Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Savage Collectors Savage 99 With Bulged Barrels

I recently read that a buyer of a Savage 99 needs to be aware of bulged barrels.
<br>Is this a common occurrence with Savages?
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<br>Has anyone actually seen a 99 with a bulged barrel?
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<br>Thanks, Norm

Norm, a few months ago I bought a early Sav. 99 22HP takedown for a reasonable price knowing it had a slight buldge (looks like a ring when looking down the bore) in the barrel about 2" in from the muzzle. I asked some questions regarding same on the old G&K forum, but that was before I had a chance to clean the barrel and take it to the range. I have never heard of a 99 being any more likely to buldge than any other rifle. I think the cause is usually bad ammo, a fouled barrel or some combination thereof. This is a condition I hope never to have to experience. I can only speculate how the one I have got that way, but I can tell you that it prints about 3" at 50 yards (open sights from a rest -not great) and every once and a while it will kite tail one of the 70 gr Norma rounds in or around the 3" group. i'm always on the look out for a relacement barrel rare as they are and someone on the old site suggested having the old barrel counter bored. For me, this was a way to checkout a new Savage caliber shooter without spending a lot of money . I think i'll go hug my take-down 250-3000 now, it prints 1" at 100yds with my handloads . -hope this helps.

TomT-
<br>1" @100 seems awfully good. Is that typical of your 99's?
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<br>Shane

I wouldn't be hugging it if it wasn't exceptional. Most of my .300 post war F's and my .358 (most wearing optics) shoot between 2 1/2" to 5 1/2" groups on average from a rest at 100yds, with the F's starting to string shots if I shoot more than 5 or 6 rounds without letting the barrel cool. I mainly use IMR-4064 for these 2 calibers.
<br>This one 2XX,XXX s/n (it's put away and i'm not digging it out for the s/n) .250-3000 that my father gave me loves 85 gr. Nosler ballistic tips over 34 gr of IMR-4895
<br>and is a tack driver. I did however forget to mention that it wears a Leupold Vari II 2-8 power scope and because it is a takedown I have to make sure I rest by the receiver and NOT on the barrel or it will change the point of impact. I also have not shot over my chronograph, so I don't know if it hits the 3,000 fps mark. Thats something i'll have to try next time i'm at the range. - Tom T.
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2 1/2" - 5" off of a rest?!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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<br>If I can't get AT LEAST 3" OFF-HAND I junk them for scrap metal.
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<br>And I've never junked one yet.
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<br>I feel your vastly under estimating the accuracy potential of the Savage 99. Or, you have a bad case of the shakes?????

I guess your just a better shooter than I am. Anyway the deer never seem to complain as i'm gutting them. -Tom T

How many shots are you firing in a group, 3,5, 10? The more shots you fire the hotter the barrel gets and the bigger the groups get. Once had a guy tell me he was getting 1/4 inch groups with his .250-3000. When I asked him how many shots he was shooting in each group he said, ONE!!!

I shoot 5 shots per target at 100yds. -Tom T.

Tom,
<br>
<br>Thanks for the info. I inspected both of my 99's inside and out and do not think they
<br>have bulged barrels.
<br>
<br>Norm

I have examined hundreds of savages and have only ever seen one with a bulge in the barrel. A 99EG 300 savage that a fellow fired with a cleaning patch still in the bore. It was later cut off to 20 inches and shot well.

Deputy Norm;
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<br>re: "I recently read that a buyer of a Savage 99 needs to be aware of bulged barrels."
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<br>
<br>May I ask where you read this ?
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Ram,
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<br>Sorry about the delay. The source of the bulged barrel information is "2002 Standard of Catalog of Firearms The Collector's Price & Reference Guide" 12th Edition.
<br>Krause Publications. Page 928.
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<br>"Give attention to the bore. Have a cleaning rod and patches handy or borrow one to give a dirty bore a closer look. Watch for a ring in the bore indicating a bulged barrel caused by an obstruction or congealed grease in the bore, and sight along the outside of the barrel at a bright light to see if a bulge is evident. If one is there, you can't miss it."
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<br>Norm

I don't remember a 1899/99 with a ring in the barrel but I don't doubt that there might be some. I've seen several rifles, over the years, with rings (mostly old Winchester levers because that 's what I was looking down in my early years). I've never been around when it happened but did get a good buy on an excellent Win 52-C with a bull barrel that had a ring about 2" from the end. I cut it back 4", still shoots great.
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<br>Rick....

Norm;
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<br>I think your taking the statement "too" out of context.
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<br>That paragraph would apply for ANY make of used gun a potential buyer would look at.
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<br>I feel that the statement is general, and not specific to Savages, or more specifically the 99.

Ram:
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<br>I agree. But I asked the original question to see if there was a particular propensity for S99's to have
<br>bulged barrels. All along I thought it must be a general comment applicable to all makes and types of rifles.
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<br>Thanks,
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<br>Norm