Midland Gun Co 30 06

rpcw

Regular
Uber Super GunNutz
Rating - 100%
269   0   0
Location
Ontario
A friend of mine is going to sell me a Midland Gun Co 30 06. The thing is in fantastic shape - not a scratch anywhere on it and probably hasn't seen more than 50 rounds down the barrel.

I just don't know much about them except they were taken over by Parker Hale at some point. This gun only has Midland Gun Co stamped on the barrel. Cant find Parker marks or a model number anywhere.

Anybody know anything about these guns?
 
These were economy level rifles assembled by Parker Hale.
The bolt is a reworked surplus 03A3 bolt; the receiver is a casting designed to fit a stock inletted for a Mauser; the barrel is a slightly modified Mauser sporter barrel; trigger guard is diecast aluminum Mauser sporter; trigger mechanism is a slightly modified PH unit for their Mauser sporters. An assembly of available parts with a military surplus bolt. Barrel is likely SPanish, stock Italian. No idea where the receivers were cast.
They shoot OK. The bolt stop/ejector is prone to breakage.
Might take a bit of a search to find scope bases.
 
My brother bought one of these rifles in 1980, put it through hell and it still shoots well enough to take game on a regular basis every year. It probably won't drive tacks, but I wouldn't be affraid to take it hunting anyday. I would probably give it a good scrubbing, but otherwise it's ok.
 
The Midland 2100 was made at a time when PH was struggling to survive. The rifle was built from components scavenged from across europe. Barrels from spain, stocks from Italy, etc.

The action itself is reportedly stiffer than a mauser and saw some success as a basis for custom target rifles at Bisley and elsewhere. Note that this is the action only...

The quality was very spotty. The initial failure rate was very high due to poor fitting, and some poor quality components. Springs were especially prone to early failure. If the rifle worked ok up to now it's probably good for much longer.

I bought a new Midland 2100 30-06 about 1980. I sold it about 18 months later and I would never own another. Firing pin spring failed under 20 shots fired. Chamber was rough and slightly oval. Full length resizing only. Factory bedding was abysmal. Rear scope base mounting screws were noticeably off centre from the front, and it took some judicious shimming to get a scope to line up with the bore enough so that you could get a shot on paper.

Accuracy would have been acceptable for a 12 gauge at 30 yards. That rifle was the worst POS I have ever owned. It was my first centerfire rifle and nearly my last. In defense of the poor thing it got me started in tinkering - I bedded, started reloading, and got to know my local gunsmith on a first name basis, all attempting to make that rifle shoot. It broke down a couple times, and spent more time in the shop than anywhere else. I "accurized" that thing from 8" groups down to about 3", after spending more money on it than the initial purchase price. There came a time when i either had to get rid of it or wrap it around a tree - so i traded it back to the shop i bought it from for a M70 winchester that shot a 1" group the first time out.

I'm not a big fan of the M2100, in case you couldn't tell. ;)
 
Hi fellows
Thanks for the input and great answers.
How do I know if it was a Pre Parker Hale model?
Can't find M2100 or any such number on the gun....
 
Hi fellows
Thanks for the input and great answers.
How do I know if it was a Pre Parker Hale model?
Can't find M2100 or any such number on the gun....

There are no "pre parker hales". All the Midland 2100 rifles of that era were made by PH. Midland was not a separate company at that time. I don't know what the current situation is, I'm not sure that PH still exists, but there is a Midland Gun Company. Don't know if they are the re-birth of PH or something altogether differemt.
Google: Parker Hale midland 2100
 
There was a Midland Gun Company which had nothing to do with Parker Hale. They went out of business.
Parker Hale was an established company as well.
By the time PH was assembling these Midland marked rifles, times had changed, and PH was struggling to keep their doors open. These were economy rifles.
Does it have a high rear ring on the receiver? A third safety lug just in front of the rear ring? If it does, its a PH Midland.
 
I have one in 30-06 and absolutely a great gun...maybe just lucky...it shoots 2" at 200 yards and has never faltered. I reload for it and it loves what I feed it. Hundreds of shots down the tube and still no complaints. Like it as much as my Browning .270.
 
I have a friend here who has had one for about ten years or so. That's all he hunts with, and is completely satisfied. Of course, he has never owned any other rifle, so doesn't know any different. :)

Ted
 
Back
Top Bottom