What Should I Do With This Browning Model 71?

[Sav .250]

There's 54 model 71s of US Winchester or Miroku manufacture on Gunbroker right now. Anyone who's been pining for one can have one in hand a week from now easy.

Thank you for the comment.........
Your opening question," What should I do with this Browning model 71?"
Read my comment again. JMO>

 

[Llama Bob]

Thank you for the comment.........
Your opening question," What should I do with this Browning model 71?"
Read my comment again. JMO>

See, I've read your comment and I can't see any conceivable reason to sell a gun I just bought, unless of course you're offering top dollar for it. Otherwise if there's someone out there who would "appreciate" an M71, they know where to find one. Or fifty four, as the case may be.

 

[CraigC]

I just noticed that Grizzly Cartridge loads a +P .50-110 with their fantastic CPBC 525gr at 1800fps. So that should be attainable with handloads and if you sweet talk Mike Rintoul, he might tell you how.

http://www.grizzlycartridge.com/index.php?app=ecom&ns=prodshow&ref=GC51W525

 

[Llama Bob]

I just noticed that Grizzly Cartridge loads a +P .50-110 with their fantastic CPBC 525gr at 1800fps. So that should be attainable with handloads and if you sweet talk Mike Rintoul, he might tell you how.

http://www.grizzlycartridge.com/index.php?app=ecom&ns=prodshow&ref=GC51W525

I think that (and more) is attainable. Simulations suggest at the 42KPSI pressure level, 2150 ft/s with a 500gr soft should be possible, and 2000 ft/s with a 530gr solid. AA2495 looks like the right powder. Of course no clue what accuracy might look like

 

[CraigC]

The 525gr at 1800fps would be a good practice/deer/hog thumper if nothing else. Or even drop them down to 1400fps, at which point they would still penetrate like a freight train. Though the loads you reference would be better suited to jacketed/copper slugs.

 

[Llama Bob]

The 525gr at 1800fps would be a good practice/deer/hog thumper if nothing else. Or even drop them down to 1400fps, at which point they would still penetrate like a freight train. Though the loads you reference would be better suited to jacketed/copper slugs.

Yeah, I'm not at all opposed to downloading. The only reason I'd shoot the full power stuff would be just to get point blank range (and I go with an express type load for that) or for dangerous game.

 

[Coal Dragger]

I will cast my vote for doing any modifications in an incremental manner, especially on an original US made Model 71.

So if you must, I'd put a recoil pad on it and some peep sights. Before doing this I would source another butt stock and if needed another fore end to match. Use the new to you butt stock to have modified with the recoil pad. That way you can return the rifle to original condition if you wanted to sell it. Same for a caliber conversion. Keep your original parts so you can return it to stock for value.

Otherwise carry on, and enjoy it.

 

[CraigC]

I will cast my vote for doing any modifications in an incremental manner, especially on an original US made Model 71.

So if you must, I'd put a recoil pad on it and some peep sights. Before doing this I would source another butt stock and if needed another fore end to match. Use the new to you butt stock to have modified with the recoil pad. That way you can return the rifle to original condition if you wanted to sell it. Same for a caliber conversion. Keep your original parts so you can return it to stock for value.

Otherwise carry on, and enjoy it.

Read the OP, it's a Browning, made in Japan.

 

[Gtscotty]

I've always thought that the .348 was a neat thumper of a cartridge, so my original vote was going to be the recoil pad and peep sight option.... Then I tried to look for brass online. It would probably still be cheapest to scrounge some brass at whatever price you can get it, but I'm surprised by how small the component supply is out there. I know it's an old cartridge in a non-standard caliber, but I see it in reloading books and assumed there was some kind of support for it.

If you do rebarrel, I'll toss my vote in for an integrally suppressed barrel in whatever case head compatible big bore you choose. It's just money right?.... It would certainly be unique, and fun.

 

[redneck2]

Funny story about that. Miroku made a very small number of Winchester branded 1886s chambered in .45-90 from the factory. I've only come across one, and it was a beautiful gun - pistol grip, shotgun stock, recoil pad, 26" octagon barrel. It had the rebounding safety and hammer, but hey you can't win 'em all.

