All:
I got a really nice 99F in 308 with a serial of 905,3xx. The LBC is difficult to read. Anybody know the approximate year of manufacture?
Thanks,
Jeff
If it helps narrow it down any, my 99F in .300 Savage has a a sn of 7806xx with a LBC of "I" making it a 1957 vintage so yours is later than that. The serial numbers under 1,000,000 are the more desirable ones from what I've read.
The 99F's in 700,000 and early 900,000's were being made at the same time. The 700,000 serial numbered rifles were in 250 Savage and 300 Savage, the 900,000 rifles had internal changes that allowed for the longer 243/308/358 cartridges.
RAS, best I can do from the numbers I have is late 1955 or early 1956.
You can pull the butt stock and look for the stamp on the receiver frame. Those are usually stamped pretty well.
Have an F-243 at 920,xxx with LBC (I-6) which should be 1957. GW
I took a good look at the LBC with some 2x reading glasses and I could make out an H, which I think is 1956. That is a darn early 308!
Was reading the Ballistics page the other day, it said this about the 300 Savage and .308
In 1944 the US military used the .300 Savage as a base for assault cartridge research and design, eventually resulting in the T-65 cartridge which we know today as the .308 Winchester (1952) and the 7.62 NATO (1954). Major differences between the .300 Savage and .308Win are the shorter neck and overall length of the .300 Savage which was designed for the 99’s limited magazine length. SAAMI maximum average pressure rating for the .308 Winchester are 62,000psi as opposed to 47,000psi for the Savage due to considerations of earlier M99 action metallurgy.
