Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles Higgins Model 51 Refurb... Need some help.

I have had two M50s- with only two tapped holes in the bridge and they had the wider .860 spacing. I think the factory barrel is fairly slim so I would be a bit concerned about balance if shortening much…and I like shorter barrels. Like someone else wrote, I like the factory FN safety on the left side of the bolt sleeve. The 51 has a higher comb as I recall. The factory wood on my current 50 has a low comb better suited to irons so I am re-stocking with a Hi Tech.

3 position safety is my preference ,second would be the 2 pos wing..sorry I don't really like the flip up and down style. They work fine but seem clumsy.
Dakota makes a nice one, I have installed them the most...my first choice.
Second would be Ed lapoure..high quality piece probbly best one made but just costs more...

TC1,

That's a slick looking rifle. I too have a 51, but have never really fiddled with it much. That McMillan stock and Talleys turn it into quite an attractive rig.

Whoops.

Just looked and mine is a model 50. There is something appealing about the old gun.

I think mine is a model 50 too. Yeah, I really like the stock but its going to be changed soon. I found out last month McMillan will inlet their new Sako Compact for a Mauser so I have one on order!

I agree .... I did very minor bubba damage to my Grampy's rifle and regret it. I wish I had left it alone.

I had J kobe put a safety on my mode 98. I like it. I also have a jc jigs 50 w original safey. I wonder if a guy could trade? That way my model 98 and Higgins would be the same safety?

I love the higgins', great shooters, but the triggers should be switched out. They will discharge if an action screw loosens, it's a bad design.

I'll second that motion. All my M50's now have Timney triggers. That's the first thing I change.
Paul B.

JC Higgins model 50 and 51 have been the supplier of quality actions to the ultra high end customs for years. Gunsmiths around here would typically rob the action and rebuild the M50/51 with a M98 military action. Model 51's are great because they had cheekpiece stocks along with the checkering. The versions with the trigger mounted in the guard do need changed out. Some if not all M51's had the very good SAKO #4 trigger in them.

My 1948 FN, which wears a Buehler (spelling?) bridge mount only has one hole in the bridge, so I assume it was d&t'd by whoever put it together. On at least one of the M50s I've had, I had to file the rear Weaver base for bolt clearance, possibly because I bought the wrong one; who knows?

I really like the looks of the original wing safeties and think they are great on an iron-sighted rifle, but are a little awkward with a scope, but still better than the Buehler on the right side.

If I were replacing an M50 trigger and had the bucks, I'd use the Alaska Arms M70 type, otherwise a Timney I guess.

All these old FNs are great buys and make most of the new stuff look like crapola by comparison.

A saw one of those out here recently. Model 50 stock and barrel, but a military 98 action. Being sold as a Model 50, as that is what the barrel says.

Bruce

I started reading the OP thinking it was new... 6 posts in and noticed 2015 lol.

I did that. Didn't read the date.



Bruce

I know this is a necro-post, but none of the Higgins 50 or 51's came from the factory with three holes on the rear bridge. They came with either .500" (.504") or .860" spacing from the factory. Many owners had a third hole added to their .860" spaced bridges because it was much easier to find bases such as the weaver #45 to fit the .500" spacing than it was to find a base with .860" spacing. Voere is the only maker I know of that routinely produced sporting Mausers with three holes in the rear bridge. Theirs were designed to allow use of a a one piece base designed to fit an FN Commercial or two piece bases.

Nope, the 51L came with the Sako trigger because it was based on the Husqvarna 1640 action, not the FN 98. All the Higgins 50 & 51's came with the oddball bottom metal mounted, two piece affair.

Not sure if the OP ever did all the changes he mentioned, but if he did, it sure ain't his Grandpa's rifle, anymore.

Good to know. I have several model 50s and 51s but they're just rat holed away. I've thought about fixing a few up to hunt with. I've wondered about sending the barrel actions of a few of them off to be nitride.

Bb

I would like to see some pics of your 51s. I used one as a kid, my dad's and would like to find oneagian in 30-06.

Excellent assessment of the op's plan. Leave the irons alone and don't whack the barrel...mb