Actually, I have one. Browning BPCR. Unfired. Beautiful rifle. LNIB. Mine has the Badger 1/2 octagon, half round 34" barrel and vernier tang sight.

Keep thinking some day I'll get set up to shoot 1,000 yards with it.

 

[CraigC]

He's talking about an 1886, you're talking about a High Wall.

 

[LoonWulf]

Id take either.....

 

[redneck2]

He's talking about an 1886, you're talking about a High Wall.

Guess I got confused. When I bought it, the description was 1886 High Wall. So I erroneously thought it was an 1886.

 

[Don McDowell]

Guess I got confused. When I bought it, the description was 1886 High Wall. So I erroneously thought it was an 1886.

Set that rifle up with an MVA long-range buffalo soul sight on the rear, and a Baldwin sight on the front. Load 45-90 cases from Cap-tec primed with a RP 9 1/2 primer, with 82 gr of Olde Eysnford 1 1/2 f with a .060 fiber wad compress just enough to let a 535 gr money bullet sized at .459 to just short of the lands, and go shoot a bucket full of x's at 1000 yds, if your spotter is capable of keeping you on top of the wind and mirage.

 

[CraigC]

Guess I got confused. When I bought it, the description was 1886 High Wall. So I erroneously thought it was an 1886.

1885.

 

[redneck2]

Crap. I was off a year.

 

[Llama Bob]

Crap. I was off a year.

It's cool. I've got a Browning 1885 high wall in .45-90 as well. It's currently not in a very shootable state, at least for hot loads, because the factory recoil pad turned into a rock and it's too light for the caliber without some sort of recoil reduction. But it is a very nice gun in terms of metal and wood work, and I'm sure eventually I'll get around to setting it up as a good hunting gun.

 

[mavracer]

Bob, just be sure whatever you do keep us updated. I got to admit a 50 conversion would be a hammer and sending it to Turnbull to finish would be damn sexy.

My problem is I'm too eclectic in my tastes I can't afford to get that carried away with the cowboy guns cause I spend too much on Black Rifles LOL

 

[Llama Bob]

Bob, just be sure whatever you do keep us updated. I got to admit a 50 conversion would be a hammer and sending it to Turnbull to finish would be damn sexy.

My problem is I'm too eclectic in my tastes I can't afford to get that carried away with the cowboy guns cause I spend too much on Black Rifles LOL

I've gotten back quotes on the work, and a conversion is looking likely. I may very well buy another M71 to keep in .348 (or do a simple conversion like .348 AI) at some point.

 

[CraigC]

I heard Winchester had re-introduced the 71 in .348 so new brass/bullets 'may' be on the horizon. I'd still rather have a fifty.

 

[SwampWolf]

Crap. I was off a year.

A year is a lifetime when comparing 1885s with 1886s.

 

[Scooter22]

I have one just like yours I got back in the 80s when they repo'd them. I ordered mine and waited. A great uncle had an original Win M71 Dlx I was supposed to get. Never did so I was happy for the Browning. Still have it like new and shoot 200grn cast bullets out of it. If you don't need a more powerful round I'd leave it alone. Theres a lot of guys who would love it as is. I always looked at the M71 and .348 as a match forever. Like Tom and Jerry, Abbot and Costello, Rocky and Bullwinkle...... Don't shoot Bullwinkle. Leave it alone.

 

[CraigC]

I look at the model 71 as a fantastic iteration of the levergun chambered in the wrong cartridge. That's the reason why they get converted to something more useful (and available).

 

[mavracer]

I look at the model 71 as a fantastic iteration of the levergun chambered in the wrong cartridge. That's the reason why they get converted to something more useful (and available).

I'm not so sure about the useful part IMHO the .348 is a heck of a performer, If it only took .358 bullets it'd prolly still be popular.

 

[CraigC]

It's not very useful if you can't get bullets or brass. The indictment against the .348 is the oddball bullet size, just like the .33WCF. Anybody even remember that one? Excellent performance but it suffered because it's the only cartridge/rifle utilizing that bullet size. Therefore, zero reason for anyone to further develop bullets for the caliber. Same