Rem Model 81 (35 Rem)..Does Mag hold 4 or 5?

[warhwkbb]

I am a new owner of an 81 in 35 Rem. At first, the magazine would only hold four rounds; the fifth would cause most of the other rounds to erupt out of the top of the mag.
I slightly bent the magazine springs to just barely hold five loaded 35 Rem rounds. I've run into conflicting information concerning magazine capacity. I know the 300 Savage were limited to four rounds due to the fatter cartridge case. Am I damaging the magazine spring loading five?

 

[fpgt72]

I have an 8 in 30 remington and an 81 in 300 savage....both of those hold 5....If I was on jeopardy I would say 5.

 

[troy fairweather]

5 they made, 5 round stripper clips for them.

 

[Dr T]

There is a nice little video from Midway at


However it does not have the magazine capacity. It does, however, cover the takedown.

 

[warhwkbb]

Thanks!
I already have had the pleasure of replacing incorrect magazine side springs. My sphincter tightened a bit when all the widgets fell out. A few minutes to study how the levers interacted and I was able to get it back together without much difficulty. I actually had a harder time getting the butt-stock screw lined up properly.
After I adjusted the magazine springs to hold all five rounds, it functioned on the bench fine. I have not yet found an opportunity to shoot it with the full mag.

edit..I found Turkish Mouser stripper clips work fairly well in the 81

 

[fpgt72]

Thanks!
I already have had the pleasure of replacing incorrect magazine side springs. My sphincter tightened a bit when all the widgets fell out. A few minutes to study how the levers interacted and I was able to get it back together without much difficulty. I actually had a harder time getting the butt-stock screw lined up properly.
After I adjusted the magazine springs to hold all five rounds, it functioned on the bench fine. I have not yet found an opportunity to shoot it with the full mag.

edit..I found Turkish Mouser stripper clips work fairly well in the 81

I love old guns.....and all those little levers in there is just super cool to me.....amazing a guy could figure out all that in his head.

They are really fun guns.....I guess you could say 35 and 300 savage are the only flavors that really exist off the shelf anymore.....and that is a bit of a reach.

I really like mine in 30 Remington....to me the 300 feels a bit much for it.....I would love to find a 25.

 

[warhwkbb]

I also have a Winchester 1910 401wsl. The historical differences between them are fascinating to me. Nearly every piece of the 401 was designed around "not" infringing on JMB's patents. Most obvious is the the bolt charging handle location. Yup, that was patented too!

 

[fpgt72]

I also have a Winchester 1910 401wsl. The historical differences between them are fascinating to me. Nearly every piece of the 401 was designed around "not" infringing on JMB's patents. Most obvious is the the bolt charging handle location. Yup, that was patented too!
View attachment 853196

I have been looking for a 351 for a while now....the right one just has not come along. Chose the 351 as from what I read the 401 really pushed things as far as that system could go. I know 357 max brass can be used for the 351 WSL but that is not a real inexpensive option as well.....but if you are getting this stuff to shoot being cheap is something that just does not go with it.

 

[warhwkbb]

Buffalo Arms has about everything for reloading these old wsl calibers.Cheap to shoot is relative...

 

[Picher]

When I started doing gunsmithing/repairs about a "hundred" years ago, I worked to remove the rusted washer from the muzzle end of my first repair/cleaning job, a Model 81. Finally, the rusted washer came off like a cannon shot, propelled by the action spring, and made a big half-moon mark in our newly-installed fancy, expensive English wallpaper in the dining room. The wife wasn't impressed that I got it apart, and if I didn't hold the rifle tightly in my arms, she might have used it as a weapon to beat me silly!

 

[Dr T]

But at least your head was not in the way of the washer...my fingers still ache when I had an altercation with a coil spring a long time ago...

 

[Picher]

But at least your head was not in the way of the washer...my fingers still ache when I had an altercation with a coil spring a long time ago...

Sorry to hear that. I didn't let the rifle "point" the spring toward my face, realizing that it could release with destructive force.

 

[fpgt72]

When I started doing gunsmithing/repairs about a "hundred" years ago, I worked to remove the rusted washer from the muzzle end of my first repair/cleaning job, a Model 81. Finally, the rusted washer came off like a cannon shot, propelled by the action spring, and made a big half-moon mark in our newly-installed fancy, expensive English wallpaper in the dining room. The wife wasn't impressed that I got it apart, and if I didn't hold the rifle tightly in my arms, she might have used it as a weapon to beat me silly!

Did you have that special little wrench....someone re-popped them a while ago but I did not get one.....it is a real bear to take apart....but getting it back together....royal pain.

 

[351 WINCHESTER]

I have been looking for a 351 for a while now....the right one just has not come along. Chose the 351 as from what I read the 401 really pushed things as far as that system could go. I know 357 max brass can be used for the 351 WSL but that is not a real inexpensive option as well.....but if you are getting this stuff to shoot being cheap is something that just does not go with it.

I have several .351's and really like them over the Remington's. I had a model 81 in .300 & hated it. It was unreliable & kicked like a mule. Several months ago I was on GB & made an offer on a "fantastic" .351 never thinking I would win it, but I did. The guy asked me if I wanted an extra "clip" for $10. & I said yes. When I got the gun it looked like it was just made & the extra "clip" was a 10 round factory. Keep looking as they are out there.

 

[Gordon]

I have several .351's and really like them over the Remington's. I had a model 81 in .300 & hated it. It was unreliable & kicked like a mule. Several months ago I was on GB & made an offer on a "fantastic" .351 never thinking I would win it, but I did. The guy asked me if I wanted an extra "clip" for $10. & I said yes. When I got the gun it looked like it was just made & the extra "clip" was a 10 round factory. Keep looking as they are out there.

The one I showed before here with the 10 round magazine is up for sale with 2 boxes of ammo for $600 . The .351 wins the simplistic award for sure, very fun carbine !