When I had mine apart for cleaning lube, I lightly polished the brass rotor w/0000 steel wool to clean it up.

The numbers are stamped on the rotor and can be made more visible with a wipe of indelible ink into the stamping and ten buff off leaving the ink in the number stamping.jim

Jim is correct. I had the same problem with my 250-3000. When I took it apart for cleaning I found the nut on the rotor was loose and that the spring was weak. I tightened the nut which brought the numbers back in line right to left (the nut has left hand threads) and put a half-turn more tension on the spring. Everything lines up perfectly from 0 to 5 and feeding is more positive.

I would also like to address the differences in rotors sometime, and maybe find a place to list different pics of the variations. I probably have 10-15 rotors, some marked and some not.

I took apart one of my 22HP rats and found a rotor with two sets of stampings. One for 22HP and the other for something else. 1899H rifle, 1914.

Either a screw up during assembly or a replacement rotor and restamping somewhere down the line.

Chris