Author Topic: Savage 99 Tang safety doesn't work (Read 565 times)

tominboise · « **on:** October 27, 2003, 05:38:31 PM »

I have a Savage M99 rifle in .250 Sav. I just noticed that the tang safety doesn't work. It can be slid to be engaged, but the rifle will still drop the hammer when the trigger is pulled. The lever can be opened, as well, with the safety engaged. It was working OK before. It seems a little stiff, but when I pulled the butt stock off, everything looks OK. Any thoughts?

gunnut69 · « **Reply #1 on:** October 29, 2003, 05:19:38 AM »

This safety is a trigger blocking safety and as such it is not working. Remove the butt stock and move the safety. Note the flat metal part that moves fore and aft, protruding into the action between the tangs. The bottom of this should slide over a part of the trigger, blocking it's movement. Also what is making the safeties motion difficult? It should move freely with only the resistance of a spring catch to control it.

tominboise · « **Reply #2 on:** October 29, 2003, 10:45:32 AM »

The safety appears to only slide about halfway thru it's travel (based on the witness marks I see, that it used to slide to.). I have the buttstock off, and can't see anything obviously wrong. The rifle did fall over on the floor some time back, and I am wondering if the lever might have gotten bent a little bit. I presume that the trigger blocking part of the safety is the tab bent out of the side of the sidling safety, riding over the top of the trigger. At least, that's what I think I see.... :?

gunnut69 · « **Reply #3 on:** October 29, 2003, 02:34:15 PM »

I wouldn't think falling would cause the dafety to quit but stranger things have happened. Is there another 99 you could look at to see what a functioning safety looks like? The function of a safety is a very important thing. You've not been here before and that makes it a dangerous situation.. Perhaps a trip to a smith is in order.. Parts for the 99's in general are not terribly hard to come by so a local smith should be able to work out your problems without too much trouble..

tominboise · « **Reply #4 on:** October 29, 2003, 06:16:58 PM »

Got it squared away, took a little looking and a little tuning. I don't think it was ever properly fit at the factory. Works fine now.

Thanks for the help

gunnut69 · « **Reply #5 on:** October 29, 2003, 07:28:35 PM »

Great job!! What was causing the problem? I'm always curious about something like that..

tominboise · « **Reply #6 on:** October 30, 2003, 04:15:11 AM »

There was some slight burring in the slot in the safety, that rides on the small retaining pin thru the tang. This was not allowing the tab on the safety enough clearance to ride over the top of the finger on the trigger. It would "bind up" prior to riding over. Also, when the safety was stamped, the surface that rides over the trigger, was pretty rough. Anyway, some slight stoning and deburring took care of the problem, and now the safety works with a nice solid tactile "click", the way it should.

Tom

gunnut69 · « **Reply #7 on:** October 30, 2003, 04:52:32 AM »

Sounds like you've got it well in hand.. Good luck with a great rifle in a great caliber!!