Disable a Savage 99

GymB

GymB

Picking it up slowly.
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interested in thoughts on how to temporarily disable a Savage 99. Have a good reason that I don’t want to go into, and don’t want to remove any parts. It should remain disabled until someone really wants to put it back into service, it may stay like this for decades.

I’m thinking about a casting the chamber and just leaving the cast in it, but I think the material expands over time and not sure if it that will hurt the gun. Also thought about just pounding in a couple lead balls from the chamber. Someone suggested locktite a fired case into the chamber, but that seems more difficult to reverse than I’d like.

Any other ideas?
 
How much 'work' should it take to restore it to use? Are we looking to prevent kids and the curious from accidental discharge? Or are you looking to foil a semi-determined ne'er-do-well?

And, does the action need to close while it's disabled?

how about a nicely done brass lock of some sort around the stock and cocking lever? I'm envisioning a a brass 'clamshell' piece that folds over the stock and through the lever with a small padlock either on the side of the stock or beneath the lever. That obviously assumes you don't care if the audience knows the rifle is disabled.
 
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Red loctite would do it. Then just slowly heat the receiver/casing as you tap with a cleaning rod from the barrel end until loctite releases.
 
The issue is kids, but preference is to have action closed and no external stuff. Removing the firing pin was the first thought, but no idea where to put it that will survive a reorganization or cleaning frenzy. Red locktite is probably workable.
 
JimB said:
The issue is kids, but preference is to have action closed and no external stuff. Removing the firing pin was the first thought, but no idea where to put it that will survive a reorganization or cleaning frenzy. Red locktite is probably workable.
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.30 caliber?

wrap the firing pin up in a zip lock and stuff it in the leade.
 
Any reason that a commercial locking device, cable, trigger lock, locking case, etc wouldn't work?
 
Tim said:
.30 caliber?

wrap the firing pin up in a zip lock and stuff it in the leade.
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It’s one of the 22 calibers, have forgotten which, 22-250 or .22HP, might still be able to coat it in cosmoline and shove it in there.
 
Grits said:
Remove the firing pin. Drill hole in butstock and put pin in there under recoil pad.

Sent from my SM-J320V using Tapatalk
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ding ding.

Only issue would be remembering that's what happened. With the pin stored in the chamber/leade you have more risk of it being misplaced, but less risk of 'forgetting' what happened.
 
That’s a good idea, thanks!
 
NCFubar said:
If you’re familiar enough with the innards I’d just remove the firing pin.
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I was gonna say that, thinking it could be stowed in the stock under the butt pad. But it's not a small or simple item. It's an L-shaped assembly of parts that will likely require a little carving to make it fit.

ETA: 0:49 in this video
 
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Zip tie/hose clamp the lever to the stock. A 99 is high on my want list and I shudder to think that the gun could be accidentally ruined.
 
Catfish said:
I was gonna say that, thinking it could be stowed in the stock under the butt pad. But it's not a small or simple item. It's an L-shaped assembly of parts that will likely require a little carving to make it fit.

ETA: 0:49 in this video
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Yes the firing pin assembly is complicated, but I was thinking that separating the spring and tip would be more than sufficient. Nonetheless I am coming back around to simply plugging the barrel.

nchunt101 said:
Zip tie/hose clamp the lever to the stock. A 99 is high on my want list and I shudder to think that the gun could be accidentally ruined.
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Don’t want anything apparent. This gun is part of an interesting bit of family history, but it is going to be put in a somewhat unfortunate place. The situation is delicate and disabling the gun will go a long way towards ensuring that it stays in good condition and in the family.

It’s an imperfect solution to a family issue, I’m sure that each of you can relate!
 
Spend a few bucks and have a gunsmith remove the firing pin and then store it somewhere like others have mentioned. It'll be well worth the money spent to assure that it's not used in an unsafe manner....... another option is to put your foot down about the situation and don't allow it to go where it is heading. A gun doesn't have to be functional to be dangerous.
 
JimB said:
Yes the firing pin assembly is complicated, but I was thinking that separating the spring and tip would be more than sufficient. Nonetheless I am coming back around to simply plugging the barrel.


