Remington Model 8/81

Poodleshooter

New member
Just put my great-grandad's old Remington Model 8 in .35 Remington back together again. It's missing some springs and will stay non-functional till I get replacements, but I was wondering how many folks out there still had one of these? Any experiences shooting one?
 
Is that the semi-auto or the slide action? I can't remember.

If the semi, you still see a fair number of them in Pennsylvania. You can't use a semi-auto to hunt deer there, been illegal for a LONG time, so Remington slide actions have ALWAYS been very big sellers there.

Fully a quarter of the people in my hunting camp had Remington slide actions of various models.

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Beware the man with the S&W .357 Mag.
Chances are he knows how to use it.
 
It's the old recoil operated semi from the turn of the century. The barrel recoils inside of a barrel sleeve and unlocks the bolt as it moves rearward and ejects. It would be a perfect Pennsylvania rifle in .35 Remington, but of course they don't like you guys hunting with semi's or even percussion muzzleloaders during the season! Luckily I hunt in MD and VA. I might try PA some season.
 
My first deer hunting trips (unsuccessful, darn it) were with my uncle's Remington semi-auto in .32 Remington. It was a fun gun for a 14 year-old to shoot. (Had to chamber a round only when ready to shoot for beginner safety reasons.) I wish I knew whatever happened to it.
 
Sweet! Gewehr98-some questions.... Did you need two springs to keep the firing pin from rebounding or causing slamfires? My NRA assembly guide shows a "firing pin spring" and a "firing pin buffer spring". Do you have both of these installed? Also, the guide called for two flat springs on the sides of the magazine-I can't see any use for those. Did you have any difficulties finding parts? I had to make a firing pin retainer pin as I don't have the original, (and a pin is basically a pin). Any other difficulties in getting it into firing condition?
Thanks
 
Unfortunately, my Model 8 was made before they incorporated any firing pin rebound springs. That does bring up an important safety note - many early Model 8's do NOT have firing pin rebound springs, and I got my first and to date only accidental discharge when I let the bolt fly on a chambered round, vs. letting the gun pick the round up from the magazine, thereby slowing down the bolt speed. Luckily, it was lined up downrange while sitting on the benchrest, and it was a cast bullet load, but it woke me up! I tried to retrofit a Model 81 rebound spring, but the firing pin channel didn't have the clearance. As for the two flat magazine side springs, depending on when your gun was made, it may or may not have them, the best way to tell is if the receiver is reileved near the magazine box for them. My .300-Savage Model 81 has them, though. Don't forget, the Model 81 was a product-improved Model 8, with a curved pistol grip, fatter forend, and other changes, but basically the same gun. Just like military semi-autos without firing pin rebound springs, keep that firing pin and bolt clean, and do NOT over-lubricate it, you'll get a sticky firing pin, which is just asking for trouble. Let me know via email if there's anything else I can help you with on your Model 8, they're fascinating guns, John Browning's genius is obvious in their design!
 
I had one of the early ones. I lost a washer under the muzzle nut when I was taking it apart (take it apart in a pillow case to keep from losing any parts. The spring is very strong.) I found that a place called Jack First carried spare parts for this gun. Shooting the 35 Rem with the steel curved butplate was very unpleasant, so bad that I got rid of it soon thereafter. Good luck.
 
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