[mr_ouija]

Hey all, figured you guys might enjoy seeing this. I picked up this J.C. Higgins Model 103.13 which from what I understand is a Marlin Model 81 sold by Sears Roebuck. Anyhow, I picked it up along with a Remington 511 for $250 out the door. I figured these guns would make for a great set of project rifles.

The Marlin has a very interesting rear sight that appears to be the factory peep sight base with a home made peep sight attached. With some searching, I found what the original looks like but have been coming up with nothing as far as a replacement part. I also found the Williams replacement, but would prefer factory for a few dollars more. Figured I would show you guys what it has and see what you think!

So far I have found a few parts on both that need replacing, mostly springs. A quick function check shows they work fine, though the Marlin has a little trouble feeding and extracting. Feeding, it points the round a little too high and the driving band catches on the top of the chamber. Extracting, well it just doesn't, the extractor is intact, but the hook seems bent out a bit too far so I am going to try tweaking it a bit tonight to see what I can come up with.

 

[22AGS]

Nice! My 81 won't feed right unless I open the bolt before loading. Try that.

 

[pmullineaux]

definitely a crude, but well made homemade peeper!!!! it is def better to have the origional, on that base...

 

[mr_ouija]

Nice! My 81 won't feed right unless I open the bolt before loading. Try that.

It seems to feed fine, just points the round upward too much like there is too much pressure or the feed lips are bent out too far possibly. The big problem is extraction and from comparing my extractor to the picture on Numrich, I can see why! Mine is a little worn and seems to be pinched a bit too much so it no longer engages the rim of the round. I've decided tonight to tweak it until it works.

definitely a crude, but well made homemade peeper!!!! it is def better to have the origional, on that base...

I'm trying to find myself the Marlin sight (#12R ?), Numrich is out and I haven't found any on Ebay/Gunbroker yet. I'll keep looking but that Williams that uses the original mounting holes looks nice too. I noticed the front sight hood is missing also and Numrich is out of those as well. =/

 

[mr_ouija]

With some cleaning (it was nasty under the extractor) and some minor bending, it now extracts most of the time.

The problem I have now is a mix of the feed lips gouging into the round, causing it to stick and occasionally come off the extractor. I relieved some of the tension off the feed mechanism's spring and it has eased it a bit, but I don't want to bend it too far since it has just enough tension to get the rounds all the way up.

As for feeding, after the bending, I think the angle of the extractor is off, causing it to really dig into the rim making feeding a little more difficult. Its not too bad with the stock in place but I am glad to have it feeding and extracting/ejecting now. I'll deal with the finer aspects of it after the fire test.

Some pics I took before cleaning up the bolt to show another friend of mine the extractor. Funny how something looks clean until you take some close up pictures!

 

[mr_ouija]

Well, I ended up getting a Williams 5D-81 replacement peep sight in the mail today, so I mounted it up:

Looking good, shoots great!

First 5 down the pipe, including 'cold bore shot'.

Next 5

Once I get the sight dialed in, and get used to using it, I expect this rifle will be quite the shooter!

 

[pmullineaux]

you might need to replace that little cartridge bendy guide thing that sits right
on top of the ejection port, this is what guides the bullets into the chamber.

 

[mr_ouija]

Is this what you're referring to?

I think I got it working... I just cycled 4 rounds through it and just needed to push the nose of one of them down a bit to get it in the chamber. I bent the feed lips out a bit because it seemed to be squeezing too tight on the round and pinching it. Now it feeds from the lips to the bolt easily, just maybe a little high yet.