Savage 99 Ugly Duckling

[DocRock]

I have always wanted a 99 and one in .308 strikes me as very handy, especially with a 20" barrel. GB purchase. This one looks to have been ridden hard and put away wet more than once but bore is allegedly bright and shiny. Lots of surface rust freckling on barrle and receiver. Wood finish looks pretty awful. Plain Jane 1967. Good for a winter project. Will strip and redo the wood and see what can be done with cold bluing, but may have to send it it for a proper job.

Screenshot_2019-11-18 Savage 99E 308 Lever Action 1967 VG 20” C R OK - Lever Action Rifles at GunBroker com 840752796.png

[claybob86]

Rescuing an abused firearm is a worthwhile project! Keep us posted on your progress!

[Pete44ru]

.

At least it's not a grey rat - CONGRATS ! !

.

[ollogger]

That is the kind of 308 I've been looking for! most of them are pricy ( at least around here ) no matter what the condition is
Have had a few in 308 over the years & your right its a very handy all around gun, keep us posted on the restoration


ollogger

[Mainehunter]

She looks good to me! I would make up some loads or run a box or two of ammo and see how she shoots!

Mainehunter

[wm]

I think you got a winner. A little TLC and getting to know you time at the range and you should be ready for hunting season next year!

Wm

[OldWin]

I had one in .308 that was cut to 18". It was a wonderful shooting rifle and was a joy to carry.
I would have it today but it was a detachable magazine model and didn't feed as well as a rotary so I passed it along. Always kept an eye out for a good candidate to make another.

[M. M. Wright]

You could always rust blue it. Brownells sells all the stuff you need and you only need to boil it in distilled water. I've made a tank from an old chevy tappit cover. Just welded up the holes and put it over two burners on the stove. Might not be long enough for a 99 though but would be a great excuse to cut that barrel off anyway.

[Jay Bird]

I said this on another post...back in the day the average working class guy bought a Winchester or a Marlin.....Savages were mostly bought by uppity types....management , business owners...and the like.---6

[DocRock]

I said this on another post...back in the day the average working class guy bought a Winchester or a Marlin.....Savages were mostly bought by uppity types....management , business owners...and the like.---6

The 99 may have been bought by "uppity types", but from 1946 onwards, working class guys had an option from Savage: the Model 340, the Miller beer of mid-century bolt guns. I have two, an original 340, no suffix, in 30-30, and a 340 E in 222 Rem.

[Bill in Oregon]

Is it even conceivable that ANY lever gun could truly be an "ugly duckling"?

[Jay Bird]

Is it even conceivable that ANY lever gun could truly be an "ugly duckling"?

Yes Bill........and I'm sure you will agree........I don't even know what they are called but some company "tacticalizes" a '94 with some really stupid looking kind of plastic stock and one of those modern sight gizmos.---6

[GunnyMack]

Is it even conceivable that ANY lever gun could truly be an "ugly duckling"?

Yes Bill........and I'm sure you will agree........I don't even know what they are called but some company "tacticalizes" a '94 with some really stupid looking kind of plastic stock and one of those modern sight gizmos.---6

Someone somewhere made a lever AR, real or photo shop I don't know but it was as ugly as a clinton/ pelosi crossbreed! And that is FUGLY!!!

[KeithNyst]

That will be a very nice deer rifle. It looks like it's a Model 99E from the late 60s/early 70s. The 99E was the economy model of the 99s introduced in 1960. It continued to have the lever safety on the right side (while the other models moved to the top tang safety), and did not have the round count window after 1960. The 20" barrel makes it a sweet handling rifle. You will enjoy it, ugly or not.

[marlinman93]

Doesn't look too bad in the one image posted. I'd either clean it up, and not go too far, or send it to somebody who does nice restoration work to make it look perfect again. Al Springer at Snowy Mountain could make it look factory original for a very reasonable price.

[4t5]

You guy's mean one of these....
https://www.mossberg.com/product/464-sp ... fle-41026/

[DocRock]

Making headway on this and will post pics - the outside of the barrel is tragic. Have stripped the stocks back to plain (very plain) beech and stained a light walnut. Will Tung Oil finish. Spent hours and hours with a diamond file, emory cloth, jewelers buffer, and steel wool on the barrel which was deeply pitted from the front sight ramp back to the forend screw receiver. Took it from very badly pitted, to "frosted" and the cold bluing came out better than I expected, but it will never be a looker. Bore is clean and bright but there appear to be tight spots under the buckhorn sight dove tail and above the forend screw receiver. Wont get to shoot it for a while, so no idea of accuracy.

But I have a mystery and I'm hoping a Savage 99 resident expert might happen by to help.

