Savage 99 - .250-3000 Question?

[SammyJankis]

I have a savage 99 in .250 that I inherited from my grandfather and I want to put a decent scope on it for deer hunting in South Carolina and Georgia. I don't want to spend a bunch of money but i want something that works well and will last. Any thoughts???

 

[Dr T]

First get an appraisal on its value. It may be worth A LOT more than you think just as it is.

If it is not already drilled and tapped for scope mounts, I would be very reluctant to touch it for fear of reducing its value.

 

[SammyJankis]

It was made in 1921 based on the serial number...couldn't find any value based on that. It is NOT drilled and tapped for scope mounts and it's been in my family since new.

 

[[email protected]]

Savage 99 - .250-3000 Question???

Hey,
Before possibly damaging a collector. Sell it to me and buy a better shooter. I know your talking about your grandfather's gun so I can appreciate a reluctance to sell it and I'd probably hang on to it.

 

[SammyJankis]

two things i'll never sell.....guns and dogs. once you got em, keep em.

 

[Supertac45]

Do not put a scope on it. It will destroy it's true value.

 

[SammyJankis]

I'm not really worried about ever selling it though. I know that might seem ridiculous but it's not a gun that I'd ever sell. It shoots great and I shoot it often but I feel like it would be better suited to deer hunting with some glass on it. Anyone got any idea what it might be worth?

 

[[email protected]]

Regarding gun value

Can you provide info/pics?
Serial no.
Straight/pistol grip
Barrel length
Words stamped on barrel/receiver
Butt plate steel? Rifle or shotgun type
Brass/Steel follower
Shell counter on left side

 

[Abel]

Take it to a gunsmith and have it drilled/tapped for the correct mounts. Put a 3-9x40mm scope of your choosing on it. What is your price range?

 

[SammyJankis]

250-300$ (and thanks for answering my original question)





and aside from the serial number I'm not sure what the specs would be. I'll see if i can get some pictures taken of it and put them up here.

 

[Float Pilot]

There is a special lower basement in Rifle Collector Hell for people who deface classic collector rifles.

I have been looking for an old Model 99 in 250-3000 and after three years only found one for sale here in Alaska. But once I stated getting all hot and bothered the owner suddenly decided not to sell.

They are going from anywhere between $600 for beaters, to $1,800 for certain models and extras...

 

[SammyJankis]

my great grandfather hunted with it, then my grandfather, and now it's mine. I wouldnt say im defacing it. If anything im preserving it for what it's meant to do. I'd hate to see it end up in some collectors safe and just sit for years and years. I want to pass it on to my kids and I would hope that they would use it for its intended purpose as well.

 

[GooseGestapo]

I'm siding with those recommending that you not drill and tap it. I too have been long looking for a decent M99 in .250Savage. The last one I passed on was badly botched by an amateur gunsmith trying to drill and tap the hardened steel reciever. about 9 holes, and none were straight or properly tapped.....One even had a broken tap still in it. Tang was also buggered up from someone trying to mount a tang reciever sight.

I lived in the E.Georgia area for several years and routinely shoot in competition in South Carolina. The only gunsmith in South Carolina I can recommend to you is Kenny Jarrett of Jarrett Rifles, Inc.. However, I don't know if he takes on such projects. The only other one I could recommend is to try to get in touch with Lou Ciamillo at the Columbia Co. Sheriffs Office in Columbia County, Georgia (at my last contact, he was the Chief Deputy). Lou has built some fabulous competiton pistols and was the owner of Maryland Gun Works before he sold it out some years ago. I heard recently that he still "dabbles" at a little gunsmithing. At that, he even might decline to "cut" the gun. But, he might also recommend someone who could do a "decent" job of defiling it.

 

[Float Pilot]

my great grandfather hunted with it, then my grandfather, and now it's mine.

In ten years that rifle will be 100-years-old.

So in other words it has been used by Riflemen to hunt with for a period of 90 years. As it was designed and constructed, without a scope.

If suddenly there is a need to try scoping the rifle after 90 seasons of successful use, it is probably not the rifle that needs improving.

It is true that somebody has probably mounted plastic lawn chairs in a classic 65 Mustang. That doesn't mean it should be done again, nor that it was a good idea in the first place.

 

[jerkface11]

Please don't drill holes in your gun.

 

[SammyJankis]

Enuf.....not scoping it. Lotta valid points. Still gonna try and get picks up tomorrow. Thanks for the input, guess I never thought about it in such a historical perspective.

