Mike Irwin
Member
"Contact Remington directly..."
Hey! Cool! I'm off to their Web site!
Hey! Cool! I'm off to their Web site!
It's here! My Remington 81 has been delivered!
- Thread starter Mike Irwin
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Gordon
Member
Remington fans eh? How about: 43 Spanish Rolling Block, 7mm rolling block carbine, .41 Derringer, "baby rolling block" .22 carbine., Model 8 .35 , Model 51 .380, Model 1917 by Remington with Rem bayonet, Model 14 1/2 44/40 , Model 30s 30-06, Model 81 .35,Model 141 in .35, Model 513T, Model 511, Nylon 66, model 37 .22 target gun, Model 31 in 12 ga AND 20ga(my favorite), Models 721,722, model 40x, four model 600's, 4 model 700,s , four model 870's, three model 1100's, and one 3200. I might have missed something. I joined Remington club last Oct. Come on back now guys with yours. 
Mike Irwin
Member
Oh, I forgot the Model 700 in .243.
russlate
Member
Some 81's in 35 Rem.
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russlate
Member
Some 81's in 35 Rem. were fitted with aftermarket 15 round magazines and used for guarding prisons. Forget the company name, but the magazines were beautifully solid and well made of incredibly thick stock. Think of forging rather than sheet metal stamping.
Went the route of contacting Rem for copy of the manual, only got half of it. Lady wasn't very cooperatiuve and wouldn't check into it. Appears they only had one side of a page, skipping every other page.
Fortunately someone on the boards advised me to get Firearms assembly/disassembly (ceterfire rifles revised edition) Part IV by JB Wood. This has complete disassembly procedure for a Model 8.
The long recoil is certainly a new experience. Using the factory loads, which some are loaded very light, some brass barely got ejected.
Fortunately someone on the boards advised me to get Firearms assembly/disassembly (ceterfire rifles revised edition) Part IV by JB Wood. This has complete disassembly procedure for a Model 8.
The long recoil is certainly a new experience. Using the factory loads, which some are loaded very light, some brass barely got ejected.
Gordon
Member
I use (d) that manual for my guns with success.
Mike Irwin
Member
Russ,
I thought the extended magazine was developed for the Model 8?
The more I learn about these rifles, the more smitten I am with them.
You NEVER saw them in Pennsylvania when I was growing up because you couldn't use them for deer hunting -- no semi-auto rifles at all for deer.
I thought the extended magazine was developed for the Model 8?
The more I learn about these rifles, the more smitten I am with them.
You NEVER saw them in Pennsylvania when I was growing up because you couldn't use them for deer hunting -- no semi-auto rifles at all for deer.
Mike Irwin
Member
I forgot to mention the funny story that was recounted to me when I picked my rifle up.
Anyone here who knows Bernie at Virginia Arms knows he's a funny guy, and likes a good joke.
When my 81 came in, another employee at the store had never seen one before. Bernie had him totally convinced for a little bit that the shroud around the barrel was an integral suppressor.
Anyone here who knows Bernie at Virginia Arms knows he's a funny guy, and likes a good joke.
When my 81 came in, another employee at the store had never seen one before. Bernie had him totally convinced for a little bit that the shroud around the barrel was an integral suppressor.
russlate
Member
The 81's were definitely a high class work. Fortunately I never had to find out the hard way if the 200 grain load would shoot through a Continental or Lycoming engine block. But that's another story.
MarineTech
Member
Well, finally got my Model 8 out to the range yesterday. Best group was about 3" at 100 yards with the stock semi-buckhorn sight and Remington's 150gr. loads. Not too bad with iron sights. I'll see how well it does after I get the tang sight fitted today. Second best was with Winchester's 200gr. Power points which came in just under 4"
2 things that I found out of interest in the experience.
1) Even though the gun was designed with a 200gr. bullet in mind, I found that the 150gr. Remingtons were a bit more accurate.
2) I found out why it looked like this gun was shot so little. RECOIL. I'm not terribly recoil sensitive, and I've been known to put about 300 rounds of .308 downrange out of an M14 in a shooting session, but this rifle was beating the heck out of me with 200gr. loads. Now I will admit that earlier in the morning I had run through 4 rounds of 5-stand. 100 rounds of 12 gauge trap loads can do a number on you, but this rifle was a beast with the heavier loads.
Guess I'll be sticking with the lighter Remington offering until I can start working up some decent loads of my own.
2 things that I found out of interest in the experience.
1) Even though the gun was designed with a 200gr. bullet in mind, I found that the 150gr. Remingtons were a bit more accurate.
2) I found out why it looked like this gun was shot so little. RECOIL. I'm not terribly recoil sensitive, and I've been known to put about 300 rounds of .308 downrange out of an M14 in a shooting session, but this rifle was beating the heck out of me with 200gr. loads. Now I will admit that earlier in the morning I had run through 4 rounds of 5-stand. 100 rounds of 12 gauge trap loads can do a number on you, but this rifle was a beast with the heavier loads.
Guess I'll be sticking with the lighter Remington offering until I can start working up some decent loads of my own.
RussB
Member
Reading through his thread made me dig into the back of the safe and take out my Model 8 in .30 Rem...
