Home Forums Lever Action Central Big Bore Levers I think I will pass on this. Win.71

You'll like it. It's a great rifle. I've got a Deluxe made in 37, also.

Love the old mod 71's, but the kind of hunting I do boating into islands in Alaska would be to hard on them for my conscience. Have the new win and am thrilled with it, more accurate than any of the older one's I ever worked with. Nice that don't feel bad when get scratch's, a little rust etc.

"I think I will pass on this. Win.71 "

Okay. That's one less thing to have to worry about.

Awesome

I lusted after a 71 it seems my entire life. Every time it seemed I had gotten to where I could afford one the prices had gone up again. I looked at several over the years. Always either too much money or they had been overly abused. Even saw one that the action would not stay closed on unless you held the lever agains't the tang.... overload?

Anyhow a few years ago my favorite Gun haunt had a very nice one sitting on the rack. It was a post war Deluxe that had been drilled and tapped on the side for a scope mount. Somone had done a clean job and had gone too the trouble of fashioning flush screws to plug the holes. It showed a little honest wear but had been clearly cared for. Best of all its bore, muzzle and chamber were bright and shiny and it locked up tight as a bank vault. What can I say? It was a shooter, it was nice and was in my price range so I took it home. It is one of my most prized firearms. It handles like a good shotgun. There really is no substitute for some things. With 250gr. Woodleighs and 4350 it holds 1.5 inch at 100 yards. That is beyond good and more accurate than it needs to be for my purposes. The reality of the dream has been wonderful. Hands off my 71

I love my 71!! I got the opportunity to take it elk hunting this last fall and it was a dream!! I like everything about the rifle. It will stay with me for a looooooooooong time

Man, just keep rubbing it in! Ha!

I'll let you shoot it next time you are down

I'm in! I just bought an old box of 250 grain Silvertips in the old WW box. Figure they'll get used someday.

That's cool buddy. I know you will end up with a nice 71 too. That hard to find ammo will come in handy.

I have to add as well a little bit about the first time I shot my 71. I had just finished checking the Zero on my .300 Weatherby Fibermark and old Ruger M-77 338 Winchester. I sat down behind the 71. The stories of vicious recoil playing through my head. And then the trigger broke and she went off. I sat there and chuckled, "recoil?" After shooting the big case boomers the .348 felt pretty tame. My .35 Whelen Model 1895 is a lot more lively! Anyhow my .348 with its weight, stock design and factory rubber recoil pad is a pleasure to shoot. If you like Lever Rifles you owe it too yourself to at least shoot one. I think the word that sums them up is.......smoothe......

Great post. I think you hit the nail on the head..

I never lusted after an M71, but did respect them as a quick-handling, short-range woods rifle. Then....I walked into a sporting goods store and looked over the used gun rack.
There happened to be a Browning carbine sitting there. As soon as I had it in my hands, it was true love.
I ran a few boxes of handloads through it, and every round got me more impressed.
I was unhappy with the hard-to-find bullet size so I thought a bit. My wife says I don't need a reason to change one of my tools. I had a reason this time. Hmmm, what to do....
I rebarrelled it to .375/348 Improved!
It has a Redfield peep-sight, and the same length 20" tube.
The ballistics are just slightly less than the .375 H&H Magnum, about 200fps less with 300gr RN bullets.
"Yeah, tho' I walk thru the valley of the shadow of the biggest, meanest bear in the world, I fear him not, as I've got my M71 with me."
Have fun,
Gene

That does sound like a HAMMER! I wouldn't imagine much that wouldn't tackle real nicely..

I just picked a new to me 71 up yesterday.
Bittersweet.
Friend had a stroke and won't hunt again.
He got it in 1942 as a graduation present.
In 1942 the day after you graduated you enlisted.
So he got to hunt with it in 1946 for the first time.
I don't know if he had the barrel shortened. I'll ask him Monday.
I'd rather hunt with him than have the gun.

I'm sorry to hear of your friend but glad you have his rifle. Should be a real special one.

It is. Real special to me.

I have seen pictures of this 71 in Gun Digest and such for 30+ years.

It came with both the Peep sight and a 2 1/2 Alaskan.

And a thousand built in memories and stories.

Thanks

I hope you keep adding more memories too it.

I want to take a buffalo. Bob never got to.

His true stories were better than any lie I could make up.

Winning a hat from Elmer Keith........how do you top that. LOL

Oh man! A buffalo with a Model 71! If I pulled that off I believe you all would be tired of seeing the pictures!

I love the heck out of my Browning. I couldn't imagine how beautiful a real Winchester would be.