Probably the rarest and hardest to fine Savage out there, They are available in 308, 243, even .358 and 284 and the last two are also rare, but in 250-3000 I have only seen a precious few and sold the last one I had was 98% overall and I sold it for $2500..

Today I got lucky on a gun sale internet blog and found one for $850. shiny worn action, mint bore, solid but worn wood, A hunter or shooter, and just what I have always wanted so I grabbed it...I'll stick a 3X Leupold on it and will shoot some deer with it this year..This one is a too rough for the collectors but the guy told me when I bought it that his phone is ringing off the hook for it!! Glad I didn't hesitate! I'll keep this one, and its a match for my 308, both look like stainless steel ( no blue left ) and the stocks are exhibition grade driftwood, but they fit my saddle scabbard and after a good glass bedding this one should shoot as well as the .308..

[QUOTE]exhibition grade driftwood{/QUOTE]

:-) very good catch.

You paid $850 for an old 99 in 250!

Didn't they have that slow twist 1-14"?

The 243 made that old a lifetime ago.

Enjoy it Ray !

Nice, Ray! I know how fond you are of this rifle in this caliber.
Savage: Wasn't it in the early 1950s that Savage dropped the old 1:14 twist for a faster one?

Bill,
The 1950s 99F, have a 1x10 twist with the exception of a few very early ones and that was because Savage turned out some from left over parts..This one is a 1x10..I had a 1x14 in mint condition and sold it for $2500 to a collector who never intended to shoot it..Yes the trasition changed between 1940 and 1950, not overnight as some seem to think, but after Savage salvaged a tremendous amount of inventory
or so I have been told by those in the know.

As to the 1x14 twist, don't ever believe they won't shoot 100 or even 117 gr. bullets. I have seen too many of them that did, but some will not, so you have to try them...So much BS has been written by experts, including the Nosler Reloading book, but its just not necessarily so.

My 1x14 take down Mod. 99G or E ?? slips my mind, will shoot 75 to 117 gr. bullets with the exception of any Nosler Bal. tip, they keyhole. but it will shoot any flat base 117 or 100 gr. bullet. Loves the 80 gr. GS Custom HPs...So much in the gun world is stated as fact, when in reality it's based on a particular rifle or caliber and guess and by gosh as fact..Not so, ya gotta shoot everyone of them and then make a decision. I have two with a 1x14 and three in a 1x10 including the 99EG I bought from you that I gave to my grandson, they all shoot 75 to 117 gr. bullets, just keep away from overly long Balistic tips and monolithics, shoot flat base bullets that are shorter, and round nose flat base will shoot in most any 1x14. again the only way you will know is try them out.

According to the Savage catalogs, Savage didn't change the ROT on their 250-3000s until 1960. All of the 250-3000 rifles made by Savage prior to 1960 were cataloged as having a 1-14" ROT, while all made after 1959 were cataloged as having a 1-10" ROT. In 1960/61, Savage cataloged the 99E and 99R in 250-3000 with a 1-14" ROT, but these rifles were put together with leftover parts.

260 remguy,
Basically you are correct..but Savage is known for exceptions and that is where your "put together" comes to surface..They have so many exceptions..

As to the 99Fs (those made in the 50s and 60s) as there are more than a few 99f,s over the years, as well as E,s for that matter, I have had F models from the the 50s and 60s with both the ROT or 1x14 and 1x10, but the majority of those 99F,s are 1x10, as is my present 99F. I am also pretty sure the same applies to the EGs, as I have owned both ROTS in them..Keeping up with what Savage did and said is a full time job for sure, and don't forget the rebarreling jobs from yesteryear, that was a often practice bach then.
The best way to be sure with 99s is to check the ROT on every one you own and in some cases before you buy one if that's critical to you, sometimes you will be surprised!

All that said, the early model 99 Savages are one of the most beautifully made and finished guns in American gun lore, mostly milled parts, rust blue, case hardened levers, beautifully polished and hand finished, well inletted walnut stocks and decent checkered..but alas too expensive to build..

Savage99,
As usual your post is without substance.

Ray,

I have nearly 300 Savage 99s, most of them pre-WW2, so I know a little bit about them. I inherited them from my Father and keep them in a bank's vault in New Hampshire, where I visit them every couple of years.

All I said is that Savage didn't catalog their 250-3000s with 1-10" until after 1959. All cataloged prior to 1960 were reported to be 1-14". There are always exceptions and special orders, but without a factory letter documenting/confirming an exception to the cataloged configuration, I am highly suspect of claims that are out of sync with the specs that Savage cataloged. My general policy is that if it isn't a cataloged spec or a documented exception, it isn't real.

Absolutely. This isn't the first time Ol' Ray has gotten his facts mixed up regarding Savage 99s.

As for the relative rarity of an F in .250? Meh. Not all THAT rare. I certainly wouldn't pay $850 for a .250 grey rat F.

I would rather have one in .250 than .243, for no really good reason other than .243s are like @ssholes- everybody's got one.

to suggest that the 1950s or 60s 99F isn't all that rare is pure BS, they are extremely rare and I will pay $1000 for everyone you can find me in 80% or better condition, and I will sell them for twice that money..Money talks and BS walks, so find me some 99F from the 1950s and 60s!! and make a few bucks....That's a very strange name and reeks of Savage 99 repor and his written word, are you guys twins..

260 Remguy,
I have no argument with your post as its correct, other than that I have been a Savage collector for many years and because Savage used parts to put guns together at one time it has been a basis for confusion over the years to many collectors..Thats all I said, I think you misinterped my post.

Perhaps that is it, no harm, no foul.

Also, since Savage changed the barrel thread specs in 1960, going from square threads to "V" threads, it would be quite difficult and probably quite unsafe to install a barrel intended for a tang safety 99 on a pre-1960 lever safety 99.

The cataloged square thread exceptions being the 99E and 99R cataloged in 1960, so that Savage could sell off existing warehouse inventory, what folks generally refer to as "new, old stock".

I suspect that's a trueism..