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Posted By: Sojerguy A new (to me) 99 CD Series A. - 06/27/22
Its been a while since I've been here, but hello everyone. Recently moved to Idaho and at a local gun show today I got a 99 CD series A, 250 Savage. Mostly complete and in very good - to excellent condition. One crack in the tang area, and it has a Bushnell scope mounted with low rings. To accommodate the scope the rear sight has been removed as well as the hooded front sight.

What were the original sights and where might they be found.

I'm also told this likely would have had a 1/10 twist barrel. Is that likely true?

Thanks all.
It does have a 1-10 barrel. Can't help you with the sights though.

Good luck with your new rifle.
99CD would have a Williams rear sight, can't help you brand or info for the front sight. Could probably get you a picture of one..

Nice grab!

[Linked Image from i.imgur.com]
When Savage reintroduced the 250-3000 into production via the 99A in 1970 they went to a 1-10" ROT and carred it forward when they cataloged the 99CD and 99E in 250-3000.

The rear sight on a 99CD was a Williams unit, not sure about the front sight or hood.

The 99CD, 99DL/M, and 99F were my favorite 99s to hunt with when I hunted with Savages. I used to buy nearly every 99CD with a price that was in sync with its conditon to wildcat on. I've rechambered, or paid to have rechambered, 99CDs from 250-3000 to 257AI and 25-284, from 243 to 6-284, and from 308 to 30-284. Plus those that I've rebarreled in 6.5-284, 338-284, and 35-284. I like raised cheekpieces and the 99CD was the only 99 that Savage ever cataloged with that option.
I’m quite sure the front sight is Williams too.
Wow! Thank you all. I'll post some pics soon of it as is, and then as it 'returns' to original, then some more. What do you think of adding a tang sight to it, and is it possible with the tang safety?
Originally Posted by Jaaack
I’m quite sure the front sight is Williams too.


The ramp and hood are likely Williams but the sight itself would be one of the numbered sights Savage installed. Probably a 34 on the .250.
Tang sight won't work. A receiver sight that mounts with the two rear scope base holes will.
As the CD barrel is 'non-tapered' according to my Savage 99 book, what type/number of williams front base is the correct one? I'd realized I'd oopsed on the tang sight comment about 2 hours after I'd posted the comment.
Not tapered? Umm.. no, it's a tapered barrel same as others made in that timeframe.

Can't give you the Williams sight name/number, but can give you the Savage part number for front sight on a 99CD - A99D-219.
Rory,

I have a couple of 99CDs that have a dovetail cut in the barrel for a rear sight and two d&t holes, one fore and one aft, for the Williams rear sight. Is that common?
Originally Posted by 260Remguy
Rory,

I have a couple of 99CDs that have a dovetail cut in the barrel for a rear sight and two d&t holes, one fore and one aft, for the Williams rear sight. Is that common?

Yes, I've seen a few over the years. Transition from the Lyman style flip up 16C.
I can't comment on how common, but I once owned a .250 CD, ser. no. C074935, that had both the dovetail and two D&T holes.
Originally Posted by 260Remguy
Rory,

I have a couple of 99CDs that have a dovetail cut in the barrel for a rear sight and two d&t holes, one fore and one aft, for the Williams rear sight. Is that common?
That would be odd on a 99CD, but I believe it. As Lightfoot said - we've seen this on several models. Barrels that were pre-made with dovetails before they switched to Williams, and then they added the screws, slapped on a Williams and put it on the gun. Definitely on 99A's and I think a couple 99C's.

It's odd on a 99CD because the 99CD's were always made to have a Williams rear sight, never a dovetail. So those are probably 99CD's that got barrels made for another model. Are they really late 99CD's?
The rifle I cited above was 1976, so second year of CD.
That's odd. Since it was a 250, must have been a 99A barrel put onto that 99CD just because they didn't have any 99CD barrels handy. Most of these we see around 1980/1981 when they switched almost everything to the Williams and had no use for the old dovetail barrels.
Went back through conversations with Rick and we did discuss and did find some 99CD's with dovetails. I'd found at least 3 99CD's on the internet that had folding rear sights in a dovetail, and at least one also had screwholes for a Williams. Couldn't see the top of the barrel on the other two.

