Savage 99 vs Browning BLR: go!

That's one gorgeous rifle salvo...I feel the same way but have never actually had or even shot a blr so I was hoping to hear feedback about them too, browning supposedly being a "better" brand than savage. I love my 99...it's in .243 and I inherited it from a great uncle of mine. Lightweight and fast handling no-nonsense rifle. I love the internal rotary magazine too...a lot of people believe that ruger was the first to come up with that.......
 
It would depend what I was looking at a lever action for. For looks, no question the Savage 99 is one of the finest looking lever rifles ever. I have a 2-barrel set in 22 Hi-Power and 30-30, and I love to show it off.

For accuracy shooting, it would be hard to beat a BLR. A friend of mine had a BLR in 243 that would shoot 3/4" groups. It was his "go-to" rifle for deer and varmint hunting. Not really my style, but he liked it.

And of course, it also depends on whether or not you would carry a well-used rifle or not, good, pristine Savage 99s are getting harder to come by, and BLRs are harder to scuff up because of the finish on them.
 
Interesting...I didn't know about the blrs having a tougher finish...cool! My 99 is very scuffed up but I don't mind at all. As far as accuracy...my 99 is a .243 as well and i believe if I benched it it would match that blr for accuracy....all I ever shoot that rifle from is field positions though so I don't know for sure (I'm not as good a shooter as my rifles are with most loads). I will say one thing, that savage I have has a creeeepy trigger, not heavy at all but it moves a long way before breaking and ha a spongy feel. And I took the scope off once to see how it looked...bad idea, the open sights on mine are pure junk as far as I'm concerned
 
The Savage Model 99 for sure. Though I think the BLR is a very well made and finished rifle (as most Browning firearms are and always have been), I've always (subjectively) considered the BLR as one of the most ungainly and ill-porportioned looking lever-action rifles ever made. Just my opinion, but I'd never own one just on the basis of my, admittedly, narrow aesthetics perspective.
 
Thank you, it is a 300 Savage. They are unique Leverguns, just something about an old Savage 99.
I have never had the opportunity to shoot a BLR, but one in 243 sure appeals to me, just has never happened, yet....
 
Own more than one tried the other. I don't care for the BLRs levering. As far as the 99s go. I've carried my 99-E Carbine in, around, and over, some of Mother Natures worst terrain looking for those e-lusive bucks. Frankly I can't think of a better rifle for those kind of trek's than a 99.
 
I've shot both types extensively.

I'll take the 99.

The BLR is an excellent rifle, and they are, because of how they lock up (essentially a lever actuated bolt action rifle) they tend to be extremely accurate.

But they don't have the style, grace, or charm of a 99.

And, if you get sticky ammo, they can be a real bear to get free because the rack and pinion gear on the BLR can, in extreme circumstances, strip.
 
In the deer woods on public land in various states, I can only remember ever seeing one BLR. I could not even guess how many 99's I have seen. That should tell you something about which is more popular.
 
Back in the early sixties, I owned (very briefly-sad story :(), a Winchester Model 88 chambered in .358. Since the mid-seventies, I have owned a Savage Model 99 chambered in .358. Both are fine lever-action rifles- reliable, accurate and easy on the eyes. And, coupled with the .358 Winchester cartridge, make for superb deer and black bear rifles, especially when hunting in deep cover, like the cedar swamps in Michigan where I have done most of my deer hunting over these past fifty years or so.

I have always kind of lusted for the long-discontinued Sako "FinnWolf" lever-action rifle, preferably one chambered in .308 Winchester. But like the Savage 99 and the Winchester 88 rifles; all three are on the pricey side. And though I have owned a Winchester Model 1886 "Extra Light Weight" (Miroku repo) rifle chambered in .45-70 Government, for several years now and like it, the rifle I've really coveted lo these many years is the original Model 71, chambered in .348 Winchester. Unfortunately, the prices for original Model 71s have soared into the stratosphere as far as my gun-spending funds are concerned. I rue the day I passed on a new one selling for under a hundred bucks, complete with the yellow and red Winchester hang tag (another sad story :().
 
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