Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters John and the Savage 99 in Sept's Rifle Mag.

Savage actually discontinued the .250 in 1960, and all up until then had 1-14 twists. When they brought out the tang-safety 99 in 1971 they also revived the .250, and gave it a 1-10 twist.

So any 99 .250 without the tang safety is a 1-14, unless it was rebarreled.

I have fooled around with several 1-10 .250's, and while they will shoot the 115-120 okay, I have yet to find a real tack-driving load with the heavier bullets (though I am still looking). Admittedly, 1.5" accuracy is plenty for any deer hunting done with a .250, but I am beginning to suspect that a .250 needs a 1-9 twist for truly fine accuracy with many of today's heavier bullets.

The 1-10 does shoot any good 100-grain bullet very well, however.

MD

Because I generally read the two shooting magazines that I subscribe to (Handloader, Rifle) from cover to cover- Even those inane articles about Pistols and their cartridges.

That said, I've a bit of a gray rat 99 that I'd like to get into better shooting condition. It is one with the detachable magzine and tang safety. Hopefully, MD's tips will help me out in this endeavor- I'd like to up the accuracy to at least minute of coyote.

Lastly, can someone tell me what year the 22/250 was introduced, whether they were only made in the tang safety models, and what their twist rate is (I assume 1-14)?

Thanks,

CAL9

My brother's 99C in .308 was an average shooter. Our smith tned the trigger to a precise 3# pull, glass-bedded the butt stock to the action, and floated the fore-end from the receiver and barrel, except for a bit of glass at the attachment screw. With a fixed 4x scope and it's preffered load. it routinely does 1" and smaller groups and, if I'm on my game, will shoot sub half inch. But then our esteemed JB covered all this in his article. Have fun with the old girl!

I second the motion on checking out the online gun auctions. I have picked up two '99s from them at a real reasonable price.
Granted neither was "collector" grade, but then I don't collect, I accumulate & then go shoot them.

John, what can be done to tighten up a takedown? I have one in 250 and the barrel can be unscrewed by hand. It shoots pretty good with a card shim under the forearm .

My smith glued mine with JBWeld. Tucks 'em right in there now. Family rifle, never to be sold, but still used. 86 deer, 3 bear, and 1 horse since 1920. Deer #86 taken last december.

baddwuf: The usual method of tightening the take down barrels is to chase the threads forward with a properly contoured punch and a hammer. Best left to an experienced smith to do and there really aren't many who have experience doing this although a competent smith could figure it out pretty quick.

You might try wrapping the threads with teflon tape if it is not too loose. Avoid placing any shim material aginst the barrel shoulder as that effectively increases head space.

Cal9,
According to Murray's book, the 22-250 was intoduced in the 99C in 1977 and discontinued in 1980. The C model is the detachable clip model and so has the tang mounted safety. This cartridge was only chambered in the C. I don't know for certain the twist rate that Savage used but if 1 in 14 is standard for this cartridge that is a good place to start. It is easy enough to check twist rate in a rifle.

I have one Savage 99, a.358 Win. with a butt ugly beavertail for end. Does anyone have an idea when that one came out? Also, what was the standard length of pull for that rifle. Mine seems a bit on the short side which make the damn thing kick like one pissed off mule. I wonder why Savage didn't put a recoil pad on their .358s? I know of one that will be getting a Pachmeyr Declerator very very soon. Should make the stock long enough and help on the hurt factor as well. I have five rifles in .358 Win., and that Savage is the most painful of the lot. It's in great shape though, probably 98 percent. No, I don't want to sell it.
Paul B.

Thanks Stocker, Ill try the teflon tape till I can find a smith to work on the threads. My smith wanted to glue it together, but I kind of like the takedown feature.

If he's any kind of a Smith, talk to him about resetting the thread pitch to tighten it back up. If he's a real craftsman he'll understand the concept and you can have it back to original.

What's the SN range and barrel length on your .358? Could be an R or F model. The F will be marked on the right side of the barrel. The R doesn't have the model anywhere. The F will kick the snot out of ya'. The R is heavier and shouldn't be so punishing.

My brother has a 99 in 300 Savage. Now the problem is just talking him out of it. LOL

Mule Deer, I read and enjoyed the article on the 99. It was extremely educating about the 99.

Please excuse me now, I have to talk to my brother about a 99.

John
I'll add my appreciation of your Savage Model 99 Article. It's not the first time you wrote about them, if I remember correctly, and your admiration of that rifle is evident. I just wish it had come out a couple of months sooner.

I was at a gun show, and had it in my mind that if I came across a good deal on a stainless, synthetic-stocked 7mm-08 bolt rifle, I would buy it. While enjoying the show, I saw 2 Model 99's. The first was a 1940's .300 Savage with a nice stock and a jeweled bolt. The asking price was $550. The second one was also a .300 for 50 bucks less, but it was not nearly as pretty a rifle, tho newer. It had the medallion in the stock. Didn't locate my 7mm, so I went back to look at the older 99 again, and asked if I could give it a closer look. It was in very good shape, at least 90%. I had a running battle going in my mind........
'It's a lever-gun!'..................'So, it's really well-made'
"It's not a ss-syn rifle.............'but it looks so nice'
...and so on. Finally, reason spoke up. If I bought this rifle, I would still want that SS 7-08. This would be an emotional purchase, because I liked the gun so much. I laid it back down.
I know another 99 will turn up some day, when I can afford it, I hope. I kinda understand your feelings about them now tho.