as a collector of savage 1899's & 99's, (collectors refer to all as 99's) it's very seldom to find the collector grade in this part of the country...visited a local gun shop today, in the conversation, the owner showed me a customers gun (savage 99 250-3000 model R) in 100% condition, mid 30's production...the owner had it drilled and tapped for a scope. I told the store owner what I would have given for it unmolested, I don't think he believed me.

Great guns. Take mine pig hunting a couple times each year just to change things up.

I'd love to have my .300 Savage d&t'd.


Then I wake up. It ain't happening, not on my watch.

I have a custom made base that use's the rear dovetail and the holes for tang sight that you can put a scope on, will post a pic later, it works and does't devalue your 99, or you can locate a later early 50's that were drilled & tapped.

What would you pay for one in the condition you described?

I'd like to see that.

hear it is, it is made with a modified luepold base

there is a guy in Ca, that makes these ($150.) go to 24hrcampfire.com..go to savage collectors link, his handle is Lightfoot, "Mike", if you are a machinist or know one, I will take more pics to show how its made, or maybe I could loan you one to copy.
Ken

I have one that is absolutely pristine, would love to know value.

Interesting...

I'm supposed to inherit my grandfather's 99 in .358 WIN when he passes.

most likely a 99DL, looks like cut checkering, later came with pressed checkering, was first introduced in 1960, .358 was discontinued in 1965, with the lever closed the gun is always cocked, unlike the early 99's you could hold back the trigger and decock the gun.

Thanks for the info.

The Savage 99 was the one I saw get blown up at the range shooting foreign made 308 Win ammo.

Sounds like an ammo issue.

do you know for sure it was the ammo, not saying it was the 99, people do stupid things, with the t/d models it is easy to change barrels and get in trouble, no telling what some idiots will do, been buying and selling 99's for 40+ yrs, never seen one blow up that was handled the way it was intened.

He was shooting Herter's Russia made 308 Win ammo with the steel cases. The spent 308 cases he shot leading up to the kaboom all had major pressure signs from the extractor and shiny spots on the case head. I don't know how hot this ammo is loaded, but it was way too hot for this rifle. I did some reading about the Savage 99 action, and since it is a lever gun, they don't lock up as tight as a bolt gun and can not handle the higher pressure 308 Win ammo.

evidently the shooter didn't know the ammo, why would anyone except an idiot choose to shoot foreign ammo that he knows nothing about, when he can buy any usa shelf ammo produced that would not blow up a lever gun

Dad brought me his 99 in .243 wearing a blonde stock and an El Paso Texas Weaver scope. Still havn't shot it...

As far a Savage 99 takedowns In .308 blowing up - never happened

Not all Savage 99's are takedown and No takedown Savage 99 were made after the start of WWII - except maybe a few lunch box rifles ( personal rifles made from spare part by employes as personal rifles in their spare time)

And the .308 was not invented till the early 50's (1952)

The strength of steel used in the 99 barrels was improved so .308 and other more modern calibers could be used in the 1950's - but no take down versions of the rifles were ever produced

Two prototype .30-06 Savage 99 rifles were made - but never put into production

The .300 savage is the grandfather of the .308 with only slight difference in shoulder angle being the significant alteration

As pointed out the 99 has a long history of 115 years now as very safe and time tested rifle - it's some crap Euro/Russian ammo maker that everyone should be wary of......

Chris

Hang on guys

As far as lever guns not being able to handle .308 load - not true - as the .308 is not the heaviest load available in the Savage 99 as thousands .358 were produced and have been used for over 60 years without incident ....

Maybe true for Winchester or Marlin - but not for the Savage 99

Chris

Another point on "De-Cocking" a Savage 99

If you hold (pull) the trigger while closing the lever it will notcock the action - not decock the rifle as it was nevercocked

Uncocked with the lever closed his how carry my 99's and it takes just a small partial opening of the lever (2" or so) and closing - tocock - not the full lever to be opened...

Chris

the pre mil's will decock by holding the trigger back, working the lever, it will decock, period, not so with the safety on the tang

weight of bullet is the only difference between the 308 & 358, the amount of powder is virtually the same, another point, there were NOT thousands of .358 made!!!

So how many .358s were made?