Remington Model 8 & 81

[bluetopper]

A few years ago I ran across a 60's era Marlin lever action in 35 Rem that was too good of a deal to pass up. Since then I have started reloading for the caliber and have really enjoyed the rifle as well as the cartridge. Along the way I have researched the 35 Rem caliber and read up on the old Remington Model 8; the rifle the cartridge was initially designed for. Anyway, of late I've been really enamored by the model 8 and 81 and wishing I had one. I think they are the neatest old rifles as well as the first commercially successful semi-auto rifle in the US as well as designed by the man himself, JM Browning. Do any of you have a model 8 or 81? If so, lets see some pics.

 

[giggitygiggity]

I am with you. I’ve been in search of a Model 8 for a few years. They are cool guns!

 

[troy fairweather]

They are fantastic rifles. And so are the 14-141s. I had to sell mine a few years ago, still looking to find a deal on one but i have not seen many around me.

 

[Enfielder]

Here's my 81 in .300 savage. You'll note the excess of holes drilled for the scope mount. If i really wanted to, I can move it forward or back an inch. You'll also note that the scope has been turned sideways so that elevation is windage and windage is elevation. I can only use scopes that have a one piece tube with the turrets mounted. I guess that makes this rifle "kustom with a k." It had been refinished with a super fragile poly finish that scratched when I looked at it. I cleaned it all off and now it wears a coat of oil on the furniture. The fore grip has a bright sapwood strip on the top of the left side that makes this gun unique. I haven't got a shot on anything with this one yet, but it's up to it. I paid
$200 for it at a gun show 5 years ago. The gun didn't cycle or fire well because, the same Bubba who drilled it TEN!!! times left the base mounting screws long and sticking inside the receiver. They bound the bolt up. Under 5 minutes with a flexible shaft tool and it ran like a top. It's a heavy gun but .30 Savage has some spank to it which was focused by the hardened rubber butt pad . The butt pad that came with it was as hard as a rock and while I had the finish off of it, I added a nice new White Line to it. It's good to go.
180gn RN with 38g of 4895 is my choice load.

 

[Mn Fats]

I have a Model 8. No pics on my phone here for you. Excellent brush gun. Excellent rifle in general actually. I'd love to find some tang peeps for mine but they're spendy and hard to find. JMB (once again) nailed it with the model 8. I can't remember having a single malfunction. Plus I'm a huge fan of the Browning Auto 5, so pulling up on a Model 8 feels "at home" to me.

Parts I believe are getting harder to come by is the only downside. But they're great rifles and mine is very accurate. Go buy one

 

[22250Rem]

Very cool !......... I've always been fascinated by those but haven't seen one at a gun show in quite a while. I believe the price of them has been climbing up pretty steady over the last few years.

 

[Random 8]

You guys need to come up to the Northwoods to find them. Just walked around the show in St Paul today, and there were at least 10, ranging from "needs work" to special grade engraved, fancy wood, immaculate. Pricing from $300 beater to $1200 collectors piece. Most prevalent caliber today was .35 Rem, with one .300 Sav and one .25 Rem noted. Most were priced around $600 for "decent" looking rifles, used but not abused. Do not presently own one, but on my short list in .300 to match my M99. Wish I'd bought one a few years ago when a really nice standard M81 could be had locally for under $500.

 

[troy fairweather]

You guys need to come up to the Northwoods to find them. Just walked around the show in St Paul today, and there were at least 10, ranging from "needs work" to special grade engraved, fancy wood, immaculate. Pricing from $300 beater to $1200 collectors piece. Most prevalent caliber today was .35 Rem, with one .300 Sav and one .25 Rem noted. Most were priced around $600 for "decent" looking rifles, used but not abused. Do not presently own one, but on my short list in .300 to match my M99. Wish I'd bought one a few years ago when a really nice standard M81 could be had locally for under $500.

if you see a $300 better please let me know lol.

 

[Random 8]

Saw one today at MWCA, but it needed a new buttstock or a serious repair, as well as metal work and I think the bore was pitted. Didn't even get into the internals, probably issues there also. More of a basketcase than I'd want to take on. If the bore looked good, might have considered it.

 

[troy fairweather]

Saw one today at MWCA, but it needed a new buttstock or a serious repair, as well as metal work and I think the bore was pitted. Didn't even get into the internals, probably issues there also. More of a basketcase than I'd want to take on. If the bore looked good, might have considered it.

i don't mind fixer uppers. i haven't seen a 8 or 81 in a few year here in ny. i am so close to pa and nj so that don't help

 

[Random 8]

The bore would be a non starter for anyone who was serious about rifles though. Looked like it was fired with corrosive ammo at one time, and the owner had coated it with a heavy grease and refused to let me patch it and get a good look...RED FLAG!!!. There was a local company that pulled down military .30-06, resized it to .300 Sav and reloaded with military primed brass, powder and converted "sp" cut down M1 or M2 projectile through the 1950s, selling to "poor folks" in here in the North Woods. Ruined the bores on a lot of MN .300 Savage rifles. I still occasionally find the fired brass in gravel pits "up North" from dudes getting into Grandpa's stash of ammo. I used to have one of their Kraft cardboard boxes that came with my Grandpa's rifle but it was damaged in recent flooding. Was done by a sporting goods shop in Hibbing or Duluth, I forget which. The ammo worked well in my M99 (I did assume it was corrosive primed and cleaned appropriately). Cases were WWI vintage FA resized and trimmed to .300 Sav.

