Savage Model 99

About the Savage Model 99

The Savage Model 99 is a revolutionary lever-action rifle that introduced several innovations when it first appeared as the Model 1899. Its hammerless design and unique rotary magazine set it apart from every other lever action of its era, allowing it to safely chamber pointed spitzer bullets decades before competitors solved the same problem. The rotary magazine eliminated the risk of primer detonation that made pointed bullets dangerous in tubular-magazine lever actions, while the brass cartridge counter on the side of the receiver let hunters know exactly how many rounds remained. Produced continuously for 100 years from 1899 to 1999, the Model 99 was chambered in numerous calibers throughout its life, including the .250-3000 Savage - the first American commercial cartridge to exceed 3,000 feet per second - and the .300 Savage, which was designed specifically for the Model 99 and later served as the parent case for the .308 Winchester.

The Savage 99 was a rifle ahead of its time - its rotary magazine allowed the use of pointed spitzer bullets in a lever action decades before competitors found a solution, and the .250-3000 Savage cartridge designed for it in 1915 was the first American commercial round to break the 3,000 fps barrier. The .300 Savage cartridge, created specifically for this rifle in 1920, would later inspire the .308 Winchester, making the Model 99 an indirect ancestor of one of the world's most popular cartridges.

Savage Model 99 specifications

Over one million Savage 99s were produced during the rifle's century of production. The original 1895 patent was designed by Arthur Savage, and the rifle was renamed from Model 1899 to Model 99 in 1920 when the .300 Savage cartridge was introduced. The 99C variant introduced a detachable box magazine in the 1960s. The rotary magazine variants typically held 5 rounds, while later detachable magazine versions held 4. Barrel lengths varied from 20 to 26 inches depending on the specific model. The 99F Featherweight was the lightest variant at approximately 6.5 lbs. The hammerless, solid-breech design was considered significantly safer than exposed-hammer lever actions of the era. The Montreal Home Guard was issued Savage 99s during World War I.