Savage Bringing Back Model 99?

From what I have read it would be an expensive rifle to build.

Don't expect to see this happen for two reasons:

1) The purists would pooh pooh them.

2) Others won't understand.

and 3) - as mentioned, they would be expensive and it is a small niche market

It’s going to happen. I just read on the interweb that Savage just installed all of the tooling, new tooling, to make this happen.

Timely thread that you started!

Similar to Colt regarding old Pythons, Savage recognized what old 99’s were selling for. I don’t blame them for going for it.

I dont see a cast receiver working well since the bolt locks at the rear and they are already prone to receiver stretch with hot rounds.

If they DO bring it back, I want a .223, .357, .30 carbine, and a .22 rimfire please and thank you......heck, Id buy one of each!

JCooperfan1911 said:

I’d like one in .308 or .30-06.

Click to expand...

I had a .308. The recoil was brutal and ejection difficult thanks to the aforementioned receiver stretch. It didnt help that it was the clip-fed "C" model which has an even weaker frame than the rotary-mag guns.

.30-06 would require a much longer frame and bolt, along with a longer throw. It could be done, but I doubt they will make a long-action version.

I still have a rotary .243 which is smooth, comfy, and superbly accurate.

Had a rotary magazine, top safety, Monte Carlo .308. Ugly, slick, not very accurate compared to my Ruger Frontier, but if they'd bring it back in a classic (NOT savage ugly checkered) style at a grand I'll jump in line. I'm trying to clean up a reissue 1895 in 308 that got mistreated.

NIGHTLORD40K said:

I dont see a cast receiver working well since the bolt locks at the rear and they are already prone to receiver stretch with hot rounds.

If they DO bring it back, I want a .223, .357, .30 carbine, and a .22 rimfire please and thank you......heck, Id buy one of each!

Click to expand...

You know with today's CNC machining, they can saw out parts from bar stock, a process that was not cost effective to do on many parts even 20 years ago.

The Germans designed this pistol to be made from stampings



I have examined German made (or maybe it was Swiss) P220's and the slide was a sequence of stampings held together. I don't remember if the parts were welded or pinned. However my SiG, the slide is milled from bar stock.

That is one reason we are seeing all these 1873's, 1876's, 1892 lever actions, they can make them cost effectively. I wanted a Savage M99 in 308 Win, and I just assumed they would be in production forever. Well, they were not, and I missed my chance. Maybe that chance will come back, and with a better made action.

EIB0879 said:

From what I have read it would be an expensive rifle to build.

Click to expand...

If they could build one with a real walnut stock with Schnabel forend, rotary mag with round counter in the window and color case hardening on the lever just like how a model 99 was built 40-50 years ago I would happily pay $1500 for one right this second. And please make it in 250 Savage. D&T for scope bases please. Or maybe a 7-08 but I would pay a premium for a 250 savage rifle.

The original P220 slide was stamped and folded, the solid, machined ends were welded in place, and the breech block pinned in. In the early days of the switch-over to a one-piece slide, the .45s suffered cycling problems which did not occur in the stamped version. It wasnt until they finally modified it to accept an external extractor that it ran right again.

I've got a 1952 vintage 99 EG in .300 Savage that's a joy to shoot and carry. It was drilled and tapped at some point in its career so I'm able to use a similar vintage El Paso Weaver K-4 with it. Accuracy, despite its lousy trigger is truly amazing...with Sierra or Hornady 150 Spitzers it'll do an inch for the first 3 rounds at 100 yds with my hand loads. Velocity isn't up to .308 specs, but hey...we're killing deer here in KY and 99% of them at less than 150 yards. IMR 3031 or 4895 gives me chrono'd velocities of 2670+ fps & still a cpl grains below max. Not too shabby for an old round, I'd say. Savage really did some fine work bringing out the 99 in .300 Sav., adapting the 99 to high velocity cartridges...120 years ago the .30-30 was considered high velocity, remember.

I'm a pretty much a lever gun guy...usually with a Marlin 1894 or 336 in my hands for close-in stand hunting (100 yds or less), but love the Savage for use over at a friend's bean field cover that stretches out to a bit more than 200.

Son #2 has a "Brush Gun" Savage 99 in .358 Winchester that'll shake your fillings out with full house loads, off a bench rest but doesn't feel too bad when hunting. We've come up with a couple of cast bullet 200 gr flat nose loads that hover around 1700 fps that do nicely out to 125 yds and are a lot more comfortable to shoot. Those heavy lead alloy slugs are good deer medicine too...complete penetration from any angle, leaving a blood trail that's easy to trace.

