Home Forums Lever Action Central Big Bore Levers .348 Hornady 200 Grain Bullet

Ladies and Gentlemen:

I am the new owner of a 1948 Winchester Model 71 in .348 Winchester. I'd like to use the 200 grain, .348 caliber Hornady Interlock from white tail deer to elk.

What is your experience with this bullet on the above range of big game?

Sincerely,

Chris Bemis

I've used that bullet on deer only, and it killed the hell out of them. They broke bones up pretty durn good.

I wished I could tell you about elk, but I can't. I'd feel better with a 250 grain bullet for them, but if all I had were the 200s, I'd still go.

Dear Vic:

Thanks.

Depending whom I talk to at Hornady in Nebraska, I have gotten answers all over the board, concerning this bullet's use on deer and elk.

I'm taking a hard look at North Fork's 230 grain soft point for big bear, also.

Sincerely,

Chris Bemis

If you're thinking of another bullet for something other than deer/black bear, do consider giving the North Fork a try.

It would be a better bullet for the bigger game, especially if breaking running gear is how you want to do it.

I've had a little experience with the Hornady .348/200 on deer and would not hesitate for a moment to use it on elk.

I believe they were a favorite of Francis Sell..He was one of the old gunmen and a good hunter without being lead around by a guide..Of course Sell's bullets were not the new design, but he was a heavy cover hunter, and liked the .348...Somewhere I have his articles on this rifle and others..He would have not used them if they had failed him..

Thanks alot gentlemen.

I'll buy more Hornady's.

Sincerely,

Chris Bemis

I have only used it on whitetails. I had no problems punching though both shoulders with it. I found RL19 to be my most accurate powder.

Yalie,

Congrats on the M71!

Check out the Barnes 220 gr bullet. It's my go to elk load.

JohnDog

If you are queasy about looking at alot of blood and chunks of whitetail innards I would recomend getting rid of your 348 .

I purchased mine in Dec 2011. Since moving to Missouri in Aug 2011 I had really wanted a good brush gun since all I have are model 70's figured a 71 was the right choice. I found mine, a Carbine NIB Browning. I shot it all spring and summer with the Hornday 200gr. 67gr of IMR 4350 gives me 2 inch groups out of a Lyman peep sight that I installed. My shots in Missouri will never be farther than 100 yards. It is that thick.

I really want to shoot the Hornady's side by side with some Swift A-Frames and see the difference shooting into water jugs.

Again hope you like allot of blood: Girth measured at 267lbs. 70 yard quartering to shot. Buck ran 60 yards and fell. Blood everywhere...

Dear JohnDog:

I'm going to try out the Barnes Originals this spring. Thank you for your advice.

Dear Pr36422Hornet:

My second to last doe that I shot broadside with my 243 Winchester was at 15 feet. The shot lifted her off the ground, and dumped her five feet further away.

A five inch diameter exit wound, including part of the rib cage disappearing were the only evidence of a 100 grain Sierra bullet that continued on its merry way. Oh, yeah, I think this .348 will work.

My concern was that the 200 grain Hornady was too stout for deer. Your experience says otherwise.

Thanks for your photos and informed response.

Sincerely,

Chris Bemis

Yalie The 200 gr hornady is not to stout for deer. I had quit a few come apart at close range. Had the jacket seperate from a Barnes original 250 gr on a bull elk 2 years ago, shot was 175 yards and have had the same thing happen to a 270 gr Hawk. With that said I have not lost any game with the 348, it is my favorite cartridge in a lever gun.

I would think the 200 grain Swifts would be pretty awesome on elk and moose. I imagine it would take alot to stop them.

Thanks for your advice, saj and beretzs.

The 200 grain, .348 cal. Swift will be out on a Brown Bear hunt this spring, according to the spokesman, I talked to two weeks ago. Gutsy.

I guess we'll find out if it worked as planned later this summer.

Sincerely,

Chris Bemis

I doubt there will be issues. That is a mighty tough bullet and a good bullet like that should work.. Looking forward to seeing how they shoot.

The 250gr Hawk is my favorite 348 bullet. Simply put, they kick mucho ass. Weight consistency is remarkable also:

I think you would be hard pressed to find a 348 bullet that didn't work well on deer/elk. That being said, there a few that stand out;
200gr swift a-frame
250gr woodleigh
250gr kodiak
all three are bonded core, used the swift in my 358win, spectaculer results, recovered several, all perfect(250's)! Used the kodiak in 356win, 250fp never recovered any but always had complete penetration and large exit wounds. Recovered 2 kodiak 200gr pointed from moose from an 06, perfect mushroom and nice post behind it. My experience with hawks was expanded so much that rarely exited, this caused problems with having a bloodtrail. Also had to reduce normal charge by 15 grains to be able to extract, miked and found to be .359 instead of proper .358 that was in 356win and hawk 250fp. Good luck, after finding that many new bullets are available, found an old mod 71 that had been redone, shoots great! Just something special old hunting with an old classic lever rifle.

Update to previous post, turns out the old mod 71 I bought was a parts gun, started coming apart during second range session. Took it to my usual gunsmith to find out the parts did not match up. He had a new win on the rack, traded old one in. Am very happy with it, far more accurate than any of the older mod 71's I have worked with. The 250 woodleigh was the most accurate of all bullets I tested, kind of bummed, had high hopes for the 200 swift a-frame's, hope swift will come out with a 225 or 250.

Just wanted to say happy birthday to beretz, he's a great guy!!!! Back to the 200gr. Hornady, damn fine bullet right there. My buddies 71 loves them and I'm sure mine will as well.

Thank you buddy.. Appreciate it..