Thoughts On The Winchester Model 71

[Doug627]

I have a Winchester Model 71. It is the only rifle in 348 Winchester. For those familiar with it, what are your thoughts? Mine has the bolt mounted peep sight. I am going to take it to West Virginia to hunt whitetails. I will use it in the blind because I don't want it exposed to bad weather. I can't figure out why the cartridge was not used in other rifles. Perhaps because it is a rimmed cartridge? I will also have a Remington Model 81 in 300 Savage with a peep sight to use this year. Both of these firearms were made in 1936.

 

[s&wchad]

The Winchester Model 71 is a fabulous rifle. It's basically a modernized model 1886. My older brother used one for years on whitetails and it usually dropped them in their tracks with a well placed shot.

I've owned a few, but currently only have one...

 

[Onomea]

A marvelous rifle. Here is a great write up: Winchester 71 Info

I particularly like this passage from the write up:

...Somewhat as a "side-bar," I would like to say that the mid-1930's were a wonderful time to produce a supreme rifle. The factory machining capacities were at an advanced state (relative to 20 years before), there was better steel technology, and there was a work force skilled in combining state-of-the-art machinery with semi-hand work. This is a little off point, but you can also see the same thing with classic cars. The 1930's were the brief moment of the truly brilliant "big" Packards, the Model 90 Cadillacs, the Phantom III Rolls-Royces, etc. Machinery & craftsmanship existed, really for a tragically brief time, in a marvelous equipoise....

Same period as when the Registered Magnum came out.

 

[Valmet]

Wonderful old rifles- essentially an improved 1886. The .348 is quite the cartridge inside of 200 yards or so and unfortunately wasn’t picked up by anyone else. The .358 Winchester was introduced in the 1950s with the idea of “replacing it,” which it kinda did, thought the .358 didn’t necessarily catch fire either.

I owned a 71 years ago and foolishly traded it off. Been keeping my eyes open for a replacement as I’d love to have another.

 

[TIMETRIPPER]

I found a well used Deluxe for a good price a few years ago. It was a post war gun from 1953 that had been tapped for side mount scope. It also had taps for the Lyman type receiver sight, which is what I used. A little heavy but well balanced and a very smooth action. Smoother than the Modern Miroku 86 Winchester I owned. I liked the forearm design too. Didn't come with those expensive, hard to find QD type sling swivels so I pressed a couple military sling loops onto the mounts instead. Carried it in deer season but didn't get a chance to use it.
My question is what are you doing for ammo? I reload and found that 60 grs of IMR 4350 behind a 200 gr Hornady FP did very well, with less than 2" groups at 100 yards. Recoil was similar to 30-06 with the same weight bullet loads. Hitting the 8" gong at 200 yards was a piece of cake too. I just aimed at 12 o'clock on them. But finding brass, and especially bullets for it was the biggest problem.
As you probably know, the 348 WCF is based on the old 50-90 Sharps. The case is also widely used to reform into several obsolete cartridges. 43 Spanish, the Spanish Reformando, 45-75 Winchester, and of course the 50-70 Gov to name a few.
It was a wonderful rifle but I decided to sell it last fall to raise funds for other projects. I already regret it.

John

 

[444 Magnum]

I have a few...
Smoothest lever action Winchester ever made.
Variations include short and long tang, deluxe and standard, rifle and carbine, and sight variations.
As already mentioned, it was an improved version of the lightweight 1886 that was available in .45-70 and .33 wcf.
The .348 wcf is a very capable cartridge but has range limitations.

I have a pile of sling swivels and a few slings that I took off these rifles and a few other deluxe Winchesters. I need sight hoods for two of them.

I stocked up on ammo and reloading supplies while it was available.

 

[Doug627]

My Model 71 is serial number 820.

 

[Doug627]

I found a couple bags of 348 Winchester brass a while back. I haven't started reloading yet but have bullets, too.

 

[Waldo]

I have one of the mid 1980s Browning replicas. I am very happy with it.

 

[cruiserdan]

I have one of the mid 1980s Browning replicas. I am very happy with it.

Same here. It's a great rifle. Way more than enough for whitetail. Back in the day they were very popular bear guns in Alaska. Especially with 250 grain Silvertips.

 

[SPEEDGUNNER]

I have a pair, one with a scope mounted (1953) and one without (1946). They are beautiful rifles with a slick action. I don't have quite the selection of ammo as 444Magnum but I do have enough to enjoy the rifles.

Love seeing this kind of thread here, gotta love it!

 

[Rick Sanborn]

I have my late father’s 71 and a Browning repop from the 80’s.

 

[Marshal Tom]

Years ago I had a 71 Deluxe Carbine in fine condition. I was not into hunting rifles at the time and sold it off, like a dummy! I have never seen another for sale.

 

[DWalt]

My dentist has a 71. I traded him about 100 fired .348 cases for some dental work.

 

[dave1918a2]

I had a 71 Deluxe rifle. Ended up trading it for something else I wanted. Wasn't that accurate anyway. Picked up a Browning 71 and it was a tack driver. Got some Barnes original 250 grain bullets and reloaded them. Found a great load and discovered there is no need for a 338 Win Mag. Great cartridge and rifle combo. A little over kill for Whitetails tho.

 

[DWalt]

I’ll wait until I find a 71 chambered for the 7mm Backcountry.

 

[cruiserdan]

I’ll wait until I find a 71 chambered for the 7mm Backcountry.

Might be a bit touchy in the tubular magazine.

 

[Doug627]

You can't improve on perfection.

 

[CH4]

Beautiful rifle in a great cartridge. Actually saw 348 ammo at the swap meet last Saturday. I think the 358 Win killed it - one of my pet cartridges.

 

[Rick Sanborn]

As a side note, back in ‘84 I was at a gun show in Kodiak, AK. A guy was selling several guns and hunting gear. He said they had belonged to a hunting guide that had passed away. He had 2 M71’s, said the guide had them since new. The reason I bring it up is that one had a caliber marking of “.400 Alaskan”. The marking matched the rest of the Winchester markings on the barrel. I’ve always read that .348 is the only caliber the M71 was produced in. I’ve never heard of another sample like that .400. As much as I wanted it, my 24 year old self ended up buying an HK91A3 with all the goodies for the same $600 the guy was asking for either of the M71’s. While it was probably a custom job it was done extremely well.