Home Forums Lever Action Central Big Bore Levers My first model 71

Always admired the mod 71 from a distance. Too much bulk, too much money. Then started hunting in black bear territory and my thinking changed. Within 20 minutes of selling a 410 superpose at local gunshow, I was on the trail of an original but hunted model 71.



Not knowing all the particulars of the mod 71, I got the guys number and bought the gun Monday. The things I learned in the mean time were about pre war guns, deluxe guns, peep sights, slings etc. This one has all the above, maybe 70% finish remaining, all original.
Serial # 62xx, long tang. Got one box of silvertips with it.

I did post some questions in the Win forum, but the big bore lever forum looks to be a better fit. I will read up on past 348 threads to see what to feed this one, but I am having trouble searching on 348. Any hints would help along with what you guys are feeding your 71's.

thanks

Charlie

The bears and anything else in range are in big trouble!
Enjoy.

Beautiful rifle sir. I've wanted a 71 for years.

Lovely rifle. If you do a search here, you will find LOTS of load data, or PM me and I'll send you a spreadsheet. Enjoy!

Sweet! winchester also did a run of power points a while back, for me the silvertips didn't open up on anything but shoulder shot's. If reloeding then hard to beat the 250 woodleighs.

!!!!!!!!

Nice rifle!

I have owned a 71 before, and regret selling it. I am now fighting the urge to purchase an 1886 repro Winchester at a local store. They have an Extra Light rifle that keeps creeping into my thoughts.

The M71s and M64s are, bar none, the best looking levers, well, at least to me.

Gorgeous rifle and something that's I've been wanting for a long time.

That is a beautiful long tang deluxe with the coveted bolt peep sight. Sling swivels are a bonus and valuable.

You did good!

I'll second that!

thanks for all the comments guys. She's going bear hunting Sat. All original, all the right bells and whistles, and enough wear not to worry about a scratch here or there.

Charlie

That is a nice way to start your journey with M71's - they don't come any better than what you have there.

There are plenty of bullet options available these days for the old 348, including regular cup and core, bonded bullets, cup point solids and flex tips. There has probably never been a better bullet selection in the history of the cartridge.

Mine is very accurate with H4350 and 250 gr pills.

Very nice indeed.

I also use 4350 and 250s.....

Going Bison hunting this week up here in the Yukon and going to bring my 348, Model 71. I am going to use 250 Woodleighs which are an awesome bullet and H414, So far it's the best powder in my own 348. I have loaded 200 grain Hornady FN's and Spires and 200 Silvertips as well as 220 Barnes Original and the 250 Woodleighs. The H414 will go sub 3 MOA with each bullet with the occasional 1" group thrown in when the charge is just right. I think the 220 Barnes Originals are very good for Moose and under but the Woodleigh is a surer panetrator for really big stuff.

Some have said the 348 is on the light side for Bison but I have shot a lot of game with carbines in 358 Winchester and 350 Rem Mag and the 348 fits in the middle of those two, maybe a bit closer to the 358. If things are ideal I might let my son take the shot and he shoots the 348 very well.

Thanks for all the nice comments. Now, I need some components; brass, a shell holder and bullets. If someone has some orphaned 348 stuff and want to trade for cash, let me know.

Thanks

Charlie

Very nice.

Wish I had an original but only have an pair of Browning 71's. One basic the other an high grade. These will have to due for me as the originals are spendy and harder to get.

I'm really interested in what folks are using these rifles on game wise. And load development they try.

Hope to hear more.

I tested hornady's 200gr FP, 200gr FTX, kodiak 250, 200gr swift a-frame and 250gr woodleigh's. When doing that powder was hard to find, so ony tried imr 4350, varget and imr 4895. Woodleighs were by far most accurate and settled on imr 4895. Have taken 2 moose so far, both shoulder shot's so could recover bullets, outstanding performance. Load was used in 2 mod 71's, a new production winchester and an older 1.

