Remington model 8

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jethro

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A friend that I bought a few things from in the past, has a Remington model 8 that he wants to sell. It' shoots 35 Rem. I don't see alot of ammo available for it, but he will include a box of it. $500. Does anyone have experience with these?
Thanks.
 
They're fun to shoot and usually quite beautiful.

The .35 is a damn time intermediate round as is proven out by a couple of manufacturers still offering rifles chambered in it.

It hits real well and offers damn-fast follow up shots not just because it's semi-auto but also due to being very controllable. Here, this isn't always directly valuable in actually delivering a second round as it is in getting your eyes on the deer, through the sights as quickly as possible... just in case.

Scoping it can sometimes be challenge between available hardware and the ejection path.

A tang-sight is, to me, a worthwhile upgrade. Though some find it awkward.

The ammo isn't that hard to find though it is biased towards tube-fed lever guns so higher performance projectiles are usually easier to reload than to find retail.

My Grandfather and a couple of uncles swore by theirs. Averaging a Buck-a-bullet most seasons.

Todd.
 
Ammunition can be found through Ammoseek for $129 per box. Just because the Model 8 became famous for being used in the Bonnie and Clyde massacre, doesn't mean it is worth the price. It will still depend on condition as to the collector price. I have had the opportunity to shoot one of these, along with the Model 81. The recoiling barrel gives it a unique feel, but it is still very uncomfortable. I, also, saw the same rifle during a complete strip and clean. Rust between the barrel housing and barrel. It looked like it had not been cleaned since it was new. All said, it is a very good caliber to hunt with, but you better be a good shot.
 
Remington Model 8 and 81’s are some of my all time favorite rifles. Designed by Browning, basically the rifle version of the Auto 5 shotgun. The Model 8 was involved in the demise of Bonnie and Clyde. 35 Remington is a great cartridge. I would avoid feeding a Model 8 a steady diet of the new Hornady Leverevolution stuff. It is a touch hot for the old springs in those guns. But fire away with all the Remington or Federal 200 grain round nose you can get. Or reload a 180 or 200 gr to similar velocity as the standard Rem and Fed stuff. If it is in good shape, jump on it. That is a good price.
 
It appears to be in pretty good shape, though, I don't know how everything looks when it's taken down. The scarcity of the ammunition is something to think about.
 
Frank Hamer's pet Remington was a .25 Rem.

The US Army bought a number of Model 8 or 81, put on peep sights and slings to develop semiautomatic infantry rifle deployment doctrine while the Garand vs Pedersen trials were on. They knew they were going to get autos, and wanted COTS for maneuvers.
 
Remington 760s were made in 35 Remington well into the 90s. The cartridge is a hold over but not impossible to find or reload for.

With today's ammo shortages it will be a specialty limited run item in the future.
 
I would consider offering common brass like 9mm, 38 special or 223 in trade for 35 rem brass while demand is high for those if you really want to stockpile for that caliber.
 
I shot a few deer years ago with a model 8 in 32 Remington, still have the dies but the rifle is unfortunately long gone. My dad still has the Woodmaster in 35.
 
They are great guns to shoot. Mine had notches cut in the stock I assumed from hunting kills. I sold it for $400.00 3-4 years ago. I see them all the time on auction sites sell for $500 or more all the time.
 
jethro said:
A friend that I bought a few things from in the past, has a Remington model 8 that he wants to sell.
Click to expand...

If he's a friend, he should not mind letting you post some pictures here to be able to get some informed
answers as to condition and value.
'It appears to be in pretty good shape' covers an awful lot of ground, and
since you admit you're not familiar with them...

JT
 
jethro said:
Here's some pictures.
Click to expand...

Personally, I would pass on that one.
The cut stock/added pad, stock shellac, and lack of finish on the barrel shroud is just too many strikes.
A person can find a nicer one.

What is the attachment on the on the rear of the receiver?
My only guess is that it is a mount for a receiver sight.

Thanks for sharing the photos and best of luck with decisions,

JT
 
The altered butt/added buttpad and the carbuncle on the rear of the receiver would certainly give me pause if not queer the sale altogether if I had it in hand.

Check out the cost of replacing that butt stock. If you can even find one, it might alter your decision.

Todd,
 
Another interesting bit a trivia. The Model 8 saw some limited action in WW1 with the French army.

I think they are a neat piece of history being the first semi auto hunting rifle.
 
The Remington M08 preceded the M81 and I think it was a much more elegant rifle. To me, the M81 is stocked like a club. I have two M08's in .35. One, I purchased over 40 years ago. I took several deer with it. It has a Redfield receiver sight mounted on the back of the receiver. I find that sight very handy.

The Remington autoloaders kind of shoot like a pogo stick. I don't find the uncomfortable to shoot. I like the .35 Remington cartridge. I had a Standard Arms Model G (pump/semi-auto) and that was a fun rifle. I also had a T/C Contender Super 14 in .35 Remington. I had a scope on it and that handgun was more accurate than a lot of rifles. The .35 Remington to have is the pre-64 Winchester M70. I've never had one but if I could have a pre-64 M70 in any chambering I wanted, it would either be in .35 Remington or .300 Savage.

As was mentioned above, they made quite a few Remington M760's in .35. In addition Savage made their M170 slide action rifle in .35. And of course, Marlin made a good number of .35's in their M336 lever action. I've hand loaded for the .35 for many decades. It's a fun and easy cartridge to load for with great bullet selection, including .357 handgun bullet for light loads.
 
If you paid less than $500, I think you did ok. Sure, there are nicer ones out there, but you'll pay more. This looks like a fine one to shoot and enjoy. Are we sure it's a M81 and not a M08? I was expecting a clubby flat bottom pistol-grip buttstock. I have noticed in the last year or so, sale prices for M08's and M81's have increased quite a bit from what they had been.
 
On the topic of current price on these old Remington autoloaders, here's one that ended on gunbroker a few weeks back. Note that it is far from minty. That odd screw in the lower tang as well as the gouges in that area stood out to me. Note the final price:

https://www.gunbroker.com/item/894894669
 
.35 Remington is much beloved by Northeast deer and bear hunters and a Marlin in 35 Rem is a much prized rifle indeed. AFAIK, the 35 Rem is the only cartridge that the Model 8 was chambered in that is still available in factory loadings. Very cool rifle!
 
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