flyer338

I have been watching JSAR prices carefully for about five-years. In that time, prices have about doubled. I think the high prices are bringing many nice JSARs to the market. Here are some that are available as I write this: There are three rifles available at Simpson Ltd: https://simpsonltd.com/u-s-1941-johnson-automatic-c33653/ and https://simpsonltd.com/u-s-1941-johnson-automatic-c33653/ at $7495 and $6995 respectively. They both appear to be in nice shape, but neither is original. RIAC does not have any JSARs in their 7/14 or 7/28 auctions. I bought a nice one from the May Premier Auction number 82, lot 3466, at a hammer price of $7500. There were several other JSARs available at Simpson. A nice one went for $8295 during the few hours between its listing and when I decided (too late) to buy it. There is another (nice original) listed at Simpson for 10k and that is still available (https://simpsonltd.com/johnson-automatics-model-of-1941-betsy/). Gunbroker has four: https://www.gunbroker.com/item/904273160 has a little over a day left, and despite the barrel being badly rusted it is up to $4693. The second is https://www.gunbroker.com/item/904595928 offered at $6499 despite being bubbaed by the addition of a recoil pad. The third is https://www.gunbroker.com/item/904547482 offered at $9500 with a buy-it-now price of $11900. There is also a “Daisy Mae” clone offered on Gunbroker https://www.gunbroker.com/item/904923310 with an $8499 opening bid.

I enjoyed that bit of history. Thank you.

I put a new recoil spring in my JSAR before I shot it for the first time. I do not know who made the spring, and I do not have access to the original specifications for a comparison. I have been shooting S&B 150 grain "Garand Food." I get a pronounced mark on the case head of the fired brass from the ejector that looks a rimfire firing pin mark. I plan to reload the cases. I do not get the mark on every case. The cases are ejected with a lot of energy and land 8-15 feet away.

I think it is chambered in .338-06.

At the last match I attended, I carried my JSAR between stages using the sling. When I got home I discovered the holes in the buttstock for the rear swivel screws are stripped. Fortunately, I did not lose either screw. How best to repair the screw holes? In the past, I have made repairs to stripped screwholes in wood by gluing in a match stick or something similar. In cheap furniture, I haved drilled the hole and glued in a wood plug that I drilled for the screw. I am looking for thoughts on how to best repair my JSAR buttstock. One very important consideration is that the repair not be visible with the rear swivel installed. How did the factory repair stripped screw holes; the military?

eb, thank you for the suggestion. I have been thinking about the debris in the screw holes and the nasty possibility of gluing the recoil spring tube to the stock. I like your suggestion.

The sling swivel holes on my rifle go through to recoil spring tube. I think I would need to remove recoil spring tube before drilling the stock for plugs. It looks like 1/2" hardwood dowels would work. However, removing the recoil spring tube is not trivial. I plan to glue tooth pick in the holes and reinsert the screws. If that does not work, then I will drill the stock for dowels.

Bruce autographed the copy I bought through his website and the cost was $49.95. https://brucecanfield.com/collections/books

A couple of Johnsons appeared on GB this past week. But this morning a FrankenJohnson showed up. https://www.gunbroker.com/Item/924079538

I would like 1, 2, and three.

I think this question arises from conflating the definition of a C&R for purposes of importation with the definition for transfer using an 03 FFL. The former requires the rifle to be in original condition and the latter does not. Unfortunately, the latest ATF guidance on this issue seems to extend the unmodified requirement to all C&R firearms. I do not believe it is correct -- ATF guidance is not law, but I would not want to be the test case.

I am looking forward to your poll. You can count on me for at least one poster.

