A little boasting and a silly question

[Idaho_Hick]

Well, I have joined the pre-mil '99 club.  I picked up a 99 EG made in 1954, 24" barrell, redfield mount and rings with a weaver K4 scope and one box of factory remington corelockts for $365.  The rear sight is missing, but in the dovetail is a blank/filler with stith mounts written on it.  
The blueing is nicer than any other 99 I have seen around here, and the stock is very nice, clean checkering, no big dings.  I am ecstatic.  There are many 99's for sale around here in the pawn shops but all of them have lived in a saddle scabbard and look it.  I was tickled to find one in such good shape.  Anyway, silly question time, Did these come from the factory drilled and tapped or is that something that would have been done later? I know that way back when, before I was born, some people actually used iron sights, but don't know when it became factory procedure to drill and tap 99's.   Thanks,
-dave

[savageT]

Hi Dave,
Wow, You lucky DOG!!!!!!  Can you tell I'm green w/envy?  No, the original pre-million s/n's were NEVER drilled or tapped for scope mounts.  That's why the Stith mounts were so much in demand!
According to Murray's 3rd edition of the Ninety-Nine, the company started "d & t" ing, (and dropped the tang holes on the receiver tang) on the start up of serial #1,000,000 1960.
Good Luck with your new treasure!

Jim

[Savage .250]

Congradulations to another satisfied owner of one of the finest rifles ever made. IMO.
   Take good care of that puppy as good Savages are hard to find.
    The .300 is really a nice round. Hope you enjoy yours as much as i enjoy both of mine.
 
   " The best part of the hunt is not the harvest but in the experience."

[tscott]

I remember holding my 99f in Jan 56 when it was purchased new. (I was 9).... I can't imagine my Dad D&T'ing it, although far stranger things have happened... Always thought it came from the factory d&t'ed. As for the open sights. Frequently, I pull the knockoff scope mounts and Leupold off and hunt with open sights. I love the way it carries like this! Under 100yds
I have no problem open, original sights. I never zero, and have no problem on deer. What a forgiving setup!!!! Congrats on a great deal..
Enjoy the woods!

[Ron T.]

Congrats on making an excellent "buy"... it appears you got a REAL bargain!  Your rifle, in the condition you described, would normally bring about $500-$600.

According to Doug Murray's book (the REVISED 3rd. Edition), "The Ninety Nine", on page 3-59  under "SIGHTS", the factory began drilling & tapping the "EG's" in 1957, so your 1954 model ("F" in the Boss Code Code oval) was not "D & T'd" at the factory.  However, if the job was well-done, that doesn't take away any of the rifle's value as a "hunter".

Incidentally, they made "EGs" from 1935 until 1960... serial #'s 350,000 to approximately 1,060,000, according to Murray.

My own Model 99, an "EG" made in 1953 (#709XXX), has a 3x-9x by 40mm scope on it and it averages .7 to .75 inches (3-shot groups) at 100 yards off a bench-rest using my handloads (.300 Savage).

When I first shot my rifle and got these kinds of groups, I thought my rifle was unusually accurate.  Since then, however, I've noted that a good many 99 owners indicate their rifles shoot as well as mine, so the Model 99 is apparently a consistently accurate rifle.

Again, CONGRATS on getting such a fine rifle at such a low price... you did quite well.    :grin:


Strength & Honor...

Ron T.

[Idaho_Hick]

Thanks for the replies everyone,
I took it out this weekend and shot up the box of 180 grain core-lokts that came with it.  I had to move the scope forward first, and so most of the box went towards getting it dialed back in (assuming it was on in the first place), but the groups I got with that load surprised me.  Can't wait to get some dies!

[Ron T.]

Idaho_Hick... here's some info that might get you off to a "fast start" on loading your own...

I worked up a deer-hunting load for my Model 99 in .300 Savage caliber that consistently put 3 shots into ¾ of an inch (or less) at 100 yards from a solid bench rest.

My test loads consisted of 4 different powders - IMR-3031, IMR-4064, IMR-4895 and Varget… 4 different standard (not “magnum”) large rifle primers - Winchesters, CCI, Remington and Federal…  and 3 different brands of 150 grain, .308 caliber bullets - Hornadys, Sierras and Nosler Ballistic Tips… all loaded in once-fired Winchester brass.

All bullets were seated to give the maximum overall length (with bullet) of 2.60 inches.

Working up SLOWLY once I was within 2.0 grains of the maximum load listed in my reloading manuals, I used an incremental increase 2/10ths of a grain of powder at each new powder load level until I reached the maximum (listed) load.

My best (most accurate with the highest velocity) hunting load yielded a 3-shot group that had an average muzzle velocity of 2680 fps and measured .191 inches @ 50 yards (and averaged ¾ of an inch @ 100 yards) using a 150 grain Nosler Ballistic Tip, boat-tailed bullet in front of 41.5 grains (a MAXIMUM load) of IMR4895 sparked by a standard large rifle Winchester primer in Winchester cases.  This load had a maximum velocity deviation of 19 fps (+9 fps / -10 fps).

My absolute BEST group @ 50 yards measured .112 inches and consisted of a 150 grain Nosler Ballistic Tip bullet with a muzzle velocity that averaged 2647 fps in front of 41.1 grains of IMR4895 sparked by a standard large rifle Winchester primer in Winchester cases.  This load had a maximum velocity deviation of just 13 fps (+6 fps / -7 fps).  I didn’t try shooting this group at 100 yards, but I’m sure it would yield an excellent group at that range.

All groups were fired using my 3x-9x by 40mm variable scope set on 9x at both 50 and 100 yards.

Incidentally, these groups were fired & these muzzle velocities attained from my 1953 “late EG” Savage Model 99 lever-action rifle with a 24-inch barrel using a rifle rest and sandbags off a very solid bench-rest on a 78ºF to an 85ºF day (11 AM ‘til 3:30 PM) with very little wind on June 24, 2002.

The final chronographed IMR4895 loads (averaging 2680 fps) consisting of 41.5 grains of IMR4895 were fired when the temperature was estimated to be 84ºF to 85ºF.

Earlier tests in May @ cooler temperatures (73ºF) yielded an average muzzle velocity of 2664 fps using 41.5 grains of IMR4895 with all other components the same as the above “hunting load”.

I hope this gives you some insight into what you might try in your rifle.  Approach “maximum loads” with caution.  The above load (41.5 grains of IMR4895) is listed in my reloading book as a MAXIMUM load.  It is also a very slightly compressed load, but did not show any “high pressure” signs in my rifle.


Strength & Honor…

Ron T.

[Camper]

Just to add to Ron T's post,

I took Ron's advice and picked up some IMR 4895 and some 150gr Nosler partitions.

I found my most accurate load was 41grs of IMR 4895 which grouped under  3/4 inch at 100 yards on a solid bench.

I found My deer hunting load.

I don't have access to a chrony so I am not sure how many FPS the bullets were travelling out of a 20inch barrel model 99E
Camper