A Model 8 in 7.62 x 39mm
Posted: Mon Aug 29, 2011 2:13 pm
Hello fellow members,
I just recently finished a project I hope will be of interest. I re-barreled a Model 8 manufactured in 1908 to 7.62 x 39mm. Original caliber was .35 Rem.
Before any collectors send Guido and Vinnie after me let me assure them the rifle was not of collector quality. Someone had reblued it using cold blue. It was really horrible looking! The stock had been heavily sanded and refinished also. The barrel jacket had been crunched in a vise. I replaced the jacket with a well used but servicible one I had on hand .Mechanically the rifle was sound and safe to shoot. I have read other forum members concerns about the safety of shooting a Model 8 or 81 in .300 Savage. Remington would not have made several thousand of them if they were not safe. Remember the Model 81 is mechanically identical to the Model 8. Many Model 8,s have been re-barreled to .300 Savage, which has a maximum chamber pressure of 46,000 lbs. The 7.62 x 39mm has a chamber pressure of around 44,000 lbs.
According to a 1940,s vintage parts list, the .35 Rem. and .300 Savage use the same recoil spring, recoil spring case, and buffer spring. The lighter caliber (.25,.30,.32) should not be used for this conversion! The barrel I used is a Yugoslavian SKS 59/66, 22 inches long, that I purchased from Gun Parts Inc. The SKS barrel is much larger in diameter at the chamber end than the original .35 Rem. barrel. I turned down the SKS barrel to the same diameter. This also removes all traces of the original threads. I then threaded it to 18 TPI to accept a Model 81 .300 Savage barrel extension. And yes there is plenty of chamber wall thickness left
The SKS barrel is already threaded at the muzzle end for a M14 x 1 metric thread. I suppose this was for the original front sight. It is a simple turning operation on a lathe to make a barrel nut for the SKS barrel. I used the original barrel nut from the rifle as a model. Next drill the barrel nut with a 13mm drill and tap with the M14 x 1 tap and this part is done. The threads at the muzzle must have a slot cut for the tab on the barrel nut washer.
Next you must cut a recess in the breech end of the barrel for the extractor. The .35 Rem. extractor works fine for the 7.62 x 39mm. Make a feed ramp and the barrel is done. I almost forgot to mention the 7.62 x 39 fed perfectly with the original .35 Rem. magazine on the rifle. 10 shots were fired using Chinese Norinco ammunition. No malfunctions, and most importantly, the cases show no signs of stretching or other indicators of excessive pressure. Recoil is light due to the 123 grain bullet. I welcome any comments.
I just recently finished a project I hope will be of interest. I re-barreled a Model 8 manufactured in 1908 to 7.62 x 39mm. Original caliber was .35 Rem.
Before any collectors send Guido and Vinnie after me let me assure them the rifle was not of collector quality. Someone had reblued it using cold blue. It was really horrible looking! The stock had been heavily sanded and refinished also. The barrel jacket had been crunched in a vise. I replaced the jacket with a well used but servicible one I had on hand .Mechanically the rifle was sound and safe to shoot. I have read other forum members concerns about the safety of shooting a Model 8 or 81 in .300 Savage. Remington would not have made several thousand of them if they were not safe. Remember the Model 81 is mechanically identical to the Model 8. Many Model 8,s have been re-barreled to .300 Savage, which has a maximum chamber pressure of 46,000 lbs. The 7.62 x 39mm has a chamber pressure of around 44,000 lbs.
According to a 1940,s vintage parts list, the .35 Rem. and .300 Savage use the same recoil spring, recoil spring case, and buffer spring. The lighter caliber (.25,.30,.32) should not be used for this conversion! The barrel I used is a Yugoslavian SKS 59/66, 22 inches long, that I purchased from Gun Parts Inc. The SKS barrel is much larger in diameter at the chamber end than the original .35 Rem. barrel. I turned down the SKS barrel to the same diameter. This also removes all traces of the original threads. I then threaded it to 18 TPI to accept a Model 81 .300 Savage barrel extension. And yes there is plenty of chamber wall thickness left
The SKS barrel is already threaded at the muzzle end for a M14 x 1 metric thread. I suppose this was for the original front sight. It is a simple turning operation on a lathe to make a barrel nut for the SKS barrel. I used the original barrel nut from the rifle as a model. Next drill the barrel nut with a 13mm drill and tap with the M14 x 1 tap and this part is done. The threads at the muzzle must have a slot cut for the tab on the barrel nut washer.
Next you must cut a recess in the breech end of the barrel for the extractor. The .35 Rem. extractor works fine for the 7.62 x 39mm. Make a feed ramp and the barrel is done. I almost forgot to mention the 7.62 x 39 fed perfectly with the original .35 Rem. magazine on the rifle. 10 shots were fired using Chinese Norinco ammunition. No malfunctions, and most importantly, the cases show no signs of stretching or other indicators of excessive pressure. Recoil is light due to the 123 grain bullet. I welcome any comments.