Savage 1899-H

[TX50Cal]

I have a chance to buy a Savage 1899-H in 303 Savage. Seller claims it has not been refinished, bluing is a patina with no rust, 20" bbl, it has been D&T'd for a scope, it also has a Marbles peep sight on the tang (new production). pictures look nice for a hunting gun. Asking $500 but will let me have it for $400 if I drive to pick it up. It comes with a historical letter that says it was made in 1914. Any info would be appreciated.
Dave

[Rimfire McNutjob]

I hope you have a stash of .303 Savage brass lying about. If you don't, you're looking at ammo shock. Perhaps someone is kicking out new brass these days for a reasonable price.

Update: Apparently Jamison is making brass for it these days ... .303 Savage

[Pete44ru]

Savage 99's, with "patina" are affectionately referred to in the trade as "gray rats", and IF the subject M99H is a gray rat, then it's barely worth the $400 - more like $300-$350.

The historical letter isn't worth the paper it's written on, now that some worthy has halved whatever original value it might have had, when they D/T'd it for scope mounts - especially since Savage 99 specialists can easily track down a DOM to the year made.

As posted, WHEN commercial .303 Savage ammo can be found, it's VERY pricey, and so is the brass (for reloading.

Just my $0.02, but for $400, I'd want a bunch of loaded ammo to go with it.

YMMV, of course.

I have a pristine 1953 Model 99-EG in .300Savage, that I swapped a $400 handgun to an FFL/dealer for, a few mos ago).



.

[brno602]

Just buy it! I had one slip through my hands a few years ago you can get brass at gun show's. Or rework 220 swift brass.

[Pisgah]

Sounds like a rifle worth owning, but only if you are dedicated enough to enjoy it. The price is not all that far of for one around here, maybe $50 high. But the cautions about the ammo difficulties are not overblown. They can be fed, but it's a special diet requiring expense in time/money and possibly aggravation. Now, if I could find a stash of a couple hundred cases in a yard sale...

A 99 in .300 Savage would be a bit easier to deal with, and one in .30-30 would be dead easy.

[iceman]

If you REALLY want it as a shooter go for it. if you want it for a collector forget it. Since it is drilled and tapped no collector value what so ever. I bought a circa 1960 model 99F for $350 in very good condition but some Bubba decided a side mount was better than the factory scope mount holes. Didn't bother me since the mount was removed and proper bases used. (Anybody want a Williams side mount system cheap?) Personally I wouldn't pay more than $300, but it is your money. Good luck finding ammo/brass too.

[.45colt]

I bought one,a takedown made in 1915 about five years ago. the Gentleman who sold it to Me was pretty smug about not finding any brass anywhere . I found a guy who reformed it out of 30-40 brass and it works fine.shortly thereafter Norma made a run of it,Huntingtons reloading has some of it as well as Jamisons is showing it now .Good Luck.

[Ben_Rumson]

M. McPherson discusses 303 Savage & 30-30... Article @ http://www.levergun.com/articles/3030_Rifle.htm

Brass @ http://www.buffaloarms.com/browse.cfm/4,7649.html

Resonably priced Lee Dies@ http://www.ableammo.com/catalog/product ... s_id=54264

Good Luck!

[TX50Cal]

I know it would not be a collector. I was just looking at something a little different to play with. here are a couple of pics the seller sent me. Thanks for all the info.
Dave in TX

[hfcable]

I hope you have a stash of .303 Savage brass lying about. If you don't, you're looking at ammo shock. Perhaps someone is kicking out new brass these days for a reasonable price.

Update: Apparently Jamison is making brass for it these days ... .303 Savage

and grafs has someone making excellent brass for them.....i bought 200 cases from them a year ago, very reasonable, and better lasting than jamison i think:

http://www.grafs.com/retail/catalog/pro ... ctId/12638
Item #: PPU303S
Price: $46.99 per 100 cases
i think this is the stuff i bought.
i have a 303 1899 made in first year production and it is fun!

[.45colt]

TX,that 99 is better lookin than I expected.many of the 99's that were drilled for scopes had side mounts on the reciver that left it looking like a piece of swiss cheese when removed. if the bore looks decent I don't think it's a bad price. They are pretty cool rifles. and Savage was way ahead of His time. .

[Pete44ru]

IMO, it's in good enough condition, that I'd snap it up & worry about ammo later.

That tang sight is easily worth $150...................

.

[Gary7]

TX,that 99 is better lookin than I expected.many of the 99's that were drilled for scopes had side mounts on the reciver that left it looking like a piece of swiss cheese when removed. if the bore looks decent I don't think it's a bad price. They are pretty cool rifles. and Savage was way ahead of His time. .

Right on. John Browning gets a lot of kudos for his lever designs (and rightly so), but when you consider the basic 99 design was conceived and prototyped in 1892 and finalized by 1895, it's light years ahead of even Browning's final lever design, the Winchester 95.

[TX50Cal]

Well, I went ahead and picked the rifle up today. I think I will get rid of the tang sight though. I think it will be a nice little project. It really is in good shape and the rifleing is great. Thanks for all the input.
Dave

[Rimfire McNutjob]

That rifle looks better that I was thinking. And given that several suppliers are now making .303 Savage brass, I think you'll do well with it. I think that Marbles looks fine on it. Though I might go with a Lyman 57SA given the choice.

[iceman]

Nice looking rifle!! Price is reasonable considering condition. If I didn't already have my 99 set up with a scope that I like I might be open to suggestions on that sight if it would fit on my circa 1960 99F. Hope you don't have too hard a time finding ammo for that fine rifle. Good luck.