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pulicords · 04-24-2008, 06:43 AM

Hi all, I'm new to the forum but, not to shooting and wanted some thoughts from experienced Savage people. Tonight I bought my first Model 99. I've still got to wait about a month before I can pick it up (I'm in CA and the gun just went on consignment-stupid CA legal system), so I don't have the serial number to determine an exact age. It's a 22" barrel model, with rotary magazine and counter, .308 Win caliber, has cut checkering on a Monte Carlo style stock with steel butt plate and tang safety. The rifle's got good bluing (95% or better) on the barrel and receiver and good case coloring on the lever. It's wood is fairly plain and the finish has been rubbed off in a few spots, but there's no cracks or major damage. The gun locks up tight and the bore looks great.

Here's the thing. I bought the gun as a pig shooter. I love hunting wild (feral) hog here in CA and unfortunately it looks like my favorite guns will see limited use in the future. I was using Winchesters (Model 71 and 94) in .348 and .375 Winchester, but don't reload and CA just enacted regulations requiring "green" ammo to "protect the endangered Condors." Kinda hard to find lead free factory ammo for "obsolete" cartridges like I'm used to shooting. Anyhow, I love using lever-guns for this type of hunting, saw the M99 for $650.00 at my local gunshop and figured it fit the bill.

Now my questions and request for input. I'm guessing the rifle was made in the 60's-'70's. Am I close?

I'd like to clean this up a bit and am wondering should I just refinish the stock to avoid excessive moisture damaging it or impairing accuracy. This obviously isn't a collector piece, but I'd like to spruce it up. Would a new stock be out of the question? It has a steel butt plate and a new pad would probably be more comfortable and practical.

Finally, it's drilled and taped (factory) for a scope and I'd like to either replace the open rear sight with a Lyman peep rear or (more likely) set it up with a nice, low power Leupold scope. Thinking maybe a fixed 4x? Although I haven't shot it yet, it's got an excellent trigger and I think the rifle's got potential.

Any advice/suggestions/input would be appreciated.

04-24-2008, 06:43 AM	#1
pulicords Registered User Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Southern CA Posts: 5	New (to me) Model 99 .308 Hi all, I'm new to the forum but, not to shooting and wanted some thoughts from experienced Savage people. Tonight I bought my first Model 99. I've still got to wait about a month before I can pick it up (I'm in CA and the gun just went on consignment-stupid CA legal system), so I don't have the serial number to determine an exact age. It's a 22" barrel model, with rotary magazine and counter, .308 Win caliber, has cut checkering on a Monte Carlo style stock with steel butt plate and tang safety. The rifle's got good bluing (95% or better) on the barrel and receiver and good case coloring on the lever. It's wood is fairly plain and the finish has been rubbed off in a few spots, but there's no cracks or major damage. The gun locks up tight and the bore looks great. Here's the thing. I bought the gun as a pig shooter. I love hunting wild (feral) hog here in CA and unfortunately it looks like my favorite guns will see limited use in the future. I was using Winchesters (Model 71 and 94) in .348 and .375 Winchester, but don't reload and CA just enacted regulations requiring "green" ammo to "protect the endangered Condors." Kinda hard to find lead free factory ammo for "obsolete" cartridges like I'm used to shooting. Anyhow, I love using lever-guns for this type of hunting, saw the M99 for $650.00 at my local gunshop and figured it fit the bill. Now my questions and request for input. I'm guessing the rifle was made in the 60's-'70's. Am I close? I'd like to clean this up a bit and am wondering should I just refinish the stock to avoid excessive moisture damaging it or impairing accuracy. This obviously isn't a collector piece, but I'd like to spruce it up. Would a new stock be out of the question? It has a steel butt plate and a new pad would probably be more comfortable and practical. Finally, it's drilled and taped (factory) for a scope and I'd like to either replace the open rear sight with a Lyman peep rear or (more likely) set it up with a nice, low power Leupold scope. Thinking maybe a fixed 4x? Although I haven't shot it yet, it's got an excellent trigger and I think the rifle's got potential. Any advice/suggestions/input would be appreciated.