Any Savage model 99 owners here.

Just wondering about any experiences with these rifles. I’m eyeing a mid 60s production in 308 win.

Well, I mean what’s not to like about an 1899/99? In the 99 you’d have one of the real milestones in firearms design and if you look at its history, this was one of the most desirable repeating hunting rifles for over half a century.

Savage really outdid Winchester with the 99 in terms of the rifle being designed around a smokeless powder world rather than adapted to it. Having the rotary magazine and longer action capability meant that Savage essentially one upped Winchester for decades with the 99. If you read historical gun press writings about the 99, the main “complaint” was that it was relatively expensive, but then you got what you paid for then as now. Accuracy, speaking generally, was better than average for the time.

Personally, if I were to own a 99, I’d want to have it with a Savage chambering like the .250-3000 or the .300 Savage. Both of these cartridges were decades ahead of their time and although nearly obsolete now, they are beautiful and capable. The .308 chambering is certainly a capable and practical choice, but in the overall history of the 99 it’s a relative Johnny Come Lately.

Because the 99 was produced for almost a century, parts and the gunsmithing skills to work on them are still widely available. As with any guns more than 50 years old, I always caution people to make sure their gun is a “real” gun and not a gun that was cobbled together from the carcasses of several guns that were in bad condition. Unfortunately, this practice is more widespread than many people realize, especially with certain iconic guns like the 99, some Winchesters, etc.

For the lever action fan of historically significant 19th century designs, there’s a LOT to love in the Savage 99.

Grouse

My Father purchased one new in 1968 for a Colorado deer/antelope hunt. I now own it. It is a .308 cal. I don’t recall off the top of my head what it has for a scope. I’ve only shot it a couple times at the range and he only used it for one trip out West. Seems to be a nice little gun but I have no hunting experience with it.

Very nice weapons from that time period. I shot my first mulie with a model 99 chambered for the 300 savage round in 1969. Shot my first pronghorn using the same that fall too. Another in the party used a 99 in .308 and it shot great for him too.

I have 2 , a 243 and a 308 they both shoot great, the 308 is a carbine shorter barrel kicks like a mule, but shoots well. If i had the cash i would get a savage 22 high power. DK.

The one I’m looking at is a 99CC. It’s built mid 60s and has a shorter, skinny barrel. It also has a detatchabe magazine. The furniture is very good both fit and finish, and blueing looks better than most new guns. It had scope mounts and I would probably mount a scope to utilize the full benefit of the 308 win chambering. The leaver has that flame hardened patina and makes the rifle look very distinctive. The action though smooth is a bit stiff, based on looks and feel this rifle spent many years taking up space in a gun cabinet.

I shot my first deer with a model 99 in 300 savage. It also took the first deer for my father, my grandfather, and I’m pretty sure my great uncle…

castle-rock-clown wrote:

The one I’m looking at is a 99CC. It’s built mid 60s and has a shorter, skinny barrel. It also has a detatchabe magazine. The furniture is very good both fit and finish, and blueing looks better than most new guns. It had scope mounts and I would probably mount a scope to utilize the full benefit of the 308 win chambering. The leaver has that flame hardened patina and makes the rifle look very distinctive. The action though smooth is a bit stiff, based on looks and feel this rifle spent many years taking up space in a gun cabinet.

I have had several 99’s!! My favorite–the 99C .308! ( much better for loading/unloading)I had the rotary in the .250-3000 and that gun killed LOTS of deer on the north end of Lake Mille Lacs. The .308 99C is my favorite and killed dozens of bucks for me. I had too many good offers on them all and let’em go ( for a big profit) and still cherish those “99 memories”! If you have the $$–GRAB it–and give it a hug from me!!

Just wondering……. did you get it???

Oh yea. I wrote up some things in the shooters test bench forum. As we get to know each other longer, the closer the bullets group. She likes to be handled and loaded a certain way.