Savage 99 300 Savage converted to 308?

[Naphtali]

While I recognize that converting Savage 99 rotary magazine action is acknowledged to be a major headache, what's the skinny on - what appears to be - a nearly non-invasive, simple conversion, such as 300 Savage to 308 Winchester?

Would there be significant differences in difficulty/complexity between side lever safety and tang safety models? Between brass rotor and aluminum rotor models?

[Pete44ru]

AFAIK, Savage slightly lengthened the Model 99 action with the introduction of the .308 chambering.

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[iceman]

That could be. I will be right back. I will try and cycle some 308 through my 300 sav,

[iceman]

I just filled thr mag of my model 99 F 300 savage with factory ww 308 180 gr silver tip and they cycled OK. obviously couldn't close the lever, but they ctlcled OK. Note that mine is a tang safety model. That tells me only a barrel swap is needed.

[Hobie]

Yep, the action was lengthened prior to the tang safety models. The .308 version came out in 1955. I don't think the tang safety was produced until 1965. The 1970 75th Ann. version has the old type safety.

[BenT]

The 308 and 300 savage are really close . If iceman says that they cycle fine. Then a rechamber is all that is needed. I think Mcpherson talks about changing the rotatary mag in his gunsmithing book.

[Ben_Rumson]

I’d say it looks like rechambering or rebarreling from 300-308 or any in the 308 family shouldn't be much fuss..I’d stay with whatever safety comes with the rifle...Dunno if the action itself was lengthened (I'm no expert but I don't think so), but it may have been to accommodate the tang length for the tang safety, as the pic shows the rotors were changed for the longer rounds.

[Tumbleweeds II]

My 99F was made in 1956 in .300, and there is a skosh of extra room in the front of the rotary magazine to keep the shorter cartridges where they belong. I imagine a good Savage mechanic could do the conversion just fine. You will gain maybe 200 fps, with recoil to match. I guess if I did that, I'd replace that steel butt plate with a recoil pad too.

[wm]

Considering the rising collectibility of Savage 99s it seems to me the more cost effective solution would be to sell your 300 Sav 99 and buy a Sav 99 orginally chambered in 308. The 308 Savages seem to be fairly commonly encountered. Any difference in price would be less than the bill for rechambering and much less likely to have hang ups, head aches and/or disappointments.

Heck you might even end up a few dollars ahead.

Wm

[Naphtali]

Many thanks for the information.