What do you look for when buying a used rifle?

[dirt ditch]

$300? If it looked decent I would have bought it on the spot. My 99's are .250-3000 and I would love to have a 99 in .300 Savage. Over the course of several decades my grandfather did all his deer, coyote, and bobcat hunting with a 99 in .250-3000 Savage. The sheriff I used to work for had one in .250-3000. It was his all around rifle for deer, coyotes, and feral hogs. His adult son liked it so much he bought the first 99 he came across to use as his deer rifle. It was chambered in .300 Savage.

 

[Jstpssng]

I know this is purely subjective but that seems like an awfully light round for moose IMO. I'm sure it will do the job but you might want to look at something that holds more powder, especially if you are planning on shooting a heavier 150+ grain bullet, which you should for hunting moose.

I just started looking into ammo and if 150 is all that's available commercially than I will have to agree with you.

$300? If it looked decent I would have bought it on the spot. My 99's are .250-3000 and I would love to have a 99 in .300 Savage. Over the course of several decades my grandfather did all his deer, coyote, and bobcat hunting with a 99 in .250-3000 Savage. The sheriff I used to work for had one in .250-3000. It was his all around rifle for deer, coyotes, and feral hogs. His adult son liked it so much he bought the first 99 he came across to use as his deer rifle. It was chambered in .300 Savage.

I know, in hindsight I should have pulled the trigger ... but I'm no expert and have been burned before so you could say that I'm a little gunshy
In some ways I would be smarter to pick up a new .308 Axis for comparable money... and it would be easier to mount and sight in my scope than the two ring unit for the Savage. But like some have mentioned I like the older gun... and I can pick up a new Axis or American anytime.

 

[RobertBrown]

No regrets. You have no idea how that gun would perform. There's a reason it was half of what you expected it to be and it's not gone yet.
And as far as killing a moose with a 300 savage.....it all comes back to accuracy, range and ability. That gun is more than capable if you know it's limitations.
That gun requires time and money, you are getting advice from those with an abundance of time and perhaps the funds to make it whatever they want.
You just want to kill a moose...keep your eyes on the prize. I don't think you can go too far wrong with that gun from an ROI standpoint.
But get your gun first and then get your moose.