savage 99 f

[Country Boy]

I won one on a gun auction but I'm not sure what I'm getting it has a tang safety,rotory magazine gold trigger and jewelled bolt. It is a .308 Can anyone tell me about the f model ? what can I expect in the way of accuracy, smoothness and reliability. I plan on turning it into a deer hunting rifle.
   What size scope should I put on it to keep it's balance and lightness ? Can these rifles be handloaded for ?and what kind of accuracy can one expect from this type rifle? Thanks

[Wyo. Coyote Hunter]

  I am far from an expert on 99's. Have three all older rifles. The .300 will do about 1 1/4 inch groups with 150 Rem. CL, but not nearly as good with WW ammo. I think for deer hunting under normal ranges it will be fine. 

[pastorp]

Country Boy, If it has the tang safety it was made after 1960. The older F models were the lightweight ones The tang safety models were not quite as light. They are nice guns and usually will give hunting accuracy.

As you well know, we can't tell you how well your rifle will shoot. The only way to find that out is to try different loads and just shoot it. But they are well made rifles and usually shoot and function very well.

Concerning a scope. The tang safety ones are drilled for scope bases. I have used weaver 2 piece bases with sucess. I think any medium size scope looks good on them. I put a leupold 2-7 on mine and was happy with it.

Regards,

[LEO]

Country Boy, I have one of these rifles and I really like it.  It will shoot 5 shots into about 2" at 100 with Remington Core Lokt 150s it will go a little better with handloads using Sierra 150 Gameking BT and a moderate load of 4064 (not really worth the trouble as I don't shoot this rifle a whole lot and the handload is not the same as I use in my other 308)  You can't load these rifles upto velocities of a bolt gun and some require small base dies to function properly with reloads but if you stay in factory load level ranges you will do fine.  I am not a fan of hot rodding handloads anyway, I am of the opinon if you need more power get a bigger gun.  These rifles are true classic deer rifles.  They balance well, point great and are plenty accurate for the deer woods.  I have heard people complain about the trigger and it is not a match trigger but it will work for a hunting rifle. The mistake that most people make is overscoping them, you loose the advantages of a fast handling lever rifle if you put a huge scope on them.  I would go with a medium size 2x7 or maybe smaller, the compact scopes will not work without the use of extension rings.  Hope you enjoy your new rifle.

[Hank08]

The Sav. 99 is a great gun, one of the most trouble free guns ever made.  I have a 99F(older one) with a Redfield 2 1/2 X scope (just right for the 99) in .300 Sav.  Great deer rifle.
H08

[jlchucker]

Country Boy, I had one of those in .308.  I bought it used.  It had a cheap scope on it that I replaced with one slightly better, and I got two deer with this rifle.  It wasn't a bad piece, and was light to carry.  It didn't shoot particularly tight groups, but was OK for the deer woods.  I traded it for a 45-70 Marlin eventually, but wouldn't feel uncomfortable if it were all I had to hunt with. Around the same time one of my brothers had the C (clip) model in .308 as well.  He got several deer with this one, but I noticed that his Savage was noticeably heavier to lug around than mine. Both of these Savages had the tang safeties, and were of 1960's vintage.

[mogwai]

I won one on a gun auction but I'm not sure what I'm getting it has a tang safety,rotory magazine gold trigger and jewelled bolt. It is a .308 Can anyone tell me about the f model ? what can I expect in the way of accuracy, smoothness and reliability. I plan on turning it into a deer hunting rifle.
   What size scope should I put on it to keep it's balance and lightness ? Can these rifles be handloaded for ?and what kind of accuracy can one expect from this type rifle? Thanks

My Dad hunted with one exactly like this for most of my life.  It now sits in my gun cabinet. 

This gun has an extremly light barrel and will heat up quickly if you shoot much.  Stick with 3 shot groups and take some time between groups.  Dad's gun liked 150 gr bullets at factory speeds, but he could never get it to shoot 180s worth a hoot.  I think he always expected 3 shot groups less than 2" at 100 yds.  He had a weaver k4 on it.  I now have a Leupold 2x7 on it and carry it a few days every deer season.

[Ron T.]

Since it is in .308 caliber, it's the newer of the two "F" ("Featherweight") models with the .22-inch barrel.

The "99-F" Model was made from 1955 to 1973 and was the first Model 99 with a model designation on the outside of the rifle.  Look on the rear, right-hand side of the barrel.