So yeah.. seen it before. A 1976/1977, a 1978, and a 1981. Just forgot.

Now I have to pull mine out and check that rear sight.. Well, mine is pretty much NIB so I'm not going to remove the rear sight, but I see no indication there's a dovetail under it. The discussion with Rick started because I noticed on the 99CD components catalog page that the barrel was shown with dovetail and screws for a Williams.

So it's possible, I suppose, that they all have dovetails under the Williams rear sight???????????

Here's a picture of one from fall of 1976.

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Another

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Holy cow... another

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And they keep coming... another

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So the component parts catalog may be correct. They might all have dovetails under those Williams rear sights. Huh.
Would anyone one have a picture of the no drill receiver mount on a 99 CD, and wow those pics of the dovetails are fantastic. Now if I can just finish getting my garage sorted out so I can get setup and make some pics of the 99CD I have....
99CDs were all factory d&t with 4 holes on the top of the receiver.

1899CDs were only factory d&t with 2 holes on the tang.

Assuming that you're asking about a pre-WW1 1899CD.
I have 2 loose 99CD barrels that have the dovetail and holes, but I'm not sure what receivers they came off of.

The 1 that is still has the barrel installed is SN B9365xx. This is a 250-3000 that has been rechambered to 257AI.
Might have been one of those Monday morning Sales meeting where they decided they wanted a different rear sight on the CD's after production had started. Who knows?

Our job is to find what they did not the reason why. laugh wink
Originally Posted by Rick99
Might have been one of those Monday morning Sales meeting where they decided they wanted a different rear sight on the CD's after production had started. Who knows?

Our job is to find what they did not the reason why. laugh wink
I think the KISS principle would indicate that all barrels were cut for dovetails for 99's so they could produce barrels quickly. When they pulled a barrel for a 99CD, they tapped it for the Williams sight.

I haven't seen a picture of a 99CD without the rear sight that didn't have a dovetail. Some of the pictures you can't tell if they had screws.. but they all had dovetails.
Bearrr264 had a 99C, not a 99A or CD, in 256-3000 that had a rear sight in a dovetail, no extra holes. It is the only 99C that I've ever seen in 250-3000 with the barrel stamped 99C. He made a point to show that to me and was evasive about where he got it. Since it was in a non-cataloged configuration, I figured that it was one of the non-cataloged factory parts guns from when they cleaned out the warehouse during the mid-1980s. Who knows????
If the barrel was stamped 99C then I'd guess it was a special order, gift from the company or an employee made it. They had barrels in 250 because of 99CD's, 99A's and late 99E's, so would have been trivial to produce.

A parts gun after they dropped the 99E and wanted to use up that lone remaining 250 barrel would be reasonable also.
Back in the late 1980s I had a 99E with 99C wood that was in like new condition that I bought from Arthur Corey's shop in Littleton, NH. It was stamped 99E and had the Williams rear sight. I never took the sight off, so I don't know if it had a dovetail under there, but maybe......
All models changed to a Williams rear sight around 1981 and I believe they stopped cutting the dovetails. So maybe it did, probably didn't.
I'll be picking up my repaired stock from my guy tomorrow and should be able to take pics of it them to post here. The buttpad (with white line) is red colored and has seen better days. Will be looking for one soon. I haven't found any 250 Savage ammo for sale anywhere, but did find some .25 caliber bullets at Graf & Sons for @ $32 box/100. 117 grainers. $105 for 3 boxes shipped. Its a start. smile
Some pics addressing the sights on CD's and early post CD C.
The RD 250-3000 produced in 1974 and the new improved 7mm-08 1981 C had the same rear sight. This sight is on the C. I fumbled the windage screw and had to use a poor fitting replacement.
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The CD with the rear sight removed. Note dovetail.
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The C with the rear sight removed. no dovetail.
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The CD's front sight
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The C's front sight
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[Linked Image]This is from the Savage 99 club on facebook. This is a Williams FP 99-S.

