New (to me) Mod 81

[oscarflytyer]

Just picked up a Model 81 on GB. Looks like it has a Stith mount (w/ scope - Weaver?). Bought as a shooter. Is 300 Savage cal.

Have read through the forums. Will potentially reload for it. Any gotchas for this thing? I do see that not recommended to completely disassemble. Any advice on factory 300 Savage ammo?

Thanx

[imfuncity]

Welcome to the forum. 300Savage, when you find 'em shoot'em - all seem to work the same in my shooters. Enjoy

[Roger]

Welcome aboard the forum for all of us rem8/81 nuts. Congrats on your Gb purchase, I looked at the rifle while it was up for auction and it seemed OK other than being tapped for a scope. You said you bought it as a shooter so shoot away and have some fun with it. But be aware, that they're addictive to some of us. And be afraid, of the dreaded jackitis which has affected many of us.
Oh, and by the way, if you email me, I may have some reloading info that may be of interest to you.
Thanks for your time,
Roger

[81police]

oscarflytyer,

Congrats on your Model 81 and welcome aboard to owning one of the coolest autoloaders ever made!

I've used and recommend factory loaded Federal Power-Shok 180gr. SP's. I hear the 150's are good too.

[oscarflytyer]

oscarflytyer,

Congrats on your Model 81 and welcome aboard to owning one of the coolest autoloaders ever made!

I've used and recommend factory loaded Federal Power-Shok 180gr. SP's. I hear the 150's are good too.

Small Southern deer. Going to start w/ the 150s. If I hunt hogs, might try the 180s, but prob use another gun/caliber. This rifle killed two birds w/ one stone. been wanting a 300 Savage (in Sav 99), but also thought the 8/81 was very cool. When I found this one for about 2/3 of a Sav 99, jumped on it. The 99s have a had habit of breaking stock at wrist. Haven't seen that in the 8/81.

[Wildgoose]

Welcome to the list indeed. You will find this to be a great place with many very helpful folks. I have an 81 in .300 Savage too. Its the best shooter out of the 8 and 81's I have. As a deer cartridge the .300 is outstanding. My family took three bucks last year with it all using the same handload of H4895 at 39.5 grains, Hornady 150 grain .308 RN that runs 2450 fps over the crono. Longest shot was 160 yards and the closest was about 50. All three one shot kills.
I have posted two bench targets shot with my 81 at 100 yards with this load. These old spring poles are both fun and functional. Have a great time getting her running.

[oscarflytyer]

Thanx Goose. Really looking fwd to this one. Betting I am going to enjoy it as much as my Savage 99 (in 284 Win) and my 6.5x55 Swedes.

I am looking at a Speer, Rem, Sierra or Nosler 150. Prob going to work with IMR 4895. Seems the recommended powder in some manuals. Now have three rifles I have yet to take a deer with. Sounds like a great excuse to spend a lot of time in the woods this year!

[oscarflytyer]

Well, it ain’t what I would call purtty… Had some rust/pitting not disclosed. Not worth any more than I paid for it/maybe tad less. Did clean up pretty decently. Will do a little more work on it as I shoot it and play with it.

Wood had the expected dings, but is in very good shape, especially considering age and fact that most 2 piece stocks break. Little TruOil and should be great.

Bore is bright shiny sharp! This is the best part of the rifle. And I got it to be a shooter! Bonus is scope. Japanese Savage 2.5x7x20. Very clear and nice! Setup should shoot very well.

Rifle is HEAVY! Feels very ‘thick’ and heavier than anything I have handled. Has a crisp, altho long trigger. Manufactured in 1947. Very cool historical piece. And the manufacturing of something like this can’t be found today! Think I will enjoy toting it in the woods – which is really what I got it for.

[DWalt]

In my opinion, the main drawback of the .300 Savage in the Model 81 is that i would describe the recoil as being brutal, especially from the bench. You would not notice that so much in a hunting scenario. Due to the anticoagulant blood medication I take, I must use a "Sissy Bag" (and there are also less polite names for that same piece of equipment), lest my shoulder turn black and blue in a hurry. There is a large mass of metal moving rapidly rearward, to be abruptly stopped by your shoulder, when you are firing an 81 in .300 Savage. It is much different from the other Remington autoloading cartridges,with the possible exception of the .35. I do not have the same problem with firing a bolt action rifle in .308 or .30-'06, both of which are about the ballistic equivalent of the .300 Savage.

