Inherited A Savage Model 1899!!

This was a pretty cool find over the holidays, due to my mother-in-laws uncle passing away I was given his rifle that no one in the family even knew he had until they started to clean out his apartment in Montreal. The Model 1899 is chambered in .22 Hi-Power which makes it interesting to me. I did a quick search of the serial number and it was manufactured in 1913 which puts it at 104 years old and other than some TLC it looks to be in good condition. It has a busted plastic butt plate which I don't think is the original one anyways, the stock and fore grip have seen some bumps and scrapes and has been drilled for a sling at some point.

It also came with a box of old Dominion brand bullets which I have no idea how old they are and even though the brass looks to be in good shape still I'm not sure I'd feel comfortable firing them. I plan on keeping an eye out at the local gun shows for ammo but from what I've figured out so far is it's very rare in North America. I have found one supplier online that is importing a Czech brand for like $30 a box so I'll probably look into that. There is also the reloading option but I would then need to get into that.

Here is a picture of gun.
Attachment 34226

Very cool! Never seen them in a .22 cal. usually in 300 sav, or 308. Good luck with the ammo. Maybe you could have the chamber reworked by a gunsmith, to use mod ammo.

Nice! I would respectfully suggest that you do NOT re-chamber the rifle, and just find some ammo. $30 a box is a good deal for rare ammo, so stock up! I'd say that there is no problem using the "old" Dominion ammo. I've got some pretty old stuff, and it shoots just fine. Really, the most likely failure mode for the ammo would be that it won't ignite, which is not a big deal. Just make sure you are paying attention when you use the old ammo, especially the first few rounds. If you get a squib in there, you want to make sure you notice that. Save all the brass so that you can re-use it if you decide to get into reloading, or if you find someone nice enough to put some ammo together for you.

Yeah I am not interested in re-chambering the rifle, I like the fact it's an oddball rare calibre to be honest.

https://www.oodmag.com/community/sho...avage-hi-power

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Originally Posted by ninepointer

https://www.oodmag.com/community/sho...avage-hi-power

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Thanks for the link. That was actually one of the first bits of info I had found yesterday. I am waiting to hear back from Tradeex to make sure they have some in stock, their website says so but I like to double check.

What a beautiful old gun with classic Savage lines.

My friend was supposed to inherit one of those but it was sold or lost in a card came, it was the gun his grandfather shot his first deer with, a classic for sure.

While you can get gear do yourself a favour and get everything you need to reload for it, even if you do not have the presses just get the dies, brass and bullets and maybe a sizing die/mold for cast lead, speaking as someone with odd calibers you will want these.

These are no toys, 1500 ft lbs of energy at the muzzle with a 70gr bullet, it is also called the 5.6x52R in Europe.

TradeEx can get ammo for you.

https://www.tradeexcanada.com/conten...p-ammunition--

SWEET !
Glen

I just saw this link, if you are a CGN member you should be able to see it.

https://www.canadiangunnutz.com/foru...ht=22+Hi-power

Full reloading package, enough to shoot 270 times :)

Sorry, I got caught in the search feature, this guy is Eastern Ontario, PM me if you are not a member and I can contact the guy for you, $30 a box, has 5+ boxes of ammo and dies as well.

https://www.canadiangunnutz.com/foru...hlight=5.6x52R

This next guy has dies.

https://www.canadiangunnutz.com/foru...hlight=5.6x52R

Thge .22 Hi-Power was the Winchester .25-35 necked down to .227". It is an oddball bore size, most .22 centrefires are .224" bullets.
It looks like your rifle is an 1899F takedown. I have the same gun in .250-3000. Great rifle!

Nice gun
check out Trade Ex for ammo.
google: Trade Ex

Trade Ex definitely has the ammo I need so I will be buying a bunch of it. They will ship it to me or I can go pick it up seeing as I basically pass by Hawkesbury once or twice a month to visit the inlaws.

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Originally Posted by otto11

Trade Ex definitely has the ammo I need so I will be buying a bunch of it. They will ship it to me or I can go pick it up seeing as I basically pass by Hawkesbury once or twice a month to visit the inlaws.

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Then you are set.

Never toss a single piece of brass, if you do you will kick yourself in a few years, trust me, ha ha ha.

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Originally Posted by Fox

Then you are set.

Never toss a single piece of brass, if you do you will kick yourself in a few years, trust me, ha ha ha.

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My brother Oddmott and I have been discussing reloading for a couple years now so who knows this might get us started haha.

