The JC Higgins Model 31

[1KPerDay]

1k, I dropped the action and it goes into battery with no problems

Interesting... check the stock screw and make sure it's not too tight and compressing the action, or interfering with the bolt in some way.

Also... when you say "put the action back in", do you mean the trigger group into the receiver or the entire receiver into the stock?

Try this: remove the stock and trigger group, and cycle the bolt and see if it's okay. If it is, put the trigger group back in without the stock. If it doesn't work, something's wrong in the trigger group. The shell lifter, probably. If it works without the stock, something on the stock is rubbing or binding.

 

[1prcntr]

OK, will do. Yes, I meant the trigger group. I'll get after it again tomorrow and let you know how it turns out. I appreciate the help.

Steve

 

[thewheelman]

I'm new to thr and literally stumbled across this thread. I have a Model 31 for which the bolt and trigger assemblies are soaking in mineral spirits as I type. What a nasty little gun! I inherited it some years ago and it's sat in a closet gathering more dust until I decided to get it out and operating again. What I'm trying to do now is remove the stock so I can soak the housing for the above mentioned assemblies without ruining what little finish is left on the stock. What size is that nut? Is it a nut? How do I get the stock off (I'll probably refinish it as well before the project is over)?

Also, this gun does not have the retractable strap, but clearly says it's a Model 31????

Got it! Found a stock bolt on ebay and the pic showed that it's a slotted screw head. Stock is now off! What about the strap? This gun has a notch and what appears to be 2 screw holes where other pics show the strap slot.......

Thanks in advance!

 

[thewheelman]

Ok, I found out some model 31's had retractable slings and some didn't. So, what mystery piece goes in the notch on the stock where the sling slot is on the sling-equipped ones? Wow, that was a mouthful! I'm working on refinishing the stock now but there's obviously a piece missing. I haven't seen any pics clearly enough to know what it is except it looks like a little piece of metal.

Anyone got any pics of this piece, what it is, or where I could find one?

I think I'm going down to Hobby Lobby and buy some white sheet plastic and make myself a butt plate spacer.

Thanks!

 

[1KPerDay]

You can sort of see it here... It's just a plate I believe.

 

[MBA33]

I just acquired a JC Higgins model 33, 22 cal pump rifle.
Nice gun, good lines, feels great. It doesn't look like its been fired much.
Maybe there is someone who can help me with some problems I am experiencing.
1) it doesn't fire about 10-20% of the time
2) it doesn't extract spent shells about 10-20% of the time
I replaced the firing pin(Numrich).The firing pin was broken at the notched end. The extractor looks fine but I replaced it anyway (double prong). I got the extractor from my model 29 parts gun.
I stripped and cleaned the bolt, it wasn't very dirty, neither was the trigger assy.
It looks like the firing pin doesn't always hits sharply. Also there is .004" more clearance on the bolt face to where the bolt butts up against the barrel as compared to the model 29 bolt. This to me looks like there may be excessive clearance between the primer and the bolt face when the bolt is shut.

 

[7mile630]

Jc Higgins model 30/31

My first rifle (new). Can't remember 30 or 31. Sure like to have one again. Looking.

 

[Elmer F]

Inherited

So I inherited a JC Higgins model 31, and I just bought a original Rifleman 4x scope for it. I also bought a original manual that was issued with the model. These you can find on e bay.

I'll be posting some photos soon. And I will be sending the thing to get professionally serviced, cleaned, and shined up.

What I want to do is get into competition shooting with it. So I want to know from members here what classes that I can use this model in. And also how well it will hold up and if there is anything I need to know about it.

Thanks

 

[allisd17]

I am late to the party, as usual. I just wanted to say how much I LOVE the Model 31!! Started shooting my dad's over 50 years ago, and now have not only his, but another as well. They are the most accurate semi 22s I have ever fired. The long barrel gives it a very distinctive sound.... I can only describe it as a "rolling crack". In addition to the accuracy, it is extremely well-balanced and is the most beautiful 22 I can think of

 

[loose noose]

1kperday, You might try Dick Williams Gun Shop out of Saginaw Michigan for that extractor his phone is 989-777-1240, I recently repaired one for a customer, and he seemed to be the only one to have it, he's very reasonable and will ship it out very quickly. I do believe it is a single extractor, however I could be wrong. I do agree with you it is a really neat little gun, very accurate also.