Does anyone know if Lyman or Redfield made receiver sight and if so what the numbers are?

Attached picture 99 receiver.jpg
Whatever you do, DON'T buy a Redfield 102, as they require 2 holes to be d&t in the left side of the receiver.
Lyman 57 SB mounts in rear D&T holes in top of receiver on tang safety Model 99s. (Lever safety rifles use Lyman 57 SA.)
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A Happy 4th of July to everyone! Remember if there were no private firearms back in 1776, we wouldn't be celebrating our freedom today!
OK now. Got some time with my 99 tonight. I do have a few pics to add also. According to https://savagelevers.com/serial-number-search/ my rifle was made in 1975. B9052XX.

The barrel is 21" from muzzle to front of receiver, and has a flat plug in the dovetail slot. There are no obvious tapped holes for a sight at the rear of the barrel. There are two tapped holes at the front of the barrel and these are 1.950" center to center. The left side of the barrel has a 'F' stamped into it, but normally this is covered by the forend. It is marked 'model 99CD Series A', 'cal 250 Sav', and 'Westerfield Mass'.

The trigger is grooved. The grip cap is checkered.

There are no serial numbers on either forend or buttstock. The buttpad is a dark brown ventilated one marked Savage. Under that is a white line spacer, with a black base marked 'pachmayer' on the inside (pics later). Length of pull is 13 1/2".

Apparently I will have to edit my pics smaller. They're to large to post.

Any clarification on my info is appreciated. I'm intending to replace the front ramp and add a receiver sight to this rifle.
u should still be able to buy a Williams front ramp , tha sight you install may depend on the rear sight hight.

.if you cant find a new williams front ramp message me,
The barrel is actually measured to the back of the receiver ring, so your barrel is 22". It's a first year production 99CD. The two holes near the front of the barrel are for the front sight. I posted a pic of the front sight in this post on July 1st. Savage replaced the serial number on the forearm, buttplate and buttstock about 1950 with an assembly code that is in on those 3 places plus on the lower left side of the lower tang. You have to remove the buttstock to see the assembly code. The butt pad should look like the one shown on page 104, figure 7-22. If you don't have a copy of my book post that you don't have it and I'll post a pic of the overall rifle. But if it is marked "Savage" who knows. "With Savage never say never".
Wyo1895, I'd appreciate that butt pad pic (as I don't own a copy of your book -yet, its on its way), and what is the height of the front sight ramp in your pic from 7/1? I've found two of them with different heights.
I used pics from the book. First is the prototype CD.
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I've also included the brush gun which had the first ventilated recoil pad. Your pad has a white line. the brush gun didn't have it.
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I'll get the height of the front sight later.
Awesome pics.

BTW I got a call back from Williams Sight Company. The don't have the sight in stock anymore, BUT if I find one and it needs refurbishing, they'll assist. Also info on the exact model # and the 2 sets of part #s for the w/ & w/o adjustable knobs. A shout out to them!

A similar call to Lyman, got me 'a less than helpful response'. Along the lines of, 'we don't make those, we don't have the info on those and we don't really care'.
Originally Posted by Sojerguy
Awesome pics.

BTW I got a call back from Williams Sight Company. The don't have the sight in stock anymore, BUT if I find one and it needs refurbishing, they'll assist. Also info on the exact model # and the 2 sets of part #s for the w/ & w/o adjustable knobs. A shout out to them!