JSARs in the February 2022 Rock Island Auctions catalog. JSAR 6574 is a Winfield sporter with a cheek piece on the butt stock. In the pictures it appears to be a high condition rifle. However, the description lists it as non-professionally refinished. https://www.rockislandauction.com/detail/1039/653/us-johnson-model-1941-semiautomatic-rifle JSAR 9687 appears to be a rifle in original military condition. It comes with an extra barrel and a leather sling. It is listed as being non-professionaly refinished. https://www.rockislandauction.com/detail/1039/2638/johnson-automatics-model-1941-semiautomatic-rifle-with-extra-ba JSAR B3109 looks like another Winfield sporter. The notes are that the rifle has been non-profesionally refinished. https://www.rockislandauction.com/detail/1039/4528/us-johnson-model-1941-semiautomatic-rifle

I took my JSAR to the range for the first time today. Tomorrow there is a vintage semi-automatic rifle match and I am going to participate. I also took my Garand to the range for the first time in 30 years. In order to zero at 100 yards, I had the rear sight in the notch between 3 and 5. I am shooting Privi Partisan ammunition loaded for the Garand with a 150 grain bullet. Three shot groups at 100 yard were about one inch; that surprised me some what. In addition to having a better trigger than my Garand, it is also more accurate. I thought that with the barrel movement, that would not be the case. I suspect that the longer sight radius may be an advantage for the JSAR. I will report back tomorrow after I win the match.

Another barrel lot is being offered on Gunbroker; this is what looks like two NOS barrels. One barrel is in .30-06 and the other is in 7X57. https://www.gunbroker.com/item/918981232

I am cautious about admitting the heresy of liking the Garand on this forum. However, when my DCM Garand arrived at the post office about 1981, it was one of fewer than a half-dozen rifles I owned. I quickly concluded that should I be limited to one rifle, this would be the one. Today, with ten times as many long arms in my collection, the question is not so easily answered. I do know that I am going to be shooting a lot more.

Prior to last Friday, I had never fired a JSAR, I had not fired my Garand in about 30 years, and my M1A has not been fired in 15 years - you could say that I am out of practice. However, much of what I used to know is coming back, and I am motivated to do better. I did catch on to loading the JSAR using stripper clips. I really like shooting the JSAR; the recoil is quite mild. I have some new Lake City match cases, some 176 grain match bullets, as well as some IMR 4895. I will be assembling some ammo very soon.

I replaced the recoil spring; the spring that came with the rifle measured 10.5" and the new spring measured 12". From a mechanical standpoint, what do you think is happening? I plan to reload the cases.

A JSAR barrel showed up on Gunbroker this morning. The opening bid was $300 and has been met. I suspect it will go for more than twice the opening bid. https://www.gunbroker.com/item/919164293

I learned a lot today about shooting a JSAR. The targets were steel plates of various sizes at ranges between 150 and 400 yards. The targets were south of the firing line, which meant I was looking into sun. Not good. In the future I will make sure I have a hat with a wide brim. I think I understand why the Marines may have filed a V-notch in the rear sight and removed he protective ears on the front sight. With the sun in my no longer young eyes, I found it difficult to pick up the target through the small aperature. It reqired care to make sure I was using the front sight blade blade instead of one of the protective ears. On the plus side the JSAR's trigger is the best of any of the semi-automatic rifles I own. When the light is behind one, or at least not shining into one's eyes, the small aperature is an asset - otherwise a good hat is necessary (I normally do not wear a hat). I noticed that most, but not all, of fired cases had an indentation similar to a rimfire firing pin mark on the case head. I will post a picture of the case head soon. I wonder what is causing that? All in, it was a good day, and I will have another try next month.

I plan to put it up in my hangar.

I like it. I will buy one and have framed. I like the t-shirt idea too.

Simpsons Ltd has two JSARs for sale. The first is a re-parkerized rifle with a couple of cracks (one looks major) in the butt stock. I cannot read the serial number in the pictures. It is listed as B03XX. It is priced at $6,495. https://simpsonltd.com/johnson-automatics-m1941-rifle-c44183/ The second is offered at a reduced price. It is listed as 80% original finish with a good stock and bright bore. The serial number is listed as A51XX. It has a bayonet and scabbard as well as a leather sling. It is marked down from $7,495 to $6,995. https://simpsonltd.com/u-s-1941-johnson-automatic-c33653/ Simpsons will ship to a CNR FFL where legal and, so far, does not collect sales tax.

JSAR 5955 showed up on Gunbroker today. It looks like a high condition Winfield Sporter. The rifle is in Alaska, so the shipping is high. The opening bid of $3499 has already been made. The only defect I see is the recoil pad is cracked. https://www.gunbroker.com/item/918436351

I doubt either will sell for he listed price. Despite the record prices high-condition originals are bringing, it will not extent to scabby Winfields or bubbaed messes.