Need help with old Savage - lever , 250-3000 , need age and worth

M

Metal god

New member
I'm doing some research for a friend and I seem to have run into a wall . I checked Savage and the serial # is to old and they don't support the rifle any more . The rifle looks like a model 99 but has no model number .

The serial number is 203458

Stamped on the barrel by chamber is
Savage Hi-pressure steel
-----) 250-3000 (-------

stamped on top of barrel mid way down is

Manufactured by Savage arms corp. UTICA. NY U.S.A.
July 25 1893. Oct 3 1899. Sep 10 1907 . May 25. 1909 . June 1 1909
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Any Ideas of the date this firearm was manufactured and what the value may be ?
 
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DOM is 1918 or 1919

Since it is a takedown, value is between $250 and $400. Definitely more if it didn't have the holes drilled in it.

And the Stith mount alone is worth $100 to the right buyer.
 
the 250-3000,s do bring more money, and i don,t think it has any extra holes. the scope mounts use the rear sight dove tail and the original holes on the rear reciever for a tang sight. it does look like the butt stock has a repair near the reciever(screw to repair a crack or split). with the over all condition of the rifle and not knowing the condition of the bore its hard to put a value on it. eastbank.
 
It has three extra holes in a straight line down the length of the left receiver flat. I think it had a side mount scope at one time before it got the Stith.
 
Here are some pics of the receiver ( both sides ) It appears there are only two extra holes . Only because the three screws line up with the rivet/nuts/things on the other side . But those two are clear as day not only not supposed to be there but were not done well .
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It also looks like someone modified the front sight in some way
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As well as the rear mount with epoxy
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At a glance I do not see any repairs to the butt stock and unsure if I want to remove the cheek pad . The laces seem a bit fragile . There is a large chip out of the butt stock by the but plate if that's what you were talking about . It has not been repaired .
 
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The two extra holes were for an after market side saddle scope mount.

I'm not 100% sure, but I don't believe that Savage offered scopes or mounts when this gun was made. They did, later, offer scopes and mounts as options using the side saddle mount.

Another indication that Savage didn't do those scope mount holes is their location. They're too low on the side of the receiver and the rear one is FAR too close to the one action screw.

I doubt that the current mount is epoxied in place -- it's probably silver soldered.

The rifle has led a very active life. It's got one hell of a ding in the receiver.
 
The rifle has led a very active life. It's got one hell of a ding in the receiver.
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Yeah I'd agree . Funny thing is it came in a old saddle holster If that's what they're called . It's a case/holster that hangs from the horses saddle and you can just pull it out by grabbing the butt stock . I'm thinking it fell from the horse when it got that big ding .

The whole thing is really kinda cool buuuut the ammo seems hard to get or at least harder then I'd like to try . Can this rifle be rebarreled to something like 260 Remington or anything more common . ? A old looking 260 rem would be a cool lever gun :)
 
Can this rifle be rebarreled to something like 260 Remington or anything more common . ? A old looking 260 rem would be a cool lever gun
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250 Savage is loaded to lower pressure than more recent rounds such as 260 or 308. It would not be a good idea to convert any vintage 99 to a higher pressure cartridge, especially a well worn takedown like this one.
 
Why mess with it, leave it in it's original configuration, just think of the tales it would tell if it could tell. lots of history in that rifle, I'd be proud to have that one in my gun cabinet!! William
 
You won't be able to successfully convert it to fire any cartridge based on 308. The action is just a smidgeon too short. The metal is specified for a lower pressure cartridge, so even if you do successfully rebarrel it for the 260, you will beat it to death. Takedown rifles shoot loose quickly, even with the correct cartridge. You can shoot it as is, or retire it. If you are looking to sell the rifle to finance a newer rifle, you will have no trouble selling it.
 
I kinda answered my own question shortly after posting that last post . I can not fit a sized 308 case into the mag well so as stated above the 308 family is out . That was really me just thinking out loud though . I have no real want , to change the rifle . I think it's time to clean it up a bit and see how it really looks . It has some real built up dirt in all the nooks and cranny's .

FWIW , The rifle is not mine "yet":) It belongs to a buddy of mine but he does not shoot . He inherited it a while back and just got around to asking some questions about it . He's not really showing any real interest in the firearm so I'll likely offer to buy it .

I do reload so that would be my likely ammo source . What brass am I looking for? Do I search 250-3000 ? 250 Savage ? Some quick research has came up with the 6.5 creedmore and the 22-250 as possible brass I can reform to this rifles chamber . is that correct ?????

Also is the 250 Savage the same cartridge as the 250-3000 ??? Or is the 250-3000 a lower pressure round ? Are the dies the same ??

I have 2 manuals that show data for the 250-3000 . I may run it buy a gun smith to make sure it's still safe to shoot . All I'll need then are some dies . . I did a quick search for those as well and have not found any in stock . Any help there would be appreciated :) There's a gun show coming up soon and there's always a booth there that has a lot of old die sets . I'll have to check that guy out next time .
 
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I do reload so that would be my likely ammo source . What brass am I looking for? Do I search 250-3000 ? 250 Savage ? Some quick research has came up with the 6.5 creedmore and the 22-250 as possible brass I can reform to this rifles chamber . is that correct ?????

Also is the 250 Savage the same cartridge as the 250-3000 ??? Or is the 250-3000 a lower pressure round ? Are the dies the same ??
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250 Savage and 250-3000 are the same thing. The 22-250 is the 250 Savage case necked down.
 
"Can this rifle be rebarreled to something like 260 Remington or anything more common."

No. For the reasons others have mentioned.

The .250 Savage isn't as common as it once was, and that is a true pity, becuase it is really a wonderful performer.

It's one of those cartridges that seems to gives performance levels so much more than what one would expect.

People have turned away from it for the latest gee-whiz cartridges based on .308 and the like.
 
Do any of you have an old model 99 or any working knowledge of the firearm ? I was dry firing it and either the trigger is the best trigger I have ever felt or it's worn out . It's very light and crisp . I have a cheap spring type trigger pull gage and it read the trigger pull at 1 to 1.5 lbs . That seems very light for this type of rifle .
 
No, the 99 was a fine modern rifle of its time, but a light trigger pull was not one of its assets. If yours is so light, it is either much worn or very gunsmithed.
 
upon further examination , Eastbank you were right. There are 2 screws that are securing what appears to be a large crack in the stock by the receiver . The stock may have even split in half . Holy cow this rifle has had a life . Oh how I wish it could tell it's story .

Right now I'm not sure if I want to retire it and hang on the wall or take it hunting and keep it's life going . You know if it's safe I think I'd like to keep it alive . :)
 
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