Savage 99 30-30

[380AUTO]

Finally had the chance to take out my circa 1930 takedown model savage 99 in 30-30. I loaded a “popcorn load” 10 grains unique under a Lee 312-155 bullet. 10 grains of unique has always served me very well but this rifle loved it. With open sight I was smacking my 6 inch steel target at 100 yards easily. I liked it so much I am really considering using this load for deer season this year, should have plenty of steam for the task. Here’s a pic of my rifle.


223715

[Texas by God]

It reeks of class. By all means hunt with it. Flatnose at close range and venison for supper!

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[Landy88]

Nice rifle! It reads like you found it a load that it likes, and Savages are 30-30s that are pointy bullet safe. I'm looking for a similar one in .303; but I'm, thus far, luckless.


Pointy cast may pose a challenge in terminal performance for hunting, where a big meplat is good insurance. Still, if you make sure that you're getting reliable expansion, that bullet could work; and accuracy is a great beginning. Two, here, that really seem to know the tricks for cast expansion are Bruce B with his specially cast softpoints and Larry Gibson with hollowpoints done several ways.

[Guesser]

I have a 1936 99 in 30-30. Regarding the pointy bullets........I tried 150 grain Hornadys, they worked but the bullet has to be seated deep in the case in order to keep the 2.50"+/- OAL to feed into and out of the magazine. I did not like that, I went back to traditional 30-30 bullets, 150 and 170. The Lyman 311041 works very well in my gum. My 99/30-30 is a solid frame 20" carbine, shoots better than any Winchester 94 or Marlin I ever owned; consequently I don't own any Winchester or Marlin 30-30's. My Savage is fitted with a Lyman #30 1/2 tang sight, fully adjustable for windage and elevation.

[richhodg66]

I love 99s and have a few, though not a .30-30. All the .30 and bigger ones shoot cast well for me.

I would want a bullet a little heavier and have a flat nose to hunt deer with, though. Something along the lines of the 311041 or similar. It worked well on deer for me in the .30-30 (not a 99) and also in .300 Savage in a 99. Much as I like Unique, you might want to try something like 4895 for your deer load as well.

[Drm50]

I have never got a nice 99 in 30/30. They are always thrashed. I've had quite a few, most are
300sav & 303sav. I just sold a nice 303 after dragging it around for a year. The 30/30 have always
been desirable even when most of the other 99s weren't in big demand. Back in 70s & 80s when
I had a shop, 99s were in same bracket as 336 & 1894 Win. for price. The 22Hi-Power, 250/3000
& 303sav were hard sells in my area. $100 for a decent used one was the going price.

[sniper]

Great-looking rifle! Jealousy is such a negative emotion! :wink: Since the late Stone Age, 10 gr. of Unique has been known a the UMAGGB (Universal, Make Any Gun Go Bang) load. The same can be said of 5 gr Unique for .38-357 revolvers. :wink:

[pietro]

.

I urge you to take it dancing (deer hunting), as I regularly do my ca.1914 .303 Savage Model 1899H - which is the ballistic equivalent ( even to using .308" boolits) of the .30-30.

I love the light weight, smooth cycling, and accuracy of these early Savage leverguns.


https://i.imgur.com/B5v1LLLl.jpg


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[380AUTO]

Thank you gentlemen I love this rifle and it is absolutely a beautiful old gal. She shoots straight every single time if I do my part. I don’t use the peep sight on it just open sights and is more accurate than my marlins or Winchester’s. I’m going to cast up a few Lee 150 grain flat points and see how they shoot. That might be my go to for deer hunting.

[TCLouis]

My ex's father had one of those.
It probably did not have a box of shells through it.
I so would love to have that gun today.
If it would shoot the RCBS 150 or RD GB it would make me one happy camper.

[KeithNyst]

380Auto, looks like you have a very nice model 99G with excellent cast results. I love the Savage levers. I just started casting and am starting with the Lee C309-170-F (best I can tell it's a look-a-like to the Lyman 311041). For my first project I'm working up loads for this 1913 model 1899H (lightweight 20" barrel) 30-30. So far I've tried 8 grains Unique (1225 fps) and 18 grains H4198 (1560fps); got about 1.5" at 50 yards with open sights with the H4198. Half the battle is shooting open sights with old eyes. Next up will be to try the bullet and loads in a 1920 99F .303 Savage that has a Lyman 57SA aperture sight on it that works a lot better with my eyes. Really enjoying this and have a goal of taking my first deer with a cast bullet this fall.

