A modernized version of the Remington Model 8?

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Jason_W

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I read a recent article in Rifle on the Model 8 and it got my very bored mind thinking about the feasibility of chambering the .35 Remington in a modern semi-auto (even though there would be absolutely no market for it).

I used to own a Marlin 336c in .35 Remington, so I know that the cartridge is one of the most underrated/underappreciated extant rounds. It's just slightly longer than the 7.62x39 mm, but appreciably more powerful and recoils noticeably less than a .308 Win.

Further, with a box magazine, pointed ammunition could be used, making the round useful out past 200 yards.

In my once again very bored mind, I envision a rifle that looks similar to a Mini-30 or scaled down M1A that spits .35 cal. 150-220 grain chunks of lead as fast as you can pull the trigger. What's not to like?
 
SVT-40 Tokarev could handle the cartridge as could the Dragunov.
Doubt you could get anyone to actually do the conversion but it would be a very cool only kid on the block that has one project! :)
 
I'm a huge fan of the .35Rem.
However; I doubt that it (remake of mod-8) would see much response.

I have a Marlin M336 and adore it. But, factory ammo is currently evidently made of "unobtanium".
Very few folks have been able to find factory ammo. Only recently have Hornady 200gr RN and PtSpt component bullets become available again. Also a few Winchester "blems" from MidwayUSA.
I personally have had "issues" with the Hornady bullets in the .35Rem. I much prefer the 200gr RN Sierra and Remington CorLokt bullets. At price of the "blems", I'll pass !!! (more than the 1st quality Hornady's!).

Due to the dearth of bullets over past few years, I bought an RCBS mold and now only make/shoot my own .35cal bullets.
I took my second deer this year with the .35Rem and 200gr FNGC .360 bullet. A low forward lung shot resulted in a 40yd run and a very dead deer. About like any jacketed bullet would have done with identical shot placement. I was using 34.5gr of H4895. But, I've found that my rifle much, much prefers 38.5gr of BLC2 for ~2,000fps and sub 2moa accuracy at 100yds (5 shots). Also, a .4" deep by 7/64" hollow point gives devastating expansion like the CorLokts and Sierra ProHunters.
Cast "boolits" by a Knockout !!!

I also have a Browning BLR-'81 (steel reciever) in .358win. FWIW; my top loads with it are only ~150fps faster than top loads with the .35Rem, though it does easily handle pointed bullets the Marlin won't.
But for practical purposes, they're the same thing... ballistically, with top loadings.

My advice would be to get a BLR in .358win and call it good.

Perhaps over the next 12 months, the .358" 200gr Nosler Accubonds and 225gr Sierra GameKings will become available again and I may re-visit the .358win.
But, for practical purposes, I'll just haul out the 'ole Marlin and put the venison in the cooler... cheaply, and most effectively...
 
GooseGestapo said:
I'm a huge fan of the .35Rem.
However; I doubt that it (remake of mod-8) would see much response.
Click to expand...

It wouldn't. Not even a little, which is unfortunate given how awesome the cartridge is. .35s get no love :mad:

My pipe dream wasn't so much a resurrection of the model 8, but a modern analogue to it.

Maybe if I'm ever in a position where I have way more money than sense, I'll commission prototypes of guns I think are interesting and see if anything sticks. I'm so very, very bored with what the market has to offer at the moment.
 
Jason_W said:
It wouldn't. Not even a little, which is unfortunate given how awesome the cartridge is. .35s get no love :mad:

My pipe dream wasn't so much a resurrection of the model 8, but a modern analogue to it.

Maybe if I'm ever in a position where I have way more money than sense, I'll commission prototypes of guns I think are interesting and see if anything sticks. I'm so very, very bored with what the market has to offer at the moment.
Click to expand...
Amen.

I have decided to amass a collection of every long recoil action guns produced, and a model 8 and model 81 are next on the list.
 
I have decided to amass a collection of every long recoil action guns produced, and a model 8 and model 81 are next on the list.
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Good luck with the GM6 Lynx, be sure to give us a range report ;)

TCB
 
Hmm. a 35x39 wildcat.

The Russians have been loading 9x39 subsonic for some time now.
Would it match .35 Rem with a 180-200 grain bullet instead of 250?


An AR10 in .358 Win would fill the bill with off the shelf parts and ammo.
 