I hope the Model 99 you get was made BEFORE 1960... and the serial number is UNDER 1,000,000 with no letters in front of the serial number because the older models made before Savage moved from Chicopee Falls, Mass. to Westfield, Mass. in 1960 are considered to have the best workmanship and demand a higher price in the market than the Model 99s made in Westfield.

My Model 99 is a 1953 "EG" model... and generally averages .75 inch or less 3-shot groups at 100 yards.  I've shot 3-shot groups measuring as little as .112 inches at 50 yards.  Model 99s are reknown for their fine accuracy which rivals that of the more accurate bolt-action rifles.

Handloading for the Model 99 in .308 Winchester is easy... and the loading information is readily available.  However, with lever-action, pump-action and semi-automatic rifles, one should FULL LENGTH RESIZE the cartridge case rather than neck-size it in order to get consistent, dependable cartridge feed and chambering.

To learn all you can about the Model 99s, write for Doug Murray's book, "The Ninety-Nine".  It is "THE" treasure-trove of information about the Savage Model 99.  It has two pages dedicated to your Model 99-F, Section 3, pages 62 & 63.

Doug passed away a year or so ago, but his widow is still taking orders and mailing out Doug's books.  I believe the cost is about $29... and is well worth the price for any Model 99 owner. 

Here is the contact information:
Mrs. Doug Murray
20 Polo Lane
Westbury, N.Y. 11590


Strength &  Honor...

Ron T.

[pastorp]

I agree with Ron. The 99 book is a must have for enthusiats of the savage levers. But like Parker shotguns there are no absolutes with savage 99s. Especially the early ones.

Just curious country boy, but you come on the forum and ask a question and then frequently you never respond again to the post. My question, do you even read this stuff?

Regards,

[Country Boy]

Yes, I read it when I get the answers to my questions doesn"t seem necessary to reply in most cases.

[Country Boy]

As a matter of fact I shot it for function yesterday and the serial numbeers say it was made in 1951. Right now I've got it apart for a good cleaning.

[pastorp]

Country boy, if it was made in 51 it does not have a tang safety. If it has a tang safety it was not made in 51. Tang safetys started in 1960.

After thinking about this a little. I believe winchester released model70s & 88s in 308 in 1952. So the 308 cartridge had not been released in 1951.

Country boy, you need to check your serial# there is probably a letter or 2 that has thrown you off. I think I had the same problem with my tang safety model in dateing it. Just can't remember exactly what it was. This oldtimers disease is getting to be a pain.  Just checked my The Ninety-Nine book and according to Mr. Murray the first model 99F rolled off the assembly line in 1955.

Regards,

[Country Boy]

Well that is good news, it's younger than I thought. The more I fiddle with it the more I appreciate the lightness and balance. Haven"t shot it for accuracy yet but I'm hoping for good things. The scope I ordered is on back order and I won"t get it until around the 30th. I bought a 2x7 to put on it. I did find out the handload I wanted to use is too hot for the rifle 48/R 15 but it works fine with 46 grains. Later, Carl

[T.R.]

Here is some info that may be helpful:

99C - clip magazine

99D - deluxe model with raised comb

99E - birch stock "economy" model

99F - hollowed stock and tapered forend "featherweight" model





This is my 99C and a mule deer hunt in Black Hills of western South Dakota.
308 is still my top choice for long distance shooting.  It shoots within 3 inches of 7mm MAG at 300 yards.  No kidding!

Good hunting to you.
TR

[Country Boy]

Finally got a scope and went to do some shooting. What a suprise ! never had a lever gun shoot so well 3 shots in a quarter at a 100 yds with any ammo I put in it. Deer season is Nov. 14 and I'm going to use it  some. I just can"t believe how this thing shoots and how smooth the action is.
  Thanks for all the imput you guys gave me.

[jlchucker]

Sounds like you've got a good one, Countryboy.  That 2-7 scope probably is the best pick you could make to keep a light rifle like that well balanced, and for all practical purposes should give you all you need in the woods.  As I remember, the one I had carried a fixed 4 power after I had fooled around with the cheap 3-9 that came on it.  Good luck this season.

[Bowjack]

I have a Savage 99F and I love it.  I consider it my favorite deer rifle.  My rifle shoots 150 grain Winchester Sivertips at least an inch at 100 3 shot groups.  However, I only have one box left.  Anyway, this rifle is very accurate, the action is smooth as butter, has plenty of power for both deer and bear, and is a joy to shoot and carry all day.

What is not to love about this firearm?  I hunted many times in the Adirondacks and this rifle was a gem to carry all day in that country.  The deer hate it.