A Couple of classic Deer Rifles

Time to shoot these fine rifles.

[@Rucksack57]

As. Kid in the sixties and seventies our deer camp was full of these rifles. .243,.250.300 Savage.

[@dennispritchardoutdoors7882]

Back then most hunters knew what a great rifle was. Not so in this day of the “Tactical “ junk.

[@Buddha-of8fk]

Here in PA those are very popular rifles.

[@Zorbawon]

Great video, full of interesting information.

[@dennispritchardoutdoors7882]

Thank you for watching and for commenting.

[@gunguy2026]

I love your videos, it’s mind blowing to see how much we have in common. I have about a half dozen Ruger No 3s and the same in No 1s. My favorite rifle is the Remington 700. I own a farm in Missouri and have been working on guns since I was 18 I’m 53 now. I also have a good looking woman, ha ha.

[@dennispritchardoutdoors7882]

My goodnesses it is amazing how much we have in common!! Rifles, lands, and good looking wives!!!! Does it get any better than that? Thank you for watching and for your comments. Dennis

[@BradleyAdams-nj5hc]

​@@dennispritchardoutdoors7882trade ya my rifle for your woman. Ha ha ha .just jokin.

[@kesleycottrell1416]

It's awesome when the good old reliable load. Our family uses 99's so l have had a good loads for .300 and .250-3000. As far as at the range l have the same problem. I'm always at the Sportsman club longer than what I should. My wife understands and figures if l say 1 hour it could be 2 or 3.

[@dennispritchardoutdoors7882]

I have it made being as I have a shooting range here on the farm!!!

[@Rucksack57]

A rifle way ahead of its time.

[@dennispritchardoutdoors7882]

You have that right for a fact.

[@NordicRifleman]

Awesome rifles! The wood and blueing on that 94 is out of this world 😍

[@dennispritchardoutdoors7882]

Thank you Sir

[@daviddahl4148]

I bought a Savage 99 in 243 Win. in the 80’s, it had trouble with the dove tail that holds the forearm on. Being young, I just traded it off. Now that I’m in my 60’s, I wish I had that rifle back.

[@dennispritchardoutdoors7882]

We all have regrets. But that doesn’t help does it?

[@raytribble8075]

You have classic taste young man. I have a Model 99 in a take down in .300 Savage and a 1947 M99 in .300 Savage. The take down is still open sight and shoots minute of milk jug at 200 yards all day. The other one was drilled and tapped by the gentleman I bought it from and I scoped it and she is 1 to 1-1/4” at 100 yards proper. I have taken cow elk with both, several white tails and a few dozen hogs. You can always trim .200” off of .308 Win brass and run them through your 300 Savage sizing die and trim to length for easy build on your own brass. Awesome shooting by the way. God bless

[@dennispritchardoutdoors7882]

Well good morning Mr Ray. Very interesting comments that you made. Always good to hear from a fellow Savage. I too have a 99G takedown made in 1823 and of course in .300 Sav. I loved your “minute of milk jug” comment. Got a chuckle out of that one. I have posted a few videos featuring the 99s and have a few more in the works. I love the 99 and I prefer them chambered for the .300 Savage. That little caliber is simply awesome. Most younger guys go for the .308, and ignore the .300, and that is a shame. I have had tons of 99s go through my shop, in virtually every possible caliber. The .300s always are quite accurate while most .308s are a bit picky as to what they want to shoot. The .300s are just plain accurate. Speaking of my 99 Takedown, I did a video awhile back called “ Walk with a Savage” which features that fine old rifle. One of your comments really intrigue’s me. You said you have taken several dozen hogs with your rifles. We have no hogs in my part of the country. Personally I wish we did. Everyone talks about what a problem they are and want rid of them. But if someone would want to hunt them, and help in the control of them, it cost that person a small fortune. As a person who lives in a hog free area, it appears that those who have hogs want to charge folks to help rid them of their problems. And then you see on TV guys who are paid to control hogs and yet I can find no place where I can hunt them without paying some crazy fee. A crazy situation if you ask me. All you hear is what a problem the wild hogs are and yet it seems impossible to find a place to hunt them. Go figure. Keep on enjoying your 99’s Sir and thank you for your thoughtful comments. Dennis

[@raytribble8075]

