I like it because it is a Genuine Winchester from days of Old..A Lot more Character.I have had the New Browning and Winchester conversions too,but time for a change.ALSO,how strong would this rifle be(want to put the souped up loads through it)It is a 71&1886 "Hybrid" and has caught my eye! Thanks for the opinions/help... http://www.hallowellco.com/winchester_71_cus%20750.htm

32" octagon barrel. Highly figured walnut pistol grip stock with Winchester
Style D carving. 13"pull to casehardened steel buttplate. Light scroll
engraved, casehardened pre-war long tang action, marked Winchester
1886 on the tang. Weight: 11lbs, 12oz. Originally mfd 1936. New condition
as rebuilt in early 1990s. Photo

just let me borrow it sometime

i had to close the screen, i was blinded by its beauty. seriously that is a pretty gun. needs to be taken to alaska for a brown bear hunt.
i would trade a kidney for that.

My personal opinion, being worth more than it costs but not much more , is that you're going to be buying a gun that will be very difficult to get your money out of even if you don't blow it up. Why people want to take lever actions, especially 75 year old ones and try to make them into pressure guns is something I don't understand.

Even if I add up the stockwork, checkering, engraving, etc. I'm having a hard time coming up to their asking price but hey, it's your money and it is a pretty rifle.

Thanks for the opinions,well taken..I wont overpresure it,I promise! I will take some Bison with it and of course,some Big Hogs!I would love to take it to Africa this Sept,but already bringing the 4 bore and the 700...But,it would be cool to slam one with it,I could even change my Safari Hat for my Cowboy Hat!

Alaska Brown Bear you say![It would be cool backup for my 50/110 revolver I am using this October for Brownies,but I am taking a Custom Ultralight scoped 500Jeffery for that,just in case I cant get within 75 yds,so the scope will be for the longer shots and I guess it would be a SIN to scope it with a QD scope bracket??!!QUOTE]Originally posted by boom stick:
just let me borrow it sometime

i had to close the screen, i was blinded by its beauty. seriously that is a pretty gun. needs to be taken to alaska for a brown bear hunt.
i would trade a kidney for that.[/QUOTE]

nothin ticks off the erected pinky crowd like lever actions in africa cowboy hat you say...now thats going in style

Hi Gatogordo,what would be the max load that YOU would recommend for me in this fine 71/86? I want to use the heaviest bullet that is readily available (450 Hawk & 500 Woodleigh make good ones with proper cannelure)..Thank you for your help!

quote:

Originally posted by Gatogordo:
My personal opinion, being worth more than it costs but not much more , is that you're going to be buying a gun that will be very difficult to get your money out of even if you don't blow it up. Why people want to take lever actions, especially 75 year old ones and try to make them into pressure guns is something I don't understand.

Even if I add up the stockwork, checkering, engraving, etc. I'm having a hard time coming up to their asking price but hey, it's your money and it is a pretty rifle.

I don't see anything 71 about this gun. Could you please point it out. It looks pure 86 unless someone machined the inside of the action.

Ray,I am not a expert on these,but I aggree with you on that...I will letyou know if and what differences are on this one.I DID make the purchase and it is being shipped direct to my gunsmith for a "front sight relocation",about 12 inches back!32" on my Sporting Clays guns,but not my bear/bison rifle!..I am excited as it will look great when finished and all I need is to find a Bolt Peep,preferably original would be nice!....Ray,what do you have in Bison hunts this fall in Wyoming as my Dad lives in Casper,Wy and will be my gunbearer! ..I want 3 with 3 different rifles..(4 bore,700 and 50/110) thanks!

Ray,I now know why my 86 is a "71/86"..."The receiver began life as a prewar Model 71 (serial number 750). A completely new custom rifle was built on the frame: new barrel marked as an ’86 would be, new stock, even the upper tang hand engraved to duplicate the original 1886 roll-stamp. I dubbed it a 71-86 for that reason.
Being chambered for a powerful cartridge, I am pleased that it is built on the modern steel receiver rather than an antique."

quote:

Originally posted by Atkinson:
I don't see anything 71 about this gun. Could you please point it out. It looks pure 86 unless someone machined the inside of the action.

Morris Hallowell was trying to sell that rifle for a long time .... a spectacular piece all right but it sure isn't a brush gun, good luck with it.

Thanks!I got it and love it,but before I accepted it,I had its loong 32" Octagon barrel trimmed down to a neat and handy 21"!Balance is now perfect and I plan on taking some Bison this Fall with it!(Oh yes,I got a great deal on it with a trade I didnt need any more)