I bought this gun several years ago, just because it was so darn cool! Blueing is 99%, walnut has a beautiful patina. It set me back $200.
The serial # is 57793. The barrel is marked,
The Remington Arms Union Metallic Cartridge Co. inc.,
I believe it was made around 1924, IIRC, maybe someone could shed some light on this?
I was able to get a hold of 2 boxes of factory Remington ammunition at the Blue Trail range, aka the Lyman range, in Wallingford Ct. a few years ago.
I use a set of 30-30win dies, along with a different shell holder to reload for the gun.
these guns are beautifully built, the take down feature is super-cool, and they are just plain fun to shoot...I need to take a few pics of her
I bought this gun several years ago, just because it was so darn cool! Blueing is 99%, walnut has a beautiful patina. It set me back $200.
The serial # is 57793. The barrel is marked,
The Remington Arms Union Metallic Cartridge Co. inc.,
I believe it was made around 1924, IIRC, maybe someone could shed some light on this?
I was able to get a hold of 2 boxes of factory Remington ammunition at the Blue Trail range, aka the Lyman range, in Wallingford Ct. a few years ago.
I use a set of 30-30win dies, along with a different shell holder to reload for the gun.
these guns are beautifully built, the take down feature is super-cool, and they are just plain fun to shoot...I need to take a few pics of her
C.R.Sam
Moderator Emeritus
Mike...
You have let the monster into your lair.
It will begat and begat.
You will have to move again.
Consider a bank building with a walk in vault.
Sam
You have let the monster into your lair.
It will begat and begat.
You will have to move again.
Consider a bank building with a walk in vault.
Sam
Mike Irwin
Member
Funny you should mention that, Sam...
I was thinking last night that now I want one in .35 Remington.
But that's going to wait.
I was thinking last night that now I want one in .35 Remington.
But that's going to wait.
MarineTech
Member
RussB, according to the reference I have, the receiver of your rifle was built in April of 1928. The rifle was most likely assembled sometime between April and July of that same year.
Mike Irwin
Member
Hey Marine,
What do your references say about one an 81 with a serial number of 12,6**?
What do your references say about one an 81 with a serial number of 12,6**?
RussB
Member
MarineTech,
Thank you for the information...this thread has revitalized my interest in my Model 8...I loaded up 20 rounds of 30 Rem, and will take her out to the range in the near future
Thank you for the information...this thread has revitalized my interest in my Model 8...I loaded up 20 rounds of 30 Rem, and will take her out to the range in the near future
MarineTech
Member
Mike, you're a bit out of luck. Apparently nobody has been able to locate the log book of serial number assignments for the Model 81. Estimating from factory production stats, your rifle would have been built in late 1940 or early 1941. One thing that will help to better identify when it was built would be for you to check the left side of the barrel jacket head. There should be either 2 or 3 letters there that will identify when the rifle was assembled. See if you can find it and let me know what they are.
Mike Irwin
Member
Marine,
There's an RJ on the left side, and what looks like an upside down checkmark on the right side... ?
Any help?
There's an RJ on the left side, and what looks like an upside down checkmark on the right side... ?
Any help?
Target Shooter
Member
I thought I was the only person who like's the Remington model 81.
I bought my first one years ago at a local show from a private individual selling of his deceased fathers guns. It was in a 300 Savage and then a couple of years later I rescued another 300 savage from a toothless redneck that was asking how much trouble it would be to drill and tap it for a scope. My dad bought that one from me.
I then decided I wasnted one in 35 Remington and after eight years of looking I finaly found one with the lyman tang sight and an early leather sling held on with what appeared to be Uncle Mike super swivels, But they were made in Germany back in the 40's. If i could find the other calibers I would probably buy them.
I bought my first one years ago at a local show from a private individual selling of his deceased fathers guns. It was in a 300 Savage and then a couple of years later I rescued another 300 savage from a toothless redneck that was asking how much trouble it would be to drill and tap it for a scope. My dad bought that one from me.
I then decided I wasnted one in 35 Remington and after eight years of looking I finaly found one with the lyman tang sight and an early leather sling held on with what appeared to be Uncle Mike super swivels, But they were made in Germany back in the 40's. If i could find the other calibers I would probably buy them.
MarineTech
Member
Mike,
That should be just about all I need. I'm at work right now, but I'll check the book when I get home at around midnight Eastern. Off the top of my head, I think it's an earlier model 81, but don't hold me to that. I'll find out for sure when I get home.
That should be just about all I need. I'm at work right now, but I'll check the book when I get home at around midnight Eastern. Off the top of my head, I think it's an earlier model 81, but don't hold me to that. I'll find out for sure when I get home.
MarineTech
Member
Mike,
The chart I have shows the following for the RJ marking.
R = November
J = 1940
So, the rifle was assembled in November 1940. The parts may have been manufactured a couple months prior.
The chart I have shows the following for the RJ marking.
R = November
J = 1940
So, the rifle was assembled in November 1940. The parts may have been manufactured a couple months prior.
Remington Date of manufacture
The stamp on the barrel is pretty cool.
Here's a link to a page at rimfire central that explains it and has a listing.
http://rimfirecentral.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=9555
The stamp on the barrel is pretty cool.
Here's a link to a page at rimfire central that explains it and has a listing.
http://rimfirecentral.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=9555
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