Savage 99 Dilemma

[380AUTO]

Gents, walked into the LGS and saw a takedown model 99 savage chambered in 30-30. It immediately piqued my interest as I love these old guns. The rifle sports a lyman tang sight and rotary magazine with counter window in the receiver. The wood is in quite nice shape the metal on the other hand has most of the bluing gone. The rifle was made in 1930. I've always wanted a savage 99 and the fact that I found one in 30-30 (a more common and less expensive round than 300 savage) has me definitely wanting to go back and get it. But the $650 price tag is holding back. What are these old workhorses going for these days?

[380AUTO]

Forgot to mention the bore is in EXCELLENT shape. Makes me believe it was carried through the woods of Maine a lot and shot very little

[codgerville@zianet.com]

Gents, walked into the LGS and saw a takedown model 99 savage chambered in 30-30. It immediately piqued my interest as I love these old guns. The rifle sports a lyman tang sight and rotary magazine with counter window in the receiver. The wood is in quite nice shape the metal on the other hand has most of the bluing gone. The rifle was made in 1930. I've always wanted a savage 99 and the fact that I found one in 30-30 (a more common and less expensive round than 300 savage) has me definitely wanting to go back and get it. But the $650 price tag is holding back. What are these old workhorses going for these days?

In this area,(New Mexico), it would bring that price easily, with a good bore, and in 30-30 which is much sought after.

[ascast]

yup all day about anywhere with that bore see if you can get it for $100 less

[380AUTO]

Thanks for the replies gentlemen. Owner won't budge on price

[Multigunner]

Sounds like a rarity with significant collector value and like all the Savage lever actions a masterpiece of design. You have to ask yourself what they'd ask for a brand new rifle like this if manufactured in todays world. Far more than the price asked for this one I expect.

[vzerone]

A good number of years ago a friend of mine picked one up in a pawn shop at a steal! Tapered octagon barrel, very early rifle, rotary magazine with the window counter, German silver blade front sight, and it was in mint condition. Only one thing wrong with it, it was in the 303 Savage caliber. I tried years later to buy it off him and no deal. I believe it's gone now as he was hurting for money. We've moved to different states since then.

[dragon813gt]

Check completed auctions on GunBroker to see what they're going for. Beat up ones around here are $500. To step into a gently used one you're talking $800 and up. Those are just general numbers. Different models have different values.

A 99 in 30-30 is one I don't have. Don't have any takedowns either. There are potential accuracy issues w/ them which is why I've never bought one. For $650 I probably would have brought it home. They aren't being made anymore and their value will continue to increase w/ time.

[richhodg66]

Why was the .303 caliber a problem? It's a great round and loads like a .30-30. Brass is available pretty readily now.

I love 99s and would probably have scrounged the money somehow for that one.

[vzerone]

Why was the .303 caliber a problem? It's a great round and loads like a .30-30. Brass is available pretty readily now.

I love 99s and would probably have scrounged the money somehow for that one.

Brass for it back then was. I've heard you can take 30-30 brass and cut a sleeve ring from a 40 S&W and it slides down the 30-30 snug like and when you fireform it, it gets kind of riveted into the 30-30 case. The case in front of it swells out flush with it and it's anchored there for good. You can resize it as a normal case in your 303 dies.

Anyone else ever hear of this procedure?

[richhodg66]

I've heard of it. I like my .303. Bought some brass for it when I got it and wasn't too hard to find. I think it can be made from .34-40 Krag brass too.

[Beerd]

richhodg66
we all know what you meant to write but you may want to edit your post anyway :wink:
..

[Jedman]

If you are interested in a 99 in 30-30 they are quite common if you search many online auction sites and I see them go for under $ 500 in the condition you described.

Jedman

[Shawlerbrook]

Sounds very fair around here.

[keyhole]

Does it have any extra holes- like for scope mounts, sling swivels, or recoil pad? These would drop value to many buyers, esp. collectors.
I had an EG model, made in 1950 in .300 Savage. It was a very accurate shooter and had such a smooth action. Eventually my old eyes got to the point I could not use the original sights. Since it was completely original and unmolested there was no way I would have it drilled for scope mounts. I very reluctantly sold it. It is one of the few rifles I have sold I miss being able to shoot. When it came time to sell it, being in the common .300 Savage made it less interesting to many would-be buyers. At least in my area people were looking for .250-3000.
As others have said, they definitely do not make these anymore. In the long haul, prices will only go up, esp. for examples in original, unmodified condition.

[MT Gianni]

Look it over well to find out why it is underpriced.

[three50seven]

99's seem to vary a lot from region to region. We rarely even see them here in Indiana, but prices are all over the place. I Sold a 1950 model in .300 Savage for $475 recently, so to me $650 for an earlier take-down in a hard-to-find caliber seems fair enough. The condition of the bluing is the only thing that may put me off.

