I think about to get a Winchester 71 for hunting,because I like LA
Hauke

Karl,

Buy it, you can't go wrong with the Model 71. If you don't like the .348 Winchester, which is an awesome cartridge, you can always rebarrel and rechamber it for the .450 Alaskan which is what the .45-70 strives to be.

Joel Slate
Slate & Associates, LLC
www.slatesafaris.com

7mm Rem Mag Page www.slatesafaris.com/7mm.htm

Thank you Joel
Hauke

The '71 is one of the finest pure hunting guns ever built, it will serve you well. As to the 450 Alaskan vs 45-70, I guess you have the right to your opinion.

Karl,
Go for it, next to the '86 its the finest lever action Winchester made. I to love my lever actions, I bought an '86 Ex Lt last year and I've had a ball with it. This year I'm also thinking about a 71. Good Luck

The 1886 Winchester never was a good design. In it's day it followed the repeater concept of the early Winchesters but it was made obsolete by the Mauser design by the time it was introduced.

I always wanted a M71 when I was a kid but I could not afford one. I recall a deluxe model for sale, used, and $350 was the asking price. This was about 1960. I don't have a inflation calculator but in my mind I think that's equal to $2000 today. These guns were always in demand.

But they have a sloppy lockup, are very heavy, don't mount a scope well, are expensive to make and don't shoot pointed bullets.

The 1886 is not the finest lever action Winchester. The 1994 Winchester blew the 86 out of the marketplace and the M88 Winchester is far better than any of these cowboy designs. Even John Browning himself improved on them with the BLR.

I'd like to know what accuracy folks are getting with their 71's.

John Browning never saw a BLR unless someone has placed one in his coffin.

I have a Miroku(sp?) version of the 71 carbine and it is a decent rifle. I like the .348 cartridge for the type of hunting I do. My 71 is not as smoothe as 86s that I have handled but maybe it will be in 100 years. Plateau Hunter

I don't know about others but my 1886's will give me 1 1/2" to 2" groups at 100 meters all day long
using peep sights.The guns were built a little sloppy so they would work no matter what.THe 71 is just another little improvement on the 86,and the 348 would make a terrific boar gun,if you shoot it as it was meant to be.It is not a bolt gun,it is meant to be brought to the shoulder and fired quickly.I enjoy all my lever guns and have used them for years

Karl, I got one of those, mine came with a peep sight that was done at the factory. Mine shoots fine. Mine is all original. It spent almost 70 years in the box it came in. Was my Uncles. Still had the packing grease in the bore. They are not light, but boy they do come up nice and the .348 dose thump game pretty good. It would be a very good driven boar rifle.

Thank you guys!
What about the peep sight?
If the lever dont came with one,can I fix one after?
HKW

Are you getting an original Winchester 71 or a Browning 71 copy?
I know the Brownings are drilled and tapped for a receiver sight. I have a Williams FP-71 (foolproof model) on mine and I get around 4 inch groups. Not that the gun shoots poorly, but that it is the best I can do with these sights, the front post is a bit coarse.
Original Winchester 71 Deluxes came with a bolt mounted peep sight. I do not know where you could find one of those.
Reloading will be a must for you. In the US we can find some winchester loaded ammo from a couple of special runs, 200 grain bullets only. Hornady, Barnes, Hawk, North Fork and Kodiak make bullets in .348" 180 to 270 gr bullets, depending on manufacturer.
Winchester makes a special run of brass every couple of years and is available in the US. You may want to get a few hundred for a stash.
The .348 cases will stretch so you will need to keep a close eye and trim fired cases when needed.

I m looking for a Winchester!
Reloading for me no Problem.
HKW