My brother, who is not a 90 pound weakling by any means, fired my Model 81 in .300 Savage exactly one time from the bench, and refused to shoot it again thereafter.

[imfuncity]

It certainly looks god enough for shooting and carrying in the woods and not likely the price is going down (as they say with collectables "I bought it too soon" rather then I paid too much).

81 .300Savage was also my first in 8/81, only previous rifle I had shot was a Ruger 300WSM... the 81 300sav seemed rather mild after that, but indeed I too have found a recoil pad to be very helpful off of the bench - think it has to do with the sitting/angle as much as anything.

[oscarflytyer]

Ok - shot today. WAS surprised at the recoil of the 300 Savage. But WAS also a metal butt plate. This one is NOT a collector - too many rust pits. Def a shooter. Think I may simply put a recoil pad on it and hunt the snot out of it.

I know my Sav 99/284 Win doesn't have the recoil of the 81/300 Sav - but it does have a very good recoil pad on it.

[oscarflytyer]

oscarflytyer,

Congrats on your Model 81 and welcome aboard to owning one of the coolest autoloaders ever made!

I've used and recommend factory loaded Federal Power-Shok 180gr. SP's. I hear the 150's are good too.

Thanx 81P. Shot it this wkend. WAY cool. But the 300 Savage DOES kick like a Missouri Mule. Has some pitting - shooter only - so I AM going to recoil pad it. Want to shoot/hunt it.

[oscarflytyer]

Welcome aboard the forum for all of us rem8/81 nuts. Congrats on your Gb purchase, I looked at the rifle while it was up for auction and it seemed OK other than being tapped for a scope. You said you bought it as a shooter so shoot away and have some fun with it. But be aware, that they're addictive to some of us. And be afraid, of the dreaded jackitis which has affected many of us.
Oh, and by the way, if you email me, I may have some reloading info that may be of interest to you.
Thanks for your time,
Roger

email sent - Thanx

[oscarflytyer]

In my opinion, the main drawback of the .300 Savage in the Model 81 is that i would describe the recoil as being brutal, especially from the bench. You would not notice that so much in a hunting scenario. Due to the anticoagulant blood medication I take, I must use a "Sissy Bag" (and there are also less polite names for that same piece of equipment), lest my shoulder turn black and blue in a hurry. There is a large mass of metal moving rapidly rearward, to be abruptly stopped by your shoulder, when you are firing an 81 in .300 Savage. It is much different from the other Remington autoloading cartridges,with the possible exception of the .35. I do not have the same problem with firing a bolt action rifle in .308 or .30-'06, both of which are about the ballistic equivalent of the .300 Savage.

My brother, who is not a 90 pound weakling by any means, fired my Model 81 in .300 Savage exactly one time from the bench, and refused to shoot it again thereafter.

Damn - you ain't kidding! Recoil is BRUTAL for such a small caliber! I shoot a 300 Win Mag bolt. 81/300 Sav is prob worse, in a slightly diff way. Man, it hurts. Glad it is only a shooter - I am going to put a recoil pad on it so I can enjoy shooting/hunting it!

[oscarflytyer]

It certainly looks god enough for shooting and carrying in the woods and not likely the price is going down (as they say with collectables "I bought it too soon" rather then I paid too much).

81 .300Savage was also my first in 8/81, only previous rifle I had shot was a Ruger 300WSM... the 81 300sav seemed rather mild after that, but indeed I too have found a recoil pad to be very helpful off of the bench - think it has to do with the sitting/angle as much as anything.

As almost everyone has said - recoils is way out of proportion to the 300 Savage cartridge numbers! Mine is purely a shooter. As such, I AM going to shoot/hunt it (what I got it for), AND am going to put a recoil pad in it. No sense in dreading it.

Any recommendations for a recoil pad for the 81 would be appreciated. Thanx