[tim338]

The Lyman sight adds value to the rifle. I have its twin (Lyman sight and all) and it is a great shooter. The price sounds fair to me go grab it.

[rintinglen]

650 seems pretty reasonable to me. The sight alone runs about 100 bucks, assuming it is of the same vintage as the Rifle. Here in my neck of the woods, a decent shooter starts at 700, unless it is one of the clip fed jobs. If you really want it, go for it. You'll get your money back in five or ten years.

[too many things]

seems no one liked mine at 700 so good luck

[charles1990]

1. 30-30 is not a common chambering.
2. The tang site is worth $100.
3. W/O knowing the model pricing is difficult.
4. If you are gonna mess with 99s AT ALL you must buy David Royal's book:

http://www.pinedaleonline.com/news/2016/01/NewbookaboutSavage99.htm

5. Any 99 with a really fine bore (you must bore scope it) that is all there with no lousy refinishing job or wood issues is a $500 item.
6. Get some pics and post them pls.

As for the 303 Savage, it's a fine round. Norma & Privi make brass (https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1016837096/prvi-partizan-reloading-brass-303-savage-bag-of-100) and
with spitzer bullets it exceeds the 30-30's performance.

There is a member on the 24hourcampfire.com named "Lightfoot" who makes a wonderful no drill mount for 99s allowing the use of modern scopes. I have one on my solid frame 22 HP ---- its great !

[dragon813gt]

The sight has value on its own, meaning not on the rifle. It would have to be sold separately if one wanted full value for it. It adds nothing to me personally. It's all about what the buyer is willing to pay.

30-30 isn't as common as 300 Savage but it's not an uncommon chambering. 358 and 375 Winchester are uncommon chamberings w/ limited runs in the very low thousands. I see 30-30s quite often and almost always in takedown models.

[saleen322]

Great rifle in a perfect caliber for cast bullets. I got a very old one with the same sight. Love shooting it! I have nothing negative to say about a Savage 99 in 30-30.

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4100/35580037042_06a7fdec93_o.jpghttps://farm5.staticflickr.com/4237/35361811690_72b3413dce_o.jpg

[MostlyLeverGuns]

If the barrel is tight, no wobble, and can be removed, the price sounds fair. Some old take downs have wobbly barrels, others have Loc-tite, epoxy or some other glue holding the barrel tight. Careful peening of threads can correct the loose, getting stuck barrels loose ? ? ! ! ?? The 30-30's do command higher prices than the .300 and .303's, mostly due to demand and rarity.

[Texas by God]

The 1899 was also available in 25-35, 32-40, and 38-55. I've owned a 22HP, a .250-3000,(1899 takedowns) and a solid frame 30-30 and a .300 Sav.
Classy and classic.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G930A using Tapatalk

[vzerone]

The 1899 was also available in 25-35, 32-40, and 38-55. I've owned a 22HP, a .250-3000,(1899 takedowns) and a solid frame 30-30 and a .300 Sav.
Classy and classic.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G930A using Tapatalk

And 375 Winchester

[380AUTO]

It doesn't have any extra holes. I'm going to go pick it up tomorrow it's happened too many times where I find something I really have to have and when I finally make up my mind it's gone. Not this time! Again thanks for the help guys.

[35 shooter]

Great rifle in a perfect caliber for cast bullets. I got a very old one with the same sight. Love shooting it! I have nothing negative to say about a Savage 99 in 30-30.

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4100/35580037042_06a7fdec93_o.jpghttps://farm5.staticflickr.com/4237/35361811690_72b3413dce_o.jpgThat's a fine looking old rifle right there. Good iron sight shooting too!

[dragon813gt]

The 1899 was also available in 25-35, 32-40, and 38-55. I've owned a 22HP, a .250-3000,(1899 takedowns) and a solid frame 30-30 and a .300 Sav.
Classy and classic.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G930A using Tapatalk

And 308 Win and 358 Win and.....there are more.

[MostlyLeverGuns]

Yeah, 243 Win,284 Win, really rare are the 22-250's and 7mm-08. To quibble, the 303 Savage might be a better cast bullet cartridge than the 30-30, but easy availability makes the 30-30 more popular. The 300 Savage, 308, and 358 are all better 'field' calibers for longer ranges and heavier game. The best bargains are the 300 Savage's made with the longer magazine on the '308' actions. You can load the 300 Savage long with cast and jacketed, 2500 with a 180 Partition. The throats are quite generous. Most accurate? probably the .243 - i Have two that go well under MOA most days.

[Texas by God]

I was referring to the calibers the "1899" was offered in, not the "99". Irregardless; I would go get it too.

