Just got a Savage m99E in 300 Savage...

"First: I don't shoot ANYTHING I own as frequently as I would like- especially rifles."

Wow. Tell me about it.

I have a Remington 81 in .300 Savage made right before WW II.

I bought it around 2004.

I've never shot it.

I've not shot my 99EG in .300 Savage (mid 1930s manufacture) since the late 1990s.

And I've not shot my Remington 721 in .300 Savage since probably the mid 1990s.

My other rifles are equally neglected.

Living in Washington, DC, metro it's hard to find a range where I can shoot at distance.
 
"First: I don't shoot ANYTHING I own as frequently as I would like- especially rifles."

Wow. Tell me about it.

I have a Remington 81 in .300 Savage made right before WW II.

I bought it around 2004.

I've never shot it.

I've not shot my 99EG in .300 Savage (mid 1930s manufacture) since the late 1990s.

And I've not shot my Remington 721 in .300 Savage since probably the mid 1990s.

My other rifles are equally neglected.

Living in Washington, DC, metro it's hard to find a range where I can shoot at distance.
Click to expand...
I grew up in DC and know your dilemma--I know it kinda sucks to mix with the whackos but I used to go to Clark Brothers in Warrenton to get my fix. Befriending someone with a farm some place to shoot is another option. Rural VA and MD generally have lots of hunters/shooters.
 
Mike Irwin said:
"First: I don't shoot ANYTHING I own as frequently as I would like- especially rifles."

Wow. Tell me about it.

I have a Remington 81 in .300 Savage made right before WW II.

I bought it around 2004.

I've never shot it.

I've not shot my 99EG in .300 Savage (mid 1930s manufacture) since the late 1990s.

And I've not shot my Remington 721 in .300 Savage since probably the mid 1990s.

My other rifles are equally neglected.

Living in Washington, DC, metro it's hard to find a range where I can shoot at distance.
Click to expand...
I hear your pain, especially since Elite shut down. A few years ago I did mess around at Quantico but those trips were an all day affair and I just phased out of it. I have a friend whose parents have a nice place in the mountains west of Winchester but since his kids started growing up and demanding all his time we hardly ever go out there for a day anymore.
 
Using Douglas Murray's book as a source for the 99 Savage.
In 1954 Savage lengthened the magazine carrier to accommodate the .308 class cartridges.
Serial number approximately 900,000. Length added was about .25 inch.
 
Originally Posted by Mike Irwin:

Wow. Tell me about it.

I have a Remington 81 in .300 Savage made right before WW II.

I bought it around 2004.

I've never shot it.

I've not shot my 99EG in .300 Savage (mid 1930s manufacture) since the late 1990s.

And I've not shot my Remington 721 in .300 Savage since probably the mid 1990s.

My other rifles are equally neglected.

Living in Washington, DC, metro it's hard to find a range where I can shoot at distance.
Click to expand...

I don't feel so weird now. Thanks!!

I was in DC in January for a week. I did a quick search for gun shops and ranges just for fun but realized what you know. Hens' teeth scarce.

I have a few I haven't ever fired yet myself- but I've only been buying firearms since around 2001. I've been planning purchased since the 1980s though. :D

I have two Colt OMT revolvers from '37 I need to field test. I've been trying to get their newer OMM versions to ignite properly. Time to go back 20 years to see if the older ones work more reliably. I also have a couple of OU shotguns I bought on clearance about 8 years ago that should be tested.
 
oldbear1950 said:
truth is if you look closely at the reloading manuals, you will see the 300 savage will do anything the 308 will do. And when Eugene Stoner and others came up with the 308/7.62x51 it was based on the 300 savage case. In fact they started with the 300 savage round and for some reason chose that 7.62x51 instead. Not sure why, as the 300 savage will do anything that will do
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Oldbear1950, I know why that change was done. 2 reasons, really. First, .300 Savage was the cartridge used in the initial prototypes of what would eventually become the M60 belt fed machine gun, which was intended to be based on a short action as opposed to the long action M1919. While it gave nominally acceptable performance, the sharp shoulder of the .300 Sav gave some concerns about feeding reliability. Second, the .300 Sav didn't have quite the velocity intended, that of the Milspec .30-06. 2600 fps vs 2800 fps with a 150 gr bullet. So, an "Improved" .300 Sav was created. This became the 7.62x51 NATO (.308) that did meet the specs.

