Savage 99 - 308 Win or 300 Sav

[Kaeto]

My dad has a Savage 99C in .308, and I believe he got it during the '50s.

 

[Gordon]

Got rid of 6 Savage 99s and kept the 99F .308 . Glad I did !

 

[Badger_Girl]

Thanks for the info so far. I am not totally certain when they were made, but I am pretty sure they are from the 50s or early 60s. Unfortunately, the lever boss codes are unreadable for me. I will try to get some pics later tonight. I haven't shot them yet, so accuracy might be the deciding factor.

 

[jmorris]

You already have both and they won't go down in value over the next year or two while you use both and pick the one you like the best (or decide to keep both).

That said I would keep the one that is most valuable.

 

[2dswamp]

If keeping both of them is not an option, keep the .300. Classic cartridge in a classic rifle.

Buy a couple, three boxes of ammo now and it will last you many deer seasons to come.

Of course, my advice hinges on the assumption that the .300 shoots straight

 

[Vern Humphrey]

Originally posted by rcmodel
The Savage 99 isn't a reloaders gun.

The rear locking bolt allows a lot of action springing, and brass doesn't last long no matter what you do.

My hunting buddy had one years ago in 300 Savage and it was a 1MOA rifle any time, and where.
m
But cases lasted three shots, at best.

You may be right -- the 99 IS springy, and it also lacks caming power on extraction. I stick with recommended starting loads and avoid problems.

 

[redneck2]

As for performance, it's relatively easy to make .300 brass from .308. Uses virtually identical cases. I believe the biggest difference is that the neck on the .300 is 2/10ths shorter. IIRC, .300 is loaded to lower pressures.

As noted, I'd take some really good pix and check with the guys at 24 Hour Campfire. There are a ton of guys in the savage forum.

 

[mavracer]

I'd have to keep the 300 Savage hands down.

 

[Carl N. Brown]

I personally have been trying to pare down based on the idea of simplifying my ammo suppy situation by selecting calibers based on availibility or my reloadability.

When the local gunshop has a Savage 99 I always look and wish. So far I have resisted strong temptation to acquire one.

A Savage 99 in .308 is practical.

But a Savage 99 in .300 Savage is historically correct.

Either choice is good.

 

[stiab]

I am so surprised that Midway shows 300 Savage in stock...

I surprised you are surprised, 300 Savage is available in lots of gun shops that I haunt. You probably don't see it as much since you are in the deep South, but many shops and even big box stores in the North stock it.

To the OP, I'd definitely keep the .300 and let the .308 go since you have another .308. Then you would have a cool caliber in a cool gun, and trust me the ammo is not that hard to find.

 

[Speedo66]

What do you see as your intended purpose for the gun? Do you want it as a range gun, collectible, or a few times a season hunting rifle?

If you don't intend to shoot it a lot, but rather just hold it, admire it, appreciate a fine old piece of American craftsmanship, then a box or two of store bought .300 Savage ammo would cover you for years. Same for use as a hunting implement. All other things being equal, in addition, it would probably be the better collectible piece too.

If you intend to spend considerable range time with it, shooting boxes of ammo at a time, then the .308 is the obvious choice in your situation.

 

[goon]

99 Savages in .300 Savage were popular in my family, and they're still around as heirlooms, but I'd take the 308. Logistics wins.

It's true though that .300 Savage ammo is still available enough. But .308 still wins in that you can find something in a cheap FMJ for practice - since you won't be reloading.

But the truth is that there isn't much support or replacement parts around for them since they're out of production. I'd get a spare extractor or two, maybe a firing pin too, and plan on only using it enough to enjoy it without beating the poor ol' girl up too much.

 

[dragon813gt]

Spare parts are still fairly easy to find unless it's for small production run guns like 358 and 375 Winchester. And there is always the option of buying one of the many Bubba 99s on the cheap if you really need spare parts. I have a few for just this purpose.

 

[Savage99]

If they are both drilled and tapped for scope mount bases then pick the 308. It will be easier to find ammo for it.

However the condition or other details may matter too.

What about the fit of each rifle? Your a lady and might find the length of pull on one rifle or the other fits you better.

I have hunted with a 99F .358 Win since 1966 and have taken the most game with it.

Put a 2-7X Leupold on it.

 

[natman]

I recently acquired 2 nice early 50s Savage 99s. One is 308 Win, the other is 300 Savage. I am going to keep one, and let go of the other.

Assuming all other things are equal (condition, accuracy, function, etc), which would you keep and why?

I am not currently and have no plans to start reloading.

If you don't reload, the 308 is the only sensible choice. 308 ammo is widely available and will remain so for the foreseeable future. 300 Savage is obsolescent. Ammo for it is hard to find and expensive when you do and is only going to get worse.