Yours is a beauty! I love the sling swivels and the look of the aged wood.

Mine is a Browning 71 and was NIB when I inherited it from Dad 2-years ago. I haven't shot the deluxe model, just the "plain" one. My load for it is 59 gr of IMR 4350 under a 200 gr Hornady 3410. The case is about 98% full. If I'm lucky I'll have a chrono soon so I can know what this bullet is doing.

With factory irons I shoot 1" groups off a rest, which is excellent when you consider I am terrible rifle shot and wear glasses thick as coke bottle bottoms.

This load is a tads lite for larger game or DG, but it'll sure put the hurt on a whitetail or muley at 100 yards.

Geezer, Spreadsheet sent.

And received. Much thanks for the data.

Beautiful rifle. I just picked up a really nice 64 and a 71 is on the bucket list. Congrats on finding a nice one.

Yes... yes it will... That is my exact load for whitetails.

2012 Missouri buck. 270 pounder.



Ran about 40 yards at the shot.. but not much tracking was needed..




To the OP you will love your M71. Greatest stock design IMO. Mine is a Browning Carbine, and I run a Lyman Peep.

I load the 200 grain Hornady Flat Point over 60 grains of H414 and use Federal Large Rifle Primers. Shoots great in my Model 71. I use a moderate crimp as the rounds maybe be in the tubular magazine for awhile before being fired.

A lot of the posts I read on the internet talk about the recoil of the 348. I have found the recoil to be fairly easy to handle. It seems to be more of a push than a sudden jolt. Anybody else experience this?

Recoil is not bad at all. I, too, was expecting much worse.

Very nice rifle, congrats !

My Browning 71 in 348


348 200 hornady 63 h4350 2625 fps

I have the same rifle and its plain relative.

Congrats to the OP on a fine looking 71.
I have a Prewar 71 deluxe short tang I picked up a few years ago.Did a bit of testing with the Hornady 200 fp and Barnes 250 gr.My rifle has an affinity for 250gr bullets and shot the best with IMR4895. The 200gr loads have been more challenging with IMR3031 performing the best(so far)Recent loads with Varget seem promising also.IMO the 200gr bullets are fine for deer.The 250gr bullets are too stout for deer.
I wish my rifle either had the bolt peep or was D&T for a receiver sight.I have not found the factory sight overly good for accuracy.

Nice looking 71 sir. I own a few , I have components and dies but have never loaded a round. I found a shop that had over a case of factory silver tips several years ago. I still have not shot up those. Lol I carry mine hunting on occasion but primarily bow hunt. Good luck with it, they are a special rifle made back in the day when guns were made by craftsmen.

I have amazingly been able to accumulate 7 boxes of 200g silvertips since purchasing the 71. I did find a box of fired brass and some cast 240g GC bullets. Loaded up and waiting for the weather to warm a bit. My range is 4300' up in the mountains of SW Va, which is zero right now.

Would like to find some Hornady 200g FP's to reload. Seems all that is available is the Flex tips.

Charlie

I emailed Hornady recently about #3410's. Not making any until sometime this spring / sumer 2016 when "there is enough demand".

I've not tried them, but Hawk Bullets make a good selection of 348 Win bullets. I may give them a try.

How do they gauge demand. Backorders on items that show not available, no backorders?

Charlie

Darn if I know. I wondered the same thing.

Lead bullets are far cheaper and shoot fine, but won't have the same POI, so I hesitate to load them. But may just the same since I cant' buy and 3410's.

The flex tips seem to be available. I just don't like 'em.

I have recently purchased a deluxe M71 that's a solid 98% gun. The only downside is it's missing the sling swivels:(
I'm coming to the conclusion that in order to enjoy this fine rifle on a deer hunt I'm going to need to reload for it. Has anyone used the Flex Tip bullets from Hornady? If so how did they perform?

I have used Hawk bullets in my 416 Taylor with good results and will probably try them as well in the 348.