I am getting the fever for a lever gun, the Savage M99, but I don't know too much about it. I know that each gun is an individual, but how are the 99's accuracy historically?
Also, I don't reload (but may one day get back into reloading) so for now I will be using factory ammo.
I like the ballistics I've seen on "paper" for the Savage .250 and the .300. Are these cartridges readily available in factory ammo?
Thanks for any info you can give me on these cartridges and the M99!

I had a savage 99 in 308 and it was extremely heavy and traded it in on something else, kinda wixsh I had kept it, just to have one.

I have a couple of 99s
One in 250-3000 and the other in 284 win. Factory ammo is available for both but hard to find for the 284.I do handload for both but the 250 -3000 shoots winchester 100 gr silvertip factory load the best..It will shoot sub MOA with the silvertips. The silvertips not only shoot good but they preform well on deer.

factory ammo is available but not at stores like Walmart ( at least where I'm from) good news is you can mail order it (depending on where you live)

The first big game animal I ever shot was a moose with a borrowed 99 in .300 savage. I sure would like to get my hands on one. My son and I would both use it on deer.

Robin

They are a pretty accurate rifle. The 250 and 300 as well as the 243 and 308 are all available in good sporting goods stores. I had a 300 and a 243. They are a fine lever action rifle. As would be the Browning BLR.

Prior to the advent of the Browning BLR, the M99 was the strongest and most accurate of all lever action rifles, overall! The .250 is the best of the two chamberings you mentioned for accuracy, but the .300 is plenty accurate enough. However, the .243 Win. or .308 caliber 99's use ammo more easily available aroung the country than the .250 or .300, both of which are in the "semi-obsolete" class. If you get a .250, try to find one with a 1/10" twist, as the 1/14" twist will only be accurate with 87 grain bullets.

I saw a 99 on a used gun rack the other day, I wasn't able to handle it, but it didn't look like it had a clip at the bottom?? How was it loaded? Or was it just an optical illusion?

They load through the top and have a rotary mag .. Like the rugar 10/22 or the hornet.. The older more desirable models have a brass counter on the side to let you know how many shells are in the mag ..So no thay don't have a clip ...Bill

I have a 99 in 250-3000, its a very fine gun (has the brass counter). I found that amo for the 300 & 250 takes some looking for but it is around. If you one day reload the brass & dies and anything else is easy to find.
check out reloadbench.com it give a good history of both the 250 & 300.