[Crash_Corrigan]

Pietro: That is one beautiful rifle. If you took off the scope it would be a perfect 10. The classic lines remind me of a Ruger # 1 & 3 but they only rate a 8.5 unless you get an older one. Here is my fav. A Mauser 98/22 customized to 6.5x55 in a thumbhold laminated stock. I need to change out that scope to a Leupold as my scope is a cheapo and much too bulky although it has fine glass and is repeatable all day long it will shoot with my cast 140 gr boolits and a decent powder to less than 1 MOA out to 350 yds. Beyond that it works but not as well. My coyote hunts usually end up at somewhere between 25 to 80 yds when I light off a round. My .223 Rem CZ 527FS does ok but I do not get the expansion of the round as most just go thru and thru so it is not a DRT round on coyotes. Next time I am gonna leave the rifles at home and bring my Smith Model 57 as it is lights out at up to 75 yds for anything on four feet and up to 150 yds on two footed creatures. Note the fool on his Triumph with a broken leg and crutch. I would use the M 1 for coyotes but I need to work up a decent 110 grain loading for it. 225949225950225951

[3AXBAT]

I had a 30-30 1899H Feather Weight. 102,XXX, 20" skinny barrel, schnable, straight grip w/slight perch belly. It had a Marbles tang sight and a folding Marble's rear sight in the barrel dovetail. I had high hopes for that rifle, but sadly, the last inch or two of bore was cleaning rod trashed. I really wanted that to work out, could maybe have counterbored, but I decided to cut my losses and let her go.

[Geezer in NH]

I had a shop, 99s were in same bracket as 336 & 1894 Win. for price. The 22Hi-Power, 250/3000
& 303sav were hard sells in my area. $100 for a decent used one was the going price.
Boy you are old but I bet it was because deer hunting there was just starting up again. Here in NE in the 80's I collected 99's cheap by the late 90's prices were through the roof and have gone higher since.

My shop always got premium for the less available calibers same as today. Appitites do change. :grin:

[Drm50]

Boy you are old but I bet it was because deer hunting there was just starting up again. Here in NE in the 80's I collected 99's cheap by the late 90's prices were through the roof and have gone higher since.

My shop always got premium for the less available calibers same as today. Appitites do change. :grin:

Hey, I resent that old crack. I ain't old just used to much when I was new! Seriously there weren't
a whole lot of deer rifles in Ohio since they weren't legal to hunt with. Varmit guns were common.
It was a different story in 50s & 60s. The area was booming with mills & mines and people were
coming in from other states for jobs. The "immigrants" brought in the rifles that ended up floating
around the system. Besides that guns like 30/30s , 35s were popular utility farm guns.

Savage 99s were unpopular for some reason. Savage went down the tubes in 80s, I shut down in
90-91 and 99s were sleepers yet. When the price took off it was 500% over night. My main disturb
was Buckeye Sports in Canton, Ohio. They would furnish their catalog with your business name
on them and I still have a couple from 70-80s. I'm going to dig one out to see what Retail was on
99s. When save was going under they were blowing them out for $125@ if you bought unit package.

[OverMax]

Have a 1899 model 30-30 TD too.
Don't do tinker bell loading's here. Just reloads with Accurate Arms 2230 for my rifles hunting accuracy.
Last summer I spent some time shooting paper patched 041s sized down to .301 and powered down range with a full case of w-860 surplus. Didn't get the P/P accuracy I wanted to see. Actually the littl T.D. rifle is a tad more accurate shooting G/C cast reloads. So~~ now I'm considering sending the 1899s barrel to JES so to have it re-bored to 35-30. Hopefully the T/Ds skinny barrel can {pressure} handle JES's want-a-be 35 Remington cartridge?

[pietro]

I'm considering sending the 1899s barrel to JES so to have it re-bored to 35-30. Hopefully the T/Ds skinny barrel can {pressure} handle JES's want-a-be 35 Remington cartridge?




You can most likely save yourself some aggravation, and figure out if ANY reborer (including Jess) will bore out your .308" barrel to .358".

