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North61 Offline OP
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OK...it appears that Hornady has quietly discontinued supporting 348 component bullets. You might want to stock up, before they are all gone.

After years of supporting Hornady they have been pooping in my soup lately. First the great 220 grain 375 Win bullet , then the 405 Flat Nose and now the great 200 grain flatpoint and FTX I think they might continue selling the FTX factory load which is very good. Still that's too many strikes for Hornady and I am going to look at diversifying my buying as they are not being very reliable. Come on Hornady! Even if you have a few slow sellers by offering a complete line of goods you cement the loyalty of the consumer. Not a good decision and a bad day for 348 shooters. The 200 grain Hornady FN is the most accurate bullet in my rifle and for terminal ballistics I put it ahead of the 220 Barnes Original. Fully capable of moose with good shot placement.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kqIBi2YEx78

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You are correct in this line of thinking, and you have done some valuable research.
I happened to hit a closing sporting goods store over 10 years ago that
was closing out some seldom purchased Hornady bullets. I think I got about 8 or 10 boxes
of both 348 and 33 WCF 200 gr FP bullets.

Now I have used those, Alaska Kodiaks , North Fork, and Hawk.
I like the 200 gr bullets because they are designed around the Model 71s
capabilities. I don't think you need premium bullets always.
The 200 gr Hawk bullet is amazing if kept under 2500 FPS.
Andy Hill just sent me a box of 200 gr 338 FP for my 1886-gratis.
I have bought enough over the years of Hawk bullets-they work.

No one else has done that among the manufacturers. One does not need 250 gr bullets for every
animal one hunts.


"The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena-not the critic"-T. Roosevelt
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I don't have a dog in the 348 Win or 375 Win fight, but I have been enjoying your YouTube content, particularly your 358 Norma.


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Bummer...I have about 450 of the Hornady's for mine already. The only other bullet I use in mine are the old Barnes 200 X and the 250 Original.

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The 200 gr FP Hornady is (was) what I shot. Like you, i'll start using other bullets.

Last edited by Gun_Geezer; 07/16/20.
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Once again...
Buffalo Arms. Both 200 and 250 grain

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Not only have they quit supplying the bullets I’ve been using for decades, they bring out garbage like their SST.


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Well darn it. I have a substantial sum invested in a Mirkoru Win. Mod. 71 that is being made into a .348 Ackley Improved and planned on using that 200 grain Hornady for fire forming a couple hundred pieces of Starline .348 brass. I wonder if Hornady is going to drop their .348 brass? I also invested in what should be a life time supply of 250 grain bonded bullets from Alaska Bullet Works.

I wish Nosler would make a 250 grain Partition for the .348. But, if I was hunting some place besides Alaska I probably would not be using 250 grain bullets, or the .348, instead I would use the much lighter Big Bore in .356 Win. and some 180 or 200 grain bullets. Isn't the Flex Tip bullet popular in the states?

If I ever quit the summer projects we are doing during this virus scare I will attempt to size down the 220 grain Speer FN to .348. Got a sizing die and some bullets, just need to do it. Didn't North and 50-110 run some comparisons on sized and regular 180 grain Speer's in their .348's. I think I saw it on You Tube and an't find it now.

Finding a good load and then having the maker drop the bullet is a royal pain. Which is why when I get the load I like I go and buy a bunch of the bullets and other components with the same lot number. But, I don't think all the moose I have taken at under 100 yards yards in the last 55 years appreciate all the effort I put into consistency. LOL

Worse case scenario I can always turn the .348 into a .35-348 Improved, which was my original thought, but I went the cheaper route, which ain't always cheaper!

Realistically, any thing I need to do with a lever gun can be done with my Marin 45-70 and the 350 or 405 grain Kodiak bullet. History has shown that old round will not die and components are every where!

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Realistically, any thing I need to do with a lever gun can be done with my Marin 45-70 and the 350 or 405 grain Kodiak bullet. History has shown that old round will not die and components are every where!

An interesting observation!
Widespread use does help extend the lifetime of a cartridge. Also helps if off-the-shelf ammo does the job.
And a +1 for the Kodiak in my 1886 45-90. Shot through several Cape buff, a bison, and dropped an ele with a frontal brain shot ;that one actually expanded and required a North Fork to end the game.

Last edited by crshelton; 07/17/20. Reason: edit

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Yes we did do a video. The Speer bullets squeezed from 358 to 348 work very well. The 220 Speer bullet would be a very good all round load.

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I mean we could try to get .348 owners to write letters to Hornady urging them to continue production. Model 71 shooters don't just buy .348 components after all.
I'd at least like them to release a public statement about the situation. This quiet discontinuation is not a practice I appreciate.
Not an expert, but maybe they've just discontinued them temprarily to fill the huge demand of .223 and 9mm during this whole corona-craze. They'd have to scrap perfectly good tooling wouldn't they?


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North61 Offline OP
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I did write them but don't expect a response. Who cares about one (or even a few) disgruntled consumer(s)? With such a small number of .348 users I can see that sales are low. Once an ordinary hunter has 2 or 3 boxes they might be set for several years if not decades and so 348 components are no doubt a slow seller. I have 2 more boxes on the way and with my load dialed in (IMR 4451 and CCI 250 Primers at 2500fps and under 2MOA) probably now have a lifetime supply. My dealer had access to 5 boxes so I left 3 for other folks in the same boat.

