Matt,
I have an original M-71 Deluxe and like the rifle very much. I, too, have toyed with the idea of a Browning repo. Altho' I've never fired one, I like the idea of being able to hunt with one and not worry about decreasing collector value.
IMHO, one should not even consider improving one in any way until one has fired an examble therof. I think that many folks will realize that the recoil of the standard .348 is all they want/can handle...
The .348 is actually quite powerful for a lever gun. It is a marvelous example of our firearms history and heritage...
Edw