Good morning back to you Mr. Dennis sir, I admit that I recently found your channel and you look a lot like my good friend and bother I never had who I call Bear Claw. He came up from Texas to hunt with me in Wyoming back in 2004 and I dropped a 6X6 bull elk with a 14” barreled XP-100 I built in 1986 in .358 Winchester. As I crossed the draw to go get my hands on that bull, I crossed a bunch of buried beaver, the left front shoulder of a horse and a bunch of bones and it looked like someone poured a jar of jam on the ground and the first thing I realized was I was standing in a big bears pantry. Anyhow, we got the bull cleaned up and quartered, then packed it out on the ponies. Since we left the inthralls and rib cage at the kill sight, we made a make shift ground blind out of some dead fall about 150 yards away so we had a good view. I was showing a few other hunting buddies below the canyon on the Big Sandy River some good elk areas the next morning when I heard a shot echo down the canyon. It took me an hour plus to climb back up that 1600 feet back to the ground blind and found Bear Claw and another freind aka Mossy (we all have camp names as I am elk horn) standing over a 500 plus pound monster black bear. BC had shot him as he was carrying the entire rib cage of that elk down to hide him next to all the other critters. I share this story as we have all been hunting with each other for 30 plus years and I have seen many a new and classic firearms brought to the high country. In all those years, I have only ran across one other Hunter packing a Savage 99 on a New Mexico deer hunt in 2006. They are a beautiful rifle and two of my grandsons will wind up with mine someday. As for the hogs, I transferred with the company I worked for for 41 years to Texas back in 2009. I have another good friend and brother with a ranch in south Texas and they are covered up with hogs. I build custom flintlocks (for me) since I got burned out in building bolt guns. A .600”, 330 grain cast round ball over 120 grains of 2F Swiss from a 38” rifled Colerain barrel put a hog down in a hurry under 100 yards… she drops like a brick after that. Anyhow, I get to hunt them for free and yes sir, folks got greedy and started charging to hunt hogs. I now live west of Houston out in the country and they are all around me between the Brazos and Colorado rivers and they get big out here in the farm land. But like you, I won’t pay $150 a day to help someone exterminate their 4 legged crop problem. I have a lot of your videos left to watch sir and I am getting ready to go back home to Wyoming to go chase one more antelope with a flintlock. But I will watch them as I can ole Pard. God bless and keep them milk jugs lined up center.

[@bullseyedixon5660]

I THANK YOU FOR TEACHING PR0PER LEVER TECHNIQUE @ AGE 78 GOD BLESS

[@dennispritchardoutdoors7882]

Are you 78? I am 80!! Thank you for watching.

[@bullseyedixon5660]

@@dennispritchardoutdoors7882 a old 78. a true collector not a hunter . have no desire to kill. beautiful to watch

[@dennispritchardoutdoors7882]

@@bullseyedixon5660 the kill is anti climatic. It’s the hunt that matters.

[@JnJTrueOutdoorAdventures]

Love the Savage 99 and the Winchester 94, but I would hunt more with the 99 because like you said, it is so much smoother to operate. Thanks for this video, Dennis. Always look forward to watching your videos. Juddie - J & J TOA

[@dennispritchardoutdoors7882]

You Sir are a man after my own heart.

[@southeastohiooutdoor]

Well said blued steel and walnut is the way to go even my 19 year old son can recognize this

[@dennispritchardoutdoors7882]

Yes Sir!! Blue steel and walnut! You have a rare Son. Most are “Tactical “!!!! Another word for ugly.

[@jgibbs5118]

Good to watch, I'm in the habit of not firing my guns on an empty chamber after I managed to bust the firing pin on my stevens 77M pump shotgun when I was a kid back in 1961, always use snapcaps nowadays. Too old to change now.

[@dennispritchardoutdoors7882]

Always a good idea to use snap caps. I use them myself from time to time, but mostly I just dry fire away!!!

[@matthewpressley4604]

Great video, love those old rifles!

[@dennispritchardoutdoors7882]

Thanks.

[@waynedylo5007]

Hi Dennis . I really love your channel . As a 50+ year spoonplugger & gun nut your content is the best . I also share your love for the Ruger # 1 & Savage 99's . I have one of each & they are great rifles . I love to see those stripers wack those fast & 500 spoonpluggs . Keep up the great work . God bless . Wayne D. , from Illinois Spoonpluggers .

