Savage 99 to return !!!

azrednek · Post by **azrednek** » Fri Mar 07, 2008 3:17 am

I recently wrote Savage about the similarity between the new Marlin bolt action rifle looking like a copy of theirs. I suggested if Marlin is copying Savage's rifles they could level the field by bringing back the Model 99. From drawing board to dealer's shelf may be from a few to several years but I'm glad it is coming back.

20cows · Post by **20cows** » Fri Mar 07, 2008 6:18 am

Hope he wasn't just blowing smoke!

Pete44ru · Post by **Pete44ru** » Fri Mar 07, 2008 6:26 am

COOL ! I hope there's a rotary mag, along with a clip-fed model for those that prefer it.

Sixgun · Post by **Sixgun** » Fri Mar 07, 2008 7:13 am

Yea, I would like to see it come out in the old Winchester calibers like the 38-55, 32-40,30-30, and the 25-35. Even if they just made 5K apiece in each caliber. Oh what the heck, lets take this a step further and add the straight stock, octagon barrel and d&t ed for a tang sight.-------Sixgun

Noah Zark · Post by **Noah Zark** » Fri Mar 07, 2008 7:22 am

Straight from the owner of Savage. Ron Coburn is not only the Chairman & CEO, he's the owner. If he's saying watch for the 99, there must be something to it.

Noah

1886 · Post by **1886** » Fri Mar 07, 2008 7:29 am

I heard from one who "is in the know" that the rifle will feature the rotary mag. Hope they go all the way and offer the .358. I like sixgun's recommendations. 1886.

Wes · Post by **Wes** » Fri Mar 07, 2008 10:00 am

I sure hope this happens. I'm starting a 99 Savage 358 Cal. fund right now just in case. Would be my ultimate elk rifle.

Ridgerunner · Post by **Ridgerunner** » Fri Mar 07, 2008 10:48 am

glad I picked up my 99 in .358 last year!

J Miller · Post by **J Miller** » Fri Mar 07, 2008 11:14 am

The Savage Mdl 99 is one I've wanted for a long time. Maybe now I'll be able to get one.

Joe

KWK · Post by **KWK** » Fri Mar 07, 2008 2:35 pm

Wow, that is good news. The original magazine would be a very nice touch. I always thought the arrangement of the box magazine detracted from the lines of the rifle. I could be happy with a staggered column, blind magazine as well.

Jeff Quinn · Post by **Jeff Quinn** » Fri Mar 07, 2008 2:43 pm

Boys,
The sweetest little Savage 99 in the world is in the lobby of Savage Arms. It is a prototype, made years ago, that is scaled down in every dimension to perfectly fit the .32-20 cartridge. The also have a military prototype that has a bulbous rotary magazine to hold ten cartridges, similar in profile to the magazine on a Johnson rifle. Looks just like a standard 99, only pregnant.

Old Ironsights · Post by **Old Ironsights** » Fri Mar 07, 2008 2:55 pm

Oh, if only they would do a detatchable box magazine that would hold more than 4...

I'd give a left nut for a 99 MBR...

KWK · Post by **KWK** » Fri Mar 07, 2008 3:25 pm

Jeff Quinn wrote:scaled down in every dimension to perfectly fit the .32-20 cartridge

Oh, I want one of those!

jnyork · Post by **jnyork** » Fri Mar 07, 2008 3:40 pm

Old Ironsights wrote:Oh, if only they would do a detatchable box magazine that would hold more than 4...

I'd give a left nut for a 99 MBR...

Sounds like you might want to be careful what you wish for!!

Post by **Hobie** » Fri Mar 07, 2008 3:50 pm

I would love to have that little 99 in .32-20 or .256 Remington Mag....

Old Ironsights · Post by **Old Ironsights** » Fri Mar 07, 2008 4:01 pm

jnyork wrote:
Old Ironsights wrote:Oh, if only they would do a detatchable box magazine that would hold more than 4...

I'd give a left nut for a 99 MBR...
Sounds like you might want to be careful what you wish for!!

Why? They were both "disconnected" a good while ago... I'd give one up with no problem.

Nath · Post by **Nath** » Fri Mar 07, 2008 4:17 pm

Same here Old Irons

Bet we never see'm over here

Nath.

airedaleman · Post by **airedaleman** » Sat Mar 08, 2008 3:42 pm

Hobie,
You have a line on a new development - the .256 REMINGTON Magnum?

Kilroy6644 · Post by **Kilroy6644** » Sat Mar 08, 2008 3:52 pm

Old Ironsights wrote:
jnyork wrote:
Old Ironsights wrote:Oh, if only they would do a detatchable box magazine that would hold more than 4...

I'd give a left nut for a 99 MBR...
Sounds like you might want to be careful what you wish for!!
Why? They were both "disconnected" a good while ago... I'd give one up with no problem.

Wait a minute- you said a left nut; you didn't specify whose. Even if you don't use them, don't be so quick to give them up. It'll throw your balance off.

