Hey guys, i have been browsing gunbroker and found some pretty good deals on savage 99's. i am looking for ones mainly in .303 Savage. My dad has a 99R i think and i like it, but i dont like the scope on it, and i want my own. Does anyone here have any experience with the Savage 99 or the .303 Savage?

NH_hunter

I have a buddy with many Savage 99's. 2 or 3 are in 303 Savage and they are very good rifles, he uses them a lot and handloads for them all. I just fired his octagon barreled 30-30 Savage 99 today and that is a very nice one.

I briefly owned a Sav 99 carbine in 30-30.

I've always been curious why the detatchable magazine 99C is looked down on by 99 afficianados.
I know the older internal spool magazines were of very high quality, but what else is ther to it?
I read one guy's comments that he thought the 99C was responsible for the discontinuance of the 99.

Anybody know more info on this?

I own a couple of 99s, and like the platform very much. Accuracy is more than adequate, and they handle beautifully.

Have never worked with a 303 savage, but figure them for the hunting chores that a fellow would use a 30-30 for.

I heard that the 99s required extensive machining, and that they were dropped only because they are not cost effective to produce any more. I am also of the opinion that they suffer from under marketing, and would have a hard time competing with the speed is everything, magnum set that the general public seems to demand.

I doubt I will get shed of my rifles anytime, they are just too much fun to fool with.

Let me know if I can help you out.

Steve

From the folks that own them the 99 in 303 Sav was a good game getter. However it's the equivilant to the 30-30 Win. You can spend the rest of you adult life looking for a box of 303 Sav and then pay 40-50 bucks for it. The 30-30 Win cartrige will be around for ever. You can buy Federals at Wally World for $9.24 + tx.
I have a pre-1926 Savage 99 in 30-30. I bought for $400. at a gun show. I thought that it was wore out, The bore looked dark but the rifiling was still there. I took it down to the farm and I shot 3" groupd at 75 yards, No keyholes. I was amazzed. After shooting it a bit the bore brightened up. I've since put a Marbles Tang sight on it. It's just great. Who needs a scope?
Since me and the Boys reload I am looking for loads and pointy bullets. (That being the only difference between the 303 Sav and the 30-30 Win.) Not quite a 308 but the 165 gr bullets that I have are too long for the mag. As for the Round nose bullets, my 99 seems to like the 190 gr. Hunting on my farm we rarely see game more than a 100 yards.

NH_Hunter - I assume you know about Kittery Trading Post over in Kittery, ME - lots and lots of used guns. They have a 99 in .300 Savage right now if you are interested. I was there last weekend (getting my BLR .308) and played with it a bit - nice gun. You can always check their used stock at www.ktpguns.com. (If you specifically ask, they will take any long gun over $350 across the border so you don't have to pay sales tax.)

Good luck,

Michael in NH

NH Hunter, the 303 Savage is a great round, I use it every year in a 99 T, have plenty of load data for them too. Also you can use 30-30 data for them as the cases have less than .5 grains of difference in water capacity. Pretty much the same as if you reload cartridges by different manufacturers. Also, I make my 303 Sav brass from 307 Winchester, much cheaper, but ya gotta work for it. There is a walkthru on my web site Savage LA (http://savagela.org) Be glad to answer any questions for you, also, rmember the 30-30 is just a cheap copy as it was introducedabout 4 months after the 303 Sav. Les

You can count on whatever Les sez about the .303 Savage. He's our resident ".303 expert" in another Forum specificly for the Model 99 Savage and it's calibers.

(Of course, he lies a lot, too... so watch him) :)

HEYYYYYYYYYYY, Les, ol' buddy !!! I just found this site... can we get a Model 99 Forum going here? :)


Strength & Honor...

Ron T.

Hello
I have a Savage '99R,and I like it a lot.The "R" has a heavier forestock then most other models.It's a little heavier to carry;but easier to point and shoot.
I have a vintage Weaver K 2.5 scope on it,and it looks and works just fine.
A smaller Leupold or Burris low power variable would probably be a better choice.
You may prefer the 303 Savage for personal reasons.Don't ignore them;they mean a lot.But a 300 Savage would be a better practical choice.It's more powerful,and the ammunition/componants are easier to come bye.
In any event,the Savage '99 is never a mistake.Good Luck
Frank

My grandfather has owned a savage 99 for a long time. His is in a .243 which he uses for deer. I know that he has killed many deer with his 99. I know that he likes the gun and that my cousin likes the gun too, because that was what my cousin used for a gun his first few years of deer hunting. As far as the .303 savage I don't really know but I don't think you can go wrong with the gun.

Ron, I've tried, but they keep us Savaholics in the leverguns and their cartridges here. :D Oh well. I live with it. Les

Get the 300 Sav! They are common and not as pricey as some other calibers. Ammo, though not real common, can be bought through Cabela's or such if your local shop does not have it. Proven deer getter that made the 99 what it is and it's only about 100 fps shy of a 308.

Mates: I have a Vintage Savage 99 (pre 1926) in 30-30. in good condition, but the furnature is non standard. I have ordered a Repo stock and fore eend from "Gunstocksinc." that has the Cresant butt and the Schnable fore end tip.
Now my problem is.. who has a Cresant butt PLATE that I can buy?
Numrich has Repo Cresant butt plate for the Winchester 86 that would be large enough. Can that be adapted?
Cheers, Tony O^Ng CO.p

Check with the guys over at the Savage Forum on the 24hourcampfire. I don't have one, also watch Ebay, they come up there periodically. Les

V-22: Well, I'm om 24 Hr Camp and NOT!. I signed up, got the E-mail at home and the sight still tells me that I haven't been approved. Rat Poo!
The same guys on this one are on that one anyway.
Cheers, Tony O^Ng CO.p