The barrel can only be bored out to .358" if the completed rebore leaves a barrel wall thickness of .125" at the muzzle.

That equates to .125" + .125" + .358" - a muzzle OD of .610" (+/-).

Measure the OD of YOUR rifle's muzzle.

If it's under .610", no deal; if it's over .610", you're good to go.


.

[Landy88]

You can most likely save yourself some aggravation, and figure out if ANY reborer (including Jess) will bore out your .308" barrel to .358".

The barrel can only be bored out to .358" if the completed rebore leaves a barrel wall thickness of .125" at the muzzle.

That equates to .125" + .125" + .358" - a muzzle OD of .610" (+/-).

Measure the OD of YOUR rifle's muzzle.

If it's under .610", no deal; if it's over .610", you're good to go.


.

One trick sort of around this, since most barrels are tapered, is to shorten the barrel before reboring. The expasion ratio lost in shortening will be regained in reboring, too - as close to a free lunch as we're ever likely to find.

A carbine or even trapper length TD 99 for a .35-30 would be both an excellent and unique rifle.

[northmn]

One great 30-30 bullet I do not see mentioned here is the RCBS 180 fp. I used a very similar bullet by using a fp sizing punch on a Lee 185312. I could get about 2000 fps with that bullet. It was very deadly on deer. Can't tell you much other than that as it went through all of them I shot with it. One I got at 140 steps from my tree using peep sights. I used a WW/lead alloy and water hardened them after sizing. For my hunting loads I put the bases in a pan of water and used a torch to anneal the noses. Lost some bullets but did not need many to hunt with, You can sight in with those not annealed. As I said, they worked very well on deer. The RCBS mold would make things simpler. These were shot out of a Marlin lever and should function in your Savage. I also get good accuracy with the Hornady 140 grain LE's out of my Mossberg 464. The 160's not as good.


DEP

[redhawk0]

I have an 1899 (no letter) dated 1911 in 303 Sav. Its in very good condition for being 100+ years old. It likes the Lee 170gr FP. and WW748 powder. I do use Magnum primers to ensure good ignition with the ball powder. It shoots about 1.5" at 50yds with open sights. I debated a few years back about having it drilled and tapped for a scope mount...but my Smith talked me out of it. He said that it would hurt the antique value of the gun more than the cost to tap it. And for the little use that I give it....I passed on the idea.

I have to admit though...it is a lot of fun to shoot...but since I'm a lefty...the Lever slide safety is problematic for me. (quickly) so I don't hunt with it...just paper punching.

redhawk

[OverMax]

Measure the OD of YOUR rifle's muzzle.
If it's under .610", no deal; if it's over .610", you're good to go. Shoot!! not my lucky day pietro. My using a tight stainless caliper. My T-D barrels OD at muzzle measured .568. "Pretty skinny barrel no doubt"
Although after measuring 2 or 3 times I kinda felt disappointed a millisecond or two. Never the less you did saved me (to & from JES) insured postage mola >and that sir make the info passed/along much appreciated. My Regards & Thanks, O_M

[Clark]

224157

Dec 1, 2007, a young man wandered into the Monroe gun show with a 1904 Sav 99 in 30-30 he got when his elderly neighbor died.
I did not dicker him down, but paid the full $560 he wanted.
Looks like it was treated like a safe queen, and I continued the tradition.

[gnoahhh]

I would up the ante a bit for deer hunting, to something on the order of 180-190 grain bullets with as flat a nose that you can find. Push it with a charge of enough 3031/4895/4064 to get you as close to 2000fps as you dare. 1700-1900 does it for me. I've knocked deer a*s-over-tin cups with such loads, while those hit with 150-160 RN's died hard. Keep your bullet alloy as soft as you can get away with too. Savage M1899H's in .303 and .30-30 have spent more time with me in the deer woods than most others in recent years.

[Texas by God]

224157

Dec 1, 2007, a young man wandered into the Monroe gun show with a 1904 Sav 99 in 30-30 he got when his elderly neighbor died.
I did not dicker him down, but paid the full $560 he wanted.
Looks like it was treated like a safe queen, and I continued the tradition.That old gal needs to go huntin'. She can put her safe queen crown back on afterwards.