Post by **Hobie** » Sat Mar 08, 2008 4:19 pm

airedaleman wrote:Hobie,
You have a line on a new development - the .256 REMINGTON Magnum?

TYPO!!!!!

Make that a WINCHESTER!

That comes from trying to arrange to see 3 Colt Cobras and 2 S&W M43s on the phone while the wife is calling you and the dog is barking... IOW, total confusion!

J Miller · Post by **J Miller** » Sat Mar 08, 2008 4:44 pm

The one thing I hope is that Savage will make them slim and trim like they were before. And without any additional gimmicks or gizmos to clutter up the simplicity of the gun.
Must have iron sights, and I want one in either 308 or 30-30.

Joey likes the common cartridges. Easier to get ammo and components for.

Joe

airedaleman · Post by **airedaleman** » Sat Mar 08, 2008 5:47 pm

Hobie wrote:
airedaleman wrote:Hobie,
You have a line on a new development - the .256 REMINGTON Magnum?
TYPO!!!!! Make that a WINCHESTER!

That comes from trying to arrange to see 3 Colt Cobras and 2 S&W M43s on the phone while the wife is calling you and the dog is barking... IOW, total confusion!

I know the feeling well. And the confusion only gets worse as we age...

CowboyTutt · Post by **CowboyTutt** » Sat Mar 08, 2008 6:14 pm

Man, I hope this is true. I would be thrilled!

-Tutt

old goat · Post by **old goat** » Sat Mar 08, 2008 8:06 pm

...Speaking of Savage 99s wanted, why not a reissue of the saddle gun in 250 Savage and 300 Savage.

...old goat

handirifle · Post by **handirifle** » Sun Mar 09, 2008 12:30 am

Anyone else notice, but to me, it seems like an unusually large number of new guns being made lately, are leverguns?

Maybe something is starting to sink in.

reddnek · Post by **reddnek** » Sun Mar 09, 2008 8:05 am

I don't care which magazine or grip. If it comes in .250 Savage I lust for one of those.

Wes · Post by **Wes** » Sun Mar 09, 2008 10:39 am

I forgot to put my vote in for the 250 Savage as well as the 358.

Old Ironsights · Post by **Old Ironsights** » Sun Mar 09, 2008 12:35 pm

handirifle wrote:Anyone else notice, but to me, it seems like an unusually large number of new guns being made lately, are leverguns?

Maybe something is starting to sink in.

Writing on the wall.

Gun Mfgs are looking at the next 4-8 years and comparing our lot to Oz... where leverguns are about the only "repeater" you can buy.

Post by **Old Savage** » Sun Mar 09, 2008 1:11 pm

I think you can bet it will be 308 and 243.

gamekeeper · Post by **gamekeeper** » Sun Mar 09, 2008 1:12 pm

KWK wrote:
Jeff Quinn wrote:scaled down in every dimension to perfectly fit the .32-20 cartridge
Oh, I want one of those!

+1

kaschi · Post by **kaschi** » Sun Mar 09, 2008 2:00 pm

My vote goes to the 250 Savage, 300 Savage and 358 Winchester for chamberings. Straight grip, rotary magazine and safety by the lever like the originals. With this safety, you can "de-cock" the rifle for storage which is a nice feature. I don't know if you can do that with the top tang safety models.

airedaleman · Post by **airedaleman** » Sun Mar 09, 2008 3:15 pm

Re the .32-20:
I recall seeing a photograph of Arthur Savage's prototype for what eventually became the Model 1895. The firearm pictured was chambered for the .32-20. I wonder if it is the one in Savage's reception area?

Mike D. · Post by **Mike D.** » Sun Mar 09, 2008 8:46 pm

Sixgun wrote:Yea, I would like to see it come out in the old Winchester calibers like the 38-55, 32-40,30-30, and the 25-35. Even if they just made 5K apiece in each caliber. Oh what the heck, lets take this a step further and add the straight stock, octagon barrel and d&t ed for a tang sight.-------Sixgun

OH, YEAH!!

KWK · Post by **KWK** » Mon Mar 10, 2008 5:50 am

Since that mini-99 isn't too likely, I'll second kaschi's motion, although I'd be happy to see the .375 Win replace the .358 in this lineup.

Did Savage have to lengthen the action for the 2.8" cartridges, or was there enough room in the original design for them? If a longer, higher pressure cartridge required a bigger receiver, I'd much prefer they go with the earlier chamberings, to keep the gun a bit trimmer.

Bigahh · Post by **Bigahh** » Mon Mar 10, 2008 11:23 am

handirifle wrote:Anyone else notice, but to me, it seems like an unusually large number of new guns being made lately, are leverguns?

Maybe something is starting to sink in.

