Author Topic: Savage 99 (Read 7175 times)

buckfever 1 · « **on:** November 27, 2008, 10:02:10 PM »

How accurate are Savage 99 in a 300 or 308? Thanks Buckfever

deernhog · « **Reply #1 on:** November 28, 2008, 09:33:57 AM »

I only shot a .284 in the 99 and it hit where you aimed with a Weaver 4X. The guy tried to sell it to me for $75 and I offered him $50. He got pissed and would not talk to me any more about buying it. He sold it for $70 later and I have been kicking myself ever since.

targshooter · « **Reply #2 on:** November 28, 2008, 11:50:36 AM »

I briefly owned a Savage 99 in .303 Savage in the early 1970s. It had an original peep sight installed. The accuracy was not noteworthy, but it was not poor either; definitely good enough for offhand shooting of deer at the yardage it would have seen in central Maine. This was an older Savage 99, made before 1920. Beautifully crafted and assembled. Had the brass magazine cartridge counter with the window in the receiver. I never shot a deer with the rifle and carried it only a couple of days afield. For me, the rifle handled well, however, I preferred using my Marlin 1895 in .45-70 at that time.

Val · « **Reply #3 on:** November 30, 2008, 04:36:59 AM »

I have a Savage 99 in 300 Savage. I'm getting .75" three shot groups using Hornady 130 grain pellets. The chronographed muzzle velocity is 2780 fps.

Cottonwood · « **Reply #4 on:** November 30, 2008, 05:04:58 AM »

The Savage 99 that I used to take my buck was in .308 Win and if I could find another one, I would buy it. No problem with accuracy at al,l and very good on the shoulder.

Hank08 · « **Reply #5 on:** December 01, 2008, 01:39:54 PM »

I have a 99c in .243 and a 99f in 300 sav. both on average about 1 1/2"guns with factory loads. Plenty good for deer to 300 yds.
H08

1marty · « **Reply #6 on:** December 01, 2008, 04:19:20 PM »

I had a savage 99 in a 308 back in the 70's. It shot so so with a scope. If you are looking for accuracy I'd go with something else; if you are looking for nostalga then I'd buy it.

Gun Runner · « **Reply #7 on:** December 01, 2008, 09:01:52 PM »

I grew up with a Savage 99 in 250-3000 cal. Between my step dad and myself it took a lot of deer and other game.

Gun Runner

federali · « **Reply #8 on:** December 02, 2008, 11:28:38 AM »

I've bought and sold two 99Fs whose accuracy was less than stellar. I recently acquired a late 40s vintage 99 EG in .300 Savage. Shooting across a bench at 50 yards, I can get three rounds touching. I estimate that it should hold 1-1.5" at 100 yards. Problem is, the nearest 100-yard range to me is about 60 miles one way. I was using 150 grain spirepoint handloads. The .300 Savage is easy on the shoulder and a real pleasure to shoot. Good luck with yours.

mannyrock · « **Reply #9 on:** December 02, 2008, 12:39:17 PM »

Many folks report so-so accuracy with the Savage 99. Three to four inch groups at 100 yards with factory ammo are not rare. I know that some people get lucky and get really accurate ones, but it is the luck of the draw.

These were not designed to be target or varmint rifles. They are very fast handling, quick shooting rifles intended for medium and large game in the woods or at medium ranges, and they are certainly excellent for that. If you are a 1" MOA guy, then save yourself some frustration and don't buy one.

Regards,

Mannyrock

AtlLaw · « **Reply #10 on:** December 08, 2008, 05:36:23 AM »

Quote from: mannyrock on December 02, 2008, 12:39:17 PM

Many folks report so-so accuracy with the Savage 99. Three to four inch groups at 100 yards with factory ammo are not rare.

That's the situation with my 99A in .308

I really need to work with that rifle some... $:-\$

BBF · « **Reply #11 on:** December 08, 2008, 11:42:36 AM »

My neighbor has a 99, dunno what year. It has a horrible trigger pull, I wouldn't even try to guesstimate how many pounds to make the rifle go off.
Some of you guys have probably worked on those rifles, is it possible to get their triggers down to some reasonable weight?

rimfire · « **Reply #12 on:** December 08, 2008, 12:44:31 PM »

Please note I bougt a 99 a few months ago in 300 Savage. Shoots reasonalby well at 100 yards...around 1.5" with a 150 core lokt in front of varget. Deer hated it this year!