Don’t want anything apparent. This gun is part of an interesting bit of family history, but it is going to be put in a somewhat unfortunate place. The situation is delicate and disabling the gun will go a long way towards ensuring that it stays in good condition and in the family.

It’s an imperfect solution to a family issue, I’m sure that each of you can relate!
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I totally understand imperfect family solutions and am not doubting your intentions. The thought of locktite etc on such a nice gun makes me cringe however. If you need another home for it I would be glad to keep it for you.
 
Bailey Boat said:
At the risk of sounding like the voice of reason, why not just put it in the safe and lock the door???
Since you say the issue is kids I don't think there should be ANY loose guns in the house if they can't be trusted.....
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That’d be great if there was a safe, or even room for a safe at the location. As a practical matter there is little reason to be concerned about the kids, there will be no loaded ammunition readily available so gun is no more dangerous than the readily available baseball bats and less dangerous than the kitchen knives. Spouse is not willing to be practical in this regard.

nchunt101 said:
I totally understand imperfect family solutions and am not doubting your intentions. The thought of locktite etc on such a nice gun makes me cringe however. If you need another home for it I would be glad to keep it for you.
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Appreciate the offer, but I’d store it for them if that was the issue.
 
JimB said:
That’d be great if there was a safe, or even room for a safe at the location. As a practical matter there is little reason to be concerned about the kids, there will be no loaded ammunition readily available so gun is no more dangerous than the readily available baseball bats and less dangerous than the kitchen knives. Spouse is not willing to be practical in this regard.
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First, find a new spouse, it won't get any better.

Second, if there's no ammunition available then what's the big deal?? Sounds to me as if some education is in order, not disabling a gun...
 
Bailey Boat said:
First, find a new spouse, it won't get any better.

Second, if there's no ammunition available then what's the big deal?? Sounds to me as if some education is in order, not disabling a gun...
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Gotta play the game with the pieces on the board. Education is ongoing, but if you’ve ever tried to reason someone out of a fear of heights, or spiders, or snakes you’ll understand that it is not as simple as it seems.
 
I like the Cerrosafe route personally. It's effective, easily done, easily undone, inexpensive and there is no chance of misplacing parts.
Plus, given this new information it has one added benefit: It's something visual and physical to show the hoplophobe to persuade her that the gun has been made safe permanently. There's no need to mention that you can knock it out with a cleaning rod.
 
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Catfish said:
I like the Cerrosafe route personally. It's effective, easily done, easily undone, inexpensive and there is no chance of misplacing parts.
Plus, given this new information it has one added benefit: It's something visual and physical can show the hoplophobe to persuade her that the gun has been made safe permanently. There's no need to mention that you can knock it out with a cleaning rod.
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If you do go the Cerrosafe route DO NOT tell your wife or kids ... anyone ... it can be knocked out fairly easily. She’ll be happy “a bullet can not be loaded” and can visually see the big plug of metal filling the chamber. Let them think it a PITA to correct and only you and the dog (plus us here) will know a wooden dowel rod and a couple firm but gentle taps and the 99 is back up and ready to go.
 
Not my wife, not my gun, and gun isn’t coming to me...like I said, complicated.

Decision has been made to go with cerrosafe. Going to cast it next week then let the cast sit for a couple weeks, polish it down .002, spray the chamber and barrel with boeshield and tap the plug back in. It will be described as plugged with melted metal and neither the recipient nor his wife will ever know any more.

Thanks all!
 
I do not know how that firearm is inside but I would remove the hammer spring and cover it with cerrosafe.
 
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I like the idea of pounding a couple lead balls into the chamber... easy to remove later.

Then tell wifey that the rifle is completely safe, don' go inta the details, an' start educatin' her an' the kids pronto. The problem here, IMHO, is that you are bending over backwards to do more than is necessary, and she wins without compromise and without practicality. As was already said, that'll get worse.

However, ya might be doin' just the right thing. My sister once was goin' to visit, an' tol' me how to prepare the guns to her specification, California style, prior to her arrival. All guns locked up, no exceptions, separate from All ammunition, no guns on my person, the whole time she an' her kids are present. I tol' her, "No. Everything is perfectly safe for your visit as it is. My wife and children are always safe." She's never been here. That was 14 years ago.
 
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