There is something to be said for brand loyalty and staying as a comprehensive supplier to consumers but companies seem to look for bottom line only and no longer think that way. As a result they will change my behavior as well. Loyalty cuts two ways and when a company quietly discontinues an irreplacable product almost as if to screw you up on purpose they erode that relationship. It's the Quiet part that is most irritating about the process...why not a final production run and some advanced notice? What it might cost you short term would have a long term loyalty benefit. "Look here is a company that goes the extra mile for their consumer" one might think.... rather than what I and no doubt a few others are thinking now.

They did the same thing with the great 220 FP in 375 and a variety of Round Nose bullets that I favoured. No announcement just poof..gone and if you don't find out in time; unfindable.

The problem is compounded because I am a Canadian and the custom and semi-custom choices available to you in the USA are either not available or super expensive and complicated to get up here in small lots. Not the end of the world..but it's a poor practice. Thinking of gearing up to make my own bullets and then to heck with them.

Last edited by North61; 07/18/20.
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So that's where the .338's for the 33 went. want to sell some?


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North, saw your video on the subject on YouTube and ordered a few boxes from Brownells. I think I'm srt for life, but thanks!


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I wrote them on sunday and got a response from the folks at Hornady today.
According to the message I got, they currently have it discontinued due to other, more popular, calibers being in high demand at the moment.
So I guess not all hope is lost. I'd still urge you to write an email to their support to let them know that some people still shoot these guns and need ammo.
https://www.hornady.com/contact/


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I have all the stuff needed t resize 220 grain Speer's down to .348 if I can ever get the green house done I will do it and load some up. I am mainly interested in a good 250 grain bullet for my .348 Ackley Improved. But, I will test some of the 220 Speer's and see how they compare to the 250 grain bonded .348 bullet from Alaska Bullet Works. If I lived in the states I might consider a 180 or 200 grain bullet for the .348. But, with a peep sight and my ability it is at best a 200 yard deal for me.

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Originally Posted by 1Akshooter
I have all the stuff needed t resize 220 grain Speer's down to .348 if I can ever get the green house done I will do it and load some up. I am mainly interested in a good 250 grain bullet for my .348 Ackley Improved. But, I will test some of the 220 Speer's and see how they compare to the 250 grain bonded .348 bullet from Alaska Bullet Works. If I lived in the states I might consider a 180 or 200 grain bullet for the .348. But, with a peep sight and my ability it is at best a 200 yard deal for me.


That'd be an interesting comparison. Mine isn't the AI version, and won't be... but I think I'd prefer 250s up where you are too. That's from reading, though, not from personal experience.

Looks like Woodleigh Weldcore 250s might be worth a look?

Where does one find Alaska Bullet Works products? And are those the same as "Kodiak" bullets?

-Chris

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Hi Ranger,

Unfortunately Alaska Bullet Works owner Karl Meilke passed on about 3 months ago and unless some one buys his stuff I don't see the Kodiak bullets being made any more. Many here in Alaska to include legendary bear guide Phil Shoemaker consider them a wonderful bullet and Phil also loads them for his 45-70 rifles. I have shot them for over 20 years out of my 45-70 rifles and have some for my .348 and .356 Win.

PM me if you want contact info for the remaining bullets. There are no more 250 grain .348 bullets left.......

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Originally Posted by 1Akshooter
Hi Ranger,

Unfortunately Alaska Bullet Works owner Karl Meilke passed on about 3 months ago and unless some one buys his stuff I don't see the Kodiak bullets being made any more. Many here in Alaska to include legendary bear guide Phil Shoemaker consider them a wonderful bullet and Phil also loads them for his 45-70 rifles. I have shot them for over 20 years out of my 45-70 rifles and have some for my .348 and .356 Win.

PM me if you want contact info for the remaining bullets. There are no more 250 grain .348 bullets left.......


Thanks. Sorry to hear, and I appreciate the contact offer.. but in the grand scheme of things, I'd guess almost anybody up in your neck of the woods could need the remaining stock more than I would. I've still got a stash of factory-loaded Silvertips, 200-grain Hornady's, 250-grain Barnes, etc... and no immediate need to fend off bears around here... smile so my thoughts were more theoretical than anything else...

-Chris



Last edited by Ranger4444; 07/24/20.
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As of now, the bullet picture has not changed much-as to supply and demand . It
would be good if Hornady would respond with their 200 gr FP. Hawk still will
make 348 in all bullet weights. Barnes original I still have. Not impressed with their
newer offerings.

Remington core loct bullets were never that good. Silvertips not as good as Hornadys.Based on my
field hunting experience. Hawk-Woodleigh, Swift, original Barnes.

WARNING: Be very careful if one is tempted to use cast lead bullets of any weight
with gas checks in the M-71 348 WCF. The neck is not long enough to keep
the gas check in the neck. IF it falls out and into the powder FOR ANY REASON-you
have a major problem. The GC will form a blockage in the cartridge spiking pressure
to a dangerous level. Even a strong Model 71 will not handle a major pressure excursion well.
Gas and shrapnel back through the action with destructive results possible to rifle and shooter.
Stay away from gas checks if at all possible with the M-71. Much safer in the straight walled
cases like 45-70, 45-90
or 38-55. A word to the wise.


"The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena-not the critic"-T. Roosevelt
There are no atheists in fox holes or in the open doors of a para's aircraft.....
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