I have the chance to trade a well used Remington 700 BDL 25-06 for a pristine, JC Higgins Model 50 in 270 Win. I haven't shot the 25-06 in a loooong time and it sits in the gun safe gathering dust. I already own a 270, but what the heck, I love the caliber and am a real fan of 98 Mausers. What's the general consensus on the JC Higgins Model 50? I know they're made by FN so maybe I've already answered my own question. Will probably pull the trigger on this trade tomorrow, but wanted a little input before I do. Thanks for any insights you all might have.

It is a good solid gun. I would prefer one over a Rem 700 but that is me.

Three of my grandsons have Model 50s that I spiffed up and restocked for them. All three have been reliable and accurate rifles.

The 50s are the same as other FNs of that era, with the exception of the SMLE-like trigger hinged on the guard and the chrome-lined barrel from High Standard. I had two, both '06s, and they were great rifles. They are stocked for iron sights, so require a "chin weld", at least for me, when scoped; no biggie IME. Many swap out the trigger for something less hinky, but I never got around to that with mine. If I had one now, it'd probably get a Dayton Traister for it. I prefer the stock safety to the Buhlers often added, especially for iron sight use.

Good trade, I think.

FN action often worth more than ask.

IIRC, Hi Standard fit the barrels and I’ve read that some bores were chrome plated. Can’t confirm that. Many shoot really well. Even if they don’t you have the makings of a fine build.

IMO, hard to go wrong if the price is right. It usually is.

DF

One of the best Mauser clones ...only one I like better is a husky...I have built several customs on jc Higgins actions..all shot really well
If memory serves the 50 had the thin barrel? If so that's the pattern barrel I use for all my lightweight rifle builds..it's pretty sweet contour..

Mine ended up being a very nice 9.3x62 in a Mcmillan stock.

50 metal that cane in a plastic stock. Bought 51 wood off of the classifieds. Came with a Timney trigger and 4x Leupold. .30-06. It likes about every bullet/powder combination tried. A dozen loads around or under an inch. Modern higher powered scope would likely shrink that some as well.

Great rifle. Put a Timney or Bold trigger on it, and enjoy a well-designed , well-made, rifle .

I have owned four of them over the years. Still have two of them ( one a 30-06, and the other re-barreled to 338-06).


I would make the trade. Check the whole spacing on the rear bridge. There are two spacings, 0.5" and 0.7+". If it is 0.7" spacing, use that to your advantage, as it is more difficult to get a scope base. You need to call Warne mfg, and ask if they have their Maxima scope bases in stock for that set up. Cost about $35?.

For me the Model 50 screams "35 Whelen"

+1 on the .35 Whelen rebore, that FN action is one of the best.

Well, I made the trade. I'm really happy with the rifle and will mount an older Leupold 3-9 scope on it later this evening. It came with 30 rounds of 1x fired R-P brass, so that was a bonus. It will be my elk rifle this fall. My son and I will be hunting south of Flaming Gorge Reservoir, north of Vernal, Utah. It's an "any bull" unit and I've seen some nice bulls there earlier this summer when the wife and I went camping.

Would be interested in what elk load you settle on.

Great rifle.

DF

I'll probably start with what I'm shooting in my other 270. 130 grain Partition and a healthy dose of H4831SC. It groups great in my Savage 110.

Growing up, my best friend had one in 30-06. It even had a 3x9 Leupold on it! He killed Lord only knows how many deer/hogs with it. His dad had bought the rifle which came with 50rds of handloaded ammo. It was supposed to be "150 grain", was all we were told. He still has it. I looked for one like it for years, finally got one like yours in .270. It shot the 130s very well but not the 150s. That's just one rifle, of course. Anyhow, I sold it fund another project. I've hunted near Sheep Creek myself a few times, and up on "Red Cloud Loop" above Vernal. This year I'm to a private ranch somewhere over near Vernal for cow elk. I fyou would like to 'try" some Nosler 160s, I have a wad and would just give you some. Just let me know via PM. Congrats on a solid old rifle.

Jim, I can't figure out the pm thing. I tried by clicking on your name, but I couldn't get it to go through. Help???

I had one in .30-06, absolutely hated the trigger. If I had kept it, that would have been replaced.

Click on my name. There should be a box and one will say "Send Private Message". Click on it and just follow

Dude you suck! But in a great way. I mean you are a lucky man to score such a great old rifle. I have a Zastava Charles Daly 98 I recently had rebarreled in 7x57.I'm still fitting it in the stock and bedding it. Then I'll refinish it. I can't wait to take it to the range. I want to work up a load for some 140 grain something. Probablhy either a SGK or Nosler BT. Mine will be one of my deer rifles. I have a few for elk but I've never been elk hunting. Deer and hogs are my main game and this will fit right in.

I liked the way the trigger felt on mine till I took the action out of the stock and looked at it. Now I can't trust it even though it still feels good. I'd rather just a plain old two stage military trigger.

I know how you feel, at one point I felt the same about my first Model 50. That was before I shot it. When it started putting 5 factory rounds into an inch or less regularly, I reconsidered. I couldn't see spending several hundred dollars and getting a rifle that *might* shoot as well as the one I started with, not to mention losing the chrome lined bore.

I ended up building a 35 Whelen on an Interarms action.

Anyway the point is if you buy a Model 50, shoot it before you decide to change caliber.

"Anyway the point is if you buy a Model 50, shoot it before you decide to change caliber."

That is sage advice.
Paul B.

Or, never shoot the donor...

It could shoot too good to become a donor, then what ya gonna do...



DF

Classic rifle.

Natman, the ONLY thing I'd consider changing on this Model 50 is the stock. Lots of drop at the heel and it makes lining up the scope a little difficult for me. I'm using low rings so the scope bell barely clears the barrel, safety is still easily reached and the bolt handle clears the eyepiece. Even in low rings, I don't get a real solid cheek weld on the stock. It also "feels" so different shouldering it compared to my other rifles. Will probably put the factory stock away and replace it with something from Boyds in their basic walnut. Hope that doesn't sound blasphemous, but it would also be nice to have the factory stock so pristine that I could put it back on before passing his rifle on to my grandson. P.S. My 35 Whelen is an old mid 1970s Savage 110 with an E R Shaw barrel. It shoots 250 grain Speer Hot Cors into itty, bitty groups. My hunting buddy calls it my big bore varmint rifle.

True dat.

Then you get stuck with a good shooting 30-06. Darn.

The Model 50 dates from 1950, when scopes were a lot less common than they are today. If the stock doesn't fit you, then by all means get another. However, I would replace the trigger if you replace the stock; the trigger Model 50s come with depend on the distance between the action and the trigger guard being just so.