Well THAT makes a difference!

Kframe · February 13, 2015, 07:17 PM

Not too long ago I picked up a J.C. Higgins Model 50 (.30-'06).
It came with the 4 power scope paired to it in 1951, with a weird dovetail mount that I've never seen on anything else.

A couple weeks ago I worked up some handloads and shot some groups.
It wasn't bad, but nothing was spectacular. I also discovered one reason why I wasn't seeing the accuracy I expected - after about a half dozen shots the scope fell right off!

I got out a quarter and screwed in the thumbscrews as hard as I could, and shot some more. Five shots later the scope was on the bench again!

These were the best groups that day:

Good enough for deer, certainly, but nothing really great.

Today I went back to the shop and put on a one-piece Leupold base and matching rings, and swapped out the stock scope for a new Nikon 3-9x40 BDC.

Boresighted it and then used six shots to set the zero at 100yds.
This is my first 3-shot group after those six:

Now THAT's what I'm talking about!

As you can see I used a ~~168gr~~ 165gr Hornady SST over 57.0 grains of H4350.
I also picked up a pound of A4064 to play with, as I've read here and elsewhere that that powder may have an edge in accuracy.
But I'm certainly not complaining about the H4350!

Kframe · February 13, 2015, 07:20 PM

Here's an old ad for the rifle, I think from Popular Mechanics.

GWS · February 13, 2015, 07:38 PM

Aren't they an imported commercial Mauser with J.C. Higgins name on it?????? Good buys in their day. (Good buy now it appears) Nice groups with that scope! Feels good when you win one!

gman3 · February 13, 2015, 07:39 PM

Cant beat H 4350 for .30-06 in my opinion. I have also found as you have that in my rifles, particularly a Husqvarna I bought not too long ago, as well as a Model 70 FWT that between 57 and 58 is the sweet spot.

Kframe · February 13, 2015, 07:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GWS

Aren't they an imported commercial Mauser with J.C. Higgins name on it??????

From what I've pieced together from searching, J.C. Higgins was an accountant at Sears and they liked the name so they made it a store brand for sporting goods (my Dad has a JCH bicycle, sold by Sears).

But, Sears didn't make/build guns and JCH was only a brand-name, so the rifle is a Belgian Mauser action with a High Standard barrel, and assembly was done by HS.
The action is marked FN Made in Belgium, and the 22" chrome-lined barrel is marked J.C.Higgins Model 50, Sears, Roebuck & Co..

Having a "Sears" rifle isn't sexy or glamourous, it's definitely not a Veblen good, so sales were modest, prices remained low, and on the used market they can still be had for waaaaaay under $500, although they have been gaining in popularity so they're not often found at pawn shops for $75 anymore.

flashhole · February 13, 2015, 07:49 PM

Don't know what you are so excited about ... you missed the dime 3 times.

Kframe · February 13, 2015, 09:14 PM

math teacher · February 13, 2015, 10:05 PM

I believe some JC Higgins rifles were made by Husqvarna of Sweden.

Kframe · February 13, 2015, 10:43 PM

Yes, you are correct. The 51L is a Husky.

Kframe · February 13, 2015, 11:38 PM

Oops, the bullet was 165gr, don't know why I wrote 168.

Snyper · February 14, 2015, 12:47 AM

Quote:

Don't know what you are so excited about ... you missed the dime 3 times.

He whittled it down from a Quarter

berettaprofessor · February 14, 2015, 03:08 PM

Quote:

Don't know what you are so excited about ... you missed the dime 3 times.

You made me laugh so hard! Thanks.

Ifishsum · February 14, 2015, 03:32 PM

Your load is the exact load I've found great success with in almost every '06 I've worked up for. Although I still work it up individually in each rifle, it seems to be as close to a slam dunk as it gets for a bolt action .30-06 - although a few rifles shot better with the regular 165gr interlocks with the flat base (same charge wt).

**44 AMP** · February 14, 2015, 08:35 PM

Quote:

Don't know what you are so excited about ... you missed the dime 3 times.

Gets my vote for best line of the year to date!

9mmSkeeter · February 14, 2015, 09:32 PM

Nice "Umbrella" logo targets.

Kframe · February 14, 2015, 10:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 9mmSkeeter

Nice "Umbrella" logo targets.