That's interesting. An AK rebarreled to 9x39 Soviet as mentioned above would seem to be it. Same safety and everything. AK builds are simple if you have the equipment already in the shop.
 
The Remington was recoil operated, while the Vintorez is long stroke piston operated with an AR-like (guessing) 6 lug bolt head. The 9x39 cartridge seems to certainly suit their needs, and IIRC actually has decent armor piercing properties with penetrator ammo, despite its sub-sonic velocity (I kind of wonder about this, but that's what I keep reading). I assume a Model 8/81 platform suitably modified would fill a similar short range subsonic role as the Vintorez, but I can't imagine it being very popular. Or who knows; if timed with removal of suppressors from NFA, it could be the platform that, along with Blackout ARs, brings suppressed hunting/defense into the mainstream along with the 9x39 round ;)

TCB
 
who needs it? This one is for sale for $500 , Dale Storey put all new springs in it and refurbished it 20 years ago. I shot a mountain lion with two years after and put maybe 100 more rounds thru it since. it is accurate, surprisingly and a light kicker .

032.gif
 
Gordon said:
who needs it? This one is for sale for $500 , Dale Storey put all new springs in it and refurbished it 20 years ago. I shot a mountain lion with two years after and put maybe 100 more rounds thru it since. it is accurate, surprisingly and a light kicker .

032.gif
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A beautiful gun. It looks like it's in great condition as well.

The discussion of things like the 9x39mm in an AK and .358 Win. in an AR-10 are interesting, but they do overlook that fact that there are still an apparently small handful of us gun folk who aren't really into ARs or AKs. Additionally, the .35 Rem and its components are still available commercially (sort of) while 9x39 is not. I'm not sure if .358 Win stuff is easier or harder to come by than .35 rem.

I have nothing against ARs or AKs (except maybe the ghastly ergonomics of the latter), I just like the look and feel of more traditional designs. For stocks, I definitely prefer wood or laminate over synthetic.

I know that I'm one of a group of like 10 people who feel this way, so the market's just not there. But, like I said, if I ever hit the lottery in a big way, I'll commission some cool guns for the 10 people mentioned in the last sentence. ;)
 
I'm not a fan of the AKs either, but the Vintorez and Model 8 don't look all the much different to me. I believe the AK was in part based on the Model 8.
 
I really like AK, but despise AR. My main problems with AR can be overcome with expensive parts, but that makes a gun I don't really like that's already expensive even more expensive. Give me a rem 8 and I'm happy.
 
urbaneruralite said:
I'm not a fan of the AKs either, but the Vintorez and Model 8 don't look all the much different to me. I believe the AK was in part based on the Model 8.
Click to expand...

I've never shouldered a Model 8 so I don't know how comfortable they are. All I know is that every AK I've shouldered has felt incredibly awkward, like a 4x4 with a pistol grip. Pair that with a Mosin and you'll be inclined to wonder if there is a word in the Russian language for ergonomics.:D
 
One of the cool things about the Model 8 (1906-36) and the Model 81 (which replaced it in 1936-1950) is that they take down. Another interesting fact is that many law enforcement used the mod 8 in 35 Rem to fight the road bandits (Bonnie and Clyde etc.) of the day. The 35 had enough power to punch through steel car bodies/armor and they can be loaded with stripper clips. An aftermarket company even made a 15 round detachable mag conversion for it which was quite popular with police and eventually named the Police model by Remington. Even the FBI adopted the 81.

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7ac0a097-0cec-490b-9f2c-d84617cce610_zps8e9a94ea.jpg

These rifles are still out there. I picked the above rifle up at a garage sale last summer for a good price.
 
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Handled a model 81 in .35 rem just yesterday at the LGS.

didn't do much other than that, just showing the wife. Her dad has a model 8 that belonged to his dad, chambered in the obsolete .30 Remington cartridge. She'll inherit it one day, just too bad the ammo is probably worth more than the gun in the right market.
 
The .30 Remington is a rimless version of the 30-30 Win. Some people think that it would be good to bring it back in some modern sporting rifles.

For those who are interested the Remington Society has a web page and forum on the Model 8/81. People on the forum might be able to hook you up with ammo.

http://thegreatmodel8.remingtonsociety.com/
 
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