243 & 300 Savage

[childofiam]

Hi, I'm brand new to this forum, and I'm not sure if I'll sound like a total idiot or not, but figured it wouldn't hurt to try.

My husband inherited his great-grandfather's 300 Savage (serial # 330929) and never really took the time to 'bond' with the gun. This weekend he suggested he was thinking about loaning it to his Godson, who is a wreckless teenager, and I stepped up and told him I thought he was crazy. I jumped on the computer & did a little research on the gun (seems like it has pretty good reviews for deer hunting). Happy to say he's now reconsidered & is considering taking it out this season for the first time. Any reports on how old this gun is, and the goods/bads about it?

Secondly, I inherited my father's 243 Savage (coincidentally, just like hubby's). The serial # is C070395, and the thing looks like it's never been fired. It's the only gun I was able to get as when he passed away my oldest brother ransacked the house & took all his firearms. My husband's 300 was actually loaned to me originally when I went whitetail hunting (before kids), and I wondered if the 243 was a good deer gun. Also wondered how old this one is also because it looks like it's almost new.

I love the history that comes with these two guns, and I'm anxious to learn more about them. Any information you can throw at me would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks again,

Trina

BTW: Yes, I do cling to my religion and guns.

 

[woof]

What you have given us are calibers but not the rifle models. For starters, are they lever actions? bolt actions? Either way they are both fine rifles and adequate for deer, although many feel the .243 is a little light for deer except in the hands of an expert. Tell us more about the rifles and we can tell you more. Keep ALL guns away from crazy teenagers!

 

[childofiam]

Hi, and thanks for the quick response. The 300 is (I believe) an 1899/99, and the 243 (again, I'm guessing from what I read) is a 99E. Both are lever actions.

I thought ALL teenagers were crazy (I think it has something to do with their hormones). LOL This one's just a bit mis-directed I guess, and my husband has kind of took him under his wing with hunting since his father dropped the ball.

 

[browningguy]

Both are great rifles, and both well suited to deer hunting. I sometimes shoot a Remington 81 in .300 Savage and it will do anything you need to a deer.

 

[Shawnee]

Both of your rifles are Classics and both calibers have taken trainloads of deer.

Good Luck !

 

[rangerruck]

depending on the model, the 300 savage, in 1899 version is second most valuable, it just so happens that a certain version , maybe yours, in 243, is the most valuable version of the 1899 or 99 savage. You need to go to a gunshop and look through a book of gun values, or a library, or a used book store.
A certain model of 243, had it's value increase 50% by the next best rifle, I don't remember what the value jump pertained to; it may have been if the safety was actually still located on the lever itself.

 

[rangerruck]

Oh yeah, if the 243 has never been fired, don't you do it!!!!

 

[woof]

You need to hook up with a Model 99 expert who will know from serial numbers what you have. You might start a new post here titled - Need help from Savage 99 expert, and also post at 24hourcampfire.com where a lot of Savage experts hang out.

 

[childofiam]

Thanks, everyone. I'm very excited because this has sparked a whole new interested in my husband for old guns (and me, too!). Maybe I'll hit the library and see if they have any information on them there. I'll also take the advice to put up another thread to a 99 Savage expert.

I'm happy they're 'classics' as I love anything vintage. In my humble opinion, they just don't make things the way they used to. Maybe it's different with guns. I think I was born in the wrong era.

Thanks again to all. I really appreciate all the help.

Trina

 

[IndianaBoy]

Those rifles are the epitome of classic deer rifles.

 

[woof]

Another thing you may as well do is start getting digital pictures of them, lots of close-ups of each area. If you are going to discuss them with people online and ask for people's help, they will appreciate pics.

 

[childofiam]

I posted 2 pictures on the "Need help from a 99 Savage Expert" thread, and it's not letting me download the same pictures here. Please take a look and tell me your thoughts. At least this way you know these guns are not figments of my imagination.

Trina

 

[woof]

The .243 is probably from the '70s, the .300 is probably worth more though. I'm not sure what more you are trying to find out. The next step is clean them up, get some ammo and go out and shoot them.

 

[childofiam]

My un-educated guess for the 243 was also the 70's, so thanks for clarifying. I'm still curious why the serial number is showing up as invalid.

Yep, guess the next step would be to clean them up & get shootin'. Happily, I only live about 15 minutes away from Cabelas in Hamburg. We were there last night, and a lot of their ammo was sold out due to bear season today.

I figure since my husband's using the 300 for deer next week, I'll wait until the season is over before I start cleaning it up so the smell won't mess him up.