Home Forums Lever Action Central Big Bore Levers Several Months in with the 348 and Mother's Day range trip.

Took a range trip with my two Winchester levers. My first comparison of my 1955, 348 with a 405 Winchester in an 1895 had me a bit underwhelmed with the 348. With hand-loading and familiarization I have become much more impressed over time. Shooting off-hand the 71 has the balance of a fine shotgun. The sights align with the target and the pistol grip allows for operation of the lever with less of a down ward push allowing for very smooth follow up shots. Reloading allows for accuracy improvements and the slightly faster H414 reduces the distracting fireball found in factory ammo. The 250 Woodleigh put the 348 in another class over Factory Ammo. Fully Bison and Grizzly capable the good SD of the 250 grain gives better penetration than the 300 Woodleigh in the 405. They also are the best shooting bullet in my 348. Of course the 300 grain TSX bullet in the 405 takes penetration another step forward but less violent expansion.

The 200 grain Hornady Flex bullets give the 348 a slight range advantage over the 405 and make 250-300 yards shots on caribou or sheep fully possible. These bullets expand very nicely and their long shank allows them to penetrate about as well as the 200 Hornady Flat Nose, though the Flat Nose will lose speed faster and penetrate better but expand less past 100 yards. The 220 Barnes O will cut the difference between the 200 and 250's and is a great choice for anything smaller than Bison. The 71 also rides in a horse scabbard like it was made to be there. The pistol grip and lever hangs up less than the exposed lever on the straight grip 95 in a deep scabbard. I like both these rifles and will hopefully leave them to my son so he is grizzly capable on his hunting adventures. Such fine equipment!

Video if interested of the Whitehorse range trip on mother's day...filmed by my wife...what a romantic! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bmNG2npnBrM

Did accuracy test's with all the 348WIN bullets could find a couple years ago, 250 Woodleigh was significntly more accurate than all of them. I use them exclusively now, have not been dissapointed. Have settled on 49.5 grains of IMR4895.

Yes..the 250 Woodleigh is also the most accurate bullet in my 348 but it seems to shoot everything ok. No doubt that the Woodleigh has the best action on really big stuff as well.

Ordered some 200 swifts and will do a new bullet test with all these bullets when they come. Will test at muzzle and 200 yard equivalant

Watch the COAL. I;ve read that some Model '71s have to short a chamber for the 250 gr Woodleighs.

Test some Hawk 250 grainers..