The trigger was horrible when I got it. Felt like 12 pounds. I took the gun apart, cleaned it well...needed it, and the then polished the sear/hammer surfaces with a dremel tool and a cloth polishing wheel...less than 30 seconds with light pressure. Trigger weight dropped a lot. I think the cleaning helped the most. Try it before you look for a smith. The trigger was not really creepy or bad in that way...just HEAVY. I think it is around 3.5-4 pounds now. After shooting handguns so much, although I prefer 2 pounds in a rifle or handgun, this 99 trigger was not that hard to shoot with.

AtlLaw · « **Reply #13 on:** December 08, 2008, 01:53:48 PM »

My 99C's trigger is okay, nothing great but I can live with it. My 99A was terrible!

I gave it to my gunsmith and he worked on it a long time and finally gave it back to me. To time consuming; take it down, stone, put it together, test, take it down andonandonandon...

I'm sure that's one reason I couldn't get it to shoot like I wanted. I haven't played with it in years, maybe this year. $:-\$

BBF · « **Reply #14 on:** December 09, 2008, 06:55:55 AM »

rimfire:
When you wrote it felt like 12 lb I was reliefed. That is about how much I thought that trigger pull was for my neighbors rifle as well but didn't want to type it.

rimfire · « **Reply #15 on:** December 11, 2008, 10:41:09 AM »

I hope a good cleaning helps as much as it helped mine. This is becoming my favorite carry rifle. I have had some more accurate, but nothing I "like" better. I know that is subjective, but I realy want to enjoy all of my experience and I love using different guns. My goal is to take at least one deer with a totally different firearm every year. This year I initiated the 99 and a Ruger Bisley Hunter.

Again, when I "polished" I think I may have just cleaned some tarnish off of the hammer/sear surfaces more than anything else. I did not try to remove material to any degree or change any angles. I think the cleaning may have accomplished more than the polishing. I got a lot of crud out of the nooks and crannies with some carburaetor cleaner. That is a lot of places to hide crud between sliding surfaces and I have never seen as much change in a trigger from doing so little to a gun. Make sure you oil everything lightly after the carb cleaner. I made the mistake many years ago, and I did know better, of reassembling a gun after a carb cleaner wash without oiling and it rusted in the safe in 3 weeks before I went to go shoot it again. That stuff removes every vestige of oil and leaves the surfaces prone to rust very quickly.

Ghostman · « **Reply #16 on:** December 14, 2008, 01:51:41 AM »

I have a 99A in 243 that shoots a 3 shot group of 3/8" with 100 grain Nosler partitions. The 99's are plenty accurate for hunting.

Bowjack · « **Reply #17 on:** December 16, 2008, 05:52:35 PM »

I have a 99F in .300 Savage. It is a joy to carry and shoots quite well. It will shoot 150 grain Silvertips to an inch at a 100, with a good trigger too. It is a a work-worn 1950's gem that has lots of nostalgia. It is probably my favorite deer rifle and one that I always go to when I hunt the Adirondacks. I feel something special wearing my red plaids carrying my .300 lever in those mountain. However, the deer don't like it one bit.

Savage .250 · « **Reply #18 on:** December 17, 2008, 03:45:19 AM »

I have (2) 99`s. One a .250/3000 and the other is a .300......
Accuracy in both is "ok." Not great but they get the job done.
Triggers are lousy(my term) but after awhile you begin to think they`re good.

Accuracy aside, the Sav 99 is one of the finest levers ever made. If you own one you know what I mean. If your looking for one......good luck.
Bowjack know the feeling and other posters as well.........

mannyrock · « **Reply #19 on:** December 17, 2008, 05:29:05 AM »

Waita Minute!

Lousy Trigger + Just "OK" Accuracy = One of the Finest Lever Actions Ever Made

Sorry, . . . . I don't get it.

Mannyrock

Blowtorch53 · « **Reply #20 on:** December 31, 2008, 04:26:29 AM »

Hey Buckfever,

I traded for an old 99 in .300 Savage when I was doing gun shows 10 or 15 years ago. It had an old Redfield 4X scope on it that was as long as an 18 wheeler and the old man that traded it in said he could a shoot a gnats rear hole out with it at 100 yds. every time. I don't remember what he traded for but I didn't put a lot of money into it. They were cheap at the time and not very popular. I had wanted one of these since I was a kid. I made a model of one from a small model kit that had a working lever when I was young and had it on my wall for years. Anyway, this 99 stayed in my safe only to be oiled once a year for at least 10 years. About 2 years ago, I took it to the range to play and shot a ragged 3 shot hole at 100 yards with factory ammo. I was think of selling it before this but I gave up the idea. This one is about a 1949 model as I recall and I don't remember all the nomenclature without looking it up, but the old man was right. It is a shooter and a keeper.