A similar call to Lyman, got me 'a less than helpful response'. Along the lines of, 'we don't make those, we don't have the info on those and we don't really care'.


i have a front sight with 1 screw hole and groves for a hood , has a sight in place,
i may also have a front with the 2 screw holes.

norm
Will be looking for a 'correct' savage butt pad for this rifle. Can anyone share a pic of a 99CD butt pad taken from the end, showing the markings? I was going to say 'from the rear' but knowing this group of 'gentlemen' it might have gotten some 'odd' answers. wink

Norm, thanks for the offer. I found a set of 3 Williams streamlined front sights on ebay and their allegedly on the way.

Thanks.
I was able to visually verify a rear dovetail from pics on several CDs up to SN D103xxx (1979). I don't have pics on higher SNs that I can verify whether a dovetail is, or is not, present.
Originally Posted by Sojerguy
Will be looking for a 'correct' savage butt pad for this rifle. Can anyone share a pic of a 99CD butt pad taken from the end, showing the markings? I was going to say 'from the rear' but knowing this group of 'gentlemen' it might have gotten some 'odd' answers. wink

Thanks.

1979 99CD here:

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When it rains it pours. This time nicely!

I now have 3 Williams streamlined ramps that came as a single purchase for a reasonable price! In the original boxes, with the original instructions 2 with the screws, and marked with original prices ($4.00 $5.00 & $5.50). I'll get one fitted and the others will be available later.

A Williams receiver sight is on its way (at a reasonable price - not the $250 I was seeing else where).

Now for the front sight hood and front post. Recommendations on the height of the post please.

Oh yes, a Savage 1895 night be coming my way. It was in a estate dispute and an angry person literally bent the barrel in a "U" shape a few years back. It was chambered in 303 Savage. What other calibers were the 1895 chambered in?

Thanks all.
The Savage factory sight seen on most .250s is the #31 at .410" overall height.

Lots of variation over the post mill models though.

The 1895s were all .303 except for maybe 1 .30-30 the factory did.
It's mountain man rendezvous in Pinedale. Kept me busy until this afternoon. I found time to measure the front sight on the R&D CD. the top of the base is .321 and the height of the sight is .451
Took a pic of the posterior of the buttplate. It's different than the one pictured two days ago.
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Some of you may have heard of Wyoming's soon to be former U.S. Representative Liz Cheney. Harriet Hageman is a good conservative pro-gun lady who is running against Liz baby.
I put some Hageman signs on the'29 convertible and drove it in the rendezvous parade yesterday. That's Brutus Haight in the rumble seat. He was passing out candy to the people lining the parade route This isn't political just an explanation for being a little slow getting the height of the sight base.
The 29 ready for the parade to begin.
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I rotated that sob. don't know why it printed cock eyed.
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rotated it again. still cockeyed. I hate the internet.
That's a good looking car.
David, is there a number on that sight?
Mike, I don't see a number on the sight or the base.
Thanks for the compliment Danmesia. It's a 30/30 car. It looks good going by 30 feet away and doing 30 MPH. It was restored over 50 years ago. The body work from that time is a little lumpy and it has picked up a lot of scratches over the years. It's a Vermont car and even though they didn't drive it in the Winter and kept it in the barn there is some rustout at the bottom of the rumble seat lid. I replaced the leaky radiator, replaced the non operable speedometer, replaced the generator with a 6 volt positive ground alternator and added turn signals and out side mirrors for safety. It's fun to drive although some jerks take exception to me driving 55 in a 70 zone.
I posted some pics here when I got it in December.
Yes that's a good looking car!

Whew. Searching for 99s in .38-55 or .375 Win, They're out there but pricey. Ran across one in 25-35 but at $1400 I wasn't that interested.

Anyway, about the 1895 with the U-turn barrel. Does anyone know the type of threading this one might have had? My older 1914 1899 TD had 'V' shaped threads instead of the typical 'square' type threads.

Also on the 1895 is anyone away of the pressure level (strength) of the action?

