Savage Model 99
Encyclopedia
The Model 99, and its predecessor models 1895 and 1899, are a series of lever action rifles created by the Savage Arms Company in Utica, New York
.
lever-action rifle produced. The hammerless design
was a useful improvement as it reduces the lock time (the time from trigger pull to firing). This allows the rifle to be fired more accurately, because the rifleman's muscular tremors have less time to move the rifle off-aim. A hammerless design is also less likely to jam in brush or clothing.
At one point, a musket-version of the Savage 1895 was one of the contending rifle models offered to the U.S. Army when they were looking to replace the Springfield Model 1873
trapdoor rifle. The Krag-Jørgensen
was chosen over the Savage and other models. The rifle was first known as the 'Model 1895' because production started in 1895; later refinements led Savage Arms
to rename it the 'Model 1899', later simply shortened to the 'Model 99.'
The 1895 as well as the later model 1899 and early Model 99 used a rotary magazine to hold the cartridges.
The rotating magazine uses a spring-loaded spool with grooves to hold the cartridges. The Savage 1899 took advantage of the spool to include a counter to indicate how many shots are left. The Model 99 continued using this system for many years, until its replacement with a detachable magazine.
The rotating magazine design allowed the rifle to be one of the first lever-action rifles to use spitzer bullets
. Previous lever-action rifles used tubular magazines, which placed cartridges of ammunition end to end. With spitzer bullets, the pointed tips of the ammunition would contact the primer of the cartridge in front of it, possibly causing an accidental discharge. Another novel safety feature- upon cocking the rifle, a small pin would protrude above the top receiver to indicate the rifle was cocked and ready to fire.
During its long production history the Savage 99 was chambered at one time or another for .303 Savage
, .30-30 WCF
, .300 Savage
, .25-35 WCF (or 25-35 Win)
, .250 Savage
(also called the .250-3000
, as the first commercial round to produce a velocity of over 3000 ft/s (914.4 m/s)), .22 Hi Power
, .22-250 Remington
, .243 Winchester
, .308 Winchester
, Winchester '72', .358 Winchester
, 7mm-08 Remington, .284 Winchester
, .38-55 WCF
, and .32 Winchester Special
among others.
Utica, New York
Utica is a city in and the county seat of Oneida County, New York, United States. The population was 62,235 at the 2010 census, an increase of 2.6% from the 2000 census....
.
History
The Savage 99 was preceded by the Savage 1895, which was the first hammerlessHammerless
A hammerless firearm is a firearm that lacks an exposed hammer or hammer spur.In rifles, using a firing-pin rather than a hammer is a substantial improvement because the time from trigger pull to firing can be less...
lever-action rifle produced. The hammerless design
Hammerless
A hammerless firearm is a firearm that lacks an exposed hammer or hammer spur.In rifles, using a firing-pin rather than a hammer is a substantial improvement because the time from trigger pull to firing can be less...
was a useful improvement as it reduces the lock time (the time from trigger pull to firing). This allows the rifle to be fired more accurately, because the rifleman's muscular tremors have less time to move the rifle off-aim. A hammerless design is also less likely to jam in brush or clothing.
At one point, a musket-version of the Savage 1895 was one of the contending rifle models offered to the U.S. Army when they were looking to replace the Springfield Model 1873
Springfield Model 1873
The Model 1873 "Trapdoor" Springfield was the first standard-issued breech-loading rifle adopted by the United States Army...
trapdoor rifle. The Krag-Jørgensen
Krag-Jørgensen
The Krag-Jørgensen is a repeating bolt action rifle designed by the Norwegians Ole Herman Johannes Krag and Erik Jørgensen in the late 19th century. It was adopted as a standard arm by Denmark, the United States of America and Norway...
was chosen over the Savage and other models. The rifle was first known as the 'Model 1895' because production started in 1895; later refinements led Savage Arms
Savage Arms
The Savage Arms Company is a firearms manufacturing company based in Westfield, Massachusetts, with a division located in Canada. The company makes a variety of rimfire and centerfire rifles, as well as marketing the Stevens single-shot rifles and shotguns...
to rename it the 'Model 1899', later simply shortened to the 'Model 99.'
The 1895 as well as the later model 1899 and early Model 99 used a rotary magazine to hold the cartridges.
The rotating magazine uses a spring-loaded spool with grooves to hold the cartridges. The Savage 1899 took advantage of the spool to include a counter to indicate how many shots are left. The Model 99 continued using this system for many years, until its replacement with a detachable magazine.
The rotating magazine design allowed the rifle to be one of the first lever-action rifles to use spitzer bullets
Spitzer (bullet)
A spitzer, also commonly referred to as a spire point bullet, is an aerodynamic bullet design used in most intermediate and high-powered rifle cartridges...
