Braxton Taylor
History
Named after the year it was conceived, the Savage Model 1899 (eventually shortened to Model 99 in 1921) was a highly innovative hunting rifle for the turn of the twentieth century. It sported an internal hammer, cocking indicator, and brass round counter on the side of the receiver. Also, unlike its tube-fed contemporaries, the 99’s rotary style magazine allowed for spitzer style bullets, so it wasn’t limited to flat nose cartridges like the Winchester 94 or Marlin 336.
In fact, shortly after WWI, Savage introduced the .300 Savage, which boasted the same ballistic performance as the .30-06 at that time. The .300 Savage skyrocketed, and other gun manufacturers took advantage of Savage’s brainchild. While it’s still a solid hunting round today, the rise of the .308 sealed its future in obscurity.
Features
The M99’s rotary style magazine immortalized this rifle, but other features made it one of the best hunting rifles of all time. Internally, the 99’s lever connects to a breech block that locks the action as the lever is closed. This solid action allowed for high-pressured cartridges. Rather than a typical “brush gun,” the Savage 99’s design made it a lever action capable of impressive ballistic feats for the time.
The cocking indicator, round counter, and lever-locking safety were a few other innovative trademarks of the M99 that made (and still make) sense for a big woods hunting rifle.
Even the fit and finish of the M99 scream deer hunting rifle. The two-part stock, which features a separate fore-end and buttstock, make shouldering the rifle comfortable and natural. The metal, rounded receiver also sits nicely in your hand, which makes it a joy to tote, so much so, that I removed the sling that came with the M99 I bought.
Availability
Savage discontinued the M99 in 1997. By then, the company had changed hands multiple times since its inception, and the rising costs made it impractical to continue their beloved lever action.
While Savage probably won’t resurrect the M99, there are plenty of used ones floating around gun shops across the country. If you’re in the market for one, don’t expect to find a decent M99 for less than $800, and immaculate ones can run double that. It’s a lot of cash for a rifle that begs for hard hunting, but I can’t think of a rifle that’s more fun to deer hunt with.
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