I have owned examples of all three - original Winchester M71 Short Rifle, 1986 Browning Grade 1 carbine and recent Winchester (Miroku) Grade 1 rifle. Comb of the stock on the original short rifle bit me pretty good. 1986 Browning was pleasant to soot even with Elmer loads (250 Hawk bullets at 2300 FPS), current Winchester is pleasant to shoot. Browning and current gun outshoot the original by a noticeable margin. All are plenty accurate to the limits of my eyes and receiver sights (say 175 - 225 yards). And with the .348 loaded with 250 grain Barnes or Hawk bullets I fear no bear while hunting elk or moose. Buy any (my preference based on recoil and aesthetics is the 1986 Browning) and hunt happy.
