New Winchester Model 71

ben hunchak said:
If I came across a Japanese 71, i would Alaskanize it to the .50 Alaskan, the .348 doesn't thrill me so much. Is Alaskanize a word?
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:)As good a word as any. With a Browning in less than pristine condition, changing it to a 50 Alsakan would be a good choice. However, with a Browning in a carbine configuration, in like new condition or especially on the Winchester 71 deluxe like I have, no custom or after market alterations allowed!! Nothing shabby about the 348WCF cartridge, especially with decent bullets for it like the 220gr & 250gr Barnes originals.
 
Northern Boater said:
I own a 1st year long tang Winchester 71 with a 2 digit serial # that I use for hunting and shooting for the last 20 yrs. She wears a factory bolt mounted peep that will shoot my 200gr cast loads into .5" groups all day long. I have owned several Browning 71's but none of them shot as well as the winny. She is the last rifle that will ever leave my collection. She has not been refinished in anyway.

I also had an original 71 that would shoot honest .5" groups, also had one that would not hold 4" despite efforts to resolve it never came around. Have only had one Browning 71 which was a carbine and it shot great with every load I tried with .5 to 1.75 steady with Barnes, Hornady and Speer bullets. Think its luck of the draw as have heard many praise and just as many curse the 71's accuracy.
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I agree with you on the luck of the draw..... the Browning rifle shot into 2" groups but the carbine was minute of dinner plate. I tried every factory ammo and reload combination and I still could not get it to shoot any better.
The recoil on the carbine blew apart 2 Williams peeps before I found an old redfield peep that held together.
 
johnl said:
Good point, where is the Miruko plant? Is it a rice paddy I wonder:(
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I looked into that. The Miroku complex is sorta south of Tokyo quite a ways and facing the Pacific. Its on a major Island. Japans troubles are mounting :(

On a better note...Sweet Jesus that's a nice 71 Yellowtips. Hope I cross paths with you in the field, would love to see that rifle. I have a Brownchester carbine, it might just head out this Fall.
 
Johnn, you mention, "220gr and 250gr Barnes originals."
When Fred Barnes re-started his bullet making after the war, his first ones were made with regular copper tubing, like you could buy in a store, as jackets. I still have the odd 200 gr one of them in 30 calibre. They had bonded lead cores and swagged to a point, with just a bit of lead exposed. They sure are a hell of a good bullet in 30 cal. Are yours designed like this?
 
H4831 said:
Johnn, you mention, "220gr and 250gr Barnes originals."
When Fred Barnes re-started his bullet making after the war, his first ones were made with regular copper tubing, like you could buy in a store, as jackets. I still have the odd 200 gr one of them in 30 calibre. They had bonded lead cores and swagged to a point, with just a bit of lead exposed. They sure are a hell of a good bullet in 30 cal. Are yours designed like this?
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In addition to a good supply of the Hornady 200gr FP and a couple of boxes of old Winchester 200gr Silvertips, plus two cast bullet options, I was looking for something a little heavier in the way of a hunting bullet. I plan to use the 71 hunting and why I picked up the two weights by Barnes was primarily after reading the opinions on 348 bullet weights expressed by Elmer Keith and Francis E. Sell. In some of his books Keith made mention of the excellance of Barnes bullet making. Both he and Sell felt a more appropriate weight for the 348 would be in the range of 250gr. As I've mentioned, I have a couple of boxes of 200gr Winchester Silvertip bullets to load but Winchester at one time, also produced the Silvertips in 250gr. ;)Hopefully one day I'll find some.

I'm guessing the process of making todays originals differes from past efforts and here's all the info on the topic I could find on their website.

BarnesOriginal.jpg


I've quickly scanned a couple of views of their 220gr original but there's some 'funny' looking mark on the base I'm unsure of. What's your opinion Bruce?? Hopefully I'll get the opportunity to test them in the field this season. That 'may' take part on a quad ride later this year:p.

Barnes348WCF220grOriginal.jpg
 
Here's a picture of a box of choice 'goodies' a friend picked up fro me at a gun show.

348SuperSpeed.jpg


I'd dearly love to get my hands on some of the bullets used in this old load, 250gr Winchester Silvertips. I've contacted Winchester and the run of recent ammo they've done for the 348WCF is using the 200gr Silvertips. No plans at present to bring back loaded ammo using the 250gr ST, and, even the 200gr ST bullets won't be available as a reloading component. But, I did luck into two boxes of the 200gr ST's a while ago.

348WCF200grSilvertips.jpg
 
H4831 said:
$3.35 wasn't a bad price for that loaded box of ammo, either!
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:DGood one Bruce. The price kinda' reminds me of prices when I started in the game. Dominion 303Br. ammo to feed my my Simpon-Sears 'special' Lee Enfield was $3.50/box as I recall. I felt the the effects of specialty and inflation when I bought my Parker Hale in 308NM. $8.10!!:eek: However, ;)the Parker Hale did well on a couple of Moose and a few Deer:D
 
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