[@dennispritchardoutdoors7882]

Well good morning fellow Spoonplugger Great to hear from like minded folks. Seems we have a lot in common Sir. Ruger No 1’s, Savage 99’s and Spoonplugging!!! And having those Hybrids and Stripers smash your Sooonplug at speeds of 5-7 mph is awesome. Have to admit that I love fishing for them when such fast speeds are required. The strike is bone jarring! Thank you so very much for watching and commenting. And keep those Spoonplugs running true. Dennis

[@davemaddox544]

@@dennispritchardoutdoors7882 What calibre is the Savage 99 David Nz

[@mattgeiger1979]

Dear Mr. Pritchard you have zero flinch my friend.

[@dennispritchardoutdoors7882]

I try to avoid that little goblin!!!!

[@davidwiggings6951]

Beautiful Gun!!!!

[@dennispritchardoutdoors7882]

Thank you,

[@brucehudson3241]

You said that right. Newer manufactured guns may shoot well, but they don’t have a soul. I was just looking in a sporting goods store this evening and the rifles there were all 308 and 6.5 Creedmoor plastic guns (nothing wrong with the cartridges by the way). That is what sells. But, they were very unattractive and makes me think they are a Lego set.

[@dennispritchardoutdoors7882]

Gone are the days when you could go to a gun store and spend a lot of time drooling over all the beautiful rifles. Back then I wanted just about every rifle I saw. Now I want none of what is on display.

[@michaeldickerson873]

A really great video Sir. I just tried to research my model 1899 in 308, has real fancy walnut showing burl grain and pistol grip with Monte Carlo stock, jeweled bolt, brass counter, forend is schnoebel furniture. I think it may be a 99 DL, it H boss code- made in 1956 (my 300 savage is a 1955). The 308 needs a deep cleaning in bolt, some work to let last shell eject…it is a devil getting last round ejected. My 308 is not nearly as smooth as your actions. That last bit closing the lever where the rear of bolt elevates to close action is rough, not smooth like your Rolex, er 99. Work to do, have to figure out how to disassemble bolt. Thanks for inspiring folks to grab up an 1899.

[@dennispritchardoutdoors7882]

I was not aware of any 99 that had a Monte Carlo stock with a schnoebel for end. That’s a new one on me. But then again they were made in a zillion various configurations!!! There is a pretty good takedown guide made by Radocy. Very helpful. Your gun sounds like a DL but that for end has me stumped. I hope you get it all fixed up.

[@michaeldickerson873]

You know more than I on these 99s. Thought since it was made their first year for the 99 in 308, 1956, maybe they did some fancy stocks. But the Buttpad by BISHOP seems like an add on? I have been thinking it needs the stock taken off, disassembled for a good cleaning on the action. Then hearing yours cycle like a fine jewel…since the brass rotary is likely the problem on last round…might just poke the bear. I saw a vid of taking rotary mag apart to clean that abut tgey say it could be a bear…maybe not?

[@dennispritchardoutdoors7882]

@@michaeldickerson873 go on line and order the Savage takedown guide from Radocy. Every 99 owner should have one of these.

[@williammccartney4833]

You were saying most open site rifles have a glare shroud you should looks around for an industrious buck with a 3D printer to design and make a shroud to slip over the muzzle does the barrel taper start to tapering from small to bigger the whole length consistently back to the breach just a suggestion!

[@dennispritchardoutdoors7882]

A shroud is very desirable for a target rifle. My target rifles have them. But for hunting they can be a hindrance so most rifles that are meant to be hunting rifles lack them. Under hunting conditions it is best to have plenty of light on those sights. So when testing loads or zeroing in I do not want sun shining directly on those sights. But when hunting it is a different story. Thank you for watching and for commenting. Dennis

[@michaeldickerson873]

I have a Sears 22 single shot short, long and long rifle. If I was to refine the stock would I Ed to sand with 00 steel wool as a minimum to prep surface for hand applied true oil or Tung oil if I can find Hope’s or Formby? Do I need to remove all the finish before staring my micro layers of Tung oil or Formby?!’s?

[@dennispritchardoutdoors7882]

Let me tell you what I do. I use a paint and varnish remover to take off all of the old finish. Unless you want to change the shape, do very little sanding. Just remove the whiskers. Then depending on what sort of a finished product you want , start applying the oil of your choice,sanding between coats, until it suits you. Then do your final rub down with rotten stone wetted with linseed oil. Wipe it all off, and then with your bare hands rub, rub, rub, to bring up the final hand rubbed oil finish. Hope this helps.

[@TheQCollection]

Totally agree with you Dennis, my 99's cycle so sweet compared to my 94's. Also thank you for your advise on hand placement, what a difference in cycling the 94 and how comfortable my hands feel now.

