24hourcampfire.com
24hourcampfire.com
Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
Hop To
Page 1 of 2 1 2
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 1,577
N
North61 Online Content OP
Campfire Regular
OP Online Content
Campfire Regular
N
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 1,577
Interesting experience today. I have read all the old books. Lots of criticism about the Win 95 as being handy as a fence post while the 71 was considered the queen of levers. I have learned to love my Japanese clone 95 in 405 Win. The single stack magazine of the 95 really feeds, even upside down. Today I tried out a 71. I like it, quite a bit. The 348 is a very interesting cartridge. It's very nice to shoot offhand and points well. Getting 6-7"" groups off hand is pretty good for me. However...I still like the 95 a bit better.

Thinking of (sacrilege) shipping the Win 71 back and picking up the Japanese clone with the rebounding hammer. Bet the 3-4" 100 yard bench rest groups would shrink to 1.5-3" groups.

Video Impressions

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ildyJ_ZBBo

BP-B2

Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 4,389
J
Campfire Tracker
Offline
Campfire Tracker
J
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 4,389
Interesting observation - I feel the same way about my '95/405 compared to my 71/348. I avoided the '95 for years based on all the reports of ill-handling due the the magazine. It's my favorite lever action...

Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 8,761
D
Campfire Outfitter
Offline
Campfire Outfitter
D
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 8,761
I with he had shown how the peep sight set up on the 1895.

Doc


Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 1,577
N
North61 Online Content OP
Campfire Regular
OP Online Content
Campfire Regular
N
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 1,577
The peep site on the 95 is exactly the same as on the 71. It's a Williams 71. Same model fits both rifles.

Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 54,284
Campfire Kahuna
Offline
Campfire Kahuna
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 54,284
The Italians are making a '71 replica now. It's in 45-70.

IC B2

Joined: May 2002
Posts: 9,500
Campfire Outfitter
Online Content
Campfire Outfitter
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 9,500
The '95, to me, will never be as aesthetically pleasing as the 71, but it sure was more versatile in its' chamberings.

Joined: May 2002
Posts: 9,500
Campfire Outfitter
Online Content
Campfire Outfitter
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 9,500
Originally Posted by EthanEdwards
The Italians are making a '71 replica now. It's in 45-70.


Possibly an 1886 reproduction?

Joined: May 2009
Posts: 1,300
Campfire Regular
Offline
Campfire Regular
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 1,300
North61 - my 1895 experience ia similar to yours- loved 1892,94 22M, 1886, and still do, but avoided the 1895 UNTIL I SHOT ONE in .405! Then I bought two, one a shooter and one Deluxe as a looker. I also tried a 71 in .348 and while it is a fine rifle (as are all Winchesters), it was not right for me.

My 1886 .45-90 is still a better elephant rifle, but how often does one get to shoot an ele? My .405 with 400 grain Woodleigh bullets (or other apptopriate bullets) has take a cape buff and can also take an ele and is so much easier to handle in most field situations. Plus, it is easily doenloaded with Hornady 41 Mag pistol bullets for deer and hogs - it has become one of my favorite rifles.

WRT the pretty Pedersoli 86/71, there are many reports of failure to chamber even factory ammo, that the reputation of the 86/71 may be going the way of the Sabatti double rifle - do not function well out of the box. One shooter repoorted that after some costly work by a gunsmith, his 86/71 chambering problems were cured and the rifle shoots well now.
As always, buyer beware!


CRS, NRA Benefactor Life Member, Whittington Center, TSRA, DWWC, DRSS
Android Reloading Ballistics App at http://www.xplat.net/
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 1,577
N
North61 Online Content OP
Campfire Regular
OP Online Content
Campfire Regular
N
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 1,577
Well..the 71 is growing on me.. Really nice rifle to shoot off-hand. Still the 1895 feeds so well and is a better rig for me.

Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 42,490
Campfire 'Bwana
Online Content
Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 42,490
I have and love them both. I must say though, my favorite is my OLD (1916) 1895 in 303 Brit. With 215gr Woodleighs, it is devastating on hogs. My other 1895s, both 405 jap versions (plain Jane with a Williams and a period correct pad from Galazan's will hold under 2" @ 100 all day) and the other a TR 1909 Safari, all very accurate. My 71 Sports a Lyman 66 and loves 250gr Barnes originals & Woodleighs as well as the 200gr Hornadys. I plan to work all three this year on hogs again.


A good principle to guide me through life: “This is all I have come to expect, standard lackluster performance. Trust nothing, believe no one and realize it will only get worse…”
IC B3

Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 423
J
JFE Offline
Campfire Member
Offline
Campfire Member
J
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 423
I have both rifles and I think the stock design of the 71 leaves a lot to be desired. Some suggest the stocks of the pre-war long tang rifles were more comfortable. When Winchester moved to the short tang, the point of the comb was also moved forward, crowding the grip somewhat. Personally, I prefer the more open pistol grip of the 1886 rifles and this design is more comfortable to me.

That aside the 348 cartridge has a lot of history and its design is similar to British offerings of the day. It's long neck, tapered case and gentle shoulder angle for easy chambering and extraction and use of heavy for calibre bullets at modest velocities are features that may look dated these days but are what made it such an enduring, reliable cartridge. The surprising thing is that there are so many bullets available in this calibre these days despite there only being one cartridge in this calibre.

The 405 is also steeped in history and despite having a fairly fast twist it generally uses light for calibre bullets and suffered from poor penetration and bullet performance back in the day. These days though we have better bullets and its magazine allows more streamline bullets to flatten the trajectory. Aside from the protruding mag I also like the 95.

If you can only have one get the one you like best but eventually you will probably get both.

Last edited by JFE; 10/20/15.
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 7,730
4
Campfire Outfitter
Offline
Campfire Outfitter
4
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 7,730
The old Long Tang model 71 fits me amazingly well. Never shouldered a 95 that I liked.

Anyone got a line on decent reproduction 71's? Can't afford an original right now.

Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 1,900
D
Campfire Regular
Offline
Campfire Regular
D
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 1,900
I have a couple of 71s and three 1895s (along with an errant 1886 takedown thrown in there) and love em all!


Ken
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 423
J
JFE Offline
Campfire Member
Offline
Campfire Member
J
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 423
Originally Posted by 444Matt
Never shouldered a 95 that I liked.

Anyone got a line on decent reproduction 71's?


The Miroku made 95's have a better stock design compared to the originals I have handled. The smooth buttplate needs to be replaced with a good rubber recoil pad though.

The better repro 71's are the Browning 71's. They don't have the tang safety or rebounding hammer.

Last edited by JFE; 10/21/15.
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 31,559
K
Campfire 'Bwana
Offline
Campfire 'Bwana
K
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 31,559
I have 4, 95's; two originals, one a .30 U. S. The other a .35 WCF. A Browning clone in 30/06 and last week I picked up a Winchester 2006 30/06 commemorative SRC. Years ago I had a Browning in 30/40. But like the dolt that I am, I traded for something I thought I really needed at the time.

Took a nice 5 x 6 Bull back on 18th Oct, with the Browning Miroku 06. I love the 95. While the 71 is a great and classic piece, I really enjoy the 95 more. I have no issues packing a 95 and to me they point better especially the Browning with the flat buttplate.

Actually I always liked the end of production 1886 3/4 mag take down 33 WCF's over the 71's! (Yes, I know the .348 is prolly a better ctg.) One with the straight grip. To me they always felt better than the 71. Perhaps a bit more balanced, lighter, easier to handle with the slimmer buttstock.

To each his own. Bottom line is both the 71 and the 95 are great old classic hunting rifles. As long as I can still see the sights, I'll use my 95's!

Last edited by kaywoodie; 10/31/15.

Founder
Ancient Order of the 1895 Winchester

"Come, shall we go and kill us venison?
And yet it irks me the poor dappled fools,
Being native burghers of this desert city,
Should in their own confines with forked heads
Have their round haunches gored."

