Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Winchester Collectors 1937 Model 71

I have a model 71 that was made in I believe 1937. It belonged to a friend of mine's grandfather who was a retired colonel in the air force. Back in the 30s he decided he was tired of breathing dust and sweating and that he wanted to see mountains. So at the ripe old age of 21 he sold his horse and just about everything else he owned and moved to Alaska for 4 years (his wife claimed it was because he was mad when she turned down his first marriage proposal). Anyway he purchased this rifle new while there, kept it while he lived there, and then after Pearl Harbor he sold it to a hunting guide friend of his and came back home to enlist.



During the 50s he was stationed in Alaska and had the opportunity to buy the gun back from the friend he sold it to and kept it.

He was a really neat gentleman. He served a couple of stints as a pilot at Jump school in his career and was awarded a medal for getting all the paratroopers and crew off the plane when the engines blew out right after take off.



Anyway, I'll get some pics of it and post them. It has some really nice wood that he said it came factory with and an original bolt sight. When his friend owned it he mounted a scope on it so it has the extra holes, he didn't keep the scope on it, but it looks nice.



I had read that people complained about the M71 having bad recoil, but I fired off a bunch of em at some hogs I scared in the pasture this morning. Dropped a couple of em. I find the recoil is softer than a 30-06 to me. I have read that some people like using 180 or 220 grain bullets in their loads with it. Not sure if they are casting their own for that or not. I will definitely have to get dies to reload as these guys are pricey to buy. But I really like this rifle.

Another beauty. You’re havin a good month, Winchester-wise.

Ive shot the Mod 71 in 348 and his older brother the Mod 1886 light weight TD in 33 win. Recoil was not bad even with metal butts, however I weigh 210 lbs.

You're on a roll! I'd like to get one of these one day...........

I bought mine a couple years ago,wanted one all my life but they always were just out of my reach.Last one on my bucket list so at 62 I bit the bullet.Mine is 1936,all original standard gun w/peep.I love it and it was worth the wait....Enjoy it

Took em to the indoor gun range over lunch. The M71 grouped well at 50 yds.

The 257 was minute of kill, but I think it can do better. It may prefer something smaller than 117 grain or possibly it would prefer non +P ammo.

Anyway the m71 target is below.