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savage model 99c

4.8K views 11 replies 5 participants last post by  Karl.Luhr  
#1 ·
hi guys, i just got my first gun. my grand father gave me a savage model 99c chambered in 308, what do you think about this rifle? what bullet will fit the best ? im thinking of changing the scope! what can you suggest considering that im looking for a 3-9x40 not more than 400 bucks :)
thanks
 
#2 ·
My opinion, you hit the jackpot! Being a gift handed down is #1, Savage 99 c model with the clip is a great deer killing machine. I have 2 99's both are the EG models in 300 sav and 250-300 sav. I have always like the old Redfield widefields in 3x9x40. On e-bay these are still available in like new condition for $250.00. To go new I'd stay with Nikon or Leupold. I hope you thanked your granpa for the valued gift.
 
#3 ·
Congrats on the 99

I would get a couple of boxes of 150s and 165s from different manufactures to see what your rifle likes. I don't think that the 180 grain load is ideal for the 308. You can fire it in the 308, but that is getting heavy for it. I really like the Redfield Revolution line of scopes. You can get a US made scope in 2x7 or 3x9 from between 150.xx and 200.xx. One item I would purchess is a spare magazine for your 99, if it can be left on he table it will be left on the table. If you are like me......

Karl
 
#5 ·
of course i thanked him a lot, i just love that rifle. i killed my first deer with it and from thereon i killed many with the 99c. one thing i can remember, my grand pa was shooting sako bullets this time. after shooting 4 bullets in a row on a deer, the 4th cartridge blocked in the chamber. is that happened to you before?
 
#9 ·
Please explain "blocked in the chamber"

I thought I had heard of most of the types of malfunctions but this is a new one. Was the cartridge jammed in and wouldn't extract? That is one area where the lever actions are not quite a good as a bolt action, extracting a stuck case.

Karl
 
#10 ·
from what i can remember the cartridge expand as the chamber was hot after 4 shots, if you take to long to pull down the lever the cartridge might expand and stay blocked in the chamber, then you have to wait and take it out. that was the first and last time we used sako bullets for this rifle. i think american bullets will probably go better with an american rifle :) like the Remington's and Winchester's. now im actually shooting 150gr Winchester and where i live (Mauritius island) they don't have 165gr in Winchester, but next season i might move to the core locks Remington as they have 165gr.
what in your opinion do you think will perform better the 150 or 165? knowing that we shoot both running and standing deers from a distance of 25 meters up to 400 meter even more sometimes.
 
#11 ·
Compairing 150gr and 165gr bullets in .308 dia

It comes down to sectional density for bullet performance with standard lead core bullets. I shoot 30-06s lightly loaded to 308 Winchester ballistics. I choose a standard lead core bullets in 165gr so that I have a better chance of the bullet holding together and giving me good penetration on a shoulder shot. Some shooters prefer the extra velocity/flatter trajectory you gain from the lighter 150gr bullet. I buy and shoot Nosler Ballistic tip bullets, these are sometimes blamed for over expansion in the 150gr selection. I have not had a problem using them on Deer in the 165gr selection. If I was shooting factory ammo, say Remington core-locks I would try to find your 308 Win in 165gr.

Karl
 
#12 ·
Stuck cases in your Savage 99

You might have a rough or oversize chamber on your 99. That would explain the stuck/hard to remove case after firing rapidly and heating up the rifle. A good gunsmith could check it out and if it was just a little rough could probibly fix it very easily. The one thing that I think all 99s share is a spongy trigger. I like a light/crisp trigger and I think it is easier to get that kind of performance in bolt actions.

Karl