Remington Model 81

[Calfed]

Back in the day, before SWAT teams, Law Enforcement used the Remington Model 81 and Winchester 1907 self-loading rifles for "high risk" arrests. These semi auto rifles were beautifully made and finished and chambered in .25, .30, .32, and .35 Remington and .300 Savage.

Here's my Model 81, in .30 Remington...

 

[jimmyj]

In the past I had a Remington Model 81 in 35 Remington caliber. Using factory ammo from a rest it would give 1 1/4" groups at 100 yards.

 

[fishwishin]

Wow! Gorgeous! What build year is it?

 

[mauser9]

Sure were solid built. Never got to shoot one though. How is the recoil on em? The model 8 and 81 sure must have made a stir when they came out.

 

[Calfed]

In the past I had a Remington Model 81 in 35 Remington caliber. Using factory ammo from a rest it would give 1 1/4" groups at 100 yards.

Mine shoots about the same. It has a Redfield peep sight which helps out in that department

 

[Calfed]

Wow! Gorgeous! What build year is it?

Thanks. Built in 1950, the last year they were made. One of the last 1000 made, IIRC

 

[Calfed]

Sure were solid built. Never got to shoot one though. How is the recoil on em? The model 8 and 81 sure must have made a stir when they came out.

Recoil is stout, although I shoot a lot of surplus rifles so I'm kinda used to it.

 

[jinx]

Boy does that look good! Doesn't look like it was used much.

 

[Drm50]

My 1st deer rifle was a 8 in 35. I have had several 8 & 81s over the years and all were good shooters and most were 35s. I now have a 81 in 300sav
Krieger conversion with detachable mag. & Redfield reciever sight. It will average 1" at 60yds with factory ammo. Have shot it much yet to work up a load.

 

[CptCurl]

I have long admired the Remington Model 8 and Model 81, but never have I owned one.

A friend has a collection of Model 8 rifles. I've shot his in .25, .32, and .35. They are accurate, but recoil is way out of proportion to the rounds they fire. All that moving hardware - the barrel and locking receiver parts, comes rushing back to slam into the rear of the frame. The effect is like a jackhammer.

Every now and then I get the urge to own one. My choice would be a .35 or a .300 Savage.

Great guns!

Curl

 

[Calfed]

Boy does that look good! Doesn't look like it was used much.

I believe you are right about not being used much. It really is in great shape.

 

[Calfed]

My 1st deer rifle was a 8 in 35. I have had several 8 & 81s over the years and all were good shooters and most were 35s. I now have a 81 in 300sav
Krieger conversion with detachable mag. & Redfield reciever sight. It will average 1" at 60yds with factory ammo. Have shot it much yet to work up a load.

Would love to see a Kreiger modified M81. That conversion was supposed to be the best.

Years ago I was visiting Peterson's Guns in Albuquerque and saw a Peace Officer Equipment conversion to 15 round magazine Model 81. It was very well done and in great condition. They wanted 2G's for it, which was about 4 times what a standard configuration Model 81 went for. I should have gone for it...those POE 15 round Model 81's go for about 6G's now.

 

[mauser9]

Wow accuracy sounds outstanding for a rifle of that vintage plus being a semi-auto. I have a Remington Model Four in .270 win. which does not group as good as that at 100 yards with factory loads anyway

 

[bmcgilvray]

Beautiful rifle!

I love the idea of owning and using one.

Would love to have one like it as a companion to the Winchester Model 1907 .351 here.

 

[Calfed]

Beautiful rifle!

I love the idea of owning and using one.

Would love to have one like it as a companion to the Winchester Model 1907 .351 here.

That is a fine looking 1907

 

[SPEEDGUNNER]

Calfed, that's a good looking rifle. I have been hunting one in .35 Rem, but the ones I come across are pretty salty. Love the condition on yours!

 

[Drm50]

I bought the 81 Kreiger conversion thinking I could find a hi cap mag for it. I didn't know what I was doing and didn't know they made no hi cap mags. They used the box mag from the rifle for the conversion. I only wanted hi cap mag to show the AR crowd what a old rifle will do. If a 8 or 81 is kicking badly there is more than likely due for new springs. Some shooters aren't use to the double shuffle of Browning system.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[Hairtrigger]

Can’t find a pic of my 81 in 300 Savage
Here is my Rem Model 8

 

[DWalt]

I have two M8s (both .30 Rem) and two M81s, a .30 Rem and a .300 Savage. The recoil of the full power .300 Savage is pretty stout, so for the most part I use only 168 grain lead bullets loaded to a MV of about 2000 ft/sec (24 grains of IMR 4227). It functions fine. I have made up several hundred .300 Savage cases from .308 brass, very simple to do, just run a .308 (or 7.62 NATO) case through a .300 Savage full length die and cut back the neck length. There is no significant difference between the .308 and the .300 Savage cases other than the neck length and a slight difference in the shoulder angle.

During and after WWII, the FBI used a special version of the M81, using a more lightly loaded .30 Rem round. Extremely rare and valuable and virtually never seen.

 

[Calfed]

I bought the 81 Kreiger conversion thinking I could find a hi cap mag for it. I didn't know what I was doing and didn't know they made no hi cap mags. They used the box mag from the rifle for the conversion. I only wanted hi cap mag to show the AR crowd what a old rifle will do. If a 8 or 81 is kicking badly there is more than likely due for new springs. Some shooters aren't use to the double shuffle of Browning system.View attachment 406767View attachment 406768View attachment 406769


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

How does the magazine release work on your Remington?