Asking a question for a relative on the 99 Savage

[brstevns]

Relative was wanting me to post this for him. If given the choose of a Savage 99 in 250 savage or 30-30 win which would you go with and why. He is on the fence on this so is asking for help.

[Mk42gunner]

If he can't get both, I'd go for the .250-3000; because to me it is the classic caliber for the rifle.

The .30-30 would be okay, but kind of ho-hum.

Both are deer capable calibers; the .250 has the edge on range, plus would be a better coyote gun.

Robert

[starmac]

I am wanting both, bbbbut if they are the same model and the same or close cost, I would have to go with the 250. It all depends on what use he has for it though and if he is already set up for one or the other could also be the deciding factor.

[richhodg66]

The .250 is a neat round. I have a '99 in it. If he hamdloads, but doesn't cast, the .250 would be my choice. If he's dependent on buying factory ammo, .30-30 hands down.

What will he hunt besides deer?

[brstevns]

The .250 is a neat round. I have a '99 in it. If he hamdloads, but doesn't cast, the .250 would be my choice. If he's dependent on buying factory ammo, .30-30 hands down.

What will he hunt besides deer?
Deer is about it.

[Dan Cash]

Being the proud owner of both calibers in 99s, I would give thumbs up on the .250 for deer and under with jacketed bullets. The .30-30 would be my choice for heavier game and with paper patched cast or naked cast bullets. I have not tried paper patched or other cast with the .250 but doupt one could get enough velocity with cast to make it really effective on other than small game.

[brstevns]

I had to open my big mouth. He already has a 30-30 marlin and a Ruger in 25/06. I asked why not wait til you find a 243 win in the 99 Savage. Now he is really riding the fence.

[starmac]

I am thinking the 250 is pretty close to the 243, performance wise, much closer than the 25/06.

[NVScouter]

I have shot deer with my 99 26" barrel in 25-3000 and it puts em down. Flat shooting varmint/deer with 87g speers or 90g Sierras or deer only 100g Interlocks.

[richhodg66]

I'd rather have a .250 or a .30-30 than a .243.

I recently picked up another '99 in .22 High Power. I will use it on deer at least once now that Kansas allows .22 centerfires, but won't make it a regular thing.

The .30-30 is an awful hard round to beat as a deer round. I have yet to shoot a deer at a distance a .30-30 couldn't handle and it sure is easy to cast and load for or find good factory ammo for if you don't handload.

[lbaize3]

Get the 30-30 and put a 7-30 Waters barrel on it. I have been wanting to do that for years. It would be better than the 250-3000 or 30-30.... IMHO.

[brstevns]

Get the 30-30 and put a 7-30 Waters barrel on it. I have been wanting to do that for years. It would be better than the 250-3000 or 30-30.... IMHO.

I told him he could get it rebored to 38/55 win. if he gets a 30/30 Savage 99

[NVScouter]

Get the 30-30 and put a 7-30 Waters barrel on it. I have been wanting to do that for years. It would be better than the 250-3000 or 30-30.... IMHO.

The 250-3000 has better balistics and performance than the 7-30 waters. I have both and the 7-30 is good but the 250-3000 smokes it.

[richhodg66]

I told him he could get it rebored to 38/55 win. if he gets a 30/30 Savage 99

Savage made them in .375 Winchester for a little while. That would be an awsome woods gun if you could find a barrel or rebore one.

[NVScouter]

Savage made them in .375 Winchester for a little while. That would be an awsome woods gun if you could find a barrel or rebore one.If not a 250-3000 then i like this option. It wouldnt be bad to shoot either since the 99 is heavier than it looks.

Also if he hasnt found one i've been thinking about trading my 99 for a bolt 250-3000. PM me if you want.

[pietro]

.

FWIW - Messing around with a rebore, or conversion to a different chambering from issue, can be very problematic in Savage 99's with the rotary magazine - since the rotary carrier is shaped specifically for the factory-chambered round, and may not successfully feed any other (ending up with a single-shot levergun) .



.

[richhodg66]

It's been done. Poke around on the Savage collector's forum on 24 hour campfire and you'll find a lot of guys who've done some pretty wild conversions on '99s.

[Suo Gan]

I see that your friend already owns a 25-06 in a bolt action, and a 30-30 in a Marlin lever. You say he is just going after deer and not a hard core reloader or caster. What I think he is saying is that he just wants a 99 for the sake of having it and carrying it on the hunt. Can't begrudge the man! I know exactly where he is coming from. But IF money is an object, then I would suggest just buying the very next 99 that he comes across for a decent price that speaks to him. The majority on the used market are in 300 Savage it seems. That is a fantastic round for deer. It is not really a reloaders dream, but that is besides the point with this man who does not do that. Why pay the mark up for the sake of having a 30-30 or 250 or even one in the 308 family? I would just get one in 300 Savage and call it a day. They are fine rifles indeed. But if I had an extra $250 just burning a hole in my pocket there is nothing wrong with the 250 Savage either ;). And if he had an extra 700 or a thousand bucks just laying around, get the 358 win. For another few grand have it sent off and fully engraved and put custom walnut on it. Then he will need a hand fitted leather case for it. Might want to get a new pickup to carry it in. It could continue on for a while I guess. Might as well nip it in the bud sometime. NAH!

[Larry Gibson]

If the freind shoots cast then the 30-30 would be the better choice for deer. If jacketed then either would be a good choice. If just jacketed I would go for the 250-3000......best would be to have both as mentioned.

Larry Gibson