Savage 99 re-do (as requested).

[mbogo2106]

So I posted in the hunting forum about my Savage 99 getting things done again this year on another mule deer. I mentioned in that post that I had re-done the rifle as it came to me a little used and abused. I am by no means a professional but I do like tinkering with such things. So here’s a picture tour of the “freshening” of a Savage 99.
Before we start though, a little history. As a kid, I cut my teeth on dad’s 99 in .300 Savage. It was a choice between that or a Browning BLR in 7mm-08 that dad purchased soon after the BLR was introduced. I always gravitated toward the 99. Especially after hearing stories of success with that rifle. Heck, dad always said that when elk season came around, grandpa would borrow a 99 in 300 for elk hunting as it was a better elk cartridge than is ever present 25-35 Win. So fast forward a lot of years and rifles later and I still found myself without a 99. Although ever present on my list of guns to acquire, others always took precedent. Then one day, talking with a good friend of mine he asked if I knew anyone interested in a 99 as he had three. This was a tounge in cheek moment as we had only been talking about it for months prior. He said he had two .300’s and a .308. He wanted to keep the .308 but I was welcome to the other two. I checked them over and made my pick. If I had been a little more flush at the time they would have both come home with me.
As it was they both showed definite use and maybe a little abuse. Here’s how she looked when I got it.

[mbogo2106]

As you can see, the wood had dings, scratches and a few big gouges, not the least of which is that big hunk of wood missing from the Schnabel. Someone had thought it prudent to scratch their social security or other number into the bottom of the receiver with nail or something. The bluing was worn as well and I was not sure about the scope. It is an old steel tube Weaver medalist, 3-9x variable. I hadn’t seen to many variable scopes of that age and again wondered about keeping or replacing it. It was bright enough however with no major flaws that I could see as of yet. I really hated the sling mounts on the rifle however. Those big, gaudy steel tubes sticking out of the fore end and stock. Definitely needed to get rid of them. I did not intend for this to be a collectors item but wanted to hunt it. So my plan was to make things look good but not to make it look like it came from the factory yesterday. This was a hunting rifle after all.

The glass

[mbogo2106]

Finish stripped and a little light steaming and sanding. What to do with those holes where the sling studs were mounted?
And that chunk of wood missing from the forend?

[mbogo2106]

More sanding and a new grip cap fashioned out of buffalo horn.

[mbogo2106]

Fix for the Schnabel. A piece of walnut matched best I could with what I had, a chisel, some glue, rasp and sandpaper and here’s what I ended up with.

[mbogo2106]

Draw file, sand, polish and some blueing touch up.

[mbogo2106]

Homemade walnut stain, Tru-oil and we’re finished. Now off to the range. The hole in the forend from the sling stud was filled with another piece of walnut. A buffalo horn shield covered the one in the stock.

[mbogo2106]

Gleaned a box of loaded ammo and three boxes of brass from dad. Note the $6.19 price on the box😳. Stuffed some 150 Partitions over 41 grains of Varget and off to the range. When I removed the scope for refinishing there were a bunch of shims under the rear scope base. I left them out and shot one. Holy cow!!! Three feet low. Put the shims back in and you can see by the target that this thing wants to shoot. The scope tracked perfectly and so it’s probably staying permanently.

[mbogo2106]

In the field. I find myself reaching for this more often than not. Probably to the chagrin of the rest of my rifles. Thanks for looking.

[cable]

great work ! really nice rifle now and obviously a real performer !

[bigbrowndog]

For an actual hunting rifle, they are great guns. Those that wish to shoot game from afar can find no pleasure in a rifle meant to be hunted with, one that requires closing the distance instead of sniping at game.

Trapr

[zeus]

Nice work bud! Looks great. Love those old rifles. I’ve found myself going back to the old roots more and more lately.

GS

[squawberryman]

It was hard to see the gun but for the pile of horns. Thanks for the show sir, nice job.

[parallaxbill]

There's nothing like hunting with a classic rifle/scope combination, even if it has to be renewed now and then.
Nice work!

[45MAN]

EXCELLENT PICTORIAL, CLASSY LOOKING GUN.