The New Winchester Model 71s Are Finally Here!

So, are you going to buy one? Be interested in hearing about it once it is in hand, or from anyone else who bought one. I probably wouldn't buy a new one, as I have a nice original and I'm not much for the tang safety and rebounding hammer, but still interested in hearing about the quality of the new ones. Looks like they changed the style of the sling eyes on the deluxe, but hard to tell from the small pics on the Winchester site.

Matt
 
I think they look real nice. Handsome lumber, anyhow. My local dealer has told me that he has 3 coming in any day, so I'm going to wait and have a look at them. When you're dealing with wood stocks, no two are the same.
 
Exactly. And it is the wood that makes the gun. I am sure like the other Japan Winchesters, the quality is very good. Some folks even suggest better than the originals, wrt the 94s, 92s. I think it would be very difficult to improve on the Model 71 though. Winchester got it right with that rifle.
Keep us posted.
Matt
 
I stopped in at Ramakkos in Sudbury to take a look at one that he had just received this morning. When we opened the box, it turned out to be a Standard and not the Deluxe. We were both disappointed. It was a nice rifle but with plain straight grain walnut. I'll hold out for a Deluxe. The only thing that I've noticed on the last few Mirokus that I've purchased is the finish on the wood looks like it's only stained. I have a Browning Saddle Ring Carbine 86 that has a real nice finish on the wood by comparison. The other thing I've noticed on the new Mirokus, the metal has a black oxide finish rather than blue. My Browning 86 is actually blued. Fit and finish on the new Mirokus seems very good to me, but I'm no expert.
 
I'm pretty sure the 458 Winchester would decintegrate both the rifle and the shooter. The 71 action is strong but not that strong. Perhaps a new calibre like the 50 Alaskan or a 375-348 AI would up the cool factor.
 
Slooshark1 said:
I'm pretty sure the 458 Winchester would decintegrate both the rifle and the shooter. The 71 action is strong but not that strong. Perhaps a new calibre like the 50 Alaskan or a 375-348 AI would up the cool factor.
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There is no probability that either of those, or any non-popularized calibers will be chambered... if you want one, you'll have to do a rebarrel.
 
philthygeezer said:
They should chamber it in .45-70 and see if the popularity takes off.
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no kidding. I will never understand why Winchester, past and present, has never chambered the 71 in the most popular calibre for the 86 action and insists on beating the dead horse that is the .348.

Pedersoli, or one of the other Italian makers, got it right.
 
The biggest selling chambering for the 1886 was, in fact, the .33 Winchester which was modified to create the .348 Winchester. After the .33 was introduced around 1902 sales of the big bores dropped off. Apparently Winchester still has the idea that the medium bores will still outsell the .45/70 today. Not so when you examine current trends in lever guns. They also figured levers in .358 Winchester would fly off the shelves into the hands of large game /woods hunters, that didn't happen either. More .358's are probably sold today than in the 1950's.
 
Well, I caved. Here she is boys!
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I just dusted off the old Mastercard and phoned Epps. She's on her way. I can hardly wait to smell the cosmolene.
 
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