A few weeks back I woke up with a need to own a Model 71 in 348 Winchester. I am a big fan of the Browning High Grade 1886's and I ran across a picture of a Browning 71 High Grade Carbine with a 20 inch barrel. It looked to me like a perfect wood walking rifle or saddle scabbard rifle. I began searching for one and ran across several on the internet for sale. One in particular had great wood, was listed as "like new in the box" and was within my budget. So I made arrangements to have it shipped. Since then I have posted my experience and I thought I would share some of my thoughts here.
Day 1:
Well, the journey begins. Last evening I picked up my new (to me) Browning 71 High Grade Carbine in 348 Winchester. It was exactly as advertised, excellent condition and "as new in the box." In fact it came in the original box and it appears to have never been fired, yet. It was late when I got home so I did not get to thoroughly examine it until this morning. It has beautiful highly grained walnut for the stock and the color of the forearm is a great match although not quite as highly figured. One of the most pleasant surprises was to find that this carbine is factory drilled and tapped for a receiver sight. My Browning 1886 SRC and Rifle, both High Grades as well, are not set up for receiver sights. My first chore, after cleaning the bore and exterior was to install a Williams receiver sight that I had on hand, remove the rear sight, install a Marbles dovetail slot filler and remove the hood over the front ramp and bead. I bore sighted the receiver sight, using my Laserlyte bore sight and then headed out to try a few rounds. I had loaded 20 rounds of 348 WW brass with WW LR primers, 52 grains of H-4895 and 200 grain Hawk JFP bullets. I am guesstimating the velocity of just over 2,400 fps. I set up a target at 25 yards and it took 4 rounds to get my sight adjusted to hit 1/2 inch high at 25 yards. I then backed off to fifty yards to try a a few three shot groups. All of my shots were a little over 1 1/2 inch high and slightly right of center. My best three shot group was a neat cluster that I was able to cover with a quarter. I will try to snap and post a few pictures tomorrow. I think this may end up being my new favorite saddle gun and woods walking companion. I am really impressed with the 348 Winchester. I have been studying ballistics and it looks like it shoots mighty flat out to 225 yards with a 180 yard zero and should work great for deer, hogs, coyotes, feral dogs etc. One other side observation. I have always preferred the look of a straight grip and a full length magazine tube on a lever action. I have to say that the pistol grip on the 71 is very comfortable to shoot and the balance of this carbine is quick and lively.
Day 5:
I am loading the 165 grain Hawks using new WW brass, with Winchester LR primers and 55 grains of Reloader 15, for just under 2,600 fps. This load gives me great accuracy out of my Browning 71. (DISCLAIMER) This is my load that I picked up off the Load Data web site and I make no claims for it being safe or accurate for anyone else. (END OF DISCLAIMER)
Day 20:
I have taken two coyotes with it so far and both were anchored right where they were hit. One was just behind the left shoulder on a broadside shot at 93 yards, according to my range finder binoculars. The other was trotting angling away from me at about 60 yards and I misjudged the lead. I caught him pretty far back. The bullet travelled up and froward to the back and top of the rib cage. His hind quarters were kicked around and out from under him. He was dead by the time I walked over to him. Both shots struck bone at some point and both of them exited the animal. The exit wounds were impressive.
Day 22:
I am impressed with the Hawk performance on coyotes, but I wonder if they would be tough enough for hogs and would guess they would damage a lot of meat on deer, based on how they performed on coyotes.
Day 29:
More activity with my new Browning 71. I got a crack at another coyote this afternoon. He was facing me at 130 yards. I know the distance because he was standing at the back fence just inside the tree line. One shot and he dropped right there. He was right around 50 pounds. I hit him with a 165 grain Hawk, 348 started out at 2600 fps. I recovered the Hawk just under the skin on the left side in front of the bone of his hind leg. Looks like pretty good performance to me.