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[Landy88]

...Keep your bullet alloy as soft as you can get away with too....

What about cheating a bit with somewhat harder alloy for everything else; but softer, even if it leads a smidge, for hunting only?

[gnoahhh]

What about cheating a bit with somewhat harder alloy for everything else; but softer, even if it leads a smidge, for hunting only?

Depends entirely on accuracy results in the individual gun, but sure, why not.

I have a lifetime supply of WW's, tin, and pure (or close to pure) lead so I tend toward the soft end of things for everything. My stash of linotype and monotype is dwindling to a couple hundred pounds so I've started rationing it.

[NorthMoccasin]

overmax, just have jes rebore it to 32 special. plenty of good molds available.

[NorthMoccasin]

I have had outstanding results with a 311041 hp cast in a med. alloy of 95/2.5/2.5. in a 303 savage and 30 herret contender. Lots easier than making softnose bullets.

[Texas by God]

overmax, just have jes rebore it to 32 special. plenty of good molds available.JES starts out at .33 caliber. Too bad for .32 Special and 8mm fans.

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[saleen322]

We love ours. It is an early model with the tang sight. Shoots great!

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4237/35361811690_c08cba8180.jpg https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4100/35580037042_5f1f8073c6.jpg

[Crash_Corrigan]

Would it not be wonderful if Savage brought back the model 99? Even if they would just remake some barrels in .223 Rem, 243 Win, 6.5x55 Sweede or Creedmore and 25-06 I would be hunting for a Savage 99 and then a 6.5x55 Sweede new barrel pronto. Loaded with a 120 gr soft pointed j word bullet it would be a perfect coyote predator hunting firearm. Sweet handling, light, accurate and very good looking. What's not to like?

[richhodg66]

Couldn't work in .25-06 and probably not in 6.5x55, they had to change the action some to get it to accept the .308 and .243. Also, the magazine rotors are pretty caliber specific, you most likely couldn't just change out a barrel and expect it to work.

[Chad5005]

when I was a teen my dad had a 99e in 243 and I had a 99 in 303,ive been looking for 15 years for a few nice ones.

[Landy88]

JES starts out at .33 caliber. Too bad for .32 Special and 8mm fans.

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The .35-30 is a grand old wildcat; and, despite the envy it'd cause me, may be a great fit.

[OverMax]

Would it not be wonderful if Savage brought back the model 99? Oh boy that would make my day.

[Geezer in NH]

Being an old guy I forget when Savage changed the bolt from Square back to round back. The 30/30 were prone to crack the square back actions so check the action before shooting them much.

The newer rounded back had none of the early problems and are good to go. Also in the 99 spritzers or pointed bullets are fine and will stretch yardage you can shoot.

[David LaPell]

One of the local gunshops has a Savage 1899A takedown in .30-30 in really nice shape. I have thought about buying it but am short of funds at the moment or I probably would jump on it.

[hpdrifter]

Not particularly a fan of the 99, but if I ever stumble over one in 30 30, it will be very hard to pass.

[pietro]

One of the local gunshops has a Savage 1899A takedown in .30-30 in really nice shape. I have thought about buying it but am short of funds at the moment or I probably would jump on it.


No disrespect, David - but the Model 1899A was a solid frame; the takedown version was the Model 1899B.

My 1899A was so stamped on the LH side of the front receiver ring, and I've seen 1899B's marked in the same location (as B's).


.

[gnoahhh]

No disrespect, Pietro, but the M1899A and M1899A Short Rifle were both offered as takedowns after 1909 and 1917 respectively, for more money. The M1899B's (octagon barrel models) and M1899C's (half-octagon barrels) were never offered as takedowns. (This from "The Ninety-Nine, A History of the Savage 99 Rifle", Doug Murray, and borne out by observations among the Savage collector groups I hang with.)

1909 was also the cutoff point for the square backed bolts (which had a nasty tendency to crack at the square corners of the receiver mortise which butts against the bolt), also referenced by the 90,000 serial number. In later years Savage refused to perform repairs on pre-1909 guns and insisted that such guns have their receivers replaced with the newer design ones.

M1899H carbines were introed in 1905, takedown versions offered 1909 and thereafter. (Most H's after 1909 were takedowns.) .22 HiPower introed in the 1899H in 1912.