rbernie
Contributing Member
Years ago, I sold my .308 Savage 99C to help pay for some work to my house. At the time, I was kinda disappointed in the girth and weight of the Savage, and really wanted a lighter/slimmer levergun. I thought that the 99's striker-fired action was odd and really wished that it had the 'proper' exposed external hammer. Of course, I didn't realize at the time that my only other choice for a levergun chambered in a rimless high-pressure cartidge was the even-mo'-unsightly-to-my-eyes and very expensive Browning. Once I realized my mistake, it was too late - the 99s had risen dramatically in price ($450+) and .308 versions had become scarcer than hen's teeth.
Today at a local gun show, I saw two 99Es in 308 and one 99F in 308, along with one 99E in 243. (Talk about feast-or-famine....) I really debated on the 243, but wound up springing for the relatively late-production (S/N 110xxx, pressed checkering on the stock but still a rotary magazine) 99F Featherweight in 308. It's a bit dirty around the edges and needs a good cleaning, but all in all I'm a happy camper. I could have spend an extra $75 and gotten an earlier (S/N 88xxxx) 99E, but I decided to trade the lighter weight of the Featherweight against any possible reduction in quality in the later production version. Here she is:
Heck, If I thought I could get away with it I'd go back for the 243. Then all I'd need is a 99F in .358 and I'd be set...
Today at a local gun show, I saw two 99Es in 308 and one 99F in 308, along with one 99E in 243. (Talk about feast-or-famine....) I really debated on the 243, but wound up springing for the relatively late-production (S/N 110xxx, pressed checkering on the stock but still a rotary magazine) 99F Featherweight in 308. It's a bit dirty around the edges and needs a good cleaning, but all in all I'm a happy camper. I could have spend an extra $75 and gotten an earlier (S/N 88xxxx) 99E, but I decided to trade the lighter weight of the Featherweight against any possible reduction in quality in the later production version. Here she is:
Heck, If I thought I could get away with it I'd go back for the 243. Then all I'd need is a 99F in .358 and I'd be set...
