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Old September 5, 2008, 12:11 PM   #26
tug
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99f .300

i have a chance to get one of these but know nothing about savage lever actions . i guess they're good by previous posts. the guns serial#679150 does anyone know something about this guns value. i am a lever action fan and have 2 marlins a 45-70 and a 30-30 and a 300 would fit in nicely
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Old September 5, 2008, 06:39 PM   #27
ubergoober
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Just picked up a 99f in 308 - 901xxx with 2 ovals on the lever boss, one with 923 and the other with SP. Anyone have an idea as to date of mfr.?
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Old September 5, 2008, 06:52 PM   #28
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Could be dS - indicating 1952 mfr.
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Old September 5, 2008, 07:09 PM   #29
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Hmmm I have a Savage 99E Series A in 300 Sav. serial E102xxx looked all over that rifle and I can't find any stamping other than on the barrel. Is it possible it has worn off or was never stamped.
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Old September 5, 2008, 09:54 PM   #30
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I have seen some E models wwith the clunky birch stock that have very odd markings on them almost to the point of wondering what savage wasdoing with them.....

I have an E model in .243 that just says Savage arms, ,243 winchester. thats it, no serial, no dates, no addresses.
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Old September 5, 2008, 10:37 PM   #31
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Ah, this Model 99 thread makes my stomach drop a little. I bought a 1921, 250-3000 from a neighbor in 1978. I had it tapped for bases and put a 4X scope on it and it was an amazing shooter for me. I knew next to nothing about Model 99s but my neighbor had bought it from the elderly original owner and it was just sitting around. For a hundred bucks, I had something to go hunting with and grew to love it. I refinished the stock and cleaned it to factory fresh.

In 1980, it was stolen right off the gun range in Petaluma, California. I was chatting with the farmer who owned the range and not paying much attention to a couple of guys a couple of benches down. Damn if they didn't pack up to leave and took my gun with them. They were out the gate and out of sight by the time I realized what had happened.

I was working at the Sheriff's Dept., comm center, and put the gun in the system myself, but it never found its way home. :barf: I've often thought about finding another one like it, but they sure ain't turning them loose for a hundred bucks anymore.

That was a sweet little lever gun. That rotary magazine with the window showing the number of rounds left was just plain cool, too.

Just because they're at the range doesn't mean they're the good guys.
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Old September 6, 2008, 12:02 AM   #32
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Hello LNF

Quote:
ain't turning them loose for a hundred bucks anymore
One week ago I stopped in at Cabela's in Sydney, NE. They were having some sort of "classic" gun sale. Among other 99s, there were two 99EGs: one in 300 Savage and one in 250-3000. Serial numbers in 700xxx range. Both were beautiful. Asking prices $800 plus.
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Old September 6, 2008, 12:05 AM   #33
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"Just because they're at the range doesn't mean they're the good guys."

Some of my friends always laughed at me for carrying concealed when I go to an outdoor range...
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Old September 6, 2008, 08:03 PM   #34
LateNightFlight
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Sodbuster, I've been to the Cabela's in Sydney, Neb - not just lately but a couple of times in recent years. Maybe I should have been there. 800 bucks... hmmm. I certainly didn't know what I had or ever imagine where it was going - value wise and thief wise. I'd like to have that gun again but I'm not a collector, so I never had the justification to fork over that kind of money for an old gun. On the other hand, 28 years is a long time to miss a much loved gun!

I can understand why people want them, and not just to collect but to shoot. Something about the weight and balance I suspect, along with the overall feel and fast lever. I rarely shoot offhand these days, but it was particularly good for that kind of fun.
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Old September 26, 2010, 03:31 PM   #35
shafter
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I know this thread is old but I'd rather use this than start a new one.

Anyone have the date for a savage 99 with the serial number 602xxx?
I didn't see any letters on the lever, just the number 24.

Info would be great, Thanks!
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Old October 24, 2011, 10:03 PM   #36
AMERICANPRIDE
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model 99A

need some info on a model 99A in a 250-3000. has a twenty inch barrel. ser.# B109xxx book tells me 1971 but dosent show a 20 inch barrel. shows 22 inch. any tips would be great. thanks.
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Old October 25, 2011, 02:04 AM   #37
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The 99 was a great gun. I wish they'd come back.

The .358 was a great cartridge for what it was. I'd love a 99 in .358 as deer gun around here. 220 grain bullet would be perfect.
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Old October 25, 2011, 09:05 PM   #38
Mike Irwin
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Americanpride,

The 20" barrel was standard on the 99A until 1976, when the 22" barrel replaced it.
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Old October 26, 2011, 01:46 AM   #39
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99

I believe you can get them from a custom makers in most modern chamberings, but they run about $6000. That price shows how well the originals were made and why they are and will be so valuable.

I have one in 300, from the early 40's I think. I love to find one that was rechambered in 270 savage (wildcat), a very intriguing round IMO. It isn't very practical but would be cool to own.
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Old October 26, 2011, 10:56 AM   #40
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For earlier posters, there are NO factory-issue .308 Model 99's from the early 50's, since the .308 wasn't introduced until 1955, and Savage didn't get around to lengthening the 99's internals & introducing a .308 Model 99 until 1957.

