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LEVER ACTION SHOOTERS SOCIETY :: WINCHESTER LEVER-ACTION FORUM :: THE WINCHESTER MODEL 1871 FORUM :: Anyone Have a Model 71
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AuthorTopic: Anyone Have a Model 71 (Read 347 times)
ronontheway
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Anyone Have a Model 71
« Thread Started on Jan 27, 2009, 12:10am »
Just wonder I have never shoot one but have been a long time admirer. Why I have no idea. Let me know. How do you like yours. Let's see some pics.
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barryinin
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Re: Anyone Have a Model 71
« Reply #1 on Feb 10, 2009, 4:53pm »
Well, no, but I did just buy a Browning 71 carbine. I bought it last week and picked it up today.
I hope to shoot it tomorrow, then maybe I'll have a report for you.
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leverlooney
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Re: Anyone Have a Model 71
« Reply #2 on Feb 12, 2009, 3:11pm »
I would like to know how that gun is. The fit,finish and accuracy. Show some pix. I been thinking of one.
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barryinin
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Re: Anyone Have a Model 71
« Reply #3 on Feb 17, 2009, 2:26pm »
I got to shoot it just a little bit Friday morning. I had fallen behind and had several rifles to shoot, so I didn't shoot it much. I got it zeroed and not much else.

With the two loads tried, one went just over 2" and the other just over 1.5" for an average of two five shot groups at 100. Both of these were with the Hornady 200 soft point and differing charge weights of IMR 4350.
Velocity was 2345 for one, and 2411 for the other. This is in a 20" barrel.

It worked fine, slick as can be, except that I have to make extra sure to run the lever forcefully all the way through and not slack off at the very end of the opening stroke. Otherwise, the carrier won't lift. I know that's the way all levers should be operated, but it feels more sensitive to that than others I've used. But I've never owned a 71 or 1886 before, and don't know if thats odd or typical.

I don't know if you can tell much from the pictures, but they are the only ones I have right now. I don't see how the fit and finish could be any better. I don't see a flaw. The buttplate even has the "point" on top like original Winchesters (I thought they might take a shortcut there and finish it off flat) and the buttplate and wood match perfectly.
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leverlooney
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Re: Anyone Have a Model 71
« Reply #4 on Feb 20, 2009, 5:51pm »
Great gun. I would like to find one for a reasonable price. It seems everone selling guns wants a premium now. Should wait til the crazyness ends.
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barryinin
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Re: Anyone Have a Model 71
« Reply #5 on Feb 26, 2009, 7:06am »
I don't why, but I got this one off Gunbroker for less than what I've been seeing them go for. It was new in the box without a mark on it. It had been listed before without selling.
My only guess why interest was lower on this one was because it was a carbine (20" barrel) instead of the full 24" barrel, and maybe some people turned their noses up at that. I wanted the 20" over the 24" myself.
If that's the case, you might look for a 20" Browning 71 to find one a little closer to reasonable.
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naphtali
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Re: Anyone Have a Model 71
« Reply #6 on Feb 26, 2009, 8:29am »
Leverlooney: Message sent
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"When a true genius appears in the world, you may know him by this sign, that the dunces are all in confederacy against him." Jonathan Swift
aa501992
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Re: Anyone Have a Model 71
« Reply #7 on Mar 18, 2009, 12:52pm »
A friend gave me his Winchester 71 with a few boxes of original ammunition, but I have not fired it, yet. I nearly took it pig hunting this past week when I couldn't get my Marlin 1895 or Winchester 94 setup as I planned. The 71 is a very smooth rifle with a nice heft.
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jpz
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Re: Anyone Have a Model 71
« Reply #8 on Mar 26, 2009, 12:07pm »
This is the one model I really want. When I find one the price is pretty high. But I keep looking. It is my "Holy Grail" rifle.

8-)
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naphtali
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Re: Anyone Have a Model 71
« Reply #9 on Mar 26, 2009, 4:20pm »
Unless those of you who want M71s intend to collect -- but not to shoot -- your 348, obtaining the rifle is but the tip of an expensive iceberg.

Factory 348 ammunition, I have been informed, is $50/box. And it ain't easy to find. Components are equally difficult to find, especially currently.