[@dennispritchardoutdoors7882]

Amazing what a difference hand placement makes. Thank you for watching and for commenting. Dennis

[@michaeldickerson873]

Do you know if Savage sold any 99s made with Bishop brand buttpad, like brown with white and black wafer sandwiched between wood stock and buttpad?

[@dennispritchardoutdoors7882]

Not to my knowledge. Probably after market.

[@michaeldickerson873]

@@dennispritchardoutdoors7882 you’re right. On my 308 99 previous owner must have screwed the 2 butt pad plastic wafers (white and a black one but then epoxied the compression butt pad over top of the wafers. Used a razor lanes to get the bond loose only to find the two screws without screw heads on the top compression pad. Trying to tease it off and screw it on. Need access to the long bolt to go over the action. Built 5 dummy rounds and tried to get magazine spindle timed with right tension. Pretty close now, but counter is off. Plan to get to range and test if fired rounds eject as sweet as the dummy rounds are. Thanks for such an inspirational video channel.

[@michaeldickerson873]

Curious if you have ever encountered where someone has put a coat of some a wood finish (maybe varnish?) covering the wood and extending onto the metal receiver-say like 3/8 inch or so? Not sure how to clean this off patina receiver. Not sure if you would be willing to share your savvy with me? Thank you.

[@dennispritchardoutdoors7882]

I have seen about everything you could imagine done to these rifles. If it was my rifle I would use a simple paint and varnish remover on it. That should do nothing to the metal.

[@michaeldickerson873]

@@dennispritchardoutdoors7882 good to know. I want to get it back to original without degrading metal finish. Bless you Sir!

[@joelowery6919]

Really enjoyed this video Dennis! I'm a Savage 99 enthusiast and will always be but, the 94 is truly as handy as a shirt pocket. So the conundrum, which do you pick smooth or handy? The perfect solution to this dilemma is the Savage 99 H carbine, which handles like a 94 but, shoots with all the smoothness of the great 99. I will admit the 94 may be the winner in looks but, the 99 has the performance sewed up.😊

[@dennispritchardoutdoors7882]

Mr Joe, you are absolutely spot on right down the line!!!! I could not have said it any better myself. You hit the nail on the head . I will be posting a video in the near future that features my walk around the deep woods 99. One of a kind out of necessity rather than design. Not the prettiest 99 that ever was but boy does it handle nice. Thank you for watching and for commenting. Dennis

[@joelowery6919]

I can't wait to see it!! Thanks for going to the trouble of making it!😊@@dennispritchardoutdoors7882

[@russellparrish5745]

You are very wise to recognize the limitations of iron sights as we get older. I'm sure that rifle was not tapped and drilled at the factory for scope mounts?

[@dennispritchardoutdoors7882]

Age has it’s limits unfortunately!!! The rifle was factory tapped and drilled.

[@dennispritchardoutdoors7882]

It was NOT factory tapped and drilled. Somehow the “not “ got left out.

[@jodyferguson3068]

That Savage 99- is 1 beautiful rifle but I guess I'll stick with my 110 Savage 270 that I've had for 47 years and it drives nails I don't reload but it takes a 130 Winchester bullet ballistic tip very well I have killed many bucks with it and if it's something you really can shoot with if it's not broke don't fix it I guess

[@dennispritchardoutdoors7882]

Of course you are right and it just makes sense. I have always said you should be ware of the one gun man. You can bet he knows how to use it. But I am famous for not taking my own advise. I reckon I am just a gun nut. Take care friend. Denny

[@Rucksack57]

Let us know what caliber you are shooting I know these rifles came in all kinds of calibers.

[@dennispritchardoutdoors7882]

This video is a follow up to one done earlier called Two classic deer rifle cartridge combos, in which the calibers are discussed in-depth. There is a video that follows this one called 150 yard tang sights that also features this rifle. A three part series on this rifle. But the caliber is .300 Savage in the 99 and 30-30 in the 94.

[@dennispritchardoutdoors7882]

I mentioned the caliber several times in this video.

[@alaska1andy959]

What tang safety do you have on that 99?

[@dennispritchardoutdoors7882]

The sight on this rifle is made by Marbles and I got it from Brownells. It’s a pretty good sight, adjustable for both windage and elevation. On some I have vintage Lyman #2 ‘s which are only elevation adjustable.

[@alaska1andy959]

Thanks Dennis. Been thinking about getting for a long time.@@dennispritchardoutdoors7882