Thanks

Wayne
Still working the photo issues, but i did get a good look at the lower tang. It is marked 'A X 6 * (as in star)', and that butt pad is looking uglier than ever.
The .375 didn't come my way. The son sold it before the dad could tell him i was interested. .... frown
Soooo its back to finding a peep sight. The williams I purchased (marked for a savage 99), holes do not line up with the factory drilled rear sight base holes. They're .540 center to center. The Wiliams peer sight holes are 1.100 center to center.

Or am I doing something wrong?

Perhaps an adjustable peep that will mount on the rear sight base?

Opinions or suggestions are appreciated.
The Williams peep sight you purchased is for earlier Model 99s that were D&T on the tang. In the early days only tang sights were available. In the 1930s sight manufacturers developed receiver sights that use the tang holes for mounting. Various sight manufacturers made receiver sights for the tang safety Model 99s that mount in the rear scope holes. That's what you need for your rifle.
Apparently I'm looking for a FP-99S. What other makers/models are there available. I'm looking for lyman, redfield, etc ... On the plus side, if I find a decent 1899/99 in need of a loving home without a tang safety, I have the receiver sight for it.

Edited: Lyman 57 SB. Will be at the Missoula gunshow this weekend. Wish me luck.
It begins... I have quite a few 99s/1899s I bought as homes for different tang sights I ended up with.
I bought a box of 250 primed brass a few years ago. I slid the box open and they were all in there with primers. Got home and looked again, they were all 220 Swift. Now I need a rifle in 220. Got 3 boxes of 32-40 at a yard sale for $5, now I need an 1899 for them. 219 Zipper and 44WCF also. But, I don't want another Winchester, I can only fit in one rabbit hole at a time.
Joe, get yourself a .32-40 single shot target rifle and all the gear to run it, and make much better use of that brass. Nothing like throwing a couple G's toward a gun just to make use of some orphan brass. (Of course the same amount can be expended for a nice .32-40 M1899.)
Joe

How many 220 cases are you talkin'? I could probably rehome those for you, thereby relieving you of the obligation to buy a new firearm.
One box, I’ll bring them to Noxen. You don't happen to have any 444 Marlin do you? Anyone else, I could use a few.
No, I don't. Sorry, bud.
Front sight blade. Hooray

saddle ring carbine 30-30 20" 1910. Hooray.

Rear sight , Not yet. frown
Chilling in Missoula,no books available to me.

Barrel length is 20". Crown is good.

Barrel address is:
Manufactured by the Savage Arms Company.Utica,N.Y.US.A
Patented February 7. 1893. July 25.1893. October 3.1899

Lower and to the right: SAVAGE HI-PRESSURE STEEL
(left arrow)MODEL 1899(right arrow} Further to the right before the receiver ring.: 30-30.

There is no A, B, .... F.


Serial # 97947


It has both scope mount d&T holes, and front sight (milled into the barrel), and a Savage rear sight without the elevator wedge, and tang sight mounting holes. The buttplate is steel with 36 horizontal groves and the "Savage quality" logo below that.

There is a chip out of the butt at the bottom of the buttplate, and two or three other cracks to be mended. What would the correct finish to be applied to this when its all done.

Is this likely to have been d&t'd later in life, or was it manufactured later than 1909 (by serial number search)?
unfortunately they weren't D&T'd back then except maybe for barrel mounted scopes.
I think your butt stock has been replaced, also. Have you checked the serial on the wood and the plate?
The number on the buttstock does not match the receiver, but DOES match the fore-end! #247489 (1920-1921).

The butt plate is a type 2 per D.P. Murray as is the barrel address marking.

It looks like a 1899 H, but of course with the wood not matching the receiver, who knows what was on it originally.

Its has definitely been re-blued, and no trace of case hardening on the lever.

Stock is straight, as is the lever.

I'm assuming the re-blueing was done at the same time as the scope mounting holes were d&t'd.
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