Savage 99-Carbines?

[Big Paulie]

Dear Guys,

   I am thinking about getting a trim carbine in a deer caliber, to use in thick woods and deer stands.  I have never owned a Savage 99, but everyone says they are great.  Here are my questions:

   1.  Was the Savage 99 made in a carbine length?  If so, what were the barrel lengths  and which model would be best?  (I don't care about being able to "take it down."

   2.   Does anyone know the approximate weight of the Savage 99 carbines?  These 99 Savages look heavy.  Maybe it is just an optical illusion?

    3.  Best Caliber in Carbine?  For me, the hard to find cartridges are out.  (So is the .243 Winchester)    So what does that leave?  The 30-30, the .300 and the .308?  The muzzle blast of a .308 from a short barrel is pretty ferocious.

    I would be putting a scope on it, since I just can't see with iron sights and I don't want to wound.   I would probably choose a Weaver Alaskan model in 2x or 3x.

    But I do want a trim, handy, relatively light-weight package, without muzzle blast and and without straight-back recoil.  (Also, I am not really interested in getting clobbered by a steel butt-plate.)

  Am I looking at the wrong rife?

   Thanks,  Big Paulie

[Shorty]

Big Pauli,
Your best bet might be the Model 99E (latter mfg).  They came in 20 or 22" bbl. and in 250 Sav, 243 Win., 300 Sav., or 308 Win., and weighed in at seven pounds.  Made from 1960-89, they're common and inexpensive.  There is also the 99F (featherweight) at 6 1/2 lbs.

[ScoutMan]

Pauli,

Before you jump to a scope consider a peep or ghost ring.  Made by Lyman , Williams, Ashley and others.

A scope with rings and bases adds about 1 1/2-2 lbs to the weight of the rifle. A peep about 4 oz.

Most of the problems with "old geezer eyes" is an attribute called "accomodation". This means that as we grow older our eyes have more difficulty in focusing quickly from one point to another. With a peep, you only have two focal points, front sight and target. "Old geezer" eyes can handle this.

[The Bonz]

I have a 99 in 284 Winchester, with a 22" bbl, and my father has a 99 in .300 savage with a 20" bbl.  They both are somewhat heavy for that size of a gun, however they handle well and are a unique design, esp. with a rotary magazine which both of the above have.  Spend a lot of money and get a light bolt gun if you have to have the lightest.  Spend a few hours at pawn shops and shows and get a real lever gun!
Bonz.

[Zcarp2]

You mention finding a 99 in a pawnshop - what would you consider a fair price to pay for one of these treasures?

Local shop has one in 308 Win that has been used.  ~25% of the blueing remains.  No rust is present, but the shop does not take care of its guns, so this is a matter of time.  Wood has seen rough use.  So figure 60% condition.  Mechanically, I cannot find anything wrong with it.  Lock up is tight.  Asking $250 out the door.

[The Bonz]

Sounds like you have a potential M99 there.  I definitely am a fan of the rotary magazine that Savage is known for.  In the last/later years they went with a clip magazine to save money.  I do not know what they were asking initially, but assuming you have already whittled them down...

My thoughts are this...  It sounds like you have an idea how long it has been there, correct?  If it has been gathering dust (and a rotary magazine model), offer $225 out the door because of the condition and they should want to move it if it's been there awhile.  You may want to consult a book of gun values too.  If it is the clip magazine, I would hold out for a rotary magazine model to come my way.  Mechanically they are similar from a firing, cycling, and accuracy standpoint.

I paid $245 for my .284 Winchester at a Pawn shop (I don't think they knew what they had, in fact I know they didn't!).  It came with a bunch of brass, Lee Loader, etc.  
Good luck!
Bonz.

[RussB]

  I am thinking about getting a trim carbine in a deer caliber, to use in thick woods and deer stands.  I have never owned a Savage 99, but everyone says they are great. .................

  Am I looking at the wrong rife?

   Thanks,  Big Paulie

]

Big Paulie......This is an old thread, and you've probably already done whatever you're going to do...But,
I can say with all sincerity, you won't go wrong by the Savage 99. It's  reason for being discontinued was it's cost in manufacturing, and it's market "nice" with the Lever Gun shooters. It held it's own as far as popularity but started loosing when it had to price it's self out of the market.
Thet does not mean it is any lesser gun. It simply means it's discontinuous was a money matter. I feel I have to agree with Savage on this one. Rather than make a "cheaper" model, it was simply dropped from production.
I do hope you ended with that gun. It just makes good sense.
Respectfully, Russ

[PA-Joe]

Stay with a Remington Model 7 in 7mm08.