 

[Gtscotty]

Yep, .308 is the direction I would go if I were you... Heck, it's the direction I would go as well, and I do reload. Ammo will be easier to find, and available in much more variety. If you do start reloading one day, .308 can be loaded down to mimic .300 Savage level loads. I may be an outlier, but I'm done fooling around with oddball or obsolete cartridges that don't offer any advantage over Walmart specials. Unless the .300 holds some sentimental or collectors value, I'd kick it to the curb.

 

[Kaeto]

I'm trying to get my dad to let me have his 99C since he no longer hunts. I also am trying to get his Obendorf Swedish Mauser so I can de-sporterize it.

 

[.455_Hunter]

.300 is the way to go for a classic 99.

 

[Rockrivr1]

I inherited my Dad's 99 in 300 Savage when he passed and it's my go to rifle when I'm out deer hunting. This rifle has taken many deer as well as a black bear and I definitely do not feel under gunned when out in the field. In the Northeast most shots are 100 yards or less so this round and gun is perfect for that.

As to availability of ammo, several places local to me carry it so I'm not worried about it going away anytime soon. There are so many of these rifles still around I don't see it going away as the demand is still high.

I have a number of rifles in 308, so I don't need another one. 300 Savage and a 99 go hand in hand.

 

[sayak]

My experience, and many others, differs quite a bit. I get well over three reloads per case across a bunch of different cartridges. Only real issue I've run into is needing a small base die when forming 300 Savage from LC 308 brass. It's only needed when forming. After that normal dies work fine.

I would keep both. A 99 chambered in 300 Savage is a quintessential hunting rifle. I'd send the 308 off to JES and have it rebored to 358 Winchester. It's what I did, granted it was an E model, and I couldn't be happier.

The OP did not mention which models he purchased. This should be part of the decision as certain features command more money.

I have two in .300 Sav., an EG and a T, and I have an F in .358 Win.that used to be a .308. Yes, have JES bore it to .358 Win, or .338 Fed and you'll have a nice big bore to compliment your .300.
Reloading for any of the 99s isn't any kind of a problem that I've experienced, but I can also still buy .300 Sav. off the shelf with no problem so I pick up a new box from time to time to keep up my brass supply. .308 brass is easily transformed into .358.

 

[bannockburn]

The practical side of me says go with the more readily available ammo of the .308. The more traditionalist says a Savage 99 ought to be in .300 Savage. At the end of the day though the practical side would probably win out and I would opt for the .308.

Should have been a poll to vote on the question. Wouldn't be surprised if it went 50/50 when all was said and done.

 

[kozak6]

A buddy of mine bought one in .300 Savage a few years back.

Not even Cabela's had ammo for it. I don't know if the factories were between production runs or what, but there wasn't a round to be found. We couldn't find a box anywhere.

I don't know if he even got to shoot it before he got pissed off and sold it.

On the other hand, .308 is one of the most popular cartridges in America.

 

[CaptTripps]

Keep the .300. It is a SAVAGE 99 and the .300 SAVAGE is a classic round, in that rifle. I have a mid-30s M99 in .300 and carry it every year at least part of deer season. I see ammo in a lot of shops here in NW PA/SW NY.

 

[1948CJ2A]

If a local sporting goods store doesn't stock 300 Sav ammo, you can find it online if you can wait a few days on the shipping.

http://www.midwayusa.com/s?targetLocation=%2F_%2FN-0%2B653%3FNp%3D2%26Nr%3DAND%2528p_visible%253A1%252Ccustomertypeid%253A1%2529%26Nrpp%3D24%26Ntpc%3D1%26Ntpr%3D1%26Ntt%3D300%2Bsavage

https://www.natchezss.com/catalogsearch/result/?q=300%20savage

Reloading for this cartridge is fine (I do it) in a model 99 but you don't want to load it up too hot. Factory ballistics are really what you're after. Same traffic for the 308 in this rifle. You don't want hot loads here. 150 gr bullets for both cartridges are the ticket. The ballistics are going to be very close so I wouldn't give that a huge amount of weight.

Depending on the models is really where the desirability is. Check out this for detailed info: http://www.savageshooters.com/content.php?166-What-model-99-do-I-have

The 99Es were the least desirable. If your 308 is a 99E and your 300 is anything else, the 300 has more collector value.

 

[dragon813gt]

The 99Es were the least desirable. If your 308 is a 99E and your 300 is anything else, the 300 has more collector value.

Did you forget about the 99C? The Es are bare bones. But at least they have a rotary magazine and lever safety. The C is a bastard child w/ it's clip feed design. The Es are perfect conversion rifles.