I had posted previously that I won an auction for a Winchester Model 71 and that I wanted to make some changes to it. Well after I picked up the Model 71 and got a real good look at it I am going to leave it as it except for changing out the recoil pad for a red Pachmayer. The checkering actually looks really good. It is a little different than that found on a Deluxe but I like it. I am going to just use the peep sight as long as my eyesight will let me. It does have the extra holes from a side mount and the stock was cut for the pad but I have seen much worse for a lot more money than I paid for this one. I believe it is a keeper.

It's just freakin' beautiful! Congratulations! I agree on the butt pad change.
This right here ...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f7qgsPQmcZM

Very cool. Congrats.

you did good. keep on finding the good ones my friend!

my eyes have already given up. I just ordered a red dot mount from Turnbull that uses the original factory drilled peep sight holes. hopefully it works out so I can keep shooting my 71.

Like Bill said!!!

quote:

It's just freakin' beautiful! Congratulations! I agree on the butt pad change.

Nice rifle!

The squarish diamonds on the chequering remind me of the old commercial FN Mauser from the 1950s, another rifle I'd love to find now.

I have a deluxe 71 with beautiful wood, finer checkering, rounded checkered hammer1938, 348 and a couple of 1950 FNs in 9,3x62 and another in 250-3000, with flat top checkering, like you I like,em..I just like early Mausers and FNS and pre 64 mod 70s. but the best are the JP Sauer and sons on their 98 Mausers built by Sauer with a Mauser contract to do just that..

Toss your hammer and get the early hammer with the framed checkering oh so much nicer..

Anything new to report ? Still got it ? Hunting it?

very nice rifle!

[quote]red dot mount from Turnbull[/quote

This may be of interest, much less expensive than Turnbull...

https://gun-guides.com/product...des%C2%AE-p506217886

If Im not mistaken your gun has 3 extra holes , not factory and probably for a scope, plus the two for the peep that are factory..for your information if needed...

No way to know if the threaded holes for the peep are factory without knowing the serial number. If they have bluing in the hole they are factory , if no blue they were done after the fact.

quote:

Originally posted by Recoil Rob:
[quote]red dot mount from Turnbull[/quote

This may be of interest, much less expensive than Turnbull...

https://gun-guides.com/product...des%C2%AE-p506217886

That looks interesting, and appears to be well made, but it says lower in the ad that it's not for models 71's or 1886's. Maybe they'll offer a 71 & 1886 model later. I also wonder if a hollow "channel" could be milled, in line with the bore just above the bolt, to co-witness with the open sights? But maybe to co-witness the mount would have to be higher and then the comb would be too low to easily use the red dot.

Nice Model 71-appearing to be the later short tang
version of the late forties until late 1950s end of production.
The later model 71s had a completely different trigger from the pre-war M-71s. If you put it on half-cock, the trigger itself will move slightly.
The 1886 Model and early Model 71 triggers would not move on half-cock.
Your front sight hood is not OE Winchester, but they are easy to find. Same as the pre-64 Model 70.

Rear receiver sight is excellent-a Lyman 56, made for the Model 71.
One last point, if you plan to hunt in far away places like Canada or Alaska, get a Marbles 95 folding rear sporting sight. Very well made and will stay out of the way until you really need it:
flip it up and you have a real backup sight. Fits in the rear dovetail.
In the outback bush there are few handy gunsmiths and extra sights if your LY 56 slide should work loose.

I only have five (5) pre-war long tang Model 71s and 4 smokeless-era 1886 rifles from the teens and 1920s.
So I Have learned a bit about the Browning designed 86 and the later Winchester-Mason improved 1886 and the Model 71.

(A look further under lever action rifles-see the
thread on pressures. Important for lever rifle owners as pressure signs are not as evident as with
bolt guns. Something to consider and remember.)