I just got my old Savage 99e in .243 back from my dad. This was the first gun I owned except for a BB gun. I packed it around Montana while growing up and used it for deer, antelope, and yes even took it elk hunting. I know its a bit on the light side for elk, but I recall shooting at an elk once or twice while dad was also shooting his 30-06 at it - never did hit it. Great deer/antelope gun though. I had my dad send it to me as I got wind that my brother in law was thinking it would be good for his kid, after they chop the stock as it was too long for him.
Uhhhhhh no. Not going to happen.
So anyway, it showed up today and the stock is a bit rough, got a crappy Tasco scope on it that dad says won't hold a zero at high magnifications. Blueing is nice considering how much this thing has been packed around.
But after doing a little digging on Savage99.com, I think that this is probably not an original stock anyway. It's definitely not walnut - probably more along the lines of birch. That site also says that the 99e model came with a straight stock vs pistol grip and a steel butt plate. Mine has a pistol grip with a plastic butt plate.
Any experts out there that can tell me if the stock is possibly original? I am seriously pondering going to Boyds (as I live in SD) and seeing what they can do for a nice new walnut stock. But if by some chance the gun is original I don't want to screw it up and decrease the value.
Oh, and how do I tell how old it is? SN is B583xxx
Uhhhhhh no. Not going to happen.
So anyway, it showed up today and the stock is a bit rough, got a crappy Tasco scope on it that dad says won't hold a zero at high magnifications. Blueing is nice considering how much this thing has been packed around.
But after doing a little digging on Savage99.com, I think that this is probably not an original stock anyway. It's definitely not walnut - probably more along the lines of birch. That site also says that the 99e model came with a straight stock vs pistol grip and a steel butt plate. Mine has a pistol grip with a plastic butt plate.
Any experts out there that can tell me if the stock is possibly original? I am seriously pondering going to Boyds (as I live in SD) and seeing what they can do for a nice new walnut stock. But if by some chance the gun is original I don't want to screw it up and decrease the value.
Oh, and how do I tell how old it is? SN is B583xxx