 

[troy fairweather]

The bore would be a non starter for anyone who was serious about rifles though. Looked like it was fired with corrosive ammo at one time, and the owner had coated it with a heavy grease and refused to let me patch it and get a good look...RED FLAG!!!. There was a local company that pulled down military .30-06, resized it to .300 Sav and reloaded with military primed brass, powder and converted "sp" cut down M1 or M2 projectile through the 1950s, selling to "poor folks" in here in the North Woods. Ruined the bores on a lot of MN .300 Savage rifles. I still occasionally find the fired brass in gravel pits "up North" from dudes getting into Grandpa's stash of ammo. I used to have one of their Kraft cardboard boxes that came with my Grandpa's rifle but it was damaged in recent flooding. Was done by a sporting goods shop in Hibbing or Duluth, I forget which. The ammo worked well in my M99 (I did assume it was corrosive primed and cleaned appropriately). Cases were WWI vintage FA resized and trimmed to .300 Sav.

i think if i found one for around 500 i could get that together to buy a 8 or 81, i really like the 14 and 141s to, i sold my beloved 14 1/2 in 40-40 when my dad got hurt. i actually think my dad has a box or two of that 300 savage ammo. i have some herters 7 mauser hunting ammo that is just fmj's with the tips ground off.

 

[Random 8]

i think if i found one for around 500 i could get that together to buy a 8 or 81, i really like the 14 and 141s to, i sold my beloved 14 1/2 in 40-40 when my dad got hurt. i actually think my dad has a box or two of that 300 savage ammo. i have some herters 7 mauser hunting ammo that is just fmj's with the tips ground off.

Asking at this show was around 600 for pretty nice rifles, both M8 and 81. You probably could have gotten one in good to shoot condition for $500-550 with some haggling. They are relatively common here around MN, some guys still hunt with them. Bounce an E-mail to "Frontiersman" in St Louis park or Gunstop in Minnetonka, they'll hunt up a good one for you. Both are reputable local dealers who will give you a fair shake on condition and pricing and ship to your LGS. They deal in a lot of used guns that come in for trade, especially if they have a ready buyer lined up.

 

[troy fairweather]

Asking at this show was around 600 for pretty nice rifles, both M8 and 81. You probably could have gotten one in good to shoot condition for $500-550 with some haggling. They are relatively common here around MN, some guys still hunt with them. Bounce an E-mail to "Frontiersman" in St Louis park or Gunstop in Minnetonka, they'll hunt up a good one for you. Both are reputable local dealers who will give you a fair shake on condition and pricing and ship to your LGS. They deal in a lot of used guns that come in for trade, especially if they have a ready buyer lined up.

thanks for the info, if i got the money for are next gun show ill take a look, last one i missed out on a 14 carbine in 25 rem for 325.

 

[shuvelrider]

Traded a bubba 03A3 for it.

 

[Duster340]

My brother deer hunts with his Model 8 chambered in 30 Remington. Very cool rifle that gets the job done.

 

[cdb1]

Never owned one but I’ve always thought they were seriously cool looking.

 

[eastbank]

I fired a friends 81 in 35 rem years ago, tho heavy it prefromed well and spit five round out as fast as I pulled the trigger. I do have a 1941 rem 141 in .35 rem that i got at a very good price as it was D&T for a receiver sight on the left side and no longer a collector but a fine hunter.

 

[theotherwaldo]

I've got a Model 8 in .30 Remington. Picked it up cheap. Looked like someone tried to take out the magazine with a pair of Vise Grips. Still working on it, but it works pretty well. It's just ugly.
Looked at a Model 81 in .35 Remington at a local pawn shop. Somebody had monkeyed with the safety lever and jammed the action solid. Also drilled for side mount scope and sling.
Passed on it.

 

[fpgt72]

I own both an 8 and 81, the 8 is in 30 remington (basically a 30-30 with no rim) and the 81 is in 300 savage. To me the 8 is much nicer to shoot. 300 savage seems a bit much in the gun. They are a bit interesting, and have all kinds of little bits inside the rec. It is very interesting on how it all goes together and what each little "lever" does during the shooting cycle. You really need a special tool to get the "jacket" off the barrel, so you can get to the spring. I would suggest in any gun that has seen real field use (and most have) you need to check in here to make sure the spring, and all the other metal bits have not been neglected. IE rusty. The bolt is just a total nightmare to take apart.

As to pics I have them on google photos not sure if they will come across.....if anyone knows how to share them let me know.....if you don't see them.

I will try just the 8

 

[tark]

I've got an 81 in 300 Savage that is near new. The metal is 99% but the original varnish has cracked with age. It was made in March of 1946. My computer whiz Nephew is coming over after work to try and figure out why I have been having trouble posting pics lately. Hopefully, I will have some poster later today.