Skyhunter
Member
A True Classic levergun to behold!
Very nice rifle - ENJOY!!
WYT-P
Skyhunter
Very nice rifle - ENJOY!!
WYT-P
Skyhunter
Always wanted a Winchester Model 71 .348 and one finally found it's way into my safe!
- Thread starter THREEDFLYER
- Start date
Rock185
US Veteran
Those are beautiful rifles. The action on these makes my Winchester 94 and Marlin lever actions seem clunky by comparison. If it wasn't for the unusual cartridge, I'd have bought one years ago. A powerful cartridge though, comparable to my .350 Remington Magnum.
A neighbor had a very nice example, that he apparently had not shot for some time. He asked me to take it out and shoot it some. Nice guy that I am, I did that for him
A neighbor had a very nice example, that he apparently had not shot for some time. He asked me to take it out and shoot it some. Nice guy that I am, I did that for him
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That is SO nice! Congratulations! 
I used to have a friend who was a diehard 71-348 man. He always kept two. When he found a new one in better condition, he would sell off the lesser condition rifle to help recover the cost of the new one. He finally ended up with one he was 100% happy with. He had his pair: a keeper and a shooter. I remember him saying 71s were not a lot of fun to shoot.
He's gone now to the big Model 71 room in the sky where there's a nice one in every corner.
I used to have a friend who was a diehard 71-348 man. He always kept two. When he found a new one in better condition, he would sell off the lesser condition rifle to help recover the cost of the new one. He finally ended up with one he was 100% happy with. He had his pair: a keeper and a shooter. I remember him saying 71s were not a lot of fun to shoot.
He's gone now to the big Model 71 room in the sky where there's a nice one in every corner.
OP
I installed the steel Lyman 66A on the 71 today and found that I had a set of RCBS reloading dies in .348 so now to dig through my bullet selection and see if by chance I have some around. May have some brass but most likely will need to scrounge up bullets/brass at some point.
Congrats OP- I had a 1948 Deluxe years ago but I parted with it due to ammo scarcity. They're fine old rifles.
348
starline makes brass.
starline makes brass.
This is about as close as I'm liable to get to one of those- that's a beautiful rifle.
Regards,
turnerriver
Regards,
turnerriver
DWalt
Member
My dentist has a high-condition DeLuxe model. I have tried to talk him out of it but no luck. I imagine over the years I have paid him enough to buy 3 or 4 of them, if not more. I always pick up .348 brass when I find it just in case I run across a 71 some day. I have around 60 cases, which is adequate, but no dies or bullets (which I really don't need yet).
.348 Brass is good for re-forming numerous old black powder cartridge cases like 11mm Mauser, 11mm Murata, etc. No idea if anybody is still making it.
.348 Brass is good for re-forming numerous old black powder cartridge cases like 11mm Mauser, 11mm Murata, etc. No idea if anybody is still making it.
I recently acquired a very nice Deluxe rifle with the Lyman sight, looks like a '52 as well. I shot it for the first time yesterday. Wow. I love it. I acquired 8 boxes of early W-W brass, nib with the rifle, plus 400 of the 200 gr. Hornady bullets. I'll post some pics later tonight. FWIW, 20 rounds of .348 off the bench = sore shoulder.
Also FWIW, I loaded 40 rounds of my brass with 62 grs H-4350 and the Hornady 200. Hodgdon data base showed 61-66 grains, I figured 62 was a good place to start. As it turned out, I think it is plenty, and see no need to go up. They chronographed a solid 2450 fps, which I judge to be "plenty."
Fantastic rifle. At one time I had 3xM-71s as well as 2xM-1886s in 33 WCF. Still have 1 of each and my son got one of the M-71s.
I agree that the 71/86 action is the coolest Winchester ever.
I agree that the 71/86 action is the coolest Winchester ever.
Here's my recently acquired specimen:
27 Man
Member
I have wanted a 71 for years. Beautiful rifles. A friend had his at the range recently and I fired a few rounds. Bruising. Not a round for an older guy with some arthritis setting in. Cured my 71 itch.
OP
I already have a set of RCBS dies and a local friend has some factory loaded ammo and some brass so just need to find some 200 Gr bullets and should be good to go!
OP
Installed the steel vintage Lyman 66A receiver sight on the M71
I've often toyed with the idea of getting a Winchester 71. In person they are very attractive, but for some reason I have not felt right about any that I've seen online. However, I could easily be motivated in the unlikely event that if I found myself at a gun show with a wad of cash burning a hole in my pocket and an unmolested 71 showed up on a table at a fair price.
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OP
For me it has always been a matter of the high prices these 71's bring and the scarcity of ammo and reloading components.
This one came along at a price I felt was very reasonable and the components are starting to become available again. Plus I have a lead on some later production factory ammo fortunately.
hkcavalier
US Veteran
There's one for sale in my area. Half of the guys are trying to buy it, the other half trying to convince the seller not to part with grandpa's gun.
So, pretty much like many of the "I inherited this old gun" posts on here.
So, pretty much like many of the "I inherited this old gun" posts on here.
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