Okay, I've dumped a bucket of warm you-know-what on your aspirations. I have the magic to get one of you into sweet clover. Right now on gunbroker.com I have at auction a Browning High Grade M71 with sufficient ammunition, components, and reloading dies to keep the 348 shooting for many years. Am I giving it away? Duh. But the price is reasonable -- if you amortize its cost over the life of your shooting.
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"When a true genius appears in the world, you may know him by this sign, that the dunces are all in confederacy against him." Jonathan Swift
DUKE NUKEM
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Re: Anyone Have a Model 71
« Reply #10 on Mar 26, 2009, 5:02pm »
How about some pics of the beauty your selling Naph?
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naphtali
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Re: Anyone Have a Model 71
« Reply #11 on Mar 27, 2009, 6:07am »

Mar 26, 2009, 5:02pm, DUKE NUKEM wrote:
How about some pics of the beauty your selling Naph?
Here you go -- thumbnails.

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"When a true genius appears in the world, you may know him by this sign, that the dunces are all in confederacy against him." Jonathan Swift
barryinin
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Re: Anyone Have a Model 71
« Reply #12 on Apr 10, 2009, 6:03am »
I guess ammo can be hard to find, but I have yet to buy any factory ammo.

Brass and bullets are said to be tough at times too, but I did find when I got my rifle recently. The local gun shop has a few regulars with revolvers in Linebaugh chamberings, so they keep a few bags of 348 brass on hand for them to cut up. I guess it's a once-every-now-and-then production item by Winchester.
I found Hornady 200 grain bullets online without too much trouble, but about half the places I buy components from were out.
Dies were where I came closest to being in trouble. I did get them without having to backorder or anything, but Lee was the only brand in stock. So if you are picky about die brands, you may have more trouble there than anywhere.

I have heard some people say lately that they are going to start using less common calibers with the thinking that they can find ammo and components easier. That hasn't worked so well in my recent experience. Over the past few months, I've had to start loading for the .348, .32-20, and .30-40 Krag after buying the guns, which aren't that unusual but they aren't the most popular either. I found what I needed, but I wouldn't say I found an abundance of components or dies for any of those calibers.
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jpz
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Re: Anyone Have a Model 71
« Reply #13 on May 18, 2009, 6:29am »
I just picked up a 1948 Win. 71. She has wa Williams FP receiver sight on her and is deadly accurate.

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8-)
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Malon Labe!
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Re: Anyone Have a Model 71
« Reply #14 on May 18, 2009, 6:36am »
She's a beauty JPZ.
How does she shoot?
Thanks for sharing and EXALTED you sir. ;D
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jpz
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Re: Anyone Have a Model 71
« Reply #15 on May 29, 2009, 10:04am »
I've only put some factory ammo through her so far but she is a shooter. 2" high at 100 yds. Going to do some reloading tonight, to shoot this weekend and see how it goes. More to follow.

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Malon Labe!
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don3
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Re: Anyone Have a Model 71
« Reply #16 on Jun 6, 2009, 6:55pm »
I have the browning rifle and it shoots very nice. I just did a little trading and got 125 pieces of new brass so I,m set for a while. brass don't last to long, seems to flow forward a lot, have to trim after first shoot and it splits at web by 5th shot, do load heave though.
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Re: Anyone Have a Model 71
« Reply #17 on Jul 17, 2009, 8:30pm »
:)Found my M71. It is a Browning M71 with excellent wood. Found it NIB. I installed a Lyman rec sight. Picked up a box of silvertips on Sat. Expensive buggers. Can't wait to shoot it.
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aa501992
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Re: Anyone Have a Model 71
« Reply #18 on Aug 6, 2009, 8:16pm »
Isn't this the wrong sub-forum for the 71? It's a "Model 71" rather than an "1871", right? It was a re-introduction of the "Model 1886," as I recall. Kind of like the "Model 64" is a '94 with some of the more popular options included, rather than an "1864."
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leverlooney
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Re: Anyone Have a Model 71
« Reply #19 on Aug 7, 2009, 5:06pm »
You are right Model 71-not 1871. Mine is a shooter. shot 16 bullets. Got pix on my phone-gotta figure out how to get them to my puter. :)
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7X Leather
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Re: Anyone Have a Model 71
« Reply #20 on Aug 19, 2009, 10:09am »
I got a 71 Browning HG as part of a trade and have really enjoyed it. It is truly a "High-Power" levergun.

I have gone to using my excess stock of 4831 in it behind a 215 cast and have had great luck with it. I also worked up a real accurate load with Ramshot "Hunter"... I'm not much of a group shooter with iron sights, but I can hit a business card at 100 with the Wiliams peep.
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