I just picked up one of the new Winchester Mod 71 348 win, I am planning on handloading for this rifle as factory ammo is way to expensive ($75.00 a box). I am thinking about using hornady's new 200 grn flex tip for deer and the Barnes original 220 grn for all around use (deer, bear, and elk). What do you think about these two bullets for hunting?

Any photos? I've never owned a .348 but I love nostalgic calibers.

The performance of the Barnes bullets will be excellent. I doubt that you would see much improvement in velocity over the Barnes by using the Hornadys.
The two bullets are so close in weight that they will be very similar in velocity.
I believe that if you look at the front of both bullets, you will see there is a very small difference that the Hornady tip provides.
If you were to select bullets with 50 grain or more weight difference, that would tell a different story.
I personally prefer the Barnes, but for an alternate to Barnes I would select a NorthFork bullet.

The Barnes is an excellent bullet...no doubt.
2 generations of my family have enjoyed success with a Mod. 71 on deer,hogs,elk and moose loading the Hornady 200gn flat point.
To REALLY enjoy that new rifle....get some cast bullets for it !!!

Just google searched to learn some more and found this page...I thought it was interesting

http://www.leverguns.com/articles/taylor/model71.htm

I see 348 brass at about 65 cents each on GB.

Win/Browning Mod. 71 one of, if not my favorite hunting rifles. Matter of fact like the caliber so much even built a Ruger NO.1 in 348Win. 71 not suitable for scope mounting and using Turnbull's base mtd. Burris Fast Fire II dot type sight and good combination. Not that punishing recoil wise and that gun/caliber combo speaks with authority for whatever.

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Here is a photo for you fellows , I use 200 Gr Hornady .

Nice rifle Concho!! I am very jealous.


Although I am going to attempt to keep away from it...I think this thread has talked me into looking for one of these for my safe.

I wanted one for many years , I went to a show in Lancaster and she was there looking like she wanted to be mine so I did the only honest thing to make her a honest lady ! took her home .

Enjoy. I have owned a Browning reporduction since they were re-introduced in the early 90's. I have the carbine model. Very acccurate. I shot a 3 shot 3/8" group at 100 yards once with my dad's handloads. He was loading the 200 gr. Hornady's.

I want one so bad it hurts! great gun, great cartridge!

Lived in Alaska for a few years and on a trip to remote series of lakes(north of Fairbanks) getting ready to launch my boat and older gentleman came down to the dock area and asked if I could give him a ride to his cabin. He showed me on the chart where he wanted to go and on my way so told him to collect his kit and no problem. He returned w/ gear and carrying Win.Mod. 71. His had the bolt peep and most of blueing worn off the bottom of receiver and obvious he used it. Asked him how he liked it and said it was the only gun he ever hunted with and never yet had failed to bring down a moose, caribou, or bear, grizz or otherwise. At that time I had a pre '64 Win.Mod. 70 in 375HH with me and after looking at it his only comment was "don't much care for bolt guns, not handy enough..." I wonder sometimes if the old gent is still carryng that 71 .

When I lived in Juneau, I came across a Browning M71 with a 20" barrel.It handled so well I HAD to buy it. Then...the truth struck. It sure was hard to get shells for. Oh, poor me!!
I found a few Barnes Origional bullets, but it loohed like I was going to have to wait for another production-run.
Instead, I rebarrelled to .375/348 Improved.
With the easier-to-find Hornady 300gr RN, I'm about 200fps slower than a 24" barrelled .375 H&H Mag.
There is no valley in this state where I fear anything!!
I can see why the gent liked carrying His!
Have fun,
Gene

love the M71 and 348 WCF cartridge. Can't help with jacketed loads, I shoot cast bullets out of mine. LBT 250gr. LCFN's and Accurate 35-220B loaded full steam with RL15.

So which would you rather have, one of the old Win's or one of the new ones?

And what will the new ones do to the value of the originals?

Anyone know where the new ones are made? Some others like the 70 are made here but I couldn't tell on the 71.

Five or so years ago I could have had a good field grade for $1100 at a gun show...that was before this big run-up.

