My Pawn Shop .30-06!

[taylorce1]

I got this rifle a while back and had a recoil pad put on it as didn't have anything on the buttstock. Just got it back last night, I just can't get over the wood on this old JC Higgins rifle. I picked it up for $300 with an old Denver Redfield 2-7 power. Unfortunately the old Redfield had a screwed up reticle so I need to send it off to be repaired, but at least I had an old 2-7 Monarch that would barely fit the rings.

http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r155/taylorce1/30-06%20JC%20Higgins%20and%20%2030-40%20Krag/th_DSC_0046.jpg (http://s143.photobucket.com/albums/r155/taylorce1/30-06%20JC%20Higgins%20and%20%2030-40%20Krag/?action=view&current=DSC_0046.jpg)
http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r155/taylorce1/30-06%20JC%20Higgins%20and%20%2030-40%20Krag/th_DSC_0047.jpg (http://s143.photobucket.com/albums/r155/taylorce1/30-06%20JC%20Higgins%20and%20%2030-40%20Krag/?action=view&current=DSC_0047.jpg)
http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r155/taylorce1/30-06%20JC%20Higgins%20and%20%2030-40%20Krag/th_DSC_0049.jpg (http://s143.photobucket.com/albums/r155/taylorce1/30-06%20JC%20Higgins%20and%20%2030-40%20Krag/?action=view&current=DSC_0049.jpg)
http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r155/taylorce1/30-06%20JC%20Higgins%20and%20%2030-40%20Krag/th_DSC_0053.jpg (http://s143.photobucket.com/albums/r155/taylorce1/30-06%20JC%20Higgins%20and%20%2030-40%20Krag/?action=view&current=DSC_0053.jpg)
http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r155/taylorce1/30-06%20JC%20Higgins%20and%20%2030-40%20Krag/th_DSC_0054.jpg (http://s143.photobucket.com/albums/r155/taylorce1/30-06%20JC%20Higgins%20and%20%2030-40%20Krag/?action=view&current=DSC_0054.jpg)
http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r155/taylorce1/30-06%20JC%20Higgins%20and%20%2030-40%20Krag/th_DSC_0066.jpg (http://s143.photobucket.com/albums/r155/taylorce1/30-06%20JC%20Higgins%20and%20%2030-40%20Krag/?action=view&current=DSC_0066.jpg)

[darrentxs]

Wow! That's a gorgeous stock!

[bamafan4life]

where did u get it scent to for repair? i have a denver made lo pro widefield 3-9 that has a sentimental value to me but the adjustment knob is striped so its junk. do u think they could fix this? and i love pawn shops many dont. but a real pawn shop who would of pawned a 400$ rifle with a $200 scope on it for around $100 and they can make there profit by selling the rifle for 300$ instead of the 600 so everybody wins! then u can trade guns with them. and jot them down (usually not much but who dont like to do this?) and the hardware store guns are underpriced that higgens will preform as good as any new savage rifle or remingtons.

[taylorce1]

bamafan4life,

Here you go for the scope repair.

http://www.ironsightinc.com/

Call them and see what they can do for you.

[kwells6]

is it just me, or does that kinda look like a mauser action?

[Doyle]

is it just me, or does that kinda look like a mauser action?

It probably is. Most of the Higgens guns were made by High Standard.

[kwells6]

oh, ok.

[nuclearmeltdown]

I think the original recoil pads were Pachmayr. I found one of these rifles for $250 in 2005 or 2006 with a Weaver K6. Best value!

[taylorce1]

is it just me, or does that kinda look like a mauser action?

Yes! It is!:D

It probably is. Most of the Higgens guns were made by High Standard.

Nope! Click on the pics and you will see it is an FN!:cool:

I think the original recoil pads were Pachmayr.
While not an orginal I had a Pachmayr Decelerator installed.;)

[pilothunter]

Nice rifle! It appears to be a nice, quality, FN action. Is the safety located on the bolt, rather than on the side?

[davlandrum]

Nice score!

I thought you were a .270 die-hard...:D

[taylorce1]

Nice score!

I thought you were a .270 die-hard...


Now who says I can't have a .30-06 backing up my .270?:rolleyes: I would have bought this rifle regardless of caliber once I realized what it was.

Nice rifle! It appears to be a nice, quality, FN action. Is the safety located on the bolt, rather than on the side?

It is on the left side of the bolt shroud.

http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r155/taylorce1/30-06%20JC%20Higgins%20and%20%2030-40%20Krag/DSC_0061.jpg

[kwells6]

I've got the same safety on my Swede mauser!