Both of our guns have the unique "counters" (that little window giving magazine capacity) ... a nice touch and fitted with a stock with a length of pull and comb height that's just right for a low mounted scope or tang mounted peep. Darn shame they're mostly gone from the hunting woods nowadays. Young guys have missed out on a classy rifle, built for accuracy and ease of carry, a true throw-back to simpler and more satisfying times.

For toting through the local thickets, either of ours makes for an easy load with that rounded receiver bottom and good sights. Some would say not as comfortable as a Marlin or Winchester, but good nonetheless, and would do nicely for the one deer rifle hunter.

I doubt that they could be turned out for a grand, now, even with modern CNC machinery doing the work...and the walnut stocks would up the expense as well. Money well spent, however, in the opinion of this old coot who believes wholeheartedly in blued steel and walnut.

Here's a pic with my Marlin 'Texan' .30-30 above it.... Best regards, Rod

JCooperfan1911 said:

I’d like one in .308

Click to expand...

You're desire is well founded! I've got a 99F in .308, it's a fantastic rifle. I only shoot cast in mine, now, but it's been accurate with whatever I've put through it.

I've got a Williams on it, it works very well...



I've also got a pre-war 99B (I believe) Takedown in .30-30, with a straight stock... it's not nearly the rifle the .308 is. The shotgun beavertail forearm is clumsy compared to the thin forearm of the .308, and as much as I like straight levers, the real problem is the old-style slide safety on the lever... my fingers hit it and turn it on when I'm trying to shoot.

George P said:

and 3) - as mentioned, they would be expensive and it is a small niche market

Click to expand...

And 4 pine tree is Ruger. Ruger has their own issues to deal with on lever guns. Pine tree would be kinda dumb to take the business right now.

Rodfac said:

I've got a 1952 vintage 99 EG in .300 Savage that's a joy to shoot and carry. It was drilled and tapped at some point in its career so I'm able to use a similar vintage El Paso Weaver K-4 with it.

Click to expand...

Other than the fact that mine dates from 1953, we have the same rifle, with the same scope, Classic through and through.

WestKentucky said:

And 4 pine tree is Ruger. Ruger has their own issues to deal with on lever guns. Pine tree would be kinda dumb to take the business right now.

Click to expand...

Is Ruger the majority production for PTC?

From the web site:

Since 1963, Pine Tree Castings has been producing the finest quality investment castings for a wide range of industries and demanding customer applications.

From the earliest years, William B. Ruger saw the need for quality investment castings. Bill Ruger demanded processes that would allow him the freedom to design and produce firearms his way, and he demanded that every investment casting customer receive the same treatment. For over 45 years, Sturm, Ruger has maintained a reputation for providing quality investment castings for challenging applications.



Today, Pine Tree Castings provides investment castings for a wide range of industries, including commercial equipment, automotive, defense, firearms, sporting goods, hand and power tools, medical equipment and architectural hardware. Our customers count on quality investment castings that meet their specifications, their production schedules, and their budget.

When you choose Pine Tree Castings for your next investment casting application, you receive the benefit of experienced casting engineers who will work directly with you to solve the challenges your part presents. Each part is carefully evaluated to determine the best tooling, gating, fixturing, and finishing to meet your needs. Every process decision is carefully reviewed to ensure that you will receive castings in which you can have confidence.

Click to expand...

I've owned a Savage 99 and a Winchester 88 both in .308 Win. I would take another Winchester 88 over a Savage 99.

I don't see it happening, it's a "fudd" rifle, the market loves synthetic/tactical/modular.

If they'd bring back the Savage 1899, it ought be in .300 Savage or .250-3000 with rotary magazine. We are talking nostalgia here. Plus James Bond used a Savage 99 in .250-3000 in an Ian Fleming short story.

I'd like a 35 rem and a 7-08

I had a Savage 99E carbine in 308 and was underwhelmed. A 99 had long been a wish list rifle. I settled for 99E with beech stocks, pressed checkering, no round counter and chambered in 308. It would not reliably extract 7.62x51 brass or 308 Win brass loaded to anything above moderate in the load tables. Recoil was brisk, to put it mildly.

I still want an older 99 in 250 Savage, but those are quite dear. But a new 99 in say 6.5 or 6 CM might tempt me. A 35 Savage would be rather cool as well!