I have always liked the simple styling and functionality of the Savage Model 99's. I had the opportunity to borrow a friends 99 in .308 when I was in high school and we deer hunted with his relatives in Wisconsin. I never took an animal that day of hunting but I did enjoy how it carried, pointed, and shot (the previous day plinking) His 99 was also well worn from years of hunting as it had been his fathers "go-to " gun back in the day.
I always told myself that if I happened to come across one that was in good condition and I happened to have some extra dough on me, I would like to pick one up.
My brother recently purchased a Remington semi-auto from a neighbor for use a woods brush gun. This is what he should have picked up! (No disrespect, of course, to you Remington fans out there!)
I recall reading at one time that the Savage Model 99 was discontinued due in large part to the cost of manufacturing with all of the hand-fitting necessary for this model. Is this true?