J.C. Higgins Model 31 rifle & scope mount?

[indyblue]

TY bro, but I read those and anything Leupold is usally expensive. We'll see.

 

[Born2vette]

TY bro, but I read those and anything Leupold is usally expensive. We'll see.

“On my 31's I use the cheap $8 Tasco model rings. Remove the locking knob and toggle pinch plate. Knock out the tightening bolt and use a file or small belt sander to chamfer the bottom edge to allow the toggle pinch plate to close closer onto the narrower groove. Before reassembly, take a triangle file or Dremel cutoff disc to cut slight sharp notches into both clamping jaws. This will allow the notches and burrs to bite into the receiver black paint. I've done this to all my rifles and never had rings walk in the grooves since.”

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”I used the Leupold Rifleman Rings # #55850 and they work great. The trick is to tighten the bottom of the ring first so it grabs the receiver groves and than tighten the top of the ring.”

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[woodsie57]

I've always heard them referred to as 3/8" dovetails (on the rifle). Never heard them referred to metrically. That's what I've always looked for when shopping for rings for mine.

It's a 3/8 dovetail. Common on 22s until 15- 20 years ago

 

[indyblue]

It's a 3/8 dovetail. Common on 22s until 15- 20 years ago

Apparently mine are not 3/8". I give up, I've bought 3 sets of rings and none are even close to fitting.

The top rail measures much less than .375 (3/8") and inside the original mount measures .296 (.2968=19/64)


I even tried the suggested rings, almost twice the width. There's no way these are going on without seriously distorting the rings by grinding/milling.

”I used the Leupold Rifleman Rings # #55850 and they work great. The trick is to tighten the bottom of the ring first so it grabs the receiver groves and than tighten the top of the ring.”

These are sorta maybe close for a 3/8" rail, I'm gonna try to mill them down a mm.

 

[warren5421]

Most of my old 22' the mount is a sold one piece about 3" long. The bottom screws are tighted first for them to grip the rails. Then the top screws that grip the scope. If can't get a good hold on scope shim with paper.

 

[tcecil88]

I have this inherited J.C Higgins Model 31 .22lr rifle in nice shape. The M36 scope needs some attention/restoration but I see at vintagegunscopes.com want over $350 to restore, more than the rifle is worth.
Is this rifle worth anything more, my research seems to indicate it's fairly common and not worth much as a collector item.

What options do I have to mount a new scope on it? Are there any adapters that would let me put a more modern scope on it? It has what appears to be a small dovetail groove in the receiver.
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I have the same scope on my new to me Stevens Model 15A.

 

[treg4057]

I have that rifle. Looks like you have the "JC Higgins" scope that was an option at the time. Lots of history about the rifle. Made by High Standard for Sears. JC Higgins was a famous Sears employee that ran their Sporting Goods department.

My grandpa gave me the rifle (dad approved) for my 13th birthday. Grandpa ran a coal yard business in downtown Indy around Massachusetts Ave and Beville. The property sold when I70 went through. My dad said the rifle was traded for $40 bucks worth of coal. I spent a lot of time sitting in the coal office. Grandma let me run the old-time scale. Customer would pull onto the scale, get weighed, then go around back and load up. Then, back on the scale. Pay by the ton. Had to do some simple math. (This was before calculators). Good old days...back in the late 60's.

You also have the deluxe version I think because I see the built-in red sling.

Yes, any 7/8" tip-off mount will work for any scope. That rifle is a shooter. Nice stock, too. Enjoy!

I'm 66 now and my 3 sons will be flipping coins for "who gets what" some day!

That's a really nice story of your JC Higgins!

 

[Bstarkey_46947]

30 years ago you could pick these rifles up at LGS for $75-90 each. I have 2 of this model, I purchased 1 and inherited one also.
They are good shooters. It is a bonus if the retractable sling still works. At one time I was on a quest to collect 1 of each of the JC Higgins/Ted Williams rifles. I switched to Winchester model 94s.

 

[treg4057]

I'm watching a model 31 on GB right now with the retractable slin

30 years ago you could pick these rifles up at LGS for $75-90 each. I have 2 of this model, I purchased 1 and inherited one also.
They are good shooters. It is a bonus if the retractable sling still works. At one time I was on a quest to collect 1 of each of the JC Higgins/Ted Williams rifles. I switched to Winchester model 94s.

I'm watching a model 32 on GB right now with the retractable sling...very cool. I'm anxious to get this one finished and do some test shooting with it...I hear they're quite accurate.

 

[Bstarkey_46947]

Good luck on the auction. They are reliable in my experience and accurate as the shooter/ammo. I would liken them to a Marlin Model 60 in accuracy but I don't wanna start a debate unrelated to the Sears branded vintage-ish shooters.

 

[treg4057]

Here's an update on the JC Higgins 29. I put 5 coats of truoil on this week and the black walnut is looking better... maybe one more coat and some wax this weekend. Today I'm going to touch up the scratches on the receiver with flat black spray paint. After that I just need to reassemble and pick up a weaver rifleman scope on eBay. Hopefully I get it all back together correctly and she fires!
I was surprised I didn't get any comments from you all about Satan being unemployed!