Remington Model 8 love out there?

[.22LRGUY]

Hey guys-just ran a search and found a bunch of old threads discussing these, but I finally got to hold one 3 days ago and was surprised that they're a relatively small gun in hand, and the lines look very elegant in person. Another beauty from the legendary JMB! Just wondering if anyone here has/uses one and what caliber? Any in 32 Remington? Is that caliber any more challenging to hand load than anything else?

Loading for old/obsolete calibers (especially for use in a semi) is not something I think I should get mixed-up with, searching for "brass in the grass" is no fun. Been there. Lots of us probably have.

Question is probably colored by a great afternoon shooting an old Winchester 94 in 32SPL, maybe an easier caliber to buy but I can see getting one or the other down the road. I do have an opportunity to buy the one I held, and it's in lovely condition. Anybody here have and use one of these, or hunt with them? Big caliber to consider chugging through such a small gun, but otherwise...lots to love. And great iron sights on the one I was handling.

 

[polkey]

I have several, both 8 & 81 and the FN version. Mine are all in the common calibers, 35 rem & 300 savage, with the exception of one that was in 32 rem that I re-barreled to 7.62x39. Fun guns to shoot., long recoil feels a bit different than most semi's out there.

 

[tiriaq]

Since polkey first mentioned his 7.62 conversion some time ago, I've been watching for a project grade Model 8 to turn up. Bad barrel, etc. Last Switzer auction had a .25. Went for way more than I could afford for a project rifle. Don't know if these rifles have a cult following, but their prices have been steadily rising, with is interesting, considering that unless one is in .35 or .300, getting ammunition is going to be a bit of a quest.

Another odd one that I'd like to get as a curiosity is a Standard Arms autoloader. Their prices have become very serious.

 

[track]

The first and only time I saw one was in a small village outside of Cornwall, Ontario. It was either chambered in the 35 or 32 Remington. An interesting little rifle, however would not serve my needs for big game hunting.

 

[Claven2]

32 Remington is no biggie for any hand loader. Easy enough to make from 30-30 or 32 win spl brass if you have a lathe. I make it for my model 14, no sweat.

I’d love to find a model 8 or 81 in nice shape within my budget, they just never seem to turn up when I’m looking. And most I see are Swiss cheese with stripped holes from past scope mounts that didn’t hold up. These seem to mostly be iron sight guns.

 

[tiriaq]

I suspect the receiver walls might be a bit thin for the scope base screws. For my purposes, one with botched holes like that would work - if priced appropriately.

 

[SHELL SHUCKER]

I had fun with my model 81 in .32 Rem yrs back. Bonked deer with 'er along with some raccoons . The rifle was in almost new condition
when I got it. The bugger shot well and was nice to carry in the bush. I would've kept 'er longer had it not been a brass flinger.
They be funky lookin' units though.

 

[canuck]

I'm a big fan of this design and have several 8s in each caliber as well as an 81 in 300 and 8 FN1900s (which are the European version of this JMB invention)


I like them for the uniqueness that each one has - recall that in this era they were an evolving design and all hand assembled - there are many different quirks over the years, that's what catches my eye!
35 and 300 are somewhat readily available, 30 REM is around but becoming more scarce, 32 I rarely see anymore and 25 is unobtainium unless you reload (there are some factory loads at gunshows but the prices are ludicrous)
Love the idea of the 7.62x39 rebarrel - did you post a story on that here Polkey?
If you've ever fired a Browning Auto 5 you will have an idea of the recoil - I love it!
Re; scoping these guns; I've yet to acquire a scoped version but I have several variations of peep sights and, even with aged eyes, I find the peeps very easy to use and accurate

Tiriaq, I may have a project 8 for for you if you are interested
Also have both Standard Arms models that may be looking for new homes soon

 

[dan belisle]

I have one in 32 Remington. I like it. Makes a nice woods walking rifle. - dan

 

[450yukon]

I have a Model 8 in .25Rem with the pistol grip stock which was available at the time for no charge instead of the straight stock which are more common, also a 81 in .300Sav.

