Savage 99 - Start year for drilling and tappig?

[KeithNyst]

I am on the hunt for a .308. From reading a 61 catalog, the 61s were drilled and tapped. I also read that .308s began to be manufactured in 56 for 1957 sales. I would like to find a pre-60 .308 ... if they were factory drilled and tapped, otherwise a later, but early later one when they were still doing hand checkering.

When did factory drilling and tapping actually begin?
When it started, was it across the board for all models in the starting year?

 

[44 AMP]

I did look this up some time ago, but have forgotten exact details. 52-53 IIRC was the start of the factory drill & tap (along with moving the markings). Not sure if this is a good date for all models, sorry.

 

[Scorch]

Mid-1950s, about the same time the 308 family moved in.

 

[Mike Irwin]

Standard top mount style D&T started, as others have noted, in the mid 1950s. It wasn't all models at once at the exact same time, I don't think, but anything chambered in the new cartridges were D&T from the start.

In other words, as far as I know, all .308 Savage 99s should be factory D&T for top mount rings.

Prior to that Savage had offered, as an order option, a side mounted scope base.

 

[Keg]

I just picked this 99F up....I mounted a VXIII 2.5 x 8 scope....It's a 62' year model....Oh yeah 308 cal....I'll be huntin with it this coming season....Good luck with your search....