[T. O'Heir]

"...were made by High Standard..." No Belgian made High Standards. A J.C. Higgins Model 54 is a Browning Model FN300. That rifle is most likely one of these. A dandy rifle. Pawn shops are great places to find stuff.

[svenrh]

My JC Higgens .30-06 is an FN commercial action with a High Standard chrome lined barrel. Looks exactly like your gun, other than the nice wood. Awesome rifle.

[levrluvr]

The JC Higgins 50 series rifles used to be a pretty well-kept secret. Not so much anymore. They are excellent guns, and now bring a pretty decent price.

http://www.chuckhawks.com/j_c_higgins_50.htm

[Swampghost]

Really nice! I keep wondering why everybody here always wants to buy new when there are deals like this.

Beautiful wood and should have the chromed barrel. Enjoy!

[ndking1126]

Very nice!! Excellent find!

I keep wondering why everybody here always wants to buy new when there are deals like this.

I love buying used guns, but unfortunately the only shop I know of that will sell used guns at a fair price is our local gun shop, which I've bought 2 used firearms from. So, while I can find a quality gun at the a good price, the chances of me finding a deal like this are basically non-existant. Our pawn shops are ridiculous.. much like the pawn shops some of the posts I've seen floating around here are complaining about! And I know because I've looked! :mad:

[Swampghost]

nd, you've looked but have you BARGAINED?

In most pawn shops the price is more negotible than anywhere else, the tag price means nothing other than their wishes.

You deal on the American Plan, pay the stated price. Every other country on this planet negotiates. I'll bet that you don't ever know that you can cut a deal at a box store for a washing machine or refrigerator.

Pawn shops have even MORE room to move. Take actual value (flexible in itself). The pawn usually offers 10-40% of the value depending on how fast he thinks he can flip the object. Most are idiots and refer to current books to garner a price and they talk a 'story', not to your advantage if you're selling.

You're on hard times, need cash and that's why you're at the pawn shop.

The shop offers you $100 on your $500 rifle and you need the cash now, deal done.

The pawn shop puts it up for value, $500. Lots of wiggle room.

It's the way that these places work. Make an offer, leave a ph# and walk if they don't take the initial offer. Chances are that you'll get a call in a week or so.

[taylorce1]

Well I probably wouldn't have gotten this deal if I didn't do a lot of business with this paticular pawn broker. He is the cheapest FFL in town only charging $15 a transfer or $10 per firearm on the same form. I've turned all my friends on to him to do transfers as well. I've only purchased a couple of rifles off of him but have sold a few on consignment as well.

I find that if you frequent a pawn shop enough to where they recognize you when you walk through the door, they are more open to haggle with you. This rifle had a $425 price tag on it orginally. Cash helps, I saw the rifle and told him I'd be right back and went to the closest ATM, and withdrew my max per day of $300. Walked in and plopped the money on the counter told him I wanted it, I find most people take the cash instead of turning it down.

[JAYBIRD78]

That looks like a awesome rifle and it was a great story......THANKS.

I guess I need to look at some pawn shops. :D

[ryalred]

Great looking rifle. Sounds like you got a great deal. Way to go!

[taylorce1]

Don't know if I will but thinking about putting a checkering job on this stock. I think a nice 4 pannel 22-24 lpi would be very nice. That will have to wait until I can be without the rifle, which is probably right now but I want to shoot it.

[stlcardinalfan]

It almost looks like a Remington 700 BDL with just a straight stock. That gun looks pimptastic though!

[skoro]

She's a beauty!

That rates as a real score.

[ndking1126]

nd, you've looked but have you BARGAINED?

Not everytime, but I have tried. At some point, you get tired of hearing no and start to assume all pawn shops will respond the same way.

I do completely agree with your post regarding pricing tactics. And as a kid up until about 5-7 years ago, that seemed to be the norm. Now it seems to be the exception, in my experience. Of course, YMMV :)

[Ricklin]

Here's a little linky for ya.
http://gunsandammomag.com/cs/Satellite/IMO_GA/Story_C/J.C.+Higgins+Model+50

You really scored on that one, I have had the .270 version of that rifle for about 20 years, it is the finest rifle I own, my favorite.

Only downside is they are rather heavy. I too have been meaning to have mine checkered, it too has nice wood.

I recently updated mine with a Bushnell Elite 4200 scope. I also redid the stock in an oil finish. Only thing left is checkering and having the iron sights removed.

Congratulations, except you are letting the cat out of the bag on just how great some of these old dept. store guns are! It USED to be a well kept secret.