sthwestvictoria
02-26-2014, 06:10 AM
I have recently purchased a Savage 99 TD, I believe 1924 from the serial number. The rifle was advertised online as originally 22HP, rebarrelled to 30-30 but shipped with the original 22HP barrel and some brass and dies.
Initially the rifle looked in great condition, certainly the wood of stock and fore-end, receiver steel and old Leopold are in great shape:
97912
The 30-30 barrel that came attached to the rifle looked odd - there is a large relieved section at the muzzle, much like a target aperture sight had once been attached. There are no markings on the 30-30 barrel. There seemed to be a join in the 30-30 barrel as it narrowed from the chamber. The 22HP barrel is original, stamped Savage High Pressure Steel, 22HP (lower barrel)
Imagine my surprise when I went to take the 30-30 barrel off and instead of unscrewing at the breech like the 99 take-down barrel should, most of the barrel slid loose without much force, leaving a chamber portion behind:
97913
This barrel portion that is sleeved into the chamber portion seemed to be a loose interference fit. There was oil between the two. The sleeved barrel portion contains the chamber - here is picture with a factory Win 30-30 150grain in the chamber portion:
97914
So what on earth has happened here in the past? Has a shade-tree gunsmith decided it was too hard to cut the square threads of a true 30-30 take-down barrel and cannibalised a real Savage TD barrel for the chamber portion and then sleeved a part of an old target barrel into it? It did not require much force to pull the two halves apart - can the prior owner have been shooting the 30-30 barrel like this?
What to do now?
Mechanically the action is great. The lever is firm with no droop. Trigger is heavy as normal with no creep. Wood and receiver are in great shape, scope is good. Magazine needs a dunk in solvent and bit of a clean. Ejection is a bit weak.
Get a smith to remove the 30-30 barrel stub and screw the 22HP barrel on, sell on as 22HP only?
Not sure I want to start casting for 22HP and I don't need a jacketed only shooter in that calibre.
try to source a replacement 30-30 barrel? (I am in Australia)
I haven't spent a lot as yet, $AUD500 ($USD451), dies, brass, projectiles that came with it are at least $AUD100 worth so I could sell it with the 22HP barrel on for $AUD400 ($USD360) and break even.
The 22HP barrel unfortunately has had a false muzzle bored, possibly by 97915
The same gunsmith?
The bolt face is also missing an alignment lug top centre of the bolt face:
97916
Initially the rifle looked in great condition, certainly the wood of stock and fore-end, receiver steel and old Leopold are in great shape:
97912
The 30-30 barrel that came attached to the rifle looked odd - there is a large relieved section at the muzzle, much like a target aperture sight had once been attached. There are no markings on the 30-30 barrel. There seemed to be a join in the 30-30 barrel as it narrowed from the chamber. The 22HP barrel is original, stamped Savage High Pressure Steel, 22HP (lower barrel)
Imagine my surprise when I went to take the 30-30 barrel off and instead of unscrewing at the breech like the 99 take-down barrel should, most of the barrel slid loose without much force, leaving a chamber portion behind:
97913
This barrel portion that is sleeved into the chamber portion seemed to be a loose interference fit. There was oil between the two. The sleeved barrel portion contains the chamber - here is picture with a factory Win 30-30 150grain in the chamber portion:
97914
So what on earth has happened here in the past? Has a shade-tree gunsmith decided it was too hard to cut the square threads of a true 30-30 take-down barrel and cannibalised a real Savage TD barrel for the chamber portion and then sleeved a part of an old target barrel into it? It did not require much force to pull the two halves apart - can the prior owner have been shooting the 30-30 barrel like this?
What to do now?
Mechanically the action is great. The lever is firm with no droop. Trigger is heavy as normal with no creep. Wood and receiver are in great shape, scope is good. Magazine needs a dunk in solvent and bit of a clean. Ejection is a bit weak.
Get a smith to remove the 30-30 barrel stub and screw the 22HP barrel on, sell on as 22HP only?
Not sure I want to start casting for 22HP and I don't need a jacketed only shooter in that calibre.
try to source a replacement 30-30 barrel? (I am in Australia)
I haven't spent a lot as yet, $AUD500 ($USD451), dies, brass, projectiles that came with it are at least $AUD100 worth so I could sell it with the 22HP barrel on for $AUD400 ($USD360) and break even.
The 22HP barrel unfortunately has had a false muzzle bored, possibly by 97915
The same gunsmith?
The bolt face is also missing an alignment lug top centre of the bolt face:
97916