The Down Range Forum

Member Section => Down Range Cafe => Topic started by: m25operator on October 17, 2009, 07:49:48 PM

Title: Remington model 81
Post by: m25operator on October 17, 2009, 07:49:48 PM: Hey group, been working on a Remington model 81, the successor to the model 8, for a friend of a friend, would not feed or accept rounds in the magazine. What a treat, what a cool old rifle. As I did my research, it was one of the first commercial semi-auto rifles. Removable barrel, with the browning recoil system, similar to the A5, but with a barrel shroud, to contain the recoil spring. The magazine was dented from the outside in, I made an iron to insert into the mag, to press the dents back out, and everything worked out fine. This is not a detachable mag, but looks like it. I had to assemble and disassemble several times, to get everything worked out, but it was a great experience, I am still humbled at what our fore bearers were able to accomplish and design with the equipment available at the time, not to mention how much our modern makers still, borrow from them. The trigger, sear, disconnector would look very much like an M1, M1a set up. I took the time to clean the action very well, as it was not overly, but pretty rusty. Not much original bluing left, but now is very slick in operation. I probably have 3 real hrs into it, but if the guy will buy me a case of beer, even. He is a police officer who got the rifle for free, and it was an experience in history.

Not to mention, I made a new tool, I can use later.
Title: Re: Remington model 81
Post by: twyacht on October 17, 2009, 08:37:57 PM: What is the approximate vintage? Sounds like a nice rifle. Things that were made well stand the test of time with some TLC.

Maybe a picture?

Take Care.
Title: Re: Remington model 81
Post by: tombogan03884 on October 17, 2009, 08:52:15 PM: It's great when you get to work on something "special"
Title: Re: Remington model 81
Post by: Big Frank on October 17, 2009, 09:12:54 PM: What caliber? I may have some ammo for it. I've been holding onto a box of .32 Reminton for years. It needs a good home.
Title: Re: Remington model 81
Post by: m25operator on October 18, 2009, 12:13:17 AM: It has been rechambered to .300 Savage, I believe the original loading was .30 Remington.

Here is a link with some verbage.

http://www.gunsandammomag.com/cs/Satellite/IMO_GA/Story_C/Remington+Model+81?packedargs=pagenum%3D3
Title: Re: Remington model 81
Post by: Big Frank on October 18, 2009, 01:51:49 PM: I checked wikipedia's model 8 page and it mentions the 81 too. They actually made some model 81's in .300 savage which I didn't know about. I thought it was only chambered for the 4 calibers that were introduced with the model 8 - .25, .30, .32, and .35 Remington.
Title: Re: Remington model 81
Post by: shooter32 on October 19, 2009, 10:33:39 AM: Quote from: twyacht on October 17, 2009, 08:37:57 PM
What is the approximate vintage? Sounds like a nice rifle. Things that were made well stand the test of time with some TLC.

Maybe a picture?

Yeah, what tw said. ;D