I found a Model 99 in 22HP at a shop today for around 329.00...............Any feedback on the value of this gun and 22HP balistics would be appreciated.
I used to have a lightweight one in a take-down model. It was almost brand new. I later found out why. That is the one that has large interrupted threads that you turn 1/3 or so around and then pull forward. The barrel came out of the receiver. Evidently, there was excess headspace (I say evidently because of feedback I have gotten elsewhere when I have talked about it -- it seems that was a common problem with these guns in this caliber). The brass had a stretch mark about 1/4" to 3/8" above the base when it came out of the gun. I took it to a gunsmith and he said there was nothing he could do to fix it. The large interrupted threads could not be set back and rechambered.
At the time, I was able to buy Canadian cartridges (at very expensive prices). I ended up reforming 30-30 brass with my reloading dies. There was a pretty high loss rate, but I could get 30-30 brass free from non-reloaders I knew. You can get reforming dies nowadays to do it right.
The bullet is an odd 0.227"-0.228" diameterthat was pretty heavy (70gr or so). I think that only Hornady sells that size. The ordinary 0.224" bullets don't do very well. It was supposed to be able to take deer, but I did not believe that and did not try. I doubt that it is even on the list of approved cartridges around here now.
All in all, it was a bad experience. The gun was not accurate enough for varmints and the cartridge was not powerful enough for deer. The cartridges and reloading components were expensive. I would definitely ask to shoot it before spending ANY money on it. Yes, the ones I have seen go for much more, but any amount of money is too much for a bad gun.