Home Forums Lever Action Central Big Bore Levers winchester 71 advice

Been wanting one for awhile. Noticed most in nice shape are in the 12-1500 range. Ive seen a few lately in the 6-700 range but they have had stocks cut and recoil pads installed, nicks and scratches, hence decreasing their value id guess, but decrease it by that much? I'm wanting a rifle to use so functionality is more important. Also see almost new browning carbines in the 8-900 range. You 71 gurus point me in the right direction as to what would be my better option. Thought maybe find a browning or bubba modified original to use and then find a nicer one for the safe and for special occasions. Cant just have one 348

I feel your pain. I went through this years ago. My solution, knowing I would much rather have an original than a recent reproduction, was to get a "cheaper" standard grade that had been tapped for a scope for hunting and then eventually a nicer original DeLuxe to admire. The tapped 71, which I use without a scope, has served me very well in the northern forests of Wisconsin and I don't care if it gets a few bumps and bruises. If the era of your rifle does not matter, I hear good things about the recent 71 reproductions as hunting rifles.

Mine is a Browning 71 Carbine. I absolutely love the rifle. It’s very accurate and is right in my wheelhouse for a great lever hunting rifle. I’d love to have a Winchester but I’ll be A-Ok with my Browning should I never find just the right one. Once I got the 71 I understood why people raved about them. They are bank vaults and carry very nice.

Relative value and personal taste. Generally, the original Winchesters will retain or increase in value over time. An original Deluxe grade
pre-war Model 71 -unmolested-may be hunted with and still retain their value over time. In fact, the early long tang Deluxes will increase in value due to relative rarity.
For hunting, small imperfections matter little. Collectors are a different breed of cat.
The Brownings were well made. The Winchester rapid taper reproduction half magazine 1886 rifles in 45-70-are a different story. If ANY of the reproduction Winchesters
have an additional tang mounted safety, they pose a hazard. John Browning rightly designed the rifle as it should be. Corporate lawyers did not influence Browning.
An additional safety could get one mauled in brown bear-grizzly country. All the more reason to adhere to the original design.

De Oppresso Liber
Khe Sanh-1971

Mine has been hunted. A LOT. I'm the second owner and I got it 3 years ago.

Original owner got it as a high school graduation present in 1942.

Started hunting with it in 1946.

Wood has taken some hits but metal has been well cared for.

I'll hunt it.

The 3rd and 4th guns down from the top are Mod 71's in this picture of some of my lever action guns