Author Topic: 348 Winchester (Read 1295 times)

Danny · « **on:** December 13, 2004, 06:42:14 AM »

I shot a 115 lb doe this weekend with a Winchester model 71 in .348 WCF. I used the 200 grain Hornady flat point at about 80 yards. It made about as big an internal mess as any cartridge I have seen! It was a quartering away shot, entered just behind the diaphram and went out behind the off shoulder. Any one else use this cartridge for hunting? If so, what were your results?

Kodiak · « **Reply #1 on:** December 13, 2004, 03:51:11 PM »

I have shot a few whitetail bucks with my Win. 71 (a deluxe) and a few elk in heavy timber in the west. All animals were shot with the Win. factory loaded 250 gr. silvertip bullet. Most hits provided a one shot kill, with even the biggest elk going only a few yards. Entrance-holes were only caliber-sized and exit-holes about the size of a .25 cent piece, maybe a little larger. I personally prefer the heavier bullets from this gun. I have owned it since the mid-1950s, when I bought it new along with 2 boxes of factory 250 gr. ammo. Along the way I gathered-up 10 more boxes of the Winchester 250s and still have and use them. I have not fired any of the Hornady bullets thru my gun, so I can't comment. As a guess only, the jacket of your 200 gr. might a little thin. Just my 2 cents,

handirifle · « **Reply #2 on:** December 13, 2004, 04:31:19 PM »

I was just reading about a 348/375 wildcat. Anyone hear of this one?

leverfan · « **Reply #3 on:** December 13, 2004, 07:49:24 PM »

Quote from: handirifle

I was just reading about a 348/375 wildcat. Anyone hear of this one?

Z-Hat can chamber your gun for this one. The 348 has got to be one of the most wild-catted cases out there, at least in terms of variety, if not numbers. Someone out there has no doubt necked it down to .223", or even smaller, and lots of folks open it all the way up to make a 50 Alaskan out of it. That takes the case design full circle, since it started out as a .50 caliber, and was necked down to create the 348. Every combination in between can be found at most of the larger custom gun makers. These are good wildcats for many strong single shot designs, as extraction is very easy, and you don't have to worry about a rimless cartridge slipping past the extractor during loading. With the right bullet design, the .375/348 is a good choice in a lever gun, as well. I think that Z-Hat offers the Ackley Improved version.

handirifle · « **Reply #4 on:** December 13, 2004, 09:06:40 PM »

Who is zhat and how do I contact him?

leverfan · « **Reply #5 on:** December 13, 2004, 09:16:34 PM »

www.z-hat.com

It's a custom rifle outfit that gets written up by Dave Scovill of Handloader/Rifle fame quite a bit. Plenty of other outfits could do the same kind of work, maybe cheaper, but they're the first that came to mind. I remember that either Bullberry or Virgin Valley made Encore barrels in various 348 based wildcats.

Yukon Jack · « **Reply #6 on:** December 13, 2004, 09:36:58 PM »

Fred Zeglin is owner of Z-Hat and is an outstanding 'smith. Good guy, too. Works out of Casper Wyoming.

Danny · « **Reply #7 on:** December 14, 2004, 01:43:04 AM »

Kodiak,

I thought the same about the Hornady, but I didn't have time to do a lot of load development before the season. By next year I hope to have some more options with the load.

Danny