phantomak47
Member
A few years ago when I got into deer hunting, I decided that I liked it enough that I wanted to buy a dedicated hunting rifle (also I was sick of borrowing rifles). Our long time mechanic had amassed a rather large and interesting gun collection over the years so I let him know that I was in the market for a deer rifle. He ended up calling me telling me to come over to his shop one Saturday morning as he had brought some rifles from his home for my inspection. Laying on an old table that had seen its share of oil and car parts, were an old winchester 3030 and a savage 99. He told me that both rifles had severed him well over the years and that I could have my pick of either. After close inspection, for some unknown reason I was drawn to the old Savage 99 in .300 savage (although the winchester was nice), so I paid him a measly $300 which was much more than fair. He went on to tell me that it was his fathers hunting rifle and also the last one he bought in the early 1950s (he himself was about 60 years old and had hunting in the northeast his whole life), so I should take good care of it. The next few years I was able to buy some of his collection and about four years ago he passed on , so I was lucky to have been able to find some guns with some character and soul.
My savage 99 has served me well, as I have taken a deer in Alabama and South Texas in the last few years. I have often thought about getting some hunting rifles, but I am still drawn to my old Savage 99, its almost like its got a personality to it. In many different deer camps that I have hunted, I am asked either two questions, the typical question is, "What kind of hunting rifle is that, I have never seen one before" which is usually from some guy with the newest magnum bolt rifle who doesn't know much about lever guns. Or I get the old timer who remembers seeing a lot of 99s way back when.
Before its demise, there was a lot of talk about introducing the savage 99 in 30'06, but that never happened. If the Savage 99 was built again would you buy one and what calibers would you like to see it in?
My savage 99 has served me well, as I have taken a deer in Alabama and South Texas in the last few years. I have often thought about getting some hunting rifles, but I am still drawn to my old Savage 99, its almost like its got a personality to it. In many different deer camps that I have hunted, I am asked either two questions, the typical question is, "What kind of hunting rifle is that, I have never seen one before" which is usually from some guy with the newest magnum bolt rifle who doesn't know much about lever guns. Or I get the old timer who remembers seeing a lot of 99s way back when.
Before its demise, there was a lot of talk about introducing the savage 99 in 30'06, but that never happened. If the Savage 99 was built again would you buy one and what calibers would you like to see it in?