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Originally Posted by otto11

My brother Oddmott and I have been discussing reloading for a couple years now so who knows this might get us started haha.

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Ahh, ok, been chatting with him off this site.

reloading in tandem will save you some cash for sure

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Originally Posted by Kilo Charlie

Thge .22 Hi-Power was the Winchester .25-35 necked down to .227". It is an oddball bore size, most .22 centrefires are .224" bullets.
It looks like your rifle is an 1899F takedown. I have the same gun in .250-3000. Great rifle!

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From what I have found so far the serial number falls into the range of the 1899H.

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Originally Posted by otto11

From what I have found so far the serial number falls into the range of the 1899H.

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You're likely correct. Very similar guns and I love mine. I have sold all my 99's except for my 1899F and my 99EG, both .250's, and I'm debating parting with the EG. But that takedown stays, lol!

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Originally Posted by Kilo Charlie

You're likely correct. Very similar guns and I love mine. I have sold all my 99's except for my 1899F and my 99EG, both .250's, and I'm debating parting with the EG. But that takedown stays, lol!

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What are the unique characteristics of the "takedown" version Kilo?

I've like what I've seen about this caliber so much that if Otto buys the reloading gear... I may get a cheap axis or something bored out to match. It just flat out pounds the snot out of 223 & 224.

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Originally Posted by Oddmott

What are the unique characteristics of the "takedown" version Kilo?

I've like what I've seen about this caliber so much that if Otto buys the reloading gear... I may get a cheap axis or something bored out to match. It just flat out pounds the snot out of 223 & 224.

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The takedown rifles were designed to be quickly disassembled for transport or storage. You just remove the forend that's held by a latch, then open the lever and unscrew the barrel. Pretty cool.
I will just keep mine because it's the first 99 I never bought (in 2000) and it shoots well. I needed money about 10 years ago and sold it on CGN and then bought it back when I saw it listed oon CGN again, lol!
I have a solid-frame 99 in the same cartridge that is elegant and in better condition, but heavier, no more accurate, and the trigger isn't as good.

Another Savage innovation that history seems to have left behind. The good news is that the caliber is still popular in Europe so they still manufacture ammunition for it, howbeit on the other side pond. If you are shooting it, I would be hanging unto the brass, its value has to be climbing quite a bit by now. I suspect those Dominion cartridge would work just find, but as collector item their value can't be doing anything but going up. If I was exploring the reloading option, I'd pick up a few boxes of the Czech cartridge, or see if anyone might have a stock of unload brass, in order to have a supply of brass to reload. As for the Dominion cartridge I'd hold them intact for marketing to collectors. Just some suggestions.

You don't stop hunting because you grow old. You grow old because you stop hunting.
- Gun Nut

Also regarding reloading: AFAIK, Hornady id the only company left making those .227" bullets. They make a correct 70-grainer.

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Originally Posted by Kilo Charlie

Also regarding reloading: AFAIK, Hornady id the only company left making those .227" bullets. They make a correct 70-grainer.

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You are correct but for some reason online it says they are temporarily suspended.

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Originally Posted by otto11

You are correct but for some reason online it says they are temporarily suspended.

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Demand is probably low. But a good dealer like Higginson's probably has them in stock.

Does anyone have any experience with adjusting the rear sight I have in the pictures attached? Right now the gun is shooting roughly 8" high @ 50 yards. The main height adjustment is as low as it can go and I have not played with the dial yet. I am mainly wondering how fine of an adjustment a "click" would be on this type of sight. I included a couple pictures of the front sight as well in case anyone was curious.

Attachment 34349Attachment 34348Attachment 34347Attachment 34350Attachment 34351

I want to say that the windage is simply a drift and that the elevation is the only thing adjusted with that screw. Do you have proper fitting screw drivers? One of the worst thing on old guns is bunged up screws.

The picture looks like you can drop that notch in the rear sight down, hopefully further than you need, another option is getting a lower rear sight ladder.

Otto has better eyes than me. Shooting with those open sights at 50 yards was difficult. Can't imagine trying to back it up to 75 or 100 yds. Nevermind the 200+ yards this round is capable of being lethal at.

Very nice shooter tho.

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Originally Posted by Oddmott

Otto has better eyes than me. Shooting with those open sights at 50 yards was difficult. Can't imagine trying to back it up to 75 or 100 yds. Nevermind the 200+ yards this round is capable of being lethal at.

Very nice shooter tho.

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If you were shooting it then you could swamp out the sights with others from Marbles.

You might be able to make a new front blade that is a little higher....