savage 99

[bruce moulds]

a guy showed me a savage 99 today, the first I have seen up close.
it appeared to be in 22 high power, and sported a lyman peep sight as well as a rear barrel sight.
no chambering was written on the firearm, including under the forearm which is removeable.
this suggested a reasonable early model.
foresight is a sensibly sized bead.
the action appeared not to have done a lot of work, feeling smooth and solid.
the trigger was very good for a factory rifle, much better than many modern rifles.
bluing was still good and the wood had a high varnish finish, worn a little in places.
it appears that norma still makes this ammo.
would anyone know where to get 0.227 or 0.228 diameter bullets for reloading this cartridge?
apparently savage recommended this cartridge for tiger shooting. not for me thank you!
keep safe,
bruce.

[Nuclearcricket]

Bruce, you may want to ask around over on ASSRA.com, lots of old pack rats over on there and they may be able to help you out. There is not a thing wrong with a good 99 Savage. Strength of a bolt gun and the speed of a lever action.
Sam

[Dan Cash]

Were that my gun, it would be my excuse to start swaging bullets. I already reload. Sorry, no idea about a steady supply for factory projectiles.

[Mike]

Savage, in those early years, had the habit of shooting over-sized bullets. The .303 Savage pushed a .311" bullet through a .308" groove diameter bore. Likewise, the .22 High Power used a .228" bullet with a .225" groove diameter bore. Generally, a .22 HP will shoot very well with 60 grain .224" bullets but you should put a .223"
expander plug in the sizing die so the bullets will be held nicely in the neck of the case. Shooting the .224" bullets will add greater lifetime to your brass. The tapered cases for the .22 HP do stretch but they stretch the most when used with the .228" bullets. Also, the .22 HP does quite nicely with cast bullets, keeping velocities down to about 2000 fps. It is an interesting gun to play with and my own .22 HP was made in 1913. My gun is equipped with the additional .410 barrel which allows shooting 2 1/2" shells, single shot of course, and I also have three of the Marbles Auxiliary cartridges which allow .22 rimfires to be used. I mostly shoot the .22 Short CB Caps with the "cartridge," mainly as a trapline gun. Hornady might still make their pointed 70 grain .227" buillets for the European market where the .22 HP is still rather popular, known I believe as the 5.6 X 52R. But that Hornady bullet is too long for the Savage's 1 in 12" twist and much better performance will be seen with the 60 grain .224" bullets. This, of course, is assuming the rifle you've seen still has the Savage barrel or a copy of it. Most 5.6 X 52R rifles have a faster twist, 1 turn in 10" or so. And Savage never did actually recommend their .22 HP for hunting tigers but a missionary in China did use one with tremendous success, it was the only rifle he had. Savage did use him in their advertising along with claims of the power of the fastest (at that time) bullet for a sporting cartridge. The .22 High Power is an interesting study. Shoot sharp, Mike

[bruce moulds]

thanks mike.
nothing like personal experience.
will probably try some 60 gn bullets.
what powders work in this calibre?
keep safe,
bruce.

[Don McDowell]

Bruce you can get factory loaded rounds thru your Sellier &Belloit dealer.
You can form brass from 30-30 or 25-35.

[Mike]

Bruce, I think my favorite powder to use with jacketed bullets was #3031. #4320 would also do well. I won't have any idea about data with the newer powders. Shoot sharp, Mike

[Don McDowell]

Mike did I tell you that Doc picked up a take down 99 that looks like it could still have the hang tag on it in 22 hipower?

[Mike]

And did you tell Doc that he really didn't need it? Tell me, does it have a pistol grip? I'm wondering if it is a G model. I had a 99G in .22 HP but it was certainly used. Shoot sharp, Mike

[Don McDowell]

You know I can't remember if it had the pistol grip butt or not, but I'm thinking it did. I was just so awestruck by the absolute lack of wear on the thing.. There wasn't even any crud build up around the chamber counter.