The 20" barrel is marked Model 99E and Westfield MA. It has the rounded short forend, nasty pressed checkering, pistol grip beech stocks, consistent with a Model 99E carbine. The serial number on the receiver starts 1,115,xxx, consistent with 1966/67 production. However, the lever code boss is "L" for 1960 and the receiver has the lever catch safety, which Savage stopped using and replaced with a shotgun style top tang safety in 1960, with the move to Westfield. The lever catch safety is integral to the receiver, so it's not a later replacement. And the serial number indicates manufacture at least six years after the end of the lever catch safety receivers....

Mysterious

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[DocRock]

Worked on the bluing. Not exactly beautiful but I'd say she's gone from Ugly Duckling to Miss Congeniality...

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[Pete44ru]

But I have a mystery and I'm hoping a Savage 99 resident expert might happen by to help.

The 20" barrel is marked Model 99E and Westfield MA. It has the rounded short forend, nasty pressed checkering, pistol grip beech stocks, consistent with a Model 99E carbine.
The serial number on the receiver starts 1,115,xxx, consistent with 1966/67 production.
However, the lever code boss is "L" for 1960 and the receiver has the lever catch safety, which Savage stopped using and replaced with a shotgun style top tang safety in 1960, with the move to Westfield.
The lever catch safety is integral to the receiver, so it's not a later replacement.
And the serial number indicates manufacture at least six years after the end of the lever catch safety receivers....

Mysterious

I would opine that Savage was using the "parts bin" system for assembling rifles (like Winchester, Colt, Ruger & others), and that the earlier-type receiver was still in the bin when the rifle was later assembled as a Model 99E.

Odd, but very possible.


Also, a light bore lapping with a lead slug might alleviate those tight spots.



.

[DocRock]

But I have a mystery and I'm hoping a Savage 99 resident expert might happen by to help.

The 20" barrel is marked Model 99E and Westfield MA. It has the rounded short forend, nasty pressed checkering, pistol grip beech stocks, consistent with a Model 99E carbine.
The serial number on the receiver starts 1,115,xxx, consistent with 1966/67 production.
However, the lever code boss is "L" for 1960 and the receiver has the lever catch safety, which Savage stopped using and replaced with a shotgun style top tang safety in 1960, with the move to Westfield.
The lever catch safety is integral to the receiver, so it's not a later replacement.
And the serial number indicates manufacture at least six years after the end of the lever catch safety receivers....

Mysterious

I would opine that Savage was using the "parts bin" system for assembling rifles (like Winchester, Colt, Ruger & others), and that the earlier-type receiver was still in the bin when the rifle was later assembled as a Model 99E.

Odd, but very possible.


Also, a light bore lapping with a lead slug might alleviate those tight spots.

.

That seems the most likely explanation. My research suggested that the lever code boss is an absolute dating mechanism but a parts bin mashup is the only thing that makes sense. I had wondered whether this rifle was "assembled" from others at a later date by an intrepid home smith, but the 1960 or older receiver is serialized for 1966/67 which means it's either counterfeit (which is really very unlikely !) or the factory serialized a receiver from the parts bin or the back shelf in 66/67.

Good suggestion on lapping the bore, thanks.

[KeithNyst]

But I have a mystery and I'm hoping a Savage 99 resident expert might happen by to help.

The 20" barrel is marked Model 99E and Westfield MA. It has the rounded short forend, nasty pressed checkering, pistol grip beech stocks, consistent with a Model 99E carbine. The serial number on the receiver starts 1,115,xxx, consistent with 1966/67 production. However, the lever code boss is "L" for 1960 and the receiver has the lever catch safety, which Savage stopped using and replaced with a shotgun style top tang safety in 1960, with the move to Westfield. The lever catch safety is integral to the receiver, so it's not a later replacement. And the serial number indicates manufacture at least six years after the end of the lever catch safety receivers....

The model 99E (made from 1960-1984) kept the lever safety; never moved to the top tang safety. I'm thinking the lever boss code may be a partially struck U, which would track to that serial number range (1967). Pressed checkering on the 99E was not added until 1966.

[DocRock]

But I have a mystery and I'm hoping a Savage 99 resident expert might happen by to help.

The 20" barrel is marked Model 99E and Westfield MA. It has the rounded short forend, nasty pressed checkering, pistol grip beech stocks, consistent with a Model 99E carbine. The serial number on the receiver starts 1,115,xxx, consistent with 1966/67 production. However, the lever code boss is "L" for 1960 and the receiver has the lever catch safety, which Savage stopped using and replaced with a shotgun style top tang safety in 1960, with the move to Westfield. The lever catch safety is integral to the receiver, so it's not a later replacement. And the serial number indicates manufacture at least six years after the end of the lever catch safety receivers....

The model 99E (made from 1960-1984) kept the lever safety; never moved to the top tang safety. I'm thinking the lever boss code may be a partially struck U, which would track to that serial number range (1967). Pressed checkering on the 99E was not added until 1966.

Well, that makes even more sense. Exactly the expert knowledge that I was looking for, thank you.