Believe the "new" Winchesters are still made in Japan, Miroku mfg. For sheer value/collector purposes no question the originals are preferred, but having had an original and the Browning(not Win. w/ safety/trigger combo) some claim the Browning is the closest to the original you can get. Pedersolli is now making a clone of the 71 as well as Turnbull Restorations(believe he uses the Pedersolli as his basic action and alters them to duplicate the originals??) My Browning 71 is glass smooth, functions flawlessly and is accurate as well w/ reloads. 348 not known to be a super accurate round, but plenty good enough for hunting purposes and even though a big rifle carries and points like a shotgun for me.

I belive that saying the .348 isn't KNOWN to be accurate is unfair. It and it's predecesor, the .33 Winchester, have only been available in rear-locking, two-piece stocked lever rifles...not a bad thing, just not any advantage for accuracy.
I've seen several Siamese Mausers that have been barrelled to versions of the .348 case. They lack nothing for accuracy.
The M71 is a very quick-handling, natural-pointing rifle/carbine that when equipped with a large-aperture sight is deadly in the ranges for which it was designed.
When not in use, tho', it will surely lengthen your arms. lol
Have fun,
Gene

I agree Nevmavrick. My 3 Browning M71's are some of the most accurate rifles i own. They blow away my original from a sheer accuracy stand point.

Don't quote me on it, but I think the website said the M70 is made here, and the Model 101 O/U is made in Belgium, but it didn't say on the M71. Which led me to question it.

Did Miroku make the Brownings? Maybe some similarities?

I agree with Instructor about the originals being preferred by collectors. Afterall, there are those of us who seek one good example of each of Win's principal models. I've done a little of that myself. So it's probably two distinct markets here.

Liking the 71 in 348 so much, mentioned that I built a Ruger No.1 in 348 as a companion piece to the Browning. You are right, unfair to deem the caliber as inaccurate but I was comparing to say, '06 in bolt gun, unfair to do that I know. I am fortunate to live only 10 miles or so from retired Douglas machinist and when we discussed doing the Ruger he said did not know for sure if they had a reamer, but did find one that appeared unsued?? Not a popular caliber in my area. Will say that if you can find a Ruger No.1 at reasonable price other than changing out the extractor hook and barrel, it makes for a unique rifle.

Another way cool idea is a .348 Win double rifle. I know of only one being built. I could see it being done on a Browning S/S action.

Only thing is, it might be impossible to get your money out of it on selling. Very pricey to get a good DR made, even on a shotgun conversion.

But it'd be a lot of fun and very practical in .348 (I already have one in 30-30 built on a Parker).

The Winchester M-71/.348 Win. combo MUST have been a very accurate rifle.
If any of you have ever seen the movie "Winchester '73", you might remember the scene where Jimmy Stewart's character (Lin McAdam) shoots a hole through a gold coin tossed in the air by marshal Wyatt Earp, played by Will Geer. That gold coin was actually shot by famed Winchester marksman Herb Parsons,using a M-71, who was standing behind and left of Jimmy Stewart. Mr. Parsons actually shot four coins four times in a row during retakes. That rifle (with coin and " hole" inletted in the stock) was donated to the Buffalo Bill Cody museum in Cody Wyoming by Mr. Parson's sons Dr. Lynn Parsons and Dr. Jerry Parsons of San Antonio, Tx.
It is on display there.

Shack:
Go to my website <calpappas.com>
go to the double rifles page.
scroll about 2/3 down and there is a German double rifle in .348. A very nice piece.
Cal

Cal,
Thanks for sharing. It took a while to get to the .348... ...but I finally made it after enjoying all the others as well.
Cheers.

In my Winchester days I owned several M-71s and missed them greatly now. I just sold a second year deluxe with a bolt peep and miss it also. It is one fine caliber in one fine smooth working lever action. I think the cartridge design is calling out for double rifle application and I wonder why this has not been done before and many time by the well known makers of the UK and Europe.
Cal
PS. Don. If you can drag the photo from the site and post it here you are welcome to do so. Just leave the owner's name behind as I don't have his permission to post his name here. Thanks.

Nice.
I always wanted a 356 Win.
enjoy!