 

[.22LRGUY]

7.62x39?

Thanks for the input guys, the one I held was a 32 and in very clean condition. If it was in 7.62x39 it might have come home with me! lol

 

[MiG25]

I'd like to get one.

 

[Deathrawt]

I have a few of them, 2 in 35 REM, a 32REM and a 30 REM
they are really nice rifles but as was said the prices of them are skyrocketing
Would love to get the FBI/ Police version with the detachable 15 round mag
the model 8 was used in the ambush by the Texas Rangers that finally took out Bonnie and Clyde

 

[chasseur]

There s one at accuracy plus in 30rem for $599

 

[tiriaq]

I've been working on a conversion.
Very interesting design! Remarkable that they were in production for almost 50 years with well over a hundred thousand produced.
The rifles break in half without tools. Takedown to fit a short case, or for cleaning. To remove the barrel, a tool has to be made to unscrew the muzzle nut. Another tool is needed if the barrel return spring and buffer assembly are to be removed.
The barrel itself is 22" long, threaded at the muzzle for the barrel nut and at the breech for the barrel extension into which the bolt locks.
The barrel itself is slender. Last 10 inches are not tapered, muzzle threads are .541"(measured)x24. Breech diameter is about .878", say 7/8", breech threads .800"x18. So, in about a foot, the barrel tapers from about 7/8" to just under 9/16". Slender barrel.
To unscrew the barrel extension, the barrel must be held in a conventional barrel vise, and a receiver wrench applied to the barrel extension. The top of barrel extension is round; a head for a small ring Mauser fits. The bottom is essentially flat, with a ridge and a sloped protrusion. A custom bottom plate is a good idea.

 

[Blastattack]

I very much like them. I’ve had a .30 Model 8, a .300 Savage 81, and currently keep a .35 Remington Autoloading Rifle made in 1912. They’re super cool guns.

 

[257hunter]

I used to have a 35 that is probably top of the list for rifles I regret selling, particularly with the way prices have risen since. Used it to take a moose while I had it.

 

[Blastattack]

I used to have a 35 that is probably top of the list for rifles I regret selling, particularly with the way prices have risen since. Used it to take a moose while I had it.

My .35 is definitely a never sell. For a couple reasons, first I got it cheap, secondly it was cheap because some had their name engraved (tastefully at least) on the left side of the receiver curve, and third because I bought a bunch of .35 when it went on sale for an unheard of $1 per round a number of years ago.

 

[Suther]

I have not owned a Model 8 or 81 yet, but its very much on the want list. Got at least a few other things to knock off the list before I get to one of these badboys though.

Mark Novak has a 1 hour long video on refurbing a model 81:

 

[tiriaq]

Spent a couple of hours at the lathe this afternoon roughing out the new barrel. I'd planned on starting with a take-off sporter weight. But all the ones in the rack were 22", and the Model 8 barrel is 22". Too short, the original chamber needing to be cut off. Found a new semi finished barrel, long enough, but also target weight. Cut a 23" portion, and turned the breech end to 7/8". Reversed, and started taking the muzzle end down. Its at about .600" now, not too much more to remove. Once it is down to size, I'll reverse again, and taper the breech section to blend with the small diameter muzzle end. Then cut the breech and muzzle threads, and fit the barrel extension and muzzle nut. I think the pile of swarf in the chip pan will weigh about as much as the finished barrel.
In the video above, Mark Novak made reference to the longitudinal groove in the barrel which engages the ratchet washer. I've been pondering how to cut the groove. Rather than using a very small end mill (which I would have to order), I think I will cut the groove using the lathe as a shaper. Mount the barrel between chuck and tail center, lock the spindle, mount a cutter in the tool post, then manually use longitudinal carriage travel to scrape cut the groove.