WS

Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 31,559
K
Campfire 'Bwana
Offline
Campfire 'Bwana
K
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 31,559
That time of the year again to post this film. I havta watch it at least 2 or 3 times a year! And now ol' Claude Parmalee




Founder
Ancient Order of the 1895 Winchester

"Come, shall we go and kill us venison?
And yet it irks me the poor dappled fools,
Being native burghers of this desert city,
Should in their own confines with forked heads
Have their round haunches gored."

WS

Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 5,736
Campfire Tracker
Online Content
Campfire Tracker
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 5,736
The first 95 I owned was a Browning in 30-06. Liked it so much that I bought the 95 in 405. I found another 95 in 30-06 with rechambering it to 375 Whelen in mind. Giving me a set of rifles for most anything worth hunting, leaving off the elephants, and other real biggies.



"Whensoever the General Government assumes undelegated powers, its acts are unauthoritative, void, and of no force." --Thomas Jefferson

Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 31,559
K
Campfire 'Bwana
Offline
Campfire 'Bwana
K
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 31,559
Originally Posted by arkypete
The first 95 I owned was a Browning in 30-06. Liked it so much that I bought the 95 in 405. I found another 95 in 30-06 with rechambering it to 375 Whelen in mind. Giving me a set of rifles for most anything worth hunting, leaving off the elephants, and other real biggies.



smile smile. smile. !!!!!!!!!


Founder
Ancient Order of the 1895 Winchester

"Come, shall we go and kill us venison?
And yet it irks me the poor dappled fools,
Being native burghers of this desert city,
Should in their own confines with forked heads
Have their round haunches gored."

WS

Joined: May 2010
Posts: 237
M
Campfire Member
Offline
Campfire Member
M
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 237
Loved the old film of the winchester camp! Have replaced hunting with the mod 71 with the mod 94 356, does pretty much the same thing and is lighter to carry. Just can't bring myself to sell the 71's though, so classic. Still use the 348 with 250 woodleigh's for moose hunting since where I hunt don't have to carry it very far. Someday may pick up a mod 95 30.06 carbine. Something about hunting with a lever.

Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 1,577
N
North61 Online Content OP
Campfire Regular
OP Online Content
Campfire Regular
N
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 1,577
I am having a lot of fun with The Win 71. Reloading is really making the old girl sing a nice tune. H414 and 250 Woodleighs went into 1.5" yesterday at 100 yards. With a peep sight, bead front and 55 year old eyes that is about as good as it gets. Best of all the point of impact is similar to the 200 Flex Tip load also with H414. Averaging 2.5" groups with that combo. Best of all I have had every handload fired so far group between 1.5 and 3"at 100 yards to a fairly similar point of impact.

Where the 348 might score is in a bit more versatility than the 405. 200 grain bullets at 2600 with a B.C. of over .300 Make for quite a versatile caribou load. The 250 Woodleigh at 2250 will get a crack at Bison this December. It's basically 80% of the 405 at the muzzle with better sectional density and B.C. Past 100 yards the old 348 is right in there with the 405!

Last edited by North61; 11/15/15.
Page 1 of 2 1 2

Moderated by  RickBin 

Link Copied to Clipboard
YB23

Who's Online Now
431 members (222Sako, 007FJ, 1lesfox, 1lessdog, 06hunter59, 01Foreman400, 39 invisible), 2,428 guests, and 1,011 robots.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Forum Statistics
Forums81
Topics1,187,731
Posts18,400,932
Members73,822
Most Online11,491
Jul 7th, 2023


 







Fish & Game Departments | Solunar Tables | Mission Statement | Privacy Policy | Contact Us | DMCA
Hunting | Fishing | Camping | Backpacking | Reloading | Campfire Forums | Gear Shop
Copyright © 2000-2024 24hourcampfire.com, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.5
(Release build 20201027)
Responsive Width:

PHP: 7.3.33 Page Time: 0.111s Queries: 15 (0.005s) Memory: 0.8987 MB (Peak: 1.0521 MB) Data Comp: Zlib Server Time: 2024-03-29 12:07:44 UTC
Valid HTML 5 and Valid CSS