FWIW, I once had a Savage 99 in .300 Sav (rotary mag with brass round counter), and I loved it. It was my grandfather's rifle. But, years on, it turned out that my father's older brother had a desire for it, and because he had the better claim I gave it up to him. Sadly. Yes, I handloaded for it. I turned over my ammo and dies, as well, as I knew I would never have use of them again.
 
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I have 2 99’s, both in 300 savage.
A 1941 EG and a 1982 E, series A.
I remember when dad bought the E new in 82. He bought the EG when it came into my uncles sports store in the late 80’s in a lot of guns a widow was selling on consignment. He gave the EG to me when I was around 15. I guess I have pops to blame for my fondness of the savage 99. After pops passed away, I ended up with his guns. The boy is 11 and will get his grandads savage 99 E when he’s a few years older. Keep the love of the 99 savage alive. It’s an absolute Wonderfull rifle. Mine are family heirlooms.
 
99

The Savage 99 was still a relatively common sight in the deer woods up until I was a teen, and the .300 Sav chambering was common as well. Never owned one, wouldn't pass up a bargain, but 99's have escalated in price a good bit in recent years. Several gun scribes have penned articles on the rifle and of course they are not making any more of them so as supply dwindles and demand is still present, prices climb.

Trying to convert a .300 Sav to .308 is likely an exercise without much purpose. The .300 Sav ammo is still available in sufficient quantities to hunt, and as noted by others, handloading and forming cases from .308 are good options.

The cartridge is fully capable. I've got a 20" barreled '06 carbine that is particularly obnoxious to shoot, especially with the heavy slugs the stubby rifle seems to prefer. I download '06 cartridges to .300 Sav velocities and the combo has been a perfectly adequate killer of whitetails for me.
 
They were a rifle that was way ahead of it’s time when they came out. A lever gun that shoots pointed spitzer bullets. They are a fully controlled round feeding system type rifle. They have the cartridge counter number on the side of the rotary magazine rotor (except the later E and C models). They have a cocked striker indicator on them.
The he 99 is not a tactical gun. But it’s an outstanding hunting rifle.
 
Gentlemen,
Thanks for the information.
The SN is DOM for 1964, barrel length is 20-inches, with a OAL 44-inches.
The SN is over the 100,000 range which has the final heat treat and length for handling the .308 pressure.

To convert to the .308, would be easy / cheaper to buy a .308.

SO I have acquired 50+ cases / rounds. and will start loading using 165gr Sierra SBT.
Afterward may try some 180 grs.

Thanks.
 
180-gr. bullets are verging on too heavy for the .300 due to the short neck, which requires the bullet be seated fairly deeply into the powder space.

Not as big a problem with some of the newer powders that don't take up as much space as the older IMR-style powders, but is still a thing...

I've always found that my 99EG and my Remington 721 absolutely SING with bullets in the 150 to 165 grain range.

The 150-gr bullet is what the cartridge was originally developed with, and it's truly a match made in heaven.
 
My 99F 1950s build shoot 150gr loads better than any other bullet weight.
I loaded 150gr Nosler Partitions for my elk load.
300 Savage is a great deer gun, and has worked well on elk, as long as you don't stretch the range.
300yds for deer is about the farthest I'd go. For elk 200-250yards is max.
 
The last time i took my model 81 to the range, it's recoiling barrel seriously concerned the uninitiated. Enough so they backed away.
 
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