. Previous lever-action rifles used tubular magazines, which placed cartridges of ammunition end to end. With spitzer bullets, the pointed tips of the ammunition would contact the primer of the cartridge in front of it, possibly causing an accidental discharge. Another novel safety feature- upon cocking the rifle, a small pin would protrude above the top receiver to indicate the rifle was cocked and ready to fire.
During its long production history the Savage 99 was chambered at one time or another for .303 Savage
.303 Savage
The .303 Savage is a rimmed, .30 caliber rifle cartridge developed by the Savage Arms Company in 1894 which was designed as a short action cartridge for their popular Savage Model 99 hammerless lever action rifle. The cartridge was designed for smokeless gunpowder at a time when black-powder...
, .30-30 WCF
.30-30 Winchester
The .30-30 Winchester/.30 Winchester Center Fire/7.62×51mmR cartridge was first marketed in early 1895 for the Winchester Model 1894 lever-action rifle. The .30-30 , as it is most commonly known, was the USA's first small-bore, sporting rifle cartridge designed for smokeless powder. The .30-30 is...
, .300 Savage
.300 Savage
The .300 Savage cartridge is a rimless, .30 caliber rifle cartridge developed by the Savage Arms Company in 1920. It was designed to replace the less powerful .303 Savage in their popular Savage Model 99 lever-action rifle...
, .25-35 WCF (or 25-35 Win)
.25-35 Winchester
The .25-35 Winchester, or WCF was introduced in 1895 by Winchester for the Winchester Model 1894 lever action rifle...
, .250 Savage
.250-3000 Savage
The .250-3000 Savage is a rifle cartridge created by Charles Newton in 1915 and is also known as the .250 Savage. The name comes from its original manufacturer, Savage Arms and the fact that the original load achieved a 3000 ft/s velocity with an 87 grain bullet.-Background:Charles Newton...
(also called the .250-3000
.250-3000 Savage
The .250-3000 Savage is a rifle cartridge created by Charles Newton in 1915 and is also known as the .250 Savage. The name comes from its original manufacturer, Savage Arms and the fact that the original load achieved a 3000 ft/s velocity with an 87 grain bullet.-Background:Charles Newton...
, as the first commercial round to produce a velocity of over 3000 ft/s (914.4 m/s)), .22 Hi Power
5.6x52mmR
The 5.6x52mmR cartridge was created by Charles Newton and produced by Savage Arms in 1912. It is also known as the .22 Savage High-Power and .22 "Imp", and is based upon the .25-35 Winchester cartridge necked down to accept a .227in/.228in diameter bullet.Its inherent accuracy, relatively high...
, .22-250 Remington
.22-250 Remington
The .22-250 Remington is a very high-velocity , short action, .22 caliber rifle cartridge primarily used for varmint hunting and small game hunting, though it finds occasional use on deer. This cartridge is also sometimes known as the 22 Varminter or the 22 Wotkyns Original Swift...
, .243 Winchester
.243 Winchester
The .243 Winchester is a popular sporting rifle cartridge. Initially designed as a varmint round, it is now more frequently used on medium to large game such as whitetail deer, mule deer, pronghorn, wild hogs, and even black bear and caribou...
, .308 Winchester
.308 Winchester
The .308 Winchester is a rifle cartridge and is the commercial cartridge upon which the military 7.62x51mm NATO centerfire cartridge is based. The .308 Winchester was introduced in 1952, two years prior to the NATO adoption of the 7.62x51mm NATO T65...
, Winchester '72', .358 Winchester
.358 Winchester
The .358 Winchester is a .35 caliber rifle cartridge based on a necked up .308 Winchester created by Winchester in 1955. The cartridge is also known in Europe as the 8.8x51mm. -History:...
, 7mm-08 Remington, .284 Winchester
.284 Winchester
The .284 Winchester is an example of a commercially rather unsuccessful cartridge that has enjoyed a resurgence in interest due to interest from long-range competitive shooters...
, .38-55 WCF
.38-55 Winchester
The .38-55 Winchester cartridge is named for its approximately .38 caliber bullet and was introduced in 1876 by Ballard which belonged to Marlin Firearms from 1875 on for various single-shot target rifles and in their 1893 lever action. It was later used by Winchester for its Model 1894...
, and .32 Winchester Special
.32 Winchester Special
The .32 Winchester Special is a rimmed cartridge created in October 1901 for use in the Winchester Model 94 lever-action rifle. It is similar in name but unrelated to the .32-20 Winchester cartridge ....
among others.