Browning 71 lever guns

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dryfire

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Had the opportunity to handle one of these and had it offered to me.
Anyone with thoughts on these as an alternative over Winchester, Marlin etc. other than the 348 ammo being tough to find.
 
Dunno.
If I had one offered to me and in me mitts, my toes would count the peso's.
Possession is ten tenths of the law.

Go man go................
 
dryfire said:
Had the opportunity to handle one of these and had it offered to me.
Anyone with thoughts on these as an alternative over Winchester, Marlin etc. other than the 348 ammo being tough to find.
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Alternative to Winchester? Do you not realize that this is just a copy of the Winchester 71?
 
:) My favorite lever gun/calibre combo. A few years ago I lucked into my 2nd model 71. The first was a standard grade and right after I sold it, I regretted doing so. The 2nd one I now have is a deluxe model and mint:d.





Prior to accumulating my supply of components, I did pick up the odd box of old ammo at local gun shows.



I believe Winchester is now producing limited runs of ammo for the 348 and if I remember correctly, I picked up a couple of boxes through todbartel at Omineca Source For Sports in Vanderhoof.
 
stubble...
I am aware the rifles are remakes of the Winchester 71.
Thanks for the comments everyone - if I acquire the rifle it will be going on the EE. It is uncheckered, so probably a lower grade than in the pics above but appears to have no evidence of being fired.
 
stubblejumper said:
Alternative to Winchester? Do you not realize that this is just a copy of the Winchester 71?
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A copy yes, and a very good one at that. Built every bit as good as the Winchester, and yes, I have handled, worked on and shot both. Yes it is not a Winchester but the Browning's are very well made. Pretty damn hard to find now as well as they were only made for a short period of time.

I'm not a Browning fan, most Browning's anyways. But do really like my 71 and would never sell it.

I offered Johnn a large sum of money for his Winchester 71 in the above pictures, very large, he never went for it. I am a die hard Winchester guy but sometimes there has to be a limit...

 
crazy_davey said:
A copy yes, and a very good one at that. Built every bit as good as the Winchester, and yes, I have handled, worked on and shot both. Yes it is not a Winchester but the Browning's are very well made. Pretty damn hard to find now as well as they were only made for a short period of time.

I'm not a Browning fan, most Browning's anyways. But do really like my 71 and would never sell it.

I offered Johnn a large sum of money for his Winchester 71 in the above pictures, very large, he never went for it. I am a die hard Winchester guy but sometimes there has to be a limit...

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:(Don't know how many times I kicked myself in the butt after selling my first 71, a standard grade, so I'm VERY reluctant to part with my present deluxe model. However,;) should I ever decide to put it up for adoption, you get first kick at the cat:). Best I can do bud.
 
The Browning Model 71 is a very strong rifle with excellent fit and finish. Some have them rechambered to even more powerful calibers although, having shot an original Winchester Model 71 chambered in 348, it is plenty powerful enough as is.
 
crazy_davey said:
A copy yes, and a very good one at that. Built every bit as good as the Winchester, and yes, I have handled, worked on and shot both. Yes it is not a Winchester but the Browning's are very well made. Pretty damn hard to find now as well as they were only made for a short period of time.

I'm not a Browning fan, most Browning's anyways. But do really like my 71 and would never sell it.

I offered Johnn a large sum of money for his Winchester 71 in the above pictures, very large, he never went for it. I am a die hard Winchester guy but sometimes there has to be a limit...

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I realize that the Browning version of the 71 is well made, it is one of the very few Browning rifles that I would ever consider owning.
 
348 brass is offered on a fairly regular basis. Couple of years ago I saw Wholesale Sports in Saskatoon had a few boxes on the shelf (@ $78.00/ box)

It's popular with wildcatters who turn it into 50 Alaskan, and 450 Alaskan calibers, etc. It can also be made into 50-70 brass iirc. There are some other oddball cartridges that can also be made up with this brass, so it is in demand enough to keep making it.

I have no idea how much ammo/brass is made up for this caliber every year, but the demand must be there for Winchester to keep making it.

No idea how much is fired in 348 guns versus brass that is converted to other calibers.

I handload for my 348, and the cost is well below $10 for a box of 50 rounds (I use cast lead). It's the only way to go to keep costs down so I can have more money to go and buy more guns
 
SuperCub said:
What's the status for brass/bullets and ammo for these rifles?
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You may have to dig for it a bit, especially factory ammo, but it can be found. As I mentioned earlier, I 'believe' Winchester does the odd run. There is some Winchester unprimed brass floating around at some retail outlets. Bullets, Hornady 200gr FP interlocks and some FTX are the most common I've come across. Also, Barnes puts out a 220gr and a 250gr FN Originals. And, I have two cast examples a friend locally produces, one in 230grGC and a 262grGC.
 
SHELL SHUCKER said:
The lack of easily accessible components is why I went with the Pedersoli 86/71 in 45-70. Well made & accurate to boot.
View attachment 37069
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From my experience, nothing shabby about either the calibre or manufacturer. However, for a lever gun in 45-70, I gave my Marlin 1895GS to my Son and replaced it with a Marlin GBL. To keep it company, I also obtained a Magnum Research BFR.

 
Nice. If the price it right, grab it. You probably already know this rifle is based on the Browning designed 1886 that Winchester purchased from John Moses. Some minor modifications were made mainly the trigger spring. I think Browning did a run of these in the 80's but not certain.
 
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