Thanks.
They are nice for scope use, especially when they get out there a bit.
The red/white vectors provide a good cue for aligning the reticle, and in low light they're way better than black and white.

February 13, 2015, 07:17 PM	#1
Kframe Senior Member Join Date: July 18, 1999 Location: MN Posts: 640	Well THAT makes a difference! Not too long ago I picked up a J.C. Higgins Model 50 (.30-'06). It came with the 4 power scope paired to it in 1951, with a weird dovetail mount that I've never seen on anything else. A couple weeks ago I worked up some handloads and shot some groups. It wasn't bad, but nothing was spectacular. I also discovered one reason why I wasn't seeing the accuracy I expected - after about a half dozen shots the scope fell right off! I got out a quarter and screwed in the thumbscrews as hard as I could, and shot some more. Five shots later the scope was on the bench again! These were the best groups that day: Good enough for deer, certainly, but nothing really great. Today I went back to the shop and put on a one-piece Leupold base and matching rings, and swapped out the stock scope for a new Nikon 3-9x40 BDC. Boresighted it and then used six shots to set the zero at 100yds. This is my first 3-shot group after those six: Now THAT's what I'm talking about! As you can see I used a ~~168gr~~ 165gr Hornady SST over 57.0 grains of H4350. I also picked up a pound of A4064 to play with, as I've read here and elsewhere that that powder may have an edge in accuracy. But I'm certainly not complaining about the H4350! __________________ RN - ICU NRA - PATRON LIFE Last edited by Kframe; February 13, 2015 at 11:40 PM.

February 13, 2015, 07:20 PM	#2
Kframe Senior Member Join Date: July 18, 1999 Location: MN Posts: 640	Here's an old ad for the rifle, I think from Popular Mechanics. __________________ RN - ICU NRA - PATRON LIFE

February 13, 2015, 07:49 PM	#6
flashhole Senior Member Join Date: February 9, 2005 Location: Owego, NY Posts: 2,000	Don't know what you are so excited about ... you missed the dime 3 times. __________________ ,,, stupidity comes to some people very easily. 8/22/2017 my wife in a discussion about Liberals. Are you ready for civil war?

February 13, 2015, 09:14 PM	#7
Kframe Senior Member Join Date: July 18, 1999 Location: MN Posts: 640	__________________ RN - ICU NRA - PATRON LIFE

February 13, 2015, 10:43 PM	#9
Kframe Senior Member Join Date: July 18, 1999 Location: MN Posts: 640	Yes, you are correct. The 51L is a Husky. __________________ RN - ICU NRA - PATRON LIFE

February 13, 2015, 07:38 PM	#3
GWS Senior Member Join Date: September 8, 2010 Location: New Mexico Posts: 688	Aren't they an imported commercial Mauser with J.C. Higgins name on it?????? Good buys in their day. (Good buy now it appears) Nice groups with that scope! Feels good when you win one!

February 13, 2015, 07:39 PM	#4
gman3 Senior Member Join Date: December 19, 2008 Posts: 408	Cant beat H 4350 for .30-06 in my opinion. I have also found as you have that in my rifles, particularly a Husqvarna I bought not too long ago, as well as a Model 70 FWT that between 57 and 58 is the sweet spot.

February 13, 2015, 10:05 PM	#8
math teacher Senior Member Join Date: February 5, 2012 Location: Southwest WA Coast Posts: 559	I believe some JC Higgins rifles were made by Husqvarna of Sweden.

February 13, 2015, 11:38 PM	#10
Kframe Senior Member Join Date: July 18, 1999 Location: MN Posts: 640	Oops, the bullet was 165gr, don't know why I wrote 168. __________________ RN - ICU NRA - PATRON LIFE

February 14, 2015, 03:32 PM	#13
Ifishsum Senior Member Join Date: September 15, 2005 Location: Oregon Posts: 1,033	Your load is the exact load I've found great success with in almost every '06 I've worked up for. Although I still work it up individually in each rifle, it seems to be as close to a slam dunk as it gets for a bolt action .30-06 - although a few rifles shot better with the regular 165gr interlocks with the flat base (same charge wt).

February 14, 2015, 09:32 PM	#15
9mmSkeeter Senior Member Join Date: December 28, 2014 Location: South Dakota Posts: 205	Nice "Umbrella" logo targets. __________________ I kind of like weaponry.