Went at the bore today in earnest with JB Comound and a bronze brush wrapped in bronze wool. There was a good deal of lead in the bore just ahead of the chamber. I went through about fifty patches and a ton of bronze wool, but the tight spots are gone and the bore is like a mirror now. I've got two coats of Tung Oil on the stocks and they already look better.

[DocRock]

Three coats of Tung Oil starting to look good and bringing out the golden tones in the beech.

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[claybob86]

Good work, thanks for the updates!

[AJMD429]

You guy's mean one of these....
https://www.mossberg.com/product/464-sp ... fle-41026/

Thanks for just posting the link and not the actual picture. I had just eaten breakfast......

As for the Savage....a perfect deer rifle....perfect functional firearm in the kind of condition that while you won't mind a ding or two, but you also will have pride in a well-done project, too.

[Pete44ru]

.

Take a tip from sad experience, and NEVER lubricate the magazine rotor (especially with WD-40) if you intend to use it in cold weather - unless, however, you desire a single-shot experience...……..

(while it can be loaded when the rifle's warm, the rotor can later freeze in place, and not move until it thaws out.)

.

[DocRock]

Gave it 10 coats of Tung Oil and have done the best I can do with re-bluing. I'm pleased how it turned out.

Before:

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After:

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[DocRock]

The extractor on this rifle was unreliable, frequently slipping off the cartridge rim and wouldn't pull the skin off a pudding.

Finally got around to taking it off during Coronisolation and found the problem. The previous owner had replaced it and farouked it up. As I learned when I ordered an NOS extractor from Numrich, quite a lot of material needs to be removed to fit it. They stopped making the Model99 because it was so expensive. And that's because it took 8 man hours to fit the extractor!

Joking aside, while a skilled workman using a grinder will have been much faster than me using a draw file, diamond file, and emery cloth, still! Took me many hours. The trick is you have to remove rather a lot of material from the outer face of the ext to maintain its rigidity and pulling keverage. The PO has ground the neck out of the inner face thereby creating a spring that was extremely flexible. Doing it again, I could cut my time by more than half.

Anyway extracts fired cartridges really well. To the range tomorrow to see how it works where it matters.

[Old No7]

Good work, thanks for the updates!

+1 and Amen on that!

It's coming along really well and you seem to be enjoying the project.

But with this crowd -- you won't be done until we get a Range Report!

Good luck, and tight groups!

Old No7

[DocRock]

Good work, thanks for the updates!

+1 and Amen on that!

It's coming along really well and you seem to be enjoying the project.

But with this crowd -- you won't be done until we get a Range Report!

Good luck, and tight groups!

Old No7

So, got out to the range today, really only to check the extractor. Shooting 150grs Sierra over 44 grs IMR 4064. So not very hot. Didn’t Chrony today but it should be in the 2600 - 2650 FPS.

Took a bit to get the vintage Bushnell Scope Chief dialed in but it was delivering 2” - 2.5” five shot groups. Very confident I’ll get that under 2” with a little work on load and a little more familiarity with the post reticle on the scope.

It’s a little funny. The old fashioned stock dimensions are not ideal from a recoil management perspective and while I didn’t find it harsh, my 16 yo took five shots and he was whining about its “kick”

[claybob86]

Thanks for the report! Tell the boy that recoil builds character!

[hondo1892]

I owned a 99 in 300 Savage once upon a time. It was a great rifle and heavier than my Marlin so I sold it or traded it off. Wish I still had that rifle it had a Lyman scope mounted on it too. Doc you could probably get a better bluing on the rifle with a rust blue. Rust bluing isn't hard to do but it is time consuming so most folks don't bother with it. It should ware better than the cold bluing too. Nice job on the rifle also.

[Rusty]

My best friend in high school's dad had a 99 that was his pride and joy. It was in .308 with the spool type magazine. I think that rifle had the best feel of any rifle I've ever seen If you looked at something and put the rifle up to your shoulder the cross hairs were on it. It was a beautiful thing. I hope your's works out Doc. On Youtube there is a video by Richard Mann about the Hornady reduced recoil .308 rounds. Your son might find them more to his liking.

[DocRock]

My best friend in high school's dad had a 99 that was his pride and joy. It was in .308 with the spool type magazine. I think that rifle had the best feel of any rifle I've ever seen If you looked at something and put the rifle up to your shoulder the cross hairs were on it. It was a beautiful thing. I hope your's works out Doc. On Youtube there is a video by Richard Mann about the Hornady reduced recoil .308 rounds. Your son might find them more to his liking.

I agree that the 99 feels great, shoulders well, and feels right. I have long wanted one and this rescue rifle has me hooked. I would love a pre-War 250-3000 take down model for my next.

Thanks for the good advice on the Hornady Managed Recoil ammo, but junior isn't getting his grubby little mitts on this rifle in any event.

[Old No7]

Great project, you did well.

Now what you need to do is...

Take it hunting with a group of buddies and shoot the BIGGEST BUCK with that 'ol rifle!

Old No7