Author Topic: What do you look for in a 99 (Read 1024 times)

BULLMASTIFF · « **on:** October 31, 2005, 05:25:26 AM »

I have to confess, I have been a pump/slide rifle man most of my life. And I would see model 99's from time to time, but never paid attention until recently. I went into a local gun shop, and they had a 99, it was pre-mil (I've been doing a little reading up on the jargon here - great info guys). I picked that rifle up (chambered in .300 savage - one of my favorite cals.) and it just slid right into place like it belonged there. I opened the action and it felt smooth. I suddenly felt like I understood why Savage 99 owners are so loyal to that rifle. I now believe I need one or three. My question to you all is, what do you look for. What are signs that the rifle may be worn out. I need to learn all I can about these sweet little rifles. I don't even own one, let alone fired one, and I'm addicted to them. I guess I'm a sucker for older, classic rifles (I prefer remington 760 pumps over the 7600, walnut over plastic, ets.) Any and all info would be greatly appreciated.

Bullmastiff

Savage .250 · « **Reply #1 on:** October 31, 2005, 08:41:17 AM »

Sounds like your a gun owner so like in all guns,99`s included, it`s always .........condition! Be mind full that your looking at a rifle that is no longer in production. You can still get shells for most cals and loading materials if you hand load.
There are other guys on the forum who,i`m sure, will chime in with other
thoughts and good information for you.
I`ve got (2) 99s. One is a 250/3000, the other a .300. Both pre-mil.
There are a lot of new guns on the market and it seems like more debute every year but to own a Sav 99 (pre-mil) is to own a piece of gun history,IMO. Guys that own them know what i`m talking about.
About the "no longer in production" thing, that`s part of the allure.
At this stage of the game you`ve only got so many available and as stated above it`a all about condition so when you see the "right" one,
don`t hesitate, snatch that puppy up! Good luck.

" The best part of the hunt is not the harvest but in the experience."

Zeke Menuar · « **Reply #2 on:** October 31, 2005, 10:07:05 AM »

I inherited an unaltered bone stock M99-R made in 1950. I look for:

Rotary magazine and cartridge counter
If it is an 99E I check to see if Bubba drilled scope holes throught the reciever roll mark.
Is the stock bubba'd and/or replaced?
Is the barrel cut down?
I prefer the original Savage rounds like 300 Savage and 250 Savage. That is the traditionalist in me.

I have yet to find a genuine unaltered M99. If I were to buy one I would be more concerned about the barrel being cut down or the drilling through the rollmark. Wood can be replaced.
I have seen a few untouched M1899's but they are few and far between and way out of my price range.

Yet another bad digital pic of my M99-R

Side mounted rollmark on my M99-R

This is my opinion. your opinion may vary.

Good luck in your search

ZM

BULLMASTIFF · « **Reply #3 on:** October 31, 2005, 12:01:34 PM »

ZM,
Excuse my ignorance, but what do you mean by the drilling through the roll mark. I guess I'm not understanding what the roll mark is. Are you meaning the text (savage model 99) stamped into the reciever?

Zeke Menuar · « **Reply #4 on:** November 01, 2005, 12:16:43 AM »

99E models and some others have the Savage logo( ie the rollmark) stamped on top of the reciever where the barrel screws in. Some models like my 99-R have a factory drill and tap for a scope and/or tang sight. In that case the rollmark is on the side.
I have seen precious few 99E models that have the top stamped rollmark intact.
I was lucky. I inherited my 99-R from my Grandfather. He never altered it.

ZM