Own two Browning 71's in of course 348'win. Lately I've been having an ball shooting them and love the lines if the 71 carbine models I have.

Somewhere I was reading about the 348 improved and wondering if it's an worthy upgrade on the 71 model. I'm not so much eager about any performance gains but wondering if this is an good way to improve case life.

Maybe this is an big waste of time and effort and I'm just best off leaving that slick feeding tapered case the way it is? I'm not set on this but have just been knocking the idea around in my head. Any thoughts? Leave it alone and enjoy them or improve them?

Personally I woud leave it alone, for anything in north america standard works just fine. Unless loaded hotter than appropiate .348 has long case life,don't know if the improved version would substantially increase case life. I believe it would reduce bolt thrust, don't know if that is important or not.

I've got two Winchester Mod 71's 3rd and 4th from the top.(the top gun is a Marlin .410) The 348 is a great deer stopper and I don't know why anyone would want to try and improve on it.

I'm just curious if the brass life can be materially given more longevity with the improved chamber. As per performance I don't care for more as I'm already happy there. The big downer is brass life and availability.

Teddy Roosevelt favorite Grizz rifle, how could anyone try and improve it????

Teddy Roosevelt was dead when the .348 came out. He liked the 1895 in .405 and the Springfield in .30/06.

Two interesting points involving this post subject: no one owned a M-71
so using the 348 Ackley Improved, and no one mentioned PO Ackley
to give him credit.

Ihave two (2) original Model 71s in 348 ACK Improved. Its is worth
every bit of effort-which really only requires re-chambering by a good riflesmith.The brass WILL last longer-but that is a small point. The real benefit known only to owners of this cartridge/rifle combination is that
it will turn the M-71 into a lever action 35 Whelen in power.
It can push a 250 gr bullet to 2400 FPS actual chronographed. I use 270
gr Hawk bullets at about 2350 FPS -and it killed an Alaskan bull moose with one shot.
The current value of Model 71 Winchester rifles in 348WCF really prohibit
alteration. But in the 1950s-it was done. The 1886-M71s are faster in
action than the 1895.

Yes-I only have 10 M-71s and 1886 rifles-so know a little. In addition to being a combat Vietnam veteran, slightly older than dirt.

Do you think a standard 348 would have killed the moose with one shot?

Have killed several moose with one shot with the standard .348. Did play a bit with the 35-348 ackley-improved, lack of appropiate bullets in the 80's cut that short.

Yes-the .348 WCF has and will kill the average moose. Many have been killed by the Model 71-348 WCF cartridge combination. With the bullets we have now-the Hawks-Alaska Bullet Works-Swift- Woodleigh
the 348 never had it so good.

The 348 Ackley just provides more of a good thing-power.
We had black bears show up to the gut pile.
Its nice to have a little bit more when grizzlies show up--and they do.

When the growl is audible.....Mr. Grizzly is not your friend.....