 

[shootr]

Regardless of what you decide to do or not do - that's one heck of a family heirloom!

 

[Abel]

I guess I'm just a tool guy. Its not like it was Dan'l Boon's longrifle that he kilt a bar with in the Blue Ridge Mount'ns. I've seen enough 99's with scopes on them to know that its not a defacement. The 250-3000 cartridge begs for legs and its uses are best served by an optic. Purists be damned!!!

Sidenote: I was in a pawn store last week. On the rack was a PRISTINE Remington 141 Gamemaster Pump. In 35 Rem, one of my favorite calibers. Some yo-yo had mounted a HUGE 4-14x50mm scope on it, and not a good one either. It was an abortion. To facilitate this mount, small holes had to be drilled into the barrel. I almost cried. A better mounting job by a real gunsmith could have facilitated a smaller 2-7x32mm scope that looked right and functioned perfectly. But, hey, this is America. Do what you want in your pursuit of happiness.

 

[sappyg]

I am a nut for Savage 99's. Can't waite to see some pics. Every time I work the action on mine I know these will never be produced like that again. They are truly works of art.

I sure would hate to see one of this heritage get tapped and scoped. I'm thinking that if your grandfather thought that it needed a scope he would have had one installed. I'm glad you changed your mind SJ.

 

[jerkface11]

Maybe you should look into a peep sight for it if it doesn't already have one.

 

[788Ham]

Sammy,

I realize yours is the .250 caliber, very good hunting rifle! I've got a .300 Savage in the '99, was my Pop's rifle for many, many years, I wouldn't screw up this rifle with a scope, no way, no how! If your GGgrandpa had it, then your grandpa hunted with it, don't desecrate this rifle! I'm not an authority on gun values, but its probably worth about $1000.00 - $1400.00 to a collector, or as one of the guys who answered on this thread said, he's buy it from you. I've also got a .250 my Pop bought from another friend of his, what a shooter, they'll kill anything within 200 yards of where you're sitting, don't need a scope at that range anyway!

 

[Z71]

My dad had his .300 Savage 99 drilled and tapped for a scope..the receiver was so hard..the gunsmith busted off a tap in the rear of the receiver..and botched up the hole..ended up with a much bigger tapped hole. Holds OK..but can tell that the job was botched..even under the mount.

It ain't worth it to screw up grandpa's cool old rifle..buy yourself a Savage 110 or some-such to scope..and keep grandfather's rifle as a woods gun.

 

[Kaeto]

My dad has a 99C in .308 that has had a scope on it since I can remember and I'm 52. It's not defaced, it wouldn't look right without that scope.

 

[451 Detonics]

Having it drilled and tapped properly for a scope is not defacing it in my opinion. It is a family rifle and since you intend to keep it in the family why not have it set up the way you like it. Personally I prefer receiver sights on lever guns but if you like optics have it done. Unless it is a rare variation having it drilled and tapped will not do much to it's value. There are 16 for sale on gunbroker in 250-3000...it's not that unusual a rifle.

I do find it interesting of all the ones for sale on gunbroker the only one that has been bid on was drill and tapped by the seller's father.

 

[BrocLuno]

OK, I own a 99 with a scope. Came that way to me. My dad had one w/o and almost cussed it every time he had to make a long shot. The factory sight distance is short. A Peep would lengthen the spread and help, but a good scope job would help more.

OK, so you have an original. They made about a million of them all told. It ain't like there aren't any out there. It could have been scoped by any member of your family at any time, but the decision finally rests with you, or your kids?

You don't sell guns so you don't care about value except as family heirlooms and shooters. Do your kids feel the same way? If so, forget the "value" crowd - they have a point, but it only applies if you sell. Do what your family wants. Ask you kids if they want it with, or without? If they vote for scoping (family consensus), do it.

However, I'd be very careful about doing it. I'd find a gunsmith who I really trusted to do it right with the right tools including alignment guides. Once done, it can be mostly undone by removing the bases and filling the screw holes with blind/plug screws smooth with the surface. Once the holes are there, you can mount a receiver peep on the back holes and leave plug screws in the front base holes if you wish. You and your family will have maximum flexibility in any sight configuration. that will guarantee that it gets used for the longest time for what it was created for - hunting and shooting

Adding sight screw holes properly will take maybe $25 off the sale price of the rifle. Doing so badly will ruin the gun for any resale value, except as a shooter. It's worth the time and trouble to have someone do it right - just like it would have been done in the past - good workmanship pays