Savage 99 .358 Winchester Value????????????

[SavageHunter]

First off I would like to say hello to everyone as this is my first post.  I

have been looking around for a couple of days and I have decided to join.

The question that I have tonight is this:

I have the opportunity to purchase a Savage 99(A?) chambered in .358

Winchester.  It has a 24" barrel, straight grip stock, tang safety, open

sights and round counter.  With the exception of one small gouge on the

back of the buttstock(did not remove finish or grain) the rifle is rated

conservatively at 97% overall condition.  Not sure when it was made.

I would have to assume that it was after 1955 because that was the first

year of the .358 Winchester cartridge.

Can anyone tell me if this is a desirable model/caliber and and what the

value would be considering the excellent shape it is in?

Thank you in advance for your time and help.

Best regards.

[jhm]

Savagehunter :  First off welcome to GB outdoors, and now to the rifle in question, my book doesnt show the 99a in a 358 cal. however I do show a 99-358  (brush gun) mfg. 1977-80, value at 98% $450 and would bring more in the part of the country where the 358 cal. is a asset.   JIM

[SavageHunter]

Jim, thank you for the prompt response.  The gentleman is asking $750.00

shipped for the rifle.  Like I said, it is in almost mint condition.  I have

been researching this specific caliber in the 99 and have found that the

prices they are going for are considerably higher than this rifle is.  I

believe that I've heard people comment about the rarity of rifles

chambered in .358 Winchester.  Is there any truth to this?  Do you think

the price is too high, or is it just right?

Thanks again.

Mike.

[445supermag]

99,s in 358 are very hard to come buy and in the shape you discribe. I wish i had bought all the rifles that were rare at the price 30 years ago that i thought were maybe high for my pocket. I would have had 30 years of fun shooting and still made a good profit now.

[jhm]

Savagehunter :  Like I stated the 358 cal. as a shooter will bring a premium in the area of the country where that cal is desired or to someone who has a need for the cal. It is a premium cal as the blue book goes, and one of the lesser manufactured calibers so you probably wont just find that particular rifle just anywhere If it is one I wanted I would make a fair offer and get it.    JIM

[wesco]

Unfortunately (for me) the 600-800 price range is what a lot of these wonderful 358's are soing for these days. It is a little high, but I have seen them as high as 1100 also. If I had the cash, and was so inclined I'd make it mine!

Wesc

[savageT]

SavageHunter,
As I so often recommend, go to a couple of the on-line gun auction sites and see if you can find a 99 Savage in .358 to compare prices.  To me, I have seen 99's go for that much in .300 Savage so prices do vary according to whatever traffic will bear.  If this is an auction I'd say you're probably at the low end for that caliber.  Good Luck!
http://www.gunbroker.com/auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=12114061
http://www.gunbroker.com/GunAuctions.asp
http://www.gunsamerica.com/
http://auctionarms.com/

[SavageHunter]

First off, I would like to thank everyone for their help and quick responses.

Secondly, it seems that there are a good bunch of guys on this board and

I am happy to be here.

As for the rifle, I really like the 99 and I especially like it in .358 Win.

It seems like the perfect hunting cartridge, to me anyway.  I like the

older guns and their cartridges.  I don't believe that you need a magnum

to harvest an animal.  These older calibers and rifles have served hunters

very well for over a century.  I guess I am a "traditionalist" at heart.  This

will be my first foray into the hunting scene, and I wanted a rifle that looks

nice, fits me well, has enough power for the task at hand and doesn't have

the word "magnum" anywhere on it.  I guess i'm a Savage "Fanatic" for

life.  Do you guys have any other info for me regarding these rifles and do

you think I am making the right choice?

Thanks again for your time.

Mike.

