Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles Browning 1886 45-70 vs Browning 71 348 Winchester

I miss my open sighted large bore lever gun. Thinking of either a Browning 1886 carbine or a Browning 71 in 348 WInchester. I didn't see any recoil difference that I noted.
I had both as original Winchesters but couldn't justify the money invested vs the use. I never got to shoot a deer with the 348 Win but the 45-70 has proven to be really effective with my 300 JHP handloads.
I have reloading gear for both. Not seeing a lot of price difference between them in the used gun market.
Certainly components for the 45-70 will be easier and cheaper, but for now I still have 348 Win bullets and Hawk makes a nice bullet for it.
What do ypu think? I don't think there is a bad choice,

I like them both myself. The Browning 71 carbine is a pretty nice rifle to carry.

Good luck, since like you said, there is no poor choice.

My choice has been made and stays with the 45-70. I have 1 Browning and 2 original 1886 45-70’s and no model 71. The history and versatility of the 45-70 make it the preferred rifle/cartridge combination.

There really isn’t anything wrong with a model 71, other than it isn’t a 45-70..

Model 71s win the cool factor battle. If you're good to load for it, why not?

I get these urges every deer season. Yet I know that I have too many deer rifles now....
Because we have an antler restriction here in PA my other two rifles are scoped. BLR 358 Win and Marlin 1894SS in 44 mag.
But somehow I still prefer the balance and looks of a lever topped with a peep sight. Maybe I just need to take the scope off of the 44 mag?

Uh-oh. Looks like you just reasoned yourself out of a new rifle🤔

I hate when that happens…..

Wrong.


Correct answer is to get the .45-70 AND the .348. Duh.

I have repros of both and if I had to choose between them, it'd be the '86 45-70. That said, my repro 1885 405 Win is my favorite of the three...

Winner.

Nice to see so many that are willing to spend my money

Get one or the other of one of the originals that isn't a collector but a shooter. Go forth and be happy. I have three original 71s(1 348-450 AI) 1 with redfield peep and 1 carbine. I have a miroku 1886 SRC in 45-70. I like them all.

I have a winchester reproduction of the 1886 light rifle it's good but would still like a 71 in good shooting condition that some half wit sob didn't drill and tap full of holes to mount a scope. Or just a good shooter grade 86 in 33 winchester. Just something about an 86 that takes you back in time..mb

My only concern with the .348 would be brass availability...

Good on brass. 40 fired and a bag of 50 new Winchester.

I had a Brownimg 1886 with the 26" barrel. Trigger had to be worked and the crescent butt plateade recoil feel worse. But it was already drilled for a receiver peep. The carbines are not drilled so a trip to the gunsmith would be needed