Scope help on a Savage 99

[Northwoods Hunter]

I am picking up a real nice Savage 99 EG in .300 Savage next week. I have not had one before, but noticed when I examined it that the 3X9X40 Tasco that was on it was way short on eye relief, even with a front base extension.

I want this rifle for Bear/Whitetails in the U.P. Cedar swamps and thick cover woods...

Your opinions on a scope? straight 2.5? My gunny is talking Simmons Pro Diamond 1X5 shotgun scope... Not to keen on Simmons/Tasco scopes...but maybe they are better now? :?

 

[SJB358]

I think a straight 2.5 or 4X scope would work really well on the 300 Savage. I would stay away from the Simmon's or Tasco's buddy. Never seen much good come from them and I don't like the thought of them letting you down at the wrong time. I would look at a Redfield or something in that area first. Pretty good price and pretty nice optics for the money.

 

[Mountain Goat]

I'd look at the Weaver 1-3x20. For around $170, you get a quality scope that has enough heritage to it to fit real well on that 99.

Others to consider, depending on budget:
Nikon Monarch 1-4x20 African or the 2-8x32 Monarch
Leupold VX2 1-4x20
Leupold VX3 1-5x20
Leupold VX3 1.75-6x32 (my personal favorite)

or any of the 2-7, 2.5-10 or 3-9 varieties will suit you just fine.

 

[BK]

I'll add a Redfield Revolution 2-7x to the list, but I think a nice receiver sight is the bee's knees on a '99...

 

[taylorce1]

My Savage 99 has ate three scopes already the old K4 Weaver (won't hold zero) that it came with and 2-7 (can't adjust power stuck on 7) Weaver and a Leupold Vari-X IIc 3-9 (won't hold zero), and currently it is wearing a 2-7X35 Burris FFII, until I can get Leupold to repair or replace the old scope. This will be the second time it has been in for repair, first time was right after I bought it at a pawn shop I sent it in for a check up an they replaced the erector. My old 99A is a .358 Win but I don't know if that has anything to do with why I can't keep a scope on it.

 

[Guy Miner]

I favor the little 2.5x Leupold for my lever guns because it's so small and light, and has excellent eye relief, but yours is a .300 Savage... I believe I'd give the straight 3x or 4x Leupold some consideration.

Dad put this little 2-8x compact Bushnell on his .308 Win, Browning BLR 30 some years ago. It's never been off the rifle and never shifted zero...

Go for something small & light with good eye relief and a generous field of view...

 

[Ridge_Runner]

my 99 wears a 6x leupold, love it for general woods hunting, may be too much in the real thick stuff but I have no trouble even on running deer from 40 to 250 yards.
RR

 

[JD338]

Tom,

I have hunted the same kind of terrain as you.
The Leupold VX-3 1.75-6x32mm is perfect for the Cedar Swamps of the UP.
I have this scope on a Marlin 1895 Guide gun in 45-70 and it is very bright. I shot this hog buck last year just before dark as he was hounding a doe.

JD338

 

[Northwoods Hunter]

Thanks Guys!
Now to do some shopping... :grin:

 

[Northwoods Hunter]

Ended up mounting an old (1969) Redfield Wideview 1.75X 5 on her . It is still nice and clear and I will head out to the range soon and post a report with pics. :grin:

 

[JD338]

Good show Tom.
Looking forward to your range report.

JD338

 

[Oldtrader3]

I would put a 2-7x33 or a 2.5-8x32 variable scope on that rifle, leace it set on the lowest power, and never look back. Leupold make several VX-3's in lower power which would be ideal scopes for that rifle.

 

[filmjunkie4ever]

I have a 4x Leupold on both of my Savage 99s, one is 300 Savage and the other is a 308 WCF. Never a failure.

 

[Oldtrader3]

I have a 2.5-8x32 Conquest which was mounted on my .45-70 Marlin for years. I really liked having both the low power and variable power for precision shooting.

 

[FOTIS]

Leupold VX2 1-4x20

 

[Silent Sam]

I have a 99 in 300 Savage. I use a tang sight with a large aperture. If I was going to scope it I would use a 4x or lower fixed power. That 358 shouldn't be eating scopes. 358 recoil is not that great. Something else is going on.

 

[Oldtrader3]

A .358 Win Model 99 should not be eating scopes with recoil. It just is not that level of recoil. Any decent, modern. low powered variable scope should work well on that rifle.