Iconic 30 Caliber semi auto rifle

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mac66

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So, what would you pay for a Browning semi auto designed 30 cal? No, not a BAR but that other Browning semi auto?

What would you pay for an iconic walnut and steel rifle that was not only popular big game rifle but arguably the first semi auto police patrol rifle and was used to bring down the likes of Bonnie and Clyde?

From bears to Bonnie and Clyde, how cool is that?

Buddie's B-I-L's neighbor had this Remington 81 in 300 Savage for sale which was his late fathers. Local gun shop offered him less than dirt for it, I offered him just a bit more than dirt and now am very happy. Made in 1947, with leather sling, checkered walnut stock and Redfield peep sight. Stocks been refinished but so what? This baby is a shooter! And the 300 Savage is a darn good deer cartridge.

Just thought I would share cuz I'm happy....:D

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Hey, you don't think Kalashnikov invented that safety on his own do you?

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Those are such a neat gun. Classic lines, interesting history, and still useful today. One in .35 Rem is on my short list, they are hard to find in the condition of yours. Most of them were used hard, then used some more. Hard to argue with a design that no other manufacturer could compete with for 50+ years.
 
Kind of wished it was a 35 since I have a lever action in that caliber but I couldn't pass it up even in 300 savage. Got it for a lot less than $300 so I'm not complaining particularly in the condition it is in. Now to find some ammo for it.
 
.30 Remington is an interesting cartridge, basically a rimless 30-30. Too bad it is not being made anymore. It seems like it would have some utility today.
 
Ammo is expensive but not hard to find,

At least not here in WI. There are usually several boxes in the bigger/true gunshops. Have fun! I have grandpa's and it has a detachable mag. Just hope it never gets lost!
 
The .300 Savage and .35 Remington ones are the most popular. When I discovered the Model 8 I had to have one. I finally found a .30 Remington one on GB and paid the shipping and FFL fee for it since I had let my C&R expire.

It's a very interesting rifle, a prime example of a "road not traveled" in firearm production. For something made for over 40 years they're not very well known, though.

By the serial number, my Model 8 was made in 1914. So I own another rifle with an age in the triple digits...
 
I had a Model 8 in .25 Remington in excellent condition when I was a kid.
I was given it instead of cash for mowing an old woman's yard several times.
I felt like I'd been cheated when I couldn't find any ammo for it, so I sold it cheap.

I've probably done dumber things in my life, but not by much.
 
Nice one. I shot one decades ago. I think it was my first semi-auto rifle at the time. Lots of fun and I distinctly remember the long smooth recoil of it.
 
Sweet!

Looks to be in great shape too.


.30 Remington is an interesting cartridge, basically a rimless 30-30. Too bad it is not being made anymore. It seems like it would have some utility today.
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Ive been fighting with myself over a couple of Model 14 Remingtons at a local shop, one in .30 Remington, the other in .32 Remington. The guns are in real nice shape, and not priced to bad (not near the deal above though), but I havent yet convinced myself I need another odd ball caliber to load for, if even just for the fun of it.
 
300 Savage is the starting point for the 308 so one can resize and trim 308 casings to make 300 sav.

As someone said the 8/81is Iconic but not well known. It was however THE semi auto sporting rifle of the first half of the 20th century.


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Apparently you're supposed to shoot bears or wolves with these things. All the ads I found with them shows either bears or wolves. I suspect more deer have been taken than wolves or bears however.

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I just love these old ads....

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.30 Rem would be the one to get since brass can still be found.
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That was what I was finding in my research. .30 Rem brass doesnt seem to be that hard to find.

I also found you can "neck up" .30 Rem brass to .32 Rem as well, so thats not to much of a problem either.

I think its to the point that if you dont reload, youre pretty much SOL if you like to shoot/use them.
 
One more tidbit of info, then I'll shut up.

Did you know these things came apart? Yeah, they take down. I didn't know that before I bought this one. Pretty cool.

Take the fore arm off, and use that little lever to unscrew the barrel retention nut.

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"Is that rifle based on the long recoil system? Similar to the Browning A5?

That was when rifles had Character!

Bob Wright"

Yes, exactly, good eye
 
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