The JC Higgins model 50

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My first decent centerfire rifle was a Model 50 in 30-06. I bought it because it was a good rifle and it was cheap. Nobody wanted them then because of the association with Sears. I was too poor then to be snobby about it. I took it out to the range with a couple of boxes of Winchester 150 grain Power Points. I soon started to wonder why everybody made such a fuss about sub-one inch groups because it was so easy to shoot them with this rifle. It wasn't until I got a couple of other sporter rifles that I understood how special Model 50s are. I still have that rifle and even bought another one just like it because I couldn't stand to see such a good rifle for sale so cheaply. Now that word has gotten out on the internet, they're not as cheap as they used to be, but they're still a bargain.

FN commercial Mauser action, chrome lined barrel from High Standard, if a rifle of this quality were available today it would be well over $1,000.

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ApacheCoTodd said:
I didn't know that JCH/Sears played a that end of the pool. Quite a rifle.
I had to go looking into it and of course, Chuck Hawks had something to write about them.
https://www.chuckhawks.com/j_c_higgins_50.htm
Click to expand...

Good write up. It's worth clarifying - the model 51 is the same rifle mechanically as a 50, but with a fancier stock that was checkered and had a cheekpiece. The 51-L uses a Husqvarna action with a checkered stock with a Monte Carlo and no cheekpiece. Sears really should have given it its own model number.

Also worth noting that the rifles in the ads are early models because of the odd backwards mounted rear sight. Later models had the rear sight conventionally mounted on the barrel.
 
A JC Higgins M50 in 30-06 was my very first rifle. My father traded a ruger blackhawk .357 that he found in a river for it. I still have it, the one rifle I will never get rid of. It took my first three or four deer.
 
I have two of them, both in 30-06 and I had to travel all the way to deep WV for one of them. One is set up as a very accurate deer hunting rig with a Zeiss Conquest 3x9x40. I’d like to trade one for a 270 example if I could find one.
 
Jonny V said:
I just did a short video with my JCH model 50. This was my grandfather’s rifle and has been fully refinished to like new condition. More video to come with this rifle!

Click to expand...


Hi sir can you tell me the name of your gunsmith and the price to modify that rifle? I’d like to do the same to both of mine. Good shooting btw!
 
tosainu1 said:
I have two of them, both in 30-06 and I had to travel all the way to deep WV for one of them. One is set up as a very accurate deer hunting rig with a Zeiss Conquest 3x9x40. I’d like to trade one for a 270 example if I could find one.
Click to expand...
Good luck. I've seen Model 50s in 270, so they do exist, but it seems like I see three 30-06s for every 270.
 
Risky buisness said:
These are great rifles. My dad used one for years.
He didnt really like it much. He was a 3006 guy and the only one he could get was a .270
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I've been trying for years to get an '06 Model 50...Finally, I broke down and am having one built for me. I even ordered a barrel from Numrich, but it came with someone having re-cut the threads and hogged out the face of the chamber for what reason I don't know...I threw it in the trash.

My new rifle build is going to be a "modern" Model 50 build. Budget conscious but with good features..

Starting with the famous FN action, adding in a Douglas #4 contour 30-06 barrel (stainless steel, more on that stay tuned), Steiner 4-16X scope
https://www.steiner-optics.com/riflescopes/h4xi-4-16x56
NECG set trigger
https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1004688027?pid=716334
Boyd's Heritage Stock
https://www.boydsgunstocks.com/product-configurator
Black-T metal finish
https://black-t.com

My goal is to make up a good quality 30-06 rifle suitable for most all hunting in the Western Hemisphere. I decided to go "all in" on the scope...most expensive piece of gear on the rifle, but like my Drill Instructor used to preach, "the most important part of the rifle is its sights"....
 
Another J.C. Higgins Model 50 story:I was once at the range next to a guy who had the complete benchrest setup; a rifle and scope combo that cost more than my car, wind flags, a reloading press at the range, the works. At the break, he looked at my targets, complimented the sub-one inch groups and asked "What are you shooting?". You should have seen the look on his face when I answered: "Winchester Power Points from my Sears 30-06." :D
 
Jonny V said:
I've been trying for years to get an '06 Model 50...Finally, I broke down and am having one built for me. I even ordered a barrel from Numrich, but it came with someone having re-cut the threads and hogged out the face of the chamber for what reason I don't know...I threw it in the trash.

I did about the same, with some differences of course.
After a bunch of 270 down the tube wore it out and my dad sidelined the rifle, I ended up with it.
McMillan A2, Douglas premium 26" varmint taper and a set trigger. Spendy Leupold glass and a bunch of match 308 brass was my intro rifle for long range sport.
Always liked the rifle, now, it's my fav.
Long action doesn't mind the long Bergers stuck way out of the case, trigger is soooooo sweet..... yes Sears hit it out of the park with this commercial action Mauser, and from 1952 till today it's still going strong.

My new rifle build is going to be a "modern" Model 50 build. Budget conscious but with good features..

Starting with the famous FN action, adding in a Douglas #4 contour 30-06 barrel (stainless steel, more on that stay tuned), Steiner 4-16X scope
https://www.steiner-optics.com/riflescopes/h4xi-4-16x56
NECG set trigger
https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1004688027?pid=716334
Boyd's Heritage Stock
https://www.boydsgunstocks.com/product-configurator
Black-T metal finish
https://black-t.com

My goal is to make up a good quality 30-06 rifle suitable for most all hunting in the Western Hemisphere. I decided to go "all in" on the scope...most expensive piece of gear on the rifle, but like my Drill Instructor used to preach, "the most important part of the rifle is its sights"....
Click to expand...
 
natman said:
Another J.C. Higgins Model 50 story:I was once at the range next to a guy who had the complete benchrest setup; a rifle and scope combo that cost more than my car, wind flags, a reloading press at the range, the works. At the break, he looked at my targets, complimented the sub-one inch groups and asked "What are you shooting?". You should have seen the look on his face when I answered: "Winchester Power Points from my Sears 30-06." :D
Click to expand...
Excellent!.

Todd.
 
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