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Remington Model 31 Experts wanted

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zeebheath

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Discussion starter · #1 · (Edited)
Bought a 1948 Rem Model 31 TC. What a great shotgun. I fell in love with it so I bought another TC also from 1948. One is a 30" Full and the other is 30" improved modified. A guy told me the IM Barrel is rare. Do any of you 31 guys know this to be true? I have read all the info I could find on the internet about the 31 TC's. I would like to learn all there is to know about these great guns. I know there are a lot of old heads out there who have great knowledge of this gun and I would like to be schooled. I have many questions, such as:
1. Who's the best gunsmith for a 31
2. Did they make any with 32" barrel
3. How rare is my 30" IM
4. The different triggers, etc
I would really like an expert I can PM or call. All info is greatly appreciated.
Thanks, Heath
 
#2 ·
Heath,
I am not what you would call an expert on the M31, however here are answers to some of your questions:
2. The M31TC could be ordered with 30" or 32" barrels with FULL choke
3. The 31TC could be ordered with 30" Modified choke at extra charge
The 31TC could be ordered with Special Long Range choke at extra charge with 30" barrel only
---both these options listed in 1938, 1942 catalogues ( I do not have a 1948 catalogue available)
---no mention of an option of an IM choke in any price list available

Do either of your guns have a long, extended beavertail fore-end? (rare) Is the barrel marked IM? (VERY rare)

There are probably some real gurus on this site to answer your other questions.

Scott Hanes
 
Discussion starter · #3 ·
Thanks for the info Scott.
Neither gun has the extended beaver tail fore-end.
The IM gun is stamped IM on side of barrel.

How do you know if a gun has the Special long range choke?
Thanks, Heath
 
#10 ·
Heath,
If the barrel was Long Range, it would have been stamped on the barrel in the same place as "Full" or "Mod". Or in your case "Improved Mod"!!

Would love to see the IM marking for reference. BTW the receivers look to be in very good to excellent condition. Are they both original finish?

Scott Hanes
 
Discussion starter · #11 ·
Scott,
Both of my 31's look to be original bluing. I just bought the IM gun last week when I was working in Missouri. Since I can't bring it home on the train it is being shipped to my FFL. Will get you those barrel marking pics as soon as it gets here.
Here's some pics of my full choke gun, it has Docweiler wood on it.
Thanks, Heath
Image
Image
Image
 
#13 ·
Are guns allowed on Amtrak?
Gun owners will need to let Amtrak know 24 hours in advance of their intention to bring firearms onboard and the unloaded guns will need to be packed in hard-sided containers. These will be placed in special storage lockers - guns will not be allowed on trains that don't have checked baggage service.
 
Discussion starter · #14 ·
Joe, I wasnt on Amtrak. I'm an engineer for the Norfolk Southern and was on an east bound freight train. I would be fired for bringing home a firearm on the Locomotive. We could get away with it 20 years ago, there might have been a few brought home 10 years ago but not today, Lol.
I don't know about Amtrak
Thanks, Heath
 
#15 ·
zeebheath said:
Joe, I wasnt on Amtrak. I'm an engineer for the Norfolk Southern and was on an east bound freight train. I would be fired for bringing home a firearm on the Locomotive. We could get away with it 20 years ago, there might have been a few brought home 10 years ago but not today, Lol.
I don't know about Amtrak
Thanks, Heath
Click to expand...
You are absolutely correct. Don't want to get caught doing that on the railroad.
 
#20 ·
Here is some info, my connection with 31s is my first shotgun was a Rem 31, 20 ga. when I was 12 yrs. old. Later in the early 70's after I got into trapshooting heavy I acquired a late model (large trigger guard) 31TC. Both are long gone but I'm looking at a fellow shooters that had 12 @ one time and is down to 6 now (yes you could call him a Remington fan (currently shoots 3200s and 90Ts).
- Model 31 manufactured until the Rem 870 introduced
-Vent rib integral with barrel on the 31TC and 32TC
-around 40,xxx serial # (1942) started using the large trigger guard
-early ones had the top of the receiver slightly raised the width of the rib ramp and was milled concave transverse with the receiver.
-early triggers were considered "pull", later larger trigger guard considered "lift" and some of these had aluminum guards.
-from my experience and of those being used by fellow shooters the chokes typically ran "tight"
-a friend that has passed had a TC with a "Rudy Etchen" (spelling) buttstock and I've seen photos of custom stocks that were similar because they had a very full curved pistol grip I believe to be compatible with the early "pull trigger"
-up in my neck of the woods 31TCs were quite popular, but certainly not as much as Win. mo. 12s.
-As an aside in the 70s I helped run a 2 trap club. Older retired banker gentleman moved into town from N. Dakota and started to visit the trap club. I invited him to come out some evening and actually shoot. Well one evening he pulled in with his Caddy and opened the trunk. I told my friends that I was going to see what he pulled out of the trunk. His vest had one or 2 ATA ALL American State Team patches, he had 3 Rem 31TCs and 2 Rem 32TCs, he hunted waterfowl and used the 31s for hunting. He had no sons and I often wonder what happened to his guns.
 
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