Savage 99 Rechambered

[BigMatt]

A few years ago, I landed a Savage 99 that had been rechambered in 30-30. I haven't checked the chamber or anything, but you can tell that the old chamber markings have been sanded and poorly restamped to 30-30 Winchester. Let's just say I got it cheap.

First of all, I was wondering what the original chambering might have been. 303 Savage?

Second, since there is no collector value left in this gun, what could I rechamber/rebarrel this rifle to that would be legal to hunt deer in Indiana? I have always wanted a 358 Hoosier. What options do I have?

Thanks for the input.

 

[Slow Hand]

I'd check with these guys:

http://www.35caliber.com

I know a couple guys who have had them do work. Your biggest problem may be the bolt. With it being set up for a rimmed cartridge, you might have to locate a .308 bolt to work with the Hoosier.

 

[BigMatt]

Your biggest problem may be the bolt. With it being set up for a rimmed cartridge, you might have to locate a .308 bolt to work with the Hoosier.

Sweet, I have a call in with them.

In the case of the bolt face being wrong, how about .357 Herrett? It is derived from the 30-30, it has a .357 caliber and the overall case length is 1.75". I think it meets the requirements for deer hunting in Indiana.

 

[Slow Hand]

That's a good possibility. I've read of the .357 Herrett, but have zero experience with it. It was designed to give the IHMSA silhouette shooters more knock down wasn't it?

 

[BigMatt]

Handgun Hunter Magazine says that it was developed for better knock down power on big game than the 30 Herrett.

I am not sure, but the more I research into it, the more I like about it.

 

[BigMatt]

Well, I took the rifle out last night and shot it...



...I fell in love.

I will be keeping it the way it is, but I will look for another rifle to work on.

Even though the caliber stamp is butt ugly, it shoots really well. I would hate to mess it up trying to make it into something else.

 

[engineerpower]

Could always weld over and restamp to help appearances.

 

[BigMatt]

Could always weld over and restamp to help appearances.

Wouldn't that weaken the temper on the barrel? If not, where could I get that done?

 

[engineerpower]

Most barrels aren't heat treated. Tempering is done after you harden steel, in order to reduce its brittleness. If it were hardened and tempered, it couldn't be stamped.

 

[djones]

Talk to Jesse at 35caliber.com about a 35-30-30. You could shorten that brass to be deer legal.