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.