JC Higgins 22 rifle

[bunkysdad]

Sometimes there is that particular rifle out there that you just like, realizing that it may not appeal to others like it does to yourself. Like the Remington Speedmaster that I first learned to shoot on. Still haven't got one but I will sometime. Well a few years ago at a gunshow I met a gentleman selling about a dozen rimfire rifles. He had a JC Higgins model 31 for 175.00 but I didn't have the cash and had to pass. At the next gunshow he was there again and still had the rifle, but had to pass again. Since then I have wanted one, but never bought one. Well my brother in law died 8 years ago and this past week my sister in law gave me several of his guns, including.......that's right, you guessed it! A JC Higgins model 31. All I have done is spray it down with RemOil and wiped it with an old tshirt. I think it was the unique forstock that I liked so much, besides it being a tube fed semi auto that will fire shorts, longs, or long rifles. These were made for the Sears name by High Standard.
















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[redspoon]

That little 22 sure speaks to me also, that forestock that runs all the way back to the butt is pretty cool. Glad she passed it on to you instead of some pawn/gun shop.

[millman]

That's really cool. Is the receiver steel?

[bunkysdad]

I think the receiver may be aluminum or some alloy. I need to research that or find my magnet.

[Junk Yard Dog]

[Bingo]

I just got one from my dad. He lives in California and was advised he lived to close to the school that went up just a year ago to have a gun!To close to the 200 yard limit, It is identical to yours and shows no wear or really any use. I was very happy to bring it home before the police confiscated it. Oh yeah I need a butt plate and I think Numrich might have one.and BTW it is /was made by Marlin. The receiver is an aluminum alloy like the Marlin Model 60.

[bunkysdad]

Hi bingo, I am glad to hear you were able to rescue that one. I have never heard of that happening regarding proximity to schools, but I must say I am not surprised. I would like to see pictures of it if you would like to show it here. We have a lot of rimfire shooters here on the forum, from serious target shooters to plinker/paper pokers like me.

Isn't Texas gun rights awesome?

[Rongo]

I have a real weakness for odd & different .22lr rifles. Very cool!!!

[Bingo]

I will try to post some pictures just as soon as one of the kids shows me how! I picked up a Winchester 190 about a week before going to Cal and just got through cleaning it and the J C Higgins. I don't know why I have picked up .22s, but like some one said it maybe the ammo and the price is right. My dad also gave me his ammo as that is against the 200 yd law too.
Bingo

[Bingo]

BTW if you take the butt plate off you may find a great big hole in the stock where the old model had a retractable sling and the insert on the stock should be covering up the slot where the sling came out. There was a stud on the mag tube to attach the sling to. You will see it on mine when I get the pics posted.A very interesting rifle and I am happy to have gotten it from my dad.
Bingo

[bunkysdad]

Yeah bingo, I downloaded the owners manual and it shows that the 31 has the retractable sling but this one clearly does not. Hmmmm

[jimpierce7]

that is really cool!! My I really want it/hope to get it one day is a .22 as well.

[bunkysdad]

You know, for me shooting a rimfire rifle is a experience different from anything else I shoot. Actually, I could say that about any of the categories of firearms. Shooting clay birds with shotguns and friends is like that. Shooting handguns all by myself is another. Shooting high power rifles alone on the bench with a spotting scope, or the fun time taking it slow and easy shooting muzzle loaders is great fun. But shooting a 22 rifle with a brick of bullets has a relaxing Therapy all it's own. The smell of the powder and the all day endless holes in the target remind me of my youth, when I could shoot 500 rounds for 10 bucks. Or the Remington Speedmaster that hung on a gunrack at my grandparents house in the country. All we had to do was walk out back and pick some cans from the trash pile that hadn't yet been burned and set them on the fence post. I think I will round up this rifle and a couple others and head to the range this weekend with a brick of bullets that sure cost more than 10 bucks.

[Tennessee_Mosin]

Here is mine Bunky,
My grandpa gave it to me in about 1976 when I was 8 years old.

These 2 rifles are the most special ones I have.Man it has a lot of memories.

He also gave me the one with the retractable sling at the same time..

[bunkysdad]

Tennessee, those look great. One has the raised Comb on the stock. Do these shoot good? I plan on shooting mine for the first time this weekend.

[Tennessee_Mosin]

Bunky,
I really don't shoot them a lot.I was going to start shooting them in my local sillioute shoots but the 22 ammo crap started and they have been put on the shelf ever since.

But when i was 8-13 years old I remember setting up metal lids in a line off 12 oz Bud longnecks from my parents package beer store I was pretty deadly at about 15-50 yards.I shot many many rounds through them.

Also all the squirrels in the area were toast!!

Please let us know how yours shoots.