Savage 99 experts come aboard!

[Cucumber]

I was fortunate enough to recently acquire a Savage 99C in a .308 Winchester (24" barrel) in very good condition, and was wondering if you model 99 experts out there could give me some info.

I am guessing that this rifle is under 40 years old, as it has the clip and top tang safety, as well as being drilled/tapped for scope mounts, but by giving the serial #, could I find out roughly the year it was manufactured? There are two numbers located on the rifle:

The number located on the lower left side of the magazine (just above where the clip fastens, is A173632

The patent (located on the RH side in front of the magazine, next to the front scope mounting taps) is 3,281,979.

Also, do any of you know what the 99C's rate of twist is for the .308 in a 24" barrel?

My dad bought two matching 99C's in a .243 Win back in the mid 70's; one for himself and the other for my young uncle that was living with us. I killed my first buck with it and a handful of others before finally buying my own .270 Win after graduating HS. I'd love to have that .243 of his as well, but my youngest brother inherited it with his passing. Reassuring to know it's still in the family, but I'm always looking for a buy on a good 99.

Any input will be graciously accepted.

 

[rbernie]

If it has a detachable magazine instead of the rotary mag, it's a end-of-the-run model. I don't know exactly when they switched over to the drop magazine, but as best I can tell it was sometime between 1971 and 1977.