Help with a Savage 1899 project

[smurfman]

I have a Bubba'd up Savage 1899 Take Down in 22 Savage High Power I would like to do something with. My want is to rechamber it to 219 Zipper but am not sure it can be done. There are several questions I have and hope someone can point me in a direction.
First off, can the barrel be sleeved from .228" down to .224"? I know one can put a liner down a 22 rimfire to restore it but I don't know if this can be done with a centerfire.
Secondly, what needs to be done regarding the chamber dimensions? I think the Savage round it a bit longer than the Zipper but I have heard conflicting stories about this.
Third, if this is not possible, can the barrel be bored out to .257" and make it a 25/35?
Probably more importantly, who out there could do such a conversion? I realize it would be expensive but what project isn't? This is a hobby after all, they tend to cost one more than can actually be realized.
I would just restore the gun but I already have two others and between the Birchwood-Casey bluing job, drilled and tapped receiver, and refinished stock which was shortened and curved with a belt sander the cost of doing that would be just as expensive. Too, the current .227" bullets are very inaccurate in all of my guns, they are said to be too long for the twist rate as the shape had been changed a number of years ago. That seems right as some old Speer bullets I have are more squat than some current Hornadys I have.
Thanks for any help and assistance you can provide a newbie.

 

[rcmodel]

can the barrel be sleeved from .228" down to .224"?

No.
A liner can only be used on low pressure rim-fire and old black-powder revolver calibers.
Too much chamber & bore pressure for a liner to withstand in a high-power rifle caliber.

A good machinist could probably drill out the old barrel all the way, leaving just a thin shell with the factory markings on it.
Then turn a .224 barrel blank to fit the shell.

However, it would be cheaper to just have a new barrel made from a blank and lose the markings.

Next, as for changing it to .219 Zipper?
You might have feeding problems that would be difficult to fix?
The Savage spool magazine is made for the exact cartridge the rifle is chambered for. Whether or not the .219 is enough different to cause feed problems I don't know.
If you could locate a few rounds you could try them through the magazine and see.

Your best & cheapest option might be reloading with cast lead RN or semi-pointed bullets sized to the proper diameter to fit the old barrel.

Another possibility, but I don't know how it would shoot?
5.6x52R is the European name for the .22 Savage Hi-Power.
Both Norma and Sellior & Bellot make a 5.6x52R load that has the correct bullet shape & diameter.
Might be worth a try before you do anything irreversible and expensive to the barrel.

http://www.ableammo.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=117678
http://www.ableammo.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=95769

rc

 

[smurfman]

Thanks for the reply, I have tried the Norma and S&B ammo and find it shoots patterns rather than groups much like with the Hornady bullets. That is not surprising as Hornady supplies S&B their bullet and it looks like Norma uses the same bullet too. Hornady has supplied Norma with bullets in other calibers so that does not surprise me.
I was kind of expecting that regarding a sleeve in the barrel, I am not very familiar with that aspect of gunsmithing so was hoping for some different news. I may bore out one of the High Power barrels for 25/35 as that can be done without too much expense. I'll have to do the new barrel thing for .224" and that may be an even better as I can then get a fast enough twist to replicate the 22 Savage round in the smaller bore.
The 22 Savage and 218 Zipper are both based off the 30/30 case (as is the 25/35, 32/40, and 38/55 which is the parent of all the others) and the barrels fit and headspace properly on the other Take Downs I have, even those in 303 Savage which is close to but not the same as the rest. Due to this, I have little concern of feeding problems in the 1899s. There may be some greater degree of risk with the 303 Savage but based on the admittedly small, single example I have, it seems pretty small.
I picked up an 1899 pretty cheap thinking to make it a project gun. Just like a "free" dog, it is anything but that. But like that pup, it kind of grows on you and the cost does not seem so bad at times. Thanks much for the information.

 

[NCsmitty]

Buffalo Arms is showing 3 SP bullets with .228" diameter ranging from 55gr, 60gr and 70gr. I'm guessing that they might be Huntington custom bullets but not sure.
Perhaps one of those weights would work for you, but I have no idea if they are constructed to handle heavier game or if they are varmint style. If your interested, give them an email or call.

http://www.buffaloarms.com/browse.cfm?viewfrom=13&catid=92&step=2

It would be nice to retain the original caliber as the 22 Savage Hi-Power can be loaded to decent performance. Finding a load that works is much cheaper than a major overhaul.



NCsmitty

 

[smurfman]

I think it was the 60 gr Huntingtons which were used in a recent Rifle or Handloading Magazine article on the 22 Savage and they did not fair well in the limited efforts the author had been able to put in. Even at this weight the author seemed to think the bullet was too long for the twist rate.
I agree that it would be best if I could get a decent performing load in the 22 Savage but I have two take downs, one of which is far, far from being original, with three 22 High Power barrels so do not mind playing with one or even two barrels. Also, as Hornady is the last major manufacture of bullets of this diameter I would like to have an option if they are ever discontinued or are run on an even less frequent schedule.
Like I said, this is just getting ideas for a possible project. The local smith thinks its feasibly possible, at least in theory, but he does not want to to do it himself. Then again, he knows me well and has seen other money pits I have gotten myself into so his idea of "feasible" may be quite skewed from the reality others look at such projects. Anyone who buys, renovates, and drives an AMC Pacer for cruise night is one odd duck.

 

[northwoods99]

If I was you I would stay with the same caliber. As for the grouping issue the older Savage had a 1 to 14 twist. I had the the same trouble with an 1899H .250-3000 Savage. I rebarrel it with a 1 to 10 twist and it made all the difference in the world.

 

[Sarge756]

Help with Savage 99 project

The replies given are good advice. You would be opening up at least two cans of worms with changing calibers on a 99. I was looking at the auctions the other day and remembered seeing a 99 in 219 Zipper listed. This might be your way out without a lot of heartache. Send the 22Savage down the road and have your "ZIP". Auctionarms.com listing #10299858 . I`ve bought a few from Mark and they were just as represented. He also does layaway to ease the pain.Good luck. Joe

 

[Clark]

If it is a take down, get a new barrel and cut some threads

I put a 6mmPPC take off barrel on a 90 year old 99, drilled and tapped for scope, and reamed it out to 6mmBR.


It shoots great.

 

[bandmiller2]

303 Sav. to 219 DW

Smurfguy,years ago I rebarreled a savage 99 takedown rifle in 303 sav.to 219 Donaldson wasp.If I recall even the sharper shoulder donaldson cart. fed without a hitch in the 303 rotary mag.As shown above they have a square thread but not hard to turn and fit to the reciever. Frank C.