Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles Favorite loads for .348 Winchester?

Did a search and didn't find much. I've got a Browning M71 and bullets from 200-250 grains, and would appreciate hearing from any .348 fans!

I sold my Winchester M71 about seven years ago, but here are the best two loads I developed, shot with a vintage Lyman #56 peepsight:

W-W brass, CCI-200 LR primer, Hornady 200 grain JKT/FP, 65.0 grains of Re19. 2365 avg fps @ 83f, F-1 Chrony @ 18' from muzzle. Data source - Handloader #214. Average group @ 100 yards, 2-3/4".

W-W brass, CCI-200 LR primer, Hornady 200 grain JKT/FP, 60.5 grains IMR 4350. 2402 avg fps @ 60f, Beta Chrony @ 10' from muzzle. Didn't record my data source. Average group @ 100 yards, 2 1/8".

I also chronographed some 200 grain Winchester Super-X factory ammo, with the Chrony set at 18' and a 83f temperature. The load averaged 2443 fps. Average group @ 100 yards, 6".

I ordered some Beartooth Bullets in 245 grain GC, sized .349", but never developed a load for them. I do remember a warning not to use them in the Browning rifles due to a difference in the lead/throat and the potential for developing excess pressure. My rifle was a 1957 vintage (late) standard M71.

Ps There is an article with some data for the Browning M71 on page 69 in the Legacy of Leverguns magazine published by Wolfe in JAN 2000.

I had good results with 60.0 gr. IMR4350 and the Hornady 200 gr. FSP in W-W cases using W-W 120 primers. My groups averaged about 2" to 2 1/2" at 100 using a Lyman 56 receiver sight. That load gave easy extraction all the time but I had occasional sticky extraction at 61 grains, especially in hot weather.

That Model 71 Deluxe is one of the 4 or 5 rifles out of a couple hundred or so that I wish I had never sold. It did a number on deer, that's for sure.

Sigh...

Used to have the same rifle in a carbine, when I get a chance I'll look and see what I used. All I can remember is it was Horn bullets.

Dober

John,
Have you got in touch with Brian Pearce? I remember he had an article that included some 348 loads in a past issue of Handloader.

Steve

Mark,

Mine is a carbine, and I have a pile of 200 Hornadys!

John---I use 55gr IMR 4350 with a 250gr Hawk bullet. WLR primers.

61gr. of same for 200gr bullets.

IIRC, this first load is the load that is supposed to pretty much duplicate the 250gr loads Winchester used to put out........

Wally,

Thanks for the reminder. I'll do a search of past Handloader issues--and if all else fail I'll call Brian!

August 2003 has some 348 loads in it.....

Yep, that was the one. I just found in myself. Thanks for the help.

Steve

John,
You're most welcome. Good luck with the project. An old rancher up the road from me has a 71, with several old yellow boxes of factory ammo. He says he won't part with 'em.

Steve

Thanks to everybody for all their help!

I have the same rifle with a Williams FP peep site. It's been very accurate and so far hasn't been too fussy. IMR 4064 and H4831 had worked well with the Hornady and IMR 4064 has worked very well with the old 200 grn Barnes X if you have any of those. Two powders worked well with the 250 Barnes were H4831 and H4350, both gave around 2250+ fps but I think may be a little hot so I have some more work to do with it. I have worked with other powders and chrony'd most of them so if you're interesed to see what I was getting, I either post or PM that.

It's been quite a few years since I owned one of the Browning 71 carbines, but checking my old logbook shows my best load with 200 grain Hornadys was 53 grains of IMR 4895 with a WLR primer loaded to 2.820" OAL. Five shots (with a Williams receiver sight) in 2" at 100 yards. I never chrono'd this load, but I'm guessing it was in the neighborhood of 2350 fps. According to my old Lyman manual, 54.0 grains of IMR 4895 was supposed to duplicate factory velocity.

Why mess around with an old, obsolete cartridge?
Everyone knows you need a magnum to hunt with these days!



P

Hornadys with IMR4320 (which I don't thinks been mentioned yet).

John,
Steve Gash did an excellent article in Handloader #224. RL19 gave him the best results. It also gives me very good results with Hornadys in my Browning carbine.

405wcf

Thanks, guys.

I have all the HANDLOADER and loaddata.com stuff. I was just wondering what Campfire members are using.

I load 67 gr. of H4831 behind the 200 gr. Hornady w/a WLR primer...has worked well in three different Winchesters....the latest a prewar Deluxe carbine...never chronoed it...