Project Higgins Model 45! now with pics

BeaverMeat

BeaverMeat

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Nanaimo, B.C.
Got myself a J.C. Higgins Model 45 in 30-30 in nicely broken-in condition. It's been neglected over the years and has a fair amount of finish wear and some minor rust speckling. The stock is broken at the wrist and repaired with some bolts... hidden under electrical tape. It looks very "apocalyptic" :)

Surprisingly the bore is in very good shape! And since I got it for free. I believe it's eligible for a custom project.

I need some help locating some Marlin 336 parts. I want to replace some hardware because some of the screw heads are stripped. I'm also looking for a laminate or synthetic stock set. Also some sight options.

As for a refinish... I'm not much into cowboy action and I want somthing functional. Just going to parkerize the whole thing.

Thanks in advance.
 
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I was given one too a few years ago.

Missing butt stock and sights, rusted jammed lever half open, cocked, bore full of rust, half covered in a baked enamel paint.

Stripped it down completely and rebuilt it. The only screw I couldn't get out was the magazine cap retainer so I had to clean the magazine tube with the correct size bore brush. Speaking of brushes, I took all external rust and enamel off with a steel brush on my B&D drill, then cold blued the whole thing.

I scoped it but could never get the scope lined correctly up so I put a receiver sight and Tru-glo front sight on instead.

It's in my avatar photo.

 
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Mine isn't that messed.

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Good score - VERY salvagable!

x2 on Western Gun Parts. They'll likely set you up. Word of warning, though - be very prepared when you call them. They tend to act like they're on their way to the hospital to deliver a baby or defuse a bomb or something. Be ready to tell them exactly what you want, have the ol' Visa warmed up and ready to rock, and be prepared to be treated like an inconvenient idiot if you get one of the ladies on the horn.
 
I wouldn't waste any time or effort on that rifle other than swapping out the butt stock and add a William FP receiver sight.

Consider it a truck gun.
 
That`s a decent old rifle there. I`ve also got a JC Higgins 45 that belonged to my father. Mine doesn`t have a broken stock but otherwise the condition is similar. I`ve owned 7 Marlin lever actions and shot a bunch more and the JC Higgins is the smoothest of the bunch and the second more accurate (I had one 1895 that shot like a good varmint rifle). For your stock issue I`d try a 30AS stock from EBay or Boyds gunstocks. Boyds makes walnut and laminate stocks. Another possibility would be the stock from a Marlin 336BL since it is has a forestock like a 30AS or a Higgins 45.

Super Cub`s suggestion of a Williams FP peep sight is a good one but I can tell you from experience that on this rifle you will need a taller front sight. If you choose to go this route I can measure the taller front sight that I bought so that you will know what height to purchase with the peep sight. The factory original sight had me shooting about 6 inches too high at 100 yards with the peep in it`s lowest position.
 
SuperCub said:
I wouldn't waste any time or effort on that rifle other than swapping out the butt stock and add a William FP receiver sight.

Consider it a truck gun.
Click to expand...

Meh, my gun do what I want.

I'm keeping the stock as is... wrap some hockey tape around it. I have some other stuff to parkerize so might as well get it done at the same time.

It know all about sight elevations.
 
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