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My gun locker is begining to fill up and I can't build another. Here is where the problem lies. I have a nice Savage 99F Chambered in 308. It's lite, acurate and easy to carry. It was a comprimise gun though. A friend needed money and didn't use it any more, I really wanted a Browning lever but for $300 I couldn't pass it up. Now another friend is offering me a Jap. Browning lever in 7-08. I haven't handled a BLR since I was a kid but I've always wanted one. If you had to choose which one would you keep.

Can't comment on the Browning as I have never handled one but I am a huge fan of Savage 99's. I have hunted with them since I was a kid growing up in central Pennasylvania and they were great for white tail deer.

I currently do not have a 308 and would be very interested in yours if you decide to sell it. I also live here in California so if you decide to part with it, please give me a PM.

Bottom line is you should handle both rifles and let that guide you.

Good luck on what ever you decide to do.

Dave from Yreka, CA

If it's an older Savage...well, that's like money in the bank. Keep it nice and it will continue to appreciate.
I just bought and shot (last Thursday) a BLR in 358. I was very impressed with the quality and handeling.
My primary deer rifle is a 7X57, which ballistically is the same as the 7-08. Put that lever with the 7-08 and you would have one sweet deer gun. Tough choices...I don't envy you...

The BLR 7mm-08 I had was a model 81 and it was very accurate, but had a horrible trigger. The BLR is my favorite rifle, but I also have a model 99 .300 Savage that I inherited from my granddad that is very sweet. Check the trigger on the 7mm-08. If it is similar to the new lightweight (not Lightning) models, it will be fine. They are both sweet rifles. If there is anyway you can keep both, I would. I have one of the new lightweights in .358 that is a tack driver, and my favorite of all, the original style BLR in .308--a pre '81 model.

I don't think you will lose money on a steel receiver BLR either providing you bought it right

I've got a 99 and 2 Blr's in the safe, the Blr's get shot and hauled around the most.

For overall feel and asthetics the Savage has them beat. I never liked to rattles and feel of Grandpa's Browning. I know it has its purpose but I like a gun that looks and feels good. My vote would be the Savage. Ryan

Last year I bought a new BLR in .308. This has easily become one of my favorite all time rifles. I put a VXIII 2.5x8x36 and consider it near the perfect deer rifle for me. That being said I would keep the savage. They just arn't making anymore of those and they allready have a cult like following, this is surely only going to increase in worth as the years go by. keep the savage and sell something else to get the blr or just wait till you can outright buy it.

Which one to keep? And there's a Savage 99 in the mix? Tell me you're joking right - I mean this "problem" shouldn't get a first, let alone SECOND thought...

Oh, BTW - KEEP THE SAVAGE!

I'd keep the Savage. If for no other reason, because they aren't made anymore.

Ron

In my opinion they are both very good rifles, but mechanically the Browning has the Savage beat and here's why 1) The massive bolt on the blr locks up in the front and not in the rear like the savage which hinders accuracy and strength 2) The detachable box magazine makes un-loading very easy and you can carry a spare mag loaded up just in case. 3)The lever throw is a short 60 degrees on the blr 4)the newer light-weight 81's weight 6-1/2 lbs for the short action. As far as the trigger is concerned ALL newer rifles have horrible trigger pulls thanks to all those lawyer out there.
contrary to popular belief the Jap Brownings and the light-weights are very well made, the aluminum is in the receiver, which just houses all the mechanics, steel inserts are used for the scope mounts. As far as asthethics one could argue either way, the blr lightning is not pleasing to my eye, but neither is some of the hump backed, blocky stocks on some of the 99's i've seen.

I have always wanted a 99 in 250-3000 or .358 win but not at the prices they have soared to, so what to do? I snatched up the first light-weight 81 in .358 win that i saw and it has amazed me. It loves the 200gr Hornady spire point and will shoot it into sub Moa if i do my part, and thats with the horrible trigger and a Burris compact 2-7X 26MM obj.It has also shown this accuracy with the 225gr Sierra. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> I cant imagine for the life of me why people dont like the aluminum receiver, i have handled the steel ones and they ruin the balance of the little carbine, mine with scope, bases, rings, and five rounds with 200grainers is right at 7-3/4 lbs just about perfect.Of course this is all what appeals to ones sense of whats right for themselves and i do like the 99's but that 7-08 would be just about perfect for 98% of the hunters out there, just a couple of dozen thoughts.... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

The browning mecanically is a nightmare if anything should go wrong.I have a gunsmith friend that is 90 and he hates working on them (even when he was 50). a savage is a piece of cake to repair and is more dependable. remember the more parts the bigger chance something will go wrong. the BLR is nice handling though. and more calibers to choose from..

I'd keep the 99. Not even a contest if I was making the decision.

I'd also keep the 99, but i would definately look hard at a blr, as far as being a nightmare to work on, that i couldnt tell you, but i doubt any 99 will shoot better than my blr.

No offense to your gunsmithing friend, but maybe he just doesnt have the proper knowledge or desire to work on them. Im a plumber and not all plumbers are of the same mechanical skill, in fact some of the worst work i've seen has come from old timers who are master plumbers. Im just relating my experiences, and believe me i was shocked when my blr shot as good as my 700 classic in 6.5X55 and my savage 110 in 30-06, both of which have been worked on(glass bedded,timney trigger, etc etc) but as i said before to each their own, but dont discount a blr just because you think its ugly or complicated, ugly is what ugly does.

Can't speak of the mechanical problems of BLR's since I've used them from 18-30 years and haven't had the first problem yet. They have not be babied. One outshoots my bolts and the others equal them. Reminds me, I need to get rid of some bolts since I quit carrying them...

Sounds like a win-win problem. I have 3 Sav 99s and several other levers, but no BLRs. I am so hot for the BLR in the new .325 WSM that I'm burning up. Also the SS Rossi Legacy 92 in .454 Catsul to match my SS .45 LC Bisley. Good luck.

George

Croldfort (george);

If you can find a Rossi/Legacy .454, GET IT! I'm very favorably impressed with mine thus far, and have posted what I can on it thus far. Would I recommend it? Yes, esp. if you can find a good used one for less than $300; I got mine for $210. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

They both have there following. I personally strongly prefer the savage based on mechanical difficulties I have personally encountered with a blr that I just had to have. The mechanical intricacy of the blr reminds me of a swiss watch in many respects. On one hand it is seemingly a mechanical wonder in the way that the half moon lever gear drives a twin cog driven or intermediate gear which in turn drives the rack that houses the rotary bolt. Guys, you either love it or fear it. (I'm not going to say hate it, too harsh). Personally I fear it because I have experienced issues in which these intricate gears have failed. To me it has happened 3 times on a BLR 81 in 243, on a friends blr 81 in 7mm mag & yet another friends blr 81 in 270. Maybe partially due to the drive ratio & the short throw, the bolt carrier can lock in the rear possision leaving you with the lever locked open at which point you can pull hard on the lever in a blood pumping moment of frustration & shred the teeth off the gears.... or you can try to control your panic & sit there with the lever locked open & watch that deer run off out of sight. (I never ripped any gears but my 2 buddies did)

Savage has got my vote.

My dad has two BLR's he bought in the early 70's a .308 and a .358. Never a problem in that many years of use. Maybe the earlier ones were better?

Can't speak to the 99. Have been looking for a clean EG in .300 and .250, but all we have here in Montana is junk at collector prices.

What do you consider a fair price for a vintage .300 Savage 99 with honest use, most bluing (turning brown or plum), no nicks in the wood?