Author Topic: Browning Mod 71, 348 Win (Read 3991 times)

Kurt · « **on:** November 19, 2002, 07:36:33 PM »

, Hello, I just got one of these. None of my reloading manuals have any data on it. Would like to know more about the twist rate and what they can handle. It's the 20 inch carbine. Hope I didn't pay too much, it is a grade 1 in like new condition and I got the box too for $680 with 90 some loaded rounds and dies. Any info would be much appreciated. Kurt in Wyoming

Graybeard · « **Reply #1 on:** November 19, 2002, 08:42:26 PM »

Glad to see ya got logged in OK Kurt.

BTW EDIT actually works on this software as you can see from looking at your post. You can also edit your own so ya ain't gotta make another one when ya foul up.

GB

southern utah · « **Reply #2 on:** November 20, 2002, 05:29:29 AM »

You didn't get a deal you stole it. About 1/2 price if in the shape you mentioned. I have a lot of info if you want to give me your e-mail address.Ammo at the gun shows runs in the $40. + range but brass and bullets are available. You can get some Hornady and Barnes bullets if you reload .

Dand · « **Reply #3 on:** November 22, 2002, 09:02:12 AM »

I've had good accuracy with Hawk bullets too. They make quite a range of weights for 348. After shooting one caribou with the 180 grain bullet, I'd recommend heavier bullets in the 200- 225 gr range for this size animal. I think Alliant shows loads for the 348 - I haven't been too pleased with my Rx7 loads and tend to prefer 4895. Midway is now offering the Kodiak brand bullets and there is a 348 - 250 grainer I think. Handloader and Rifle magazines had some loads over the past years. Sometimes it was just a brief note in one of the columns. Quite some time ago I bought some cast bullets from Old Western Scrounger.

Enjoy your nice rifle!

Adobe Walls · « **Reply #4 on:** November 29, 2002, 05:28:11 PM »

Kurt,
Go with the 200 grain Hornady bullet. It's a fine, reasonably priced bullet at around $20 a box compared to the other .348 bullets out there. Next, get some Winchester 760 powder and some Winchester large rifle magnum primers. Start out with about 57.0 grains and work up till you top out at about 59.0 or your groups satisfy you. Be sure to trim that brass so everything stays uniform on the crimp. W760 has proven to be a very accurate powder in many rifles, and it may be the only one you ever need bother with. I have heard that Reloader 19 has real potential, but I'm shooting about 1.75"-2" 3 shot groups at 100 yards with 58.0 grains of 760 in an original Winchester, and have yet to try the Reloader 19. I'm a tightwad anyway and W760 is $2-$3 a pound cheaper.AW

Kurt · « **Reply #5 on:** November 30, 2002, 07:12:13 AM »

Thanks for all the great responses. She shoots rabbit head size groups at 50 yards. Not too bad for off the truck hood shivering in the cold. I found out it is not the 45-70 necked down, but the 50-90. It is a little fatter above the rim but apears to use the same shell holder. My smith didn't know if the 50-70 was long enough to make a 348. Anyhow I won't need to mess around trying to make cases. I will be getting a couple hundred next summer though. I am thinking about a Lyman peep. I am used to shooting them. I have had them on all my muzzleloaders and like them so much I hand built a custom super tough one for my current 50cal. Any other peeps out there?, I can only find the Lyman.

coug2wolfs · « **Reply #6 on:** November 30, 2002, 09:58:14 AM »

Ahhhyup, had me a pair of them in Browning Hi Grades back about....nah, I dun wanna date myself :grin:

I'm gonna refer to it as a Winchester action because I believe it is. The rifle was a long as a maidens arm and was a wicked thing to swing in the puckerbrush. Too, of course you pretty much have to use the open sights unless you want to ruin the appeal of the thing by putting on a scope. I ran Williams peeps on the ones I had, found I couldn't group 6 inches at 50 yards, kept wanting to pull down the bead in the peep and so went back to the irons plain.

Well on the rifle my nearsighted vision found the bead way to small and it was even a bear to pick up. That carbine now, that was a honey if I ever saw one. That rifle fit me like a fine bird gun. I snapped it up and it was there. Fast, I mean FAST!

I ran Hornady bullets, and if memory serves me right, I also ran some Barnes jobbies. Both pills shot about the same.

Me an them Winchester lever crankers have always had a problem, and I'm sure it's me since millions have used them and loved them. Maybe it's on account of my using them Marlin Darlins so much, or maybe I'm just plain number than a hammered thumb, but in any event here goes why I can't learn to love em.