[savageT]

Mike,
You're alright with me too Buddy! :lol:
  As far as Savage 99's go, you won't ever find a stronger, better lever action or a better "classic" caliber than the 99 in .300 Savage which incidently is the forefather to the .308.  If you think you must have the .358 Win., well then go for it, but the old .300 Savage or .308 will do anything you need a lever action to do in any whitetail,  or black bear. Just keep it inside 150 yds. and you are sure to get good results.  It comes in 150 and 180 grain soft-nosed spire pointed commercial loads and it is available at reasonable prices.  If you hand load, well then there are plenty here at GrayBeard that will share their secrets for the best loads for the .300 Savage.  You know what I like about the cartridge?  You can shoot it all day long and not walk away with a blown shoulder (same reason why I prefer the 6.5x55mm Swede).  It's a sweet gun and a sweet caliber and you can pass it to your wife or daughter or a youngster and know they won't be "shellshocked" after they squeeze off the first shot!  If you want to really get into Savage 99's, pick up the book "The Ninety-Nine"  History of the Savage Model 99 Rifle, 3ed edition by Doug Murray, Westbury Long Island.


Jim

[SavageHunter]

Jim, thank you for the encouraging response.  I, too, like the .300 Savage

caliber.  I am in the process of acquiring one right now.  I firmly believe

that it is one of the best (if not the best) woods/deer/elk cartridges of

our time.  One would surely be well armed with a Savage 99 in .300 for

virtually anything that walks on this continent.  Also, as I have stated, I

love the .358 Win. cartridge.  It is very appealing to me even in factory

loadings.  I guess having 99's in each of the two calibers wouldn't

be a bad thing , now would it?  As for the book, I just mailed out the

payment to Doug for an autographed copy of "The Ninety-Nine", I hope it

comes soon.  Thanks once again for being so friendly and accomodating

of a newbie, I appreciate it.

Best regards.

Mike.

[SavageHunter]

Can someone tell me how to post pics here?  I'd like to show everyone

what the rifle looks like.

Thanks.

Mike.

[savageT]

Can someone tell me how to post pics here?  I'd like to show everyone

what the rifle looks like.

Thanks.

Mike.

It's pretty simple to post pictures, but it takes a lot of steps to get there. Once you know those steps it's simple to do.. I'll give a general rundown and then point you to a detailed posting here on Graybeards,

Your pictures must be in a digital format. They must be posted some where on the internet either on a website or a photo hosting site. You copy the photo's internet address or link and paste it in your message here...and your photo appears

Go to this link and you will see detailed instructions.

http://www.graybeardoutdoors.com/phpbb2/viewtopic.php?t=3460

You should be able to click on that link and bet taken right to it.

[SavageHunter]

Savage T, thank you for the link.  I will try to figure it out and post the

pics soon.

Best regards.

Mike.

[Savage_99]

I just saw a 99A in .358 Win here at a gunshop in CT.  The asking price was about $1400.

That sounds like a 'collectors' price to me as its a rather plain model chambered for a scarce cartridge.

[muznut 54]

I would love a 99 in.358 but I do have a BLR in 358win and don't believe the brush gun only stuff it is easily a 250yard cartridge.

[chefjeff]

The 99 used to be the poster child for bad trigger ergonomics.  Just sayin'.

[Savage_99]

I don't agree that the Savage 99's that I have in .358 have bad triggers.  The triggers are just fine for a hunting rifle.

[AtlLaw]

I can't say...     My 308 99 A has the heaviest trigger of any of my rifles!  My 'smith actually said he had done all he was going to do on it because of the time involved in trying to lighten it.   
 
My 358 99 C on the other hand has a nice trigger.   
 
Price wise my 358 began life as a 243.  Long story how it ended up a 358, but years ago the late Dick Nickel opened it up to 358 for me.  I have no idea what it's worth but I'm sure it would be nowhere near the value of an original.  The seem real popular nowadays... 

[chefjeff]

Maybe I should clarify.By ergonomics I am refering to the position of the trigger finger in relation to the rest of the hand's position on the stock. On the 99,it is clearly not as good as some other rifles.They are still a fine hunting rifle,far ahead of their time.

[eastbank]

if the rifle is as you say,buy it.  you can use it and when your thru hunting, you will be able to sell it for far more than you paid. i would buy it in a heart beat. eastbank.

[Les Staley]

If he waited nine years,  prolly gone by now.....guess he couldn't figure out posting pix...    I bought one  (358 Savage 99)  three years ago for $750..   stole it... 

[muznut 54]

Nice looking rifle Eastbank