[MostlyLeverGuns]

Buy it, then ... If this is your first Savage 99 you will buy more.

[keyhole]

I always thought that this was a nice detail- front sight base integral to the barrel, not screwed on. from my departed EG...:oops:

207431

[OverMax]

Apparently as read the gun shop owner is willing to go to the wall for his wanting price. Probably because he offered allot to get it.
99s are just as collectable and in some areas of the country more popular than a pre 64 made Winchester.
So no doubt if wanting the LGS 99 you found? Pay the price or prepare to hear some other shopper did without hesitancy.

If 650.00 is today's going price. Tickled I am because I happen to own a model 1899 T/D chambered in 30-30.

[pertnear]

I've been looking for a 99 in .250 Savage. I recently found one in decent shape for $850 at a gun show but the seller said he would not budge on price, so I passed. I saw the same guy again a month later at another gun show & he said he sold it. That was here in central Texas. Makes me think that if you want it for $650 you can't go wrong.

FWIW...

[charles1990]

It is a shame and hard to understand why Savage has no revived the 99. With investment casting and CNC machining all the negatives of complex hand operated machining from a great hunk of steel could be eliminated.

I'm sure a 99EG in 358 Winchester with good Turkish walnut could be produced and sold for less than people are paying for a swamp wood walnut one today !

[dragon813gt]

Modern machining wouldn't bring the cost down enough. You'd most likely be looking at $1k and up. They stopped production due to lack of demand. One in 358 would be great for many here. I know because I own one. But a rifle that's not in demand chambered for a cartridge that's not in demand is not a way to make a profit. The collector market is just that. It doesn't represent the mass market which is who would have to buy them.

[targetfreak]

In my humble opinion, if the 30-30 was still available, GRAB IT. I had one in .300 Savage, but the more-common version you speak of would be irresistible. Wow. What is the point of the original post, anyway???

[gnoahhh]

So, did you get it?

[Ballistics in Scotland]

The price seems pretty good, and look at it this way: If you bought a $325 rifle, wouldn't you buy another one soon? You can only shoot one rifle at a time, and this sounds like you might get a lot of use per dollar from.

What has always puzzled me is why they gave up the rotary magazine. It doesn't even have the fiendishly fine machining job of the early (i.e. real) Mannlicher-Schoenauers. I think they could have kept a lot more of the market by keeping that.

[vzerone]

The price seems pretty good, and look at it this way: If you bought a $325 rifle, wouldn't you buy another one soon? You can only shoot one rifle at a time, and this sounds like you might get a lot of use per dollar from.

What has always puzzled me is why they gave up the rotary magazine. It doesn't even have the fiendishly fine machining job of the early (i.e. real) Mannlicher-Schoenauers. I think they could have kept a lot more of the market by keeping that.

Probably let it go because it was harder to make and cost more to do so.

[Ballistics in Scotland]

Probably let it go because it was harder to make and cost more to do so.

I'm sure that is what they thought, but far from convinced they were right. It was a unique rifle, and there was a market niche in which people didn't count the last pennies.

[starmac]

Well they didn't make changes because they were selling too many of them for a profit. The 99's were way ahead of their time, but popularity eventually ran low enough they couldn't sell enough of them at a price point with enough profit margin for them. I tend to think they come out with several calibers and made changes trying everything they could to keep them online, but the buyers were just not there in significant numbers.

[380AUTO]

So, did you get it?



Yes I did I'll do a follow up on it

[380AUTO]

Okay guys went back yesterday and got the rifle. I appreciate the help when I went back I noticed the bluing was a bit more worn than I had remembered BUT I went with the mindset to buy it and I did. I ended up paying the sticker price but I know if someone else would have beat me to it would've took me a while to get over the fact I didn't jump on it.

[380AUTO]

207627

There she is. Almost 88 years old tight as a vault.

[Texas by God]

207627

There she is. Almost 88 years old tight as a vault.
Very nice. That gun is saying- "To the hunt!" Well done; that money won't be missed.
Best, Thomas.

[vzerone]

Wow! Is that a special anti-tank 99? It sure makes you look small standing next to it!! Nah, nice rifle, you're lucking to have it. One rifle I don't own, yet.

[keyhole]

207627

There she is. Almost 88 years old tight as a vault.
-------------
Congratulations! That is truly a classic. There is nothing else like them. The 1899/99 have to be the best looking lever action rifles out there.
Let us know how it shoots.

[MostlyLeverGuns]

Well GOOD, now you have started down the path.

[Ballistics in Scotland]

There she is. Almost 88 years old tight as a vault.

Very much like many of us. But we may all be alive and healthy in the age of the ray-gun. I think you could pay a lot more than $100 for that sight nowadays. You got a good deal.