Maybe everyone wants to beat Winchesters announcement for the return of the 94 in 2009. That's ok in my book, we all will have many to choose from. Jeff Quinn can sort through the mess for all of us, and then we can buy them up!

azrednek · Post by **azrednek** » Mon Mar 10, 2008 12:07 pm

Allot of good suggestions. Now is the time to start writing Mr Coburn and let him know what you want before it goes into production. My guess is these will appear chambered in 243, 308 and the new short mags as they will sell quicker and easier than a nostalgic chambering. Simply put Mr Coburn is going to look at the bottom line, see what calibers generate the most $$ before considering anything like octagon barrels, 19th or early 20th century calibers. If he gets enough correspondence he may consider a nostalgic model and caliber like 250 Savage or 32-20.

Another plus to writing to Mr Coburn is you will get their newest catalog.

Ray Newman · Post by **Ray Newman** » Mon Mar 10, 2008 12:27 pm

azrednek: BINGO!

KWK · Post by **KWK** » Mon Mar 10, 2008 2:13 pm

Not to be a party-pooper, but John Haviland (he writes for Rifle and Handloader) recently posted this at 24hourCampfire.com:

Exactly one year ago Mr. Coburn told me the Savage 99 would never come back because the design of the rifle required too much hand-fitting.

Given the letter posted earlier, presumably Coburn's engineers have made a few adjustments.

tman · Post by **tman** » Mon Mar 10, 2008 3:17 pm

make mine with the old src stock. with a 19'' barrel, chambered in the .308wcf. and brass rotary magazine.

airedaleman · Post by **airedaleman** » Mon Mar 10, 2008 4:56 pm

KWK wrote:Not to be a party-pooper, but John Haviland (he writes for Rifle and Handloader) recently posted this at 24hourCampfire.com:
Exactly one year ago Mr. Coburn told me the Savage 99 would never come back because the design of the rifle required too much hand-fitting.
Given the letter posted earlier, presumably Coburn's engineers have made a few adjustments.

If the 99 IS reintroduced, I think we'll see serious adjustments in the price, too!

old goat · Post by **old goat** » Mon Mar 10, 2008 9:27 pm

...If the parts are made using the EDM technology, there would be very little hand fitting.

...old goat

KWK · Post by **KWK** » Tue Mar 11, 2008 5:38 am

It's not obvious to me why so much hand fitting would be required in the original design. Certainly, the design can altered to make it more economical; witness the Ruger 96, which is based on the 99.

rangerider7 · Post by **rangerider7** » Tue Mar 11, 2008 6:25 am

I have a Savage 1899 TD in 250 -3000. It is sweet. It is compact and a pleasure to carry and shoot.

KWK · Post by **KWK** » Fri Mar 14, 2008 5:14 pm

The following quote is also said to be from Coburn:

We are in fact taking a look at an early (1923) model 99 reintroduction that would be completely retooled using sophisticated computer 3-dimensional modeling to remove the "fit and file". It is just exploratory without a full commitment until I see the design/tooling/method of manufacturing/component costs and market receptivity.

handirifle · Post by **handirifle** » Fri Mar 14, 2008 7:33 pm

I don't want to upset anyone, but to me, the 99 looks too long. Is it just me? A lot of people tell folks not to get a BLR in 30-06 or similar, cause it's too long and to me, the 99 loos every bit as long.

The action seems short, at least the visible portion of it, but it sits quite a bit forward of the lever.

I like the smooth lines of it and the pointy bullet availability and their inherant advantages.

Post by **Hobie** » Fri Mar 14, 2008 8:45 pm

handirifle wrote:I don't want to upset anyone, but to me, the 99 looks too long. Is it just me? A lot of people tell folks not to get a BLR in 30-06 or similar, cause it's too long and to me, the 99 loos every bit as long.

The action seems short, at least the visible portion of it, but it sits quite a bit forward of the lever.

I like the smooth lines of it and the pointy bullet availability and their inherant advantages.

I often had the same impression. It ain't so. Feels different from a Winchester 94 but not "long". Easier to carry as the receiver bottom is rounded. MUCH better than later 94s with the sharp corners.

Post by **Hobie** » Fri Mar 14, 2008 8:48 pm

old goat wrote:...If the parts are made using the EDM technology, there would be very little hand fitting.

...old goat

I think modern manufacturing techniques just haven't lived up to the promise they once had. But I agree, given modern technology, they should be able to do it fairly easily.

Ben_Rumson · Post by **Ben_Rumson** » Fri Mar 14, 2008 9:14 pm

Having just torn into my 99 1960 vintage Carbine I didn't see much that looked to be hand fitted..The mag rotor looked like it was die cast aluminum with a few machine marks.. The sear was a stamping..so was the carrier spindle support..The trigger is hung with a pin and meshes with the sear via a yoke & pin..I didnt take the sliding safety out but I don't see where much hand fitting would be involved there..Mostly what looked like what would need adjustment was the lever to where it contacts it's seat in the frame( I think the adjustment is called the Lever bite) However the bolt looks like it would require some hand tweaking to properly nest home in the receiver.. I can see that the receiver would take a gangs of machine operations to be made..What with investment castings being what they are today I'd wager a bunch of machine operations could be eliminated there..I don't know how they made the levers previously but however they make the new ones, I hope they wind up looking like the previous ones..