And, NO - a .300 Savage Model 99 cannot be easily converted to .243/.308/.358/etc.

.
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Old January 31, 2013, 03:55 PM   #41
38.55
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savage 99

Hi, I'm new to this site.
I just picked up 2 model 99 savages one in 308, and one in 284.
I traded the 284 for my old 38-55 winchester.
Does any one know how I can date my 308? It has a series A on it, plus on the left side of the receiver I believe is the serial # B0198XX. It has a tang safety.
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Old January 31, 2013, 06:55 PM   #42
PetahW
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As to the safety type/location change from the lever safety to the tang safety, there was no unilateral change for all models at one given time.

As posted, first the "F" model was changed (about 1960), but by the mid-60's, all Model 99's were being made with the tang safety.

38.55: - Your .308 Model 99A was made from 1971-81, but Savage is not forthcoming with SN/DOM info.

AFAIK, if any info is available, it must be obtained ($$) from the retired Savage historian, John Callahan (google).

.



.

Last edited by PetahW; January 31, 2013 at 07:01 PM.
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Old January 31, 2013, 08:35 PM   #43
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Quote:
The best chambering in my mind is the 300 savage, it takes well to handloading but its good in factory form too, it gives up next to nothing to a .308, but by virtue of being a couple of tenths shorter in OAL, the lever swing is about 20 degrees less, which makes follow up shots so much easier. The 250 savage is the sweet chambering in a 99 for most deer and smaller game. its virtually recoiless in the 99, and I have several. If you have a smaller person or one who has developed a flinch, the 250 in a 99 is a wonderful gun
I agree, I have two 99s, one is 300 Savage and one in 250 Savage.
I'm using both guns with just iron sights, however the 250 has a Lyman Tang mounted aperture sight on it.

It's amazing how well these old rifles will shoot.
However this does not surprise me about the 300 as I owned one once before and sure took a lot of deer with it.

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Old December 6, 2013, 08:15 AM   #44
GunGuy21
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Age of old Model 99

Hi Folks,
I recently acquired an old Savage Model 99 in .300 and I was trying to determine its age when I came upon your excellent forum. Based on what I've read here, it appears as though mine was made in 1949 since the stamp on the "Lever Boss" clearly shows (26A) and the serial number is 526XXX.
Would you agree?

Thanks.
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Old December 6, 2013, 11:58 AM   #45
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That sounds as if it should be about right, Gunguy.

Welcome to TFL.
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Old December 6, 2013, 03:03 PM   #46
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I kind of cruised through the old stuff and I don't know. I still have a .358 Featherweight and the safety is on the lever. This is the older model before the beefed up stock models came out.
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Old December 26, 2013, 02:26 PM   #47
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To add to the Savage 99 knowlege base:

Just aquired 99F in 308. Boss letter L (1960) serial 1010xxx with the tried and true olde Weaver 4x.

Inspection stamps: b o s 5

Chicopee Falls, Mass

Tang safety, hand checkering, sling swivels (may not be original)

Some comments:

1) I have read some feel the tang safety is poorly made, but I found this one to be well designed and well made- very nice in use. I don't see them as inferior to the lever safety in any way.

2) I know collectors made a benchmark at one million to call out lesser quality builds, but from what I see the decline began after the 1 mil 100 thousands. This gun is hand fitted and very nicely made. So don't disregard 99's just because they may have a serial over 1 mil. I almost did and am very glad I went back and took a second look.

4) the stock had split behind the tang. Some people and maybe some smiths should not be allowed to touch wood!! They really messed up the stock in an attempt to screw it together when all they had to do is open the split a little, add a good glue and clamp. I was able to hide most of the horror with matched plugs and judicious re-touching.

Anyway (gloat) I am really pleased with this rifle. An added bonus is some very nice figure on the butt stock.

Sweet lever guns. Bring on the tang sight!

Jimmy

Last edited by big jimmy; December 28, 2013 at 06:07 PM.
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Old February 25, 2014, 01:22 AM   #48
ml4te5ch4
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First year for .308?

I recently acquired a model 99 with an H code, so it should be a 1956 model, serial 9051XX. Someone mentioned these rifles only available in .308 from '57 on. I'd have to assume they were mistaken?
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Old October 26, 2014, 11:39 AM   #49
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Savage Model 99 F info

Just came across this thread! I know its old but somewhere people said they didn't start making Model 99F's in .308 cal. until 1957! I have first hand knowledge that this is wrong. I also have a Model 99F in .308 cal with a 17H code on the lever. That puts it as a 1956 rifle.
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Old October 26, 2014, 12:25 PM   #50
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I think the proper way of stating it is that Savage didn't INTRODUCE the .308 family of cartridges until 1957, as in, their 1957 catalog year.

That means that they would have been manufacturing the guns in 1956 for shipment in the 1957 catalog year.

I don't have any catalogs or advertisements from that time frame, but it's very likely that Savage would have announced the new cartridges sometime in the second half of 1956, much like companies sometimes still do.

So yeah, I'm not surprised at all that you have a 99F in .308 with a 1956 date code on it.
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