Remington Model 8/81

[James K]

I don't know why a Remington Model 8 or 81 in .35 Remington would not work with any SAAMI-spec cartridge in that caliber.

Just FWIW, I have been doing some more research on the Frank Hamer rifle(s) and I am totally confused and mixed up. As far as I can determine, I was wrong on the caliber as most of the POE-modified rifles were in .35 Remington, though .30 Remington was offered as an option. It appears that he did have such a rifle, which his son showed to the press, but it was a Model 81, so it could not have been used in 1934. Whether he had another POE rifle earlier or whether he used a standard Model 8 is a question lost in the mists of time.

Also I was not entirely accurate in calling one rifle a B.A.R. - it was a Colt Monitor, a commercial version of the military B.A.R. The felons did have B.A.R.'s, stolen from a National Guard armory.

One thing seems certain. In spite of the TV version of history, there were no Thompson SMGs at the famous ambush. But they do look "cool" in the TV show.

Jim

[Mike Irwin]

"On another note, were the heck is all the .35 Remington ammo ???"

.35 Remington is subject to what is called "seasonal" production, meaning that it's normally only produced in one or maybe two runs a year.

With the enormous demand for ammunition in just about all calibers, though, many of the less popular seasonal production rounds simply aren't being produced right now, allowing the companies to devote production to cartridges that are in far higher demand.

[markr]

.35 Remington is subject to what is called "seasonal" production, meaning that it's normally only produced in one or maybe two runs a year.

When is this so called "Season" ?

The internet is void of ANYTHING .35 Remington. Bullets, brass, ammunition.

I did finally find ONE place on the internet with plenty of 200Gr bullets for reloading in stock.

[Mike Irwin]

Most .35 Remington ammo is sold for whitetail season, so that would be your answer.

Production would take place in late spring or early summer.

[markr]

I just scored two boxes of .35 Rem 200 gr for $34 each at the gun show.

[mouser868]

Found this:

http://ammoseek.com/ammo/35-remington

[cheatin charlie]

I have 3 original Remington Model 8 stripper clips I would like to sell.

I have an all brass first model and 2 others. They aren't cheap but

they are hard to find. If anyone is interested get in touch with me.

[markr]

Mouser, I looked in there before and there was nothing. Those links don't mean it's in stock at the locations listed. But I do see Cabela's has the Leverevolution in stock now. Doesn't matter anyway, I scored components.

Cheatin Charlie, those sound interesting but I don't know that it will make reloading that much faster.

[Mike Irwin]

Generally we don't allow solicitations for sales in other than Gun Show, Black Powder, and Handloading, but I'm going to allow Charlie's offer to remain simply because those clips are so specific and getting to be so darned hard to find.

It would be good, however, if you were to let us know exactly which clips you have, as ones for the .35 will not work for guns chambered for .25, .30, or .32 Remington.

[James K]

Doesn't the rifle have to be modified to take the clips? The cutout that folks think is a clip slot is actually just for tool access and doesn't have support surfaces for a clip.

Jim

[markr]

I was actually wondering myself how a stripper clip would work on this rifle. I'm familiar with the stripper clips for 5.56, but those only work with one of the adapter thingy's that fit over the magazine.

Besides, if I miss my bear or deer after 5, whats the hurry.

[HiBC]

I was given a beater 81 in 300 Savage.I have scrounged a forend and a few other parts.Mine was missing the tang screw for the pistol grip stock.For anyone with this problem,Brownell's has a #12 unthreaded screw blank that works.A buddy had the 7/32 -40 die .He gave me an original stripper clip.I have not tried it,but my 81 has a stripper clip slot in the receiver.

This rifle is growing on me!!I'll shoot it soon.I like it.

[cheatin charlie]

Mike I do not wish to break any forum rules but because these would only be
of interested to advanced collectors I posted them here where there was
discussion of the Model 8. They are .35 cal. / .300 savage
For those who don't know the early Model 8's used a blind box magazine and
was loaded singly thru the top of the action or by a stripper clip. If anyone
is interested send me a private message.

[markr]

ALL Model 8/81's have a fixed or "Blind" magazine Including my Model 81 built in 1937. The only one that didn't was the (Rare)police model which was modified to accept 10 and 15 round detachable magazines.

[Mike Irwin]

Remington marketed clips for these rifles as they were sold, no special clip guides, just the cutout on the top of the receiver.

Apparently the cutouts supported the sides of the clip and it bottomed out on the back of the magazine. Not a great arrangement but it did apparently work.

[Mike Irwin]

As an interesting aside, I found a reference online that said that Remington sold EVERY Model 8/81 with three stripper clips right up through the 1950s when the rifle was discontinued.

[markr]

Everything you ever wanted to know about these rifles is here:

http://thegreatmodel8.remingtonsociety.com/

I found a few stripper clips for sale online and they are about $50 Each. That is a bit odd since the rifles themselves aren't particularly valuable.

Even odder still, the rifles aren't that valuable even though only less than 200K of these were produced between 1900 and 1950. It was designated "Model 8" around 1906.

The lowest priced examples of these guns are the ones with the side mounted scopes. The scope mounts for these look like an abomination in the first place. An otherwise good rifle that has/had a scope mounted to it can be had for well under $500. I just saw one at a gun show for $250. Most of the really nice examples of these rifles in "Shooter/hunting" condition are between $500 & $1,000. That just seems like a small price for a unique firearm with limited production, that hasn't been produced in 64 years.