I have an original 99 Savage in .22 Savage HiPower and I find that it kills deer like lightning, but produces no exit wound, hence leaves no blood trail, should the shot be less than ideally placed. I have had good luck with S&B ammunition, but a friend, using the same ammunition in his Savage, did not. Ditto with handloads using other than Norma bullets. It could be that his barrel is slightly oversized.