Savage 99 EG in 308 win

[bmeagle]

I've found a Savage 99 here in South Africa that the owner wants to sell.
I really like this idea of a lever action in 308 win for hunting.
This particular rifle was rebarreled with a musgrave barrel, but the nagging question is what was the original calibre 300 savage or 308 win.
It is an EG model with serial 5052xx indicating it was manufactured in 1949.
I have a couple of photos the current owner sent me but none that shows a calibre marking.
What can I lookout for to determine the original calibre?

[Mad Dog]

If he doesn't have the original barrel the only way to know what it was prior would be a factory letter.

I'm surprised with such an early gun that they can even get it to shoot correctly, the receivers weren't modified to shoot 308 till 1956.

I'd see a red flag if I saw it for sale. Seeing as how Savage never even chambered the 308 till 1956.

[bmeagle]

Here are the pics which I have.
Maybe I'm using an incomplete serial number to date the rifle.

[JRexA]

Maybe Musgrave reworked the rifle to work with .308 win.

Original Caliber for that age is either .250 Savage or .300 Savage.

Without checking the original barrel, it is impossible to know which.

There is a nice article about the post WWII Savage 99 here: http://www.cgca.com/Documents/2013March.pdf

[JRexA]

I would test shoot it, to check function, before buying.

[Mad Dog]

I'm wondering if they had to rework the rotor to get the 308 shells to feed properly?

[JRexA]

I doubt that they had to rework much. Remember that the .308 Win is based on the .300 Savage

[bmeagle]

What about the length difference and the pressure difference?

[JRexA]

I guess that the 12% pressure difference is handled by better metals used in 1948+ than in 1920, when the 300 Savage was introduced. Or likely the system was already a bit stronger than needed, for the 300 Savage

[JRexA]

As for the cartridge lenght, that is why i reccomend, that it should be test fired. to check the function of the rifle.

But if the catridges for the mag, it should not be a great concern. After all, this is not a tube feeder.

[bmeagle]

You're saying the longer 308 cartridges should fit in the mag?
The oal might just be a bit limited if it does function?

[JRexA]

I have no idea if they fit the mag. That is why I recommend test firing it.

[bczrx]

Wasn't .308 a new cartridge in 1954?

I have a 54 .300 eg an 57 .308f.

bolt is same length and so is action.

I believe savage's receiver upgrade for .308 happened mid 50s.

If you shoot it, i wouldn't fire any .308 above middle of hottness of rounds.

No max .308 loads.

But cycle rounds to check funtion and have headspacing checked.

[Mad Dog]

They opened up the action in late 1955 for the 308 cartridge. It wasn't catalogued till 1956 but I've seen a few 308's with 1955 date codes on them, from around 900.000 to around 902.000.

The receivers prior to that were not made to handle the 308's.

[bczrx]

They opened up the action in late 1955 for the 308 cartridge. It wasn't catalogued till 1956 but I've seen a few 308's with 1955 date codes on them, from around 900.000 to around 902.000.

The receivers prior to that were not made to handle the 308's.

Two questions:

How was receiver 'opened up'? I am purely guessing, but maybe a hint more space for rear travel of bolt?

Other than 'opening up', how else was receiver modified? Better steel?

I am just curious as i would like to know what, precisely, to measure as a distinction between my 54 300 and 57 308.

I am NOT challenging you, or disagreeing with you.

I honestly want to know what the change was, and how to look for it.

[Mad Dog]

They changed the internals so that the longer cartridges would fit. If you put a 308, 243 or a 358 into an action under the 900,000 serial number it shouldn't fit. The actions on the post 900,000 receivers were longer than pre 900,000.