I bought a plain-jane Browning model 71 a while back. I've gotten some good groups with cast and 220 grain Barnes.
348 Win Browning 71, 220 grain Barnes FP, 9 ½, 59.5 grains RE19, 1.57 MOA (iron sights)
348 Win Browning 71, 200 GC RCBS, WLRM, 27.5 grains H4198, 2.86 MOA (iron sights)
I got to really like the rifle and I had no issues with it until...
I took the rifle to a cast bullet match and got number one in the lever action category. To say nothing about there not being any others in a lever action category.
It was mostly a cast bullet match for M1's, but there were plenty of other rifles there. During the match there were maybe 1 out of 3 miss-fires. The rifle fired the second time, that is after I cocked the hammer again. I did a WEB search; it seems there is at least one other shooter with the same "miss-fire" issue.
In that thread someone recommended Midwestgunworks.com. I looked there and found a replacement hammer spring and ordered it.
The rifle I bought was used when I bought it. The trigger was, I thought, pleasingly light. I wonder if someone cut a coil or two off the spring. There are other possibilities of a light strike on the primer. However, I think this explanation is the likely.
On a rifle like the 71, a hunter must have 100% confidence in the rifle and load. it aint no PD shooter.
Anyone else have issue with a 71 and a light hammer spring?