Was in a wicked swamp of whipsticks over in the little known town of Chichester NH. I was doin the official Coug sneak an peek gig when I sees this MONSTER buck, all of at least 14 points and I swear I thought Ben Browns horse got out of the stable again. The fool deer stood some 35 yards away and I don't believe he saw me, had em square I did. Cranked back on the hammer in the muffle mode (you die hard lever guys know about this I'm sure, when you pull the trigger and rock her home so she don't make no noise) and drew down a bead behind the shoulder. Squeezed it off and .........CLUNK! No BANG?

What the &^%$#

Course that buck heard that and put it in gear. I cranked the lever only to find the chamber EMPTY! So I cycle it , look up, and there stands that fool buck right back where he was in the beginning!!! Rock, click...CLUNK! And off he went for keeps this time. Yes Sir, did the SAME fool thing, didn't give that final push that flips the shell up for loading.

But that's me, nobody else I know ever has that problem. I at the moment have one of the Browning Hi Grades in a 45-70 but have not hunted with it much as it weighs I swear about 10 pounds. It is a pretty gun though. If an when I decide to use it I'll make sure I try to bust the lever on the forward stroke :roll:

Good luck with the new critter blaster.

Coug

Adobe Walls · « **Reply #7 on:** November 30, 2002, 12:41:23 PM »

Kurt,
Williams makes both a 5D(I think) and a FoolProof receiver sight for the 71. They are of excellent quality, but I like the Lyman on mine simply because it looks more "vintage", and like it belongs there. You will find that your accuracy will just about double by going to a peep sight as long as you are a peep sight man or get the hang of them pretty quick. I didn't know squat about a peep sight when I bought a Mini 14 years ago as a teenager. I learned real quick what I'd been missing all along with that little Ruger and it's generous military type peep.AW

dclark · « **Reply #8 on:** November 30, 2002, 12:58:36 PM »

I personally prefer the Williams FP to the Lyman because it is cleaner looking and has fewer protusions to catch on brush, etc. They were originally made in the 1920, before the Model 71 was introduced, so certainly fit the historical style.

dclark

John Y Cannuck · « **Reply #9 on:** December 03, 2002, 01:42:56 AM »

Short stroking a lever gun is an often heard complaint. Nobody mentions that it's just as easy to do with a bolt gun, with the same results, or worse, a jam.
Suggest, if you can't grow longer arms, :-D maybe shorten the stock a might, or buy a BLR. :roll:

coug2wolfs · « **Reply #10 on:** December 06, 2002, 11:43:42 AM »

Quote from: John Y Cannuck

or buy a BLR. :roll:

Johhny....that's EXACTLY what I did :lol: The new BLR rifles are some wicked slick. Now if they could just get it down in weight like the Wby UL.... :roll:

Kurt · « **Reply #11 on:** December 07, 2002, 09:29:55 PM »

I got a Lyman 66WB from mid south in the other day and didn't even mount it. It is going back, it's not as pictured in my catalog. The knobs protrude way too much and it will catch on everything. It just looks a tad cheesy to me. I know it wouldn't survive in a saddle scabbard very long. The one I built for the muzzleloader took a lot of time and was a little harder to adjust but has no protrusions and is as indestructible as it gets. The Williams looks a little slicker but it is aluminum and I know it would look like heck if the black anodize got worn or scratched. I like the Williams 5d best it locks in windage at least.

86er · « **Reply #12 on:** December 08, 2002, 05:32:29 AM »

Hmmm. Sory you've got issues with the 66WB. I've got one on my '86 45-90 and it has ridden lots of hours in a saddle scabbard mounted to our jeep roll bar. I haven't noticed a problem with mine, so far. I had to lock-tite the screws, though, 'cause the serious recoil can jar 'em loose.

Kurt · « **Reply #13 on:** December 08, 2002, 06:39:08 PM »

The Lyman is a well made sight, it just has these big knurled adjustment knobs hanging out, target style. I guess I am too used to seeing the many dozzens of early millitary sights in the Cody museum. I was there again yesterday for the local open house. as usual the wife went one way and I went to the firearms section. They built sights then to endure bonehead horses and that is sort of what I need on the 71. I have a stout drill press and for what they want for a good custom, I can get a mill attachment and some mill ends. One of the few things I don't already have in my shop.