Churchill Mauser and JC Higgins Fn Mauser

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NL-Hunter

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Just acquired a beauty rifle that was taken as a trade in. It is a Churchill Mauser in .30-06. Beautiful Walnut Monte Carlo stock with some inlays. 100, 200, 300 flip up sights, Scope Bases added but no scope. Peculiar Bottom Hinge Plate release, it is a lever that slides to the side to open. Anyone here know anything about thee rifles? Have been looking for a low priced Mauser Action for a while, but I think I stumbled upon a bit of a treasure. Will post some pictures later.
 
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Churchill were part of Interarms (but Kassnar (importers of Parker-Hale in the US also sold Churchill rifles, made in Italy) and used Zastava actions.
 
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Tempted to get another one in same location. Belgium made j c higgins model 50 in .30-06 as well. Crap i soon need another cabinet, getting addicted...
 
Well, the JC Higgins will have the "commercial" action which predates the Supreme action (on which the Zastava action is based) and will be a less elaborate design, but just as functional ast the other one. You can also try to find a JC Higgins Model 51L, as they were made with HVA actions. These J.C. Higgins were made in the US by High Standard, not in Belgium (only the actions were made in Belgium).
 
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The J.C. Higgins Model 50 is a fantastic rifle. I have one in .270 and it has the slickest M98 action I've felt. Belgian commercial M98 as previously mentioned with a chrome lined High Standard barrel. The stock isn't anything fancy but it points and handles nicely and shoots pretty good as well.

I used mine to take a nice non-typical, double main beam whitetail several years ago. I think it's time to take it out hunting again.
 
Sad thing is that the gun they traded it in for was probably half the quality and didn't shoot any better.

But hey, it was new! Nobody wants some old outdated gun. How the heck are you supposed to kill a deer with something old like that? Lucky for me this guy didn't see that I was carrying an old J.C. Higgins.
cm9R2C.jpg
 
Missed out on one a few years ago, winchester model 70 with engravings on gun and stock in .30-06. Hesitated when it was traded because a moose was missed. Dealer told me he found out after the scope ring was cracked and he could wiggle the scope. Went for 200. :(
 
JC Higgins Model 50 will be in my posession tomorrow :) Now to create online photo account so I can post some pictures. Plan is to find out if both are good shooters and then start projects. New stocks (to save the originals), new safety or safety delete with trigger safety. I know I will have issues with scope clearance with original safaty on both.
 
Ok, JC is tucked way for me. Here is my dilemma... Got mounts for the Churchill and they do not line up, noticed by reading some that a #46 up front and a #45 out back should do the trick. Got home and found a 46 up front and a 55 in the back. Scope is pointing to the sky... Need to try a 45. Screw spacing on rear mount is narrower on the rear mount than on the front mount. On the JC i noticed that the screw spacing on the front and rear mount is the same, not sure what mounts to use in the back. Any suggestions?
 
The Churchill looks nice! I like the floor plate release. Just for future reference, the 55 base is correct for small ring Mausers.

The J.C. Higgins should have a low scope safety installed on it already I believe. Mine did when I purchased it and I'm sure it is factory. The rear hole spacing is too long for the 45 base as you already know and instead of fiddling around trying to find a base that fit, I just d&t'd another hole in the rear bridge to fit the 45 base since I have the proper jig for doing that.

Oh, and try Imageshack. My favorite hosting site by far.
 
The M50 that I had changed over to .375 Ruger has the wide rear bridge hole spacing. There was no way I was going to drill an extra hole so I went with Talley steel bases.

The wide(.86") spacing started in 1955. Prior to that year the hole spacing was the more comventional .50".

I really like the lefty safety on the M50. It is readily available to the right hand thumb for easy disengagement. Also, when engaged, it locks the bolt from opening and causes the cocking piece to be disengaged from the sear. It is a very low safety that missed the ocular bell on my scopes.

One of the things I don't like is the trigger set-up. It's a two piece affair where the sear is pinned to the rear action tang and the trigger is pinned to the rear tang of the trigger guard. It functions ok but if the guard screws became loose the trigger could trip. I know. Slim to nil chance but I changed mine out for a timney.
 
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Just out of curiosity, what is the height difference between the ring and receiver? Thinking I can have two different height bases and use higher rings on the back. Possible???
 
As per posted above, some JC Higgins were intended to be used with their own bases. All you need is to have a new hole d&t @ 0.500" c to c.
It will be much easier to use the no. 45 instead of trying to find one that will fit. So, yes, it's possible, but not the easy way to do so... then. you will have to measure plenty of bases to find one that "may" fit... or go the Talley route...

BTW, your Churchill is very nice.
 
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