I recently bought a .303 on one of the internet sites and paid only about $400 for it as I recall. It is not a collector. This stock has been refinished and maybe it is not all original but I don't give a crap. It shoots about 1-1/2" at 100 yards with a cheap 4 power scope and my old eyes. I am using handloads and with a little tune up and a better scope, it will go under an inch. It is very light and handy. it has .30-30 power and no recoil. I like it a lot.

That is my experience with the 99's and it is very good. I wish I had a .284! If I win the lottery, I will buy two NIB!

BT53

Savage_99 · « **Reply #21 on:** December 31, 2008, 06:37:23 AM »

buckfever 1,

The 99 Savage is my favorite woods rifle. That said I have not owned a 300 or a 308.

Both of mine are .358's. I got the first one in 1966 and its been my go to rifle for the VT hills. Both of mine are 1.5 MOA accuracy wise.

358's.

Cottage Hill Bill · « **Reply #22 on:** March 05, 2009, 07:13:19 AM »

My 99's are a 1950 in .243 and a 1922 in 300 Savage. Both will do sub 1 inch hundred yard groups when I do my part. One of the tricks to shooting a 99, especially the featherweight and light barrel models is to put your off hand under the receiver, not the fore end.

The 300 savage is pretty much equal to .308 out to 250 yards with very managable recoil in a 99.

At 6 pounds I can carry the 300 featherweight all day and it will more than handle any of the Alabama whitetails I encounter.

I think the remarks about cleaning are spot on. When I got the 1922 it was so fouled with old, dry oil the magazine spool wouldn't even turn. For cleaning old grease and oil I've come to rely on boiling water and trisodiumphosphate (TSP). Remove the wood, disassemble the action and stick it in a bucket with the water and TSP (I use about 3 tablespoons TSP per gallon of water). No residue ans everything come clean with nothing more than gentle scrubbing with an old toothbrush.

T.R. · « **Reply #23 on:** April 02, 2009, 01:55:50 PM »

I shot these two coastal blacktail bucks within moments of each other. Both dropped in their tracks and only kicked a couple times. That is typical performance for this .308 and 150 grain core-lockt ammo. I had a double buck tag for northern California's A Zone.

TR

Wyo. Coyote Hunter · « **Reply #24 on:** April 02, 2009, 02:10:46 PM »

It was interesting to read all the different takes on the 99. I have three, a 250, a 300, and a .358. I have taken game with all of them. They are a neat piece of history, and good shooters. While, the .300 is the most accurate of the lot, stock design, and trigger pull is quite different when one mostly shoots bolt guns. Still, I cannot remember missing and animal with these rifles. It hasn't been that many maybe 10 head of game. Still they are fun rifles. I passed on a very good 99 in .30/30 a couple months ago and am still kicking myself.

Bowjack · « **Reply #25 on:** November 26, 2009, 06:57:05 PM »

I always got an inch or less with 150 grain Winchester Silvertips. What a terrific deer round this was.

eye shot · « **Reply #26 on:** November 27, 2009, 04:19:58 PM »

My 99 is in .308 and I've tried three different scopes and ammo. If I get a 3" goup@ 100yd I'm luckey.

T.R. · « **Reply #27 on:** December 01, 2009, 02:13:31 PM »

This big bodied muley went down quickly when my well aimed 150 grain soft tip tore through the chest organs. Distance of shot was approx 225 yards. 300 Savage, .308, 30-06, 308 Marlin, and 308 TC all hit with the same punch out to about 175 yards or so. After this distance, the larger case cartridges have an advantage.

I've had very good luck with this Savage .308 and my Dad (1922-2004) killed many animals with his 300 Savage. In my opinion, a well placed shot with good soft tip bullet is more deadly than mere figures on a Ballistic Chart. You're allowed to disagree (politely please). My Grandad (1889-1973) toppled many elk and big mulies with his Winchester 95 in 30-40 Krag, Winchester 64 in 32 Special, and Marlin 444. None got away.

TR

jbmi · « **Reply #28 on:** December 08, 2009, 11:27:43 AM »

'This is what my 358 R can do shooting my handloads.

jmm1245 · « **Reply #29 on:** December 27, 2009, 12:45:13 AM »

I was given a 99F in 308 topped with a 4x weaver. It was one of the most consistent guns I've ever owned. To bad my youthful age got in the way and I sold it for a Mk77 in 30-06. That moment maybe the my largest regret with guns. It shot nice 1 1/2" groups at 100 yrds off a hunk of 4x4 and a rolled up jacket. Every time I see a post about a 99, I think about how much I want that gun back.

Joe