Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Winchester Collectors Just something special about a model 71

Yes, I see them also in Midway......thanks

I had a couple friends who were into them and I shot and handled a bunch. The 71 action is a thing of beauty, so smooth and positive, and the pistol grip gives the illusion of a shorter throw than a straight stocked 86 to me. The 348 was a vicious killer with the old 200 and 220 grain Barnes X bullets, too bad they’re gone but the Swift that was introduced a few years back is an excellent offering too.

I took an old reblued beater with a rotten bore and rebarreled it to 450 Alaskan then restocked it in a nice piece of figured walnut with a red Silvers pad for one of those buddies. Finished it off with custom swivels and a banded front sight to go with the bolt peep. Had another good friend who’s a master engraver duplicate the Winchester roll marks on the barrel but with 450 Alaskan as the caliber and then add a small tasteful amount of scroll in the corners of the action flats. We sent it to Turnbull for a charcoal blue. It was a thing of beauty.

I have a Miroku produced 1886 Extra Light that I rarely get out. It shoots pretty well and I killed some stuff with it in Alaska. But with anything above Trapdoor level loads it will loosen your teeth. You don’t even want to think about shooting 400gr bullets at 1900fps, brutal. I was just thinking the other day that I should get it out and work up some loads with a 300 grain HP.

Needs a sling.