AJ---good deal?

[Guest Colorado Bob]

I've found a 99E in 308 Winchester. It's got a clean bore & the blueing shows no bad wear. It has a birch stock, an older 99 as the safety is under the lever. All this could be mine for $300.

It was drilled & tapped-----no mounts on the gun.

I was thinking of this as my whitetail gun & leave it at home for my PA deer hunts. I'll probably use it on the Quebec winter caribou hunt coming up in November. I'm a south paw----so picking up a used bolt action is pretty difficult.

Scope choice is Leupold VarX-II in 1x--4x.

[AJ]

Re: AJ---good deal?

I don't know a lot about Savage 99s. About all I can say is what the Blue Book says. For a 99E Carbine (the 99E was not in 308 Win only the carbine)it was made from 1960 - 1982, has a 22" barrel, checkered pistol grip stock,

100% - $320

98% - $260

95% - $230

90% - $200

80% - $180

If it has the Schnabel forearm, add 25%.

this book has been known to be off a bit when it comes to collector guns. I would hope that Iron Buck can lend some insight to this.

[iron buck]

Re: AJ---good deal?

Hi Bob,

If the gun you are looking at says Savage on the side of the action, so that when scope bases are added you still see the logo.....it is factory drilled & tapped.

All 99s were factory drilled & tapped from around the mid 50s on. The lever safety was used through 1959. If you get the serial number and the lever Boss code (very small oval, just in frint of the lever hinge point when viewed from the bottom of the receiver) there will be a letter & maybe a few numbers. The numbers are fatory inspector numbers. The letter is what gives the date. With those #s the gun you are looking at can be dated exactly.

Factory drilled & tapped guns are more desirable from a collector stand point. That said, the E model (for economy) was always more of a hunter, so this would not matter as much.

Getting any 99 in decent shape for under $400 is very hard to do today. If the one you are looking at has a good bore, I'd jump on it. It is a good price. The 308s have been going up in value because people who actually hunt as opposed collect 99s find the more common cartridge a better deal than the traditional 300 savages. Ammo is much easier to find........anywhere

The other hard thing to come by is a good 2 peice scope base. Weaver stll makes them but that is about it. Other than that is a 1-piece world. Not a huge problem, but the 99 loads easier if you can roll the catridges into the rotary mag. The 1 piece makes this a little harder. But once loaded.....they hold 5 rounds. So you'll need 5 tags LOL

Good luck. Let us know if you get it.

[AJ]

Re: AJ---good deal?

Thanks IB!

[Guest Colorado Bob]

Re: AJ---good deal?

I'm going to get it. It will be my PA whitetail gun. I hate flying with guns anymore----A big pain in the butt.

Plus for $300-----that's only about 3 tanks of gas these days !!!!!

[iron buck]

Re: AJ---good deal?

Very true CB!!

Good luck with the new (old) 99

[robk]

Re: AJ---good deal?

that is a great price for an old salt like the 99 in 308. it;s a great caliber and you will be the envy of many people. i am shooting a 308 in the encore and the 308 is a simple caliber that can take down more than just deer. enjoy the 99 you got yoruself a great deal i would say

rob k