22 LR
my grandfather give too me when I was 10, I’m in my early 70’s now. He said “My grandfather gave this to me when I was 6, he paid $3.75 for it”. It was made for Sears and Roebuck by Marlin and has no serial number. It originally had only open sights. I had a gunsmith put a side mount on it for a scope when I was in my 20’s in the military and rich.
As a kid I shot many many squirrels and rabbits for food, yes food, we had no money, my Mom and I.
I class my 22 LR as a “Varmint” gun because I shot many hundreds of mink, muskrat, possum, fox, and raccoons; while running a trap line to work my way through school as a kid. In the summers farmers paid me $.50 a ground hogs to keep them out of their “bean fields”. That was a lot of money, a box of 22 Long Rifle Hollow points was $.43 back then. Sometimes I would crawl a half mile to shoot them in the head to make sure they didn’t get away down their hole. I didn’t want to loose that $.50.
This rifle is one of three 22 LR’s I used on my “Rat Trip” each year. The others are a Marlin model 60 SS semi-auto and Ruger 10/22 custom heavy barrel. Much more modern and not so beat-up.
In the last few years I’ve added another “varmint” to my list; ground squirrels. Most shooters I know call them “Sage Rats”. I shot over 900 in a day and a half out in Nevada with this old rifle. The accuracy hasn’t failed me. Marlin built a wonderful rifle back then and now as far I’m concerned.
Kevin
I have the same Jc Higgins model 103.13. What type of mounts for a scope are those. I used weaver mount and ring chart and installed the side mount ring and base, installed scope and the bolt hits the bell of the scope. What set up do you have on that rifle. I’m frustrated that my setup will not work.
will
Many years ago I had an Old gunsmith install a side mount. It wasn’t made for it, he just made it fit. I shot hundreds of squirrels and rabbits with it for our food. We were very poor. It still shoots very good. I now use it to shoot ground squirrels in Nevada and Oregon. This last year I did get a new 22 LR rifle, this rifle is so old it doesn’t have a serial number, someday it’s going to stop working.
Thanks for the comment:
The Varmint Terminator
Check out my FaceBook page at: varmintermintor.will The “a” is missing out of terminator and it’s DOT will.
Kevin
Yes my rifle also has no serial number. Was made between 1937-1940. I was trying to avoid the gunsmith but it looks like that’s what I’ll have to do. I did try a really nice leupold scope that was a perfect fit because the ocular lens and eyepiece were only 1 inch. Bad thing was it was $300. Not happening. Might have to just use the old iron sights too. Thanks for the response and happy varmint hunting.
Ken
My Dad bought one of these when I was 10 years old , I dang near shot the barrel out of it . It was stolen in 1971, I really missed that Old Rifle. I have been looking for one for a long time. I went into a Pawn Shop just looking to sale one of my guns that I didn’t shoot any more and danged if they didn’t have a JC Higgins 103.13 on the wall. Now it’s in my gun safe.
will
I haven’t shot mine out yet, I’ve tried over the years.
Liz
I just found one of these in an estate sale! It cleaned up very well and I can’t wait to try it out! I’m hoping it will be as great for squirrel hunting as it will be for target shooting! It’s in great shape, hasn’t been used in 60 years but cleaned up nicely! Wish me luck!!
will
Good Luck!!!!!
Ned MacDonald
Dear JCH 103.13 22 owner,
Can’t figure out how to remove the bolt for cleaning. Do you know?
Plinker Ned
will
Sorry I haven’t been on much with the problems of today. Pull and hold the trigger and slide out the bolt. It must be cleaned from the muzzle. The bullet lifter is in the way from the chamber. It isn’t easy to clean, but I’ve done it many times over the kast 50 or so years, still shoots great, don’t use it much.
Rob Caverly
Empty the magazine, clear the chamber, pull and hold the trigger back, uncock and pull the bolt out. To reinstall the bolt, pull and hold the trigger back, insert the bolt until closed and locked, release the trigger, and test that the bolt won’t come back out when cocking.
Aside: I found the article, below, on Marlin Micro-grooved barrels. It’s a good read.
I, too, was blessed with a JCH103.13 rifle. Back in the 50s, my Dad got it and a Moss M46M-B in lieu of cash for some job he had done. He then gave my 12 y/o brother the JCH and 10 y/o me the Mossberg. Eventually, my brother gave the JCH to me. The JCH out-shot the Moss; a tack-driver with Remington Golden 40g. LR HP bullets.
https://leverguns.com/articles/fryxell/microgrove-barrels.htm that I removed the side-mounted scope
Rob Caverly
I too have a JCH103.13/Marlin81. My Dad got it and a MossM46M-B for payment for a job he did for somebody who didn’t have any money. Both came with peep sights but also had Weaver 4×20(?) side-mounted riflescopes. Dad gave the JCH to my older brother (12y/o) and the Moss to me (10y/o) in 1959. My brother subsequently gave the JCH to me in 1990 and I gave the Moss to my nephew on his 12th birthday. I then removed the peep sights, tapped, and mounted a Nikon 4×32 Rimfire riflescope onto the JCH. That rifle has had an astronomical number of rounds sent down its Marlin Micro-grooved barrel and is still a tack driver. Recently it has developed failure-to-feed issuers and I’m looking to replace the whole elevator mechanism if I can find one.