 

[1KPerDay]

Thanks. I fixed it a few years ago.

 

[CR125Honda]

Beautiful wood on that old workhorse! ................................ Good luck with the lifter and let us know how your repair goes.

Two years later...
Just realized I never update this thread..
Thanks to many good people online willing to help-out.
Really helps on these vintage weapon repairs.
Was able to source some new lifter pieces.
Ole gram-pa's rifle working like a new one.

I like these so much I bought another when I saw one come up at a local guns store.
Kept gram-pa's gun in original condition and restored the new purchase.
Both work like new. Both extremely accurate.

 

[thewheelman]

That's a beautiful pair! I'm still working on my model 31. Got a new butt plate but it doesn't fit right. May have to go shopping again! Always looking for another, but prices are sky high!

 

[1KPerDay]

Very nice, Honda! I kinda like those left-side cocking variants.

 

[Hess's]

Model 31 not feeding

I joined this forum back in 2014, when I inherited a JC Higgins model 31. I tried to get my password and log in but it isn't sending me it so I just re registered under a different name.

Anyway I finally got to try out my model 31 after thoroughly cleaning it. I used Remington Thunderbolt 22LR. I could only get one shot off every try as it jammed with every shot attempt.

It seemed as though the round would get stuck before going into the chamber...like as if the bullet case was too big or something.

Now I looked at a thread or two here and it was advocated that new lifter springs and new magazine throats left & right would solve the problem.

Now I did order the components from Numrich, but I am no gunsmith. So I was hoping for some information that I could pass along to a gunsmith to get this thing working.

I plan to go rabbit hunting and snowshoe hare hunting with this so I would like to have the remedy before the season begins.

 

[1KPerDay]

Don't need to be a gunsmith to install parts. But if you don't feel like it, your gunsmith should have no problem doing it. I recommend trying some better ammo first. I've found about one out of 5 thunderbolts has about a half powder charge. And how far did you disassemble for cleaning? Is your magazine plunger intact? Is the spring fairly strong? If The rounds aren't presented forcefully into the lifter mechanism all kinds of things can go wrong.

 

[Hess's]

Thanks for the reply. Now I will begin by showing some photos of the rifle. You can see clearly the model number in this series. The numbers note model year but I forget what my numbers mean. I looked at a official chart that showed precocely what year and make my numbers meant but that was a year or so ago and now I forget.

Well it appears that I cannot upload more than one photo per post, which s very inconvenient. So I will have to post about 4 more entries so as to nclude all the photos.

 

[1KPerDay]

Looks just like my model 31.

 

[Hess's]

Second photo post here is the manufacturers numberrs

 

[Hess's]

And here are some photos of custom touches on the jc Higgins rifleman 4x scope

 

[Hess's]

More

 

[Hess's]

And now the next two photos will reveal the problem fully. I had some dummy rounds of .22LR and fed the through the tube, 6 total. The first two rounds ejected right out when I worked the bolt to cycle the rounds.

Then the third & 4 th rounds looked just like the photo....STUCK......and fed incorrectly.........So I took the photo hoping that a experienced person could diagnose on sight.

The next photo which I will show n the next post was the 6th and final round from the the tube fed mag.....and it fed even LOWER than all the other misfeeds, as you will see.

 

[Hess's]

And here is the photo of the 6th dummy round snap cap. It fed even lower, so I suppose this could indeed be a spring problem....but I wanted to know what members think now that photo evidence has been provided.

The rod that goes in the tube seems to be fine....the end is springy and seems to apply the right pressure. Now the 6 th round, lacking the pressure that previous rounds had behind them, seated lower with this misfeed....so obviously there is some relation to the spring.

A way m nterested to see what people think and I would appreciate any more part recommendations if I am missing something or if I haven't mentioned something.

 

[Hess's]

So,uh, can anyone pinpoint the feeding problems from looking at the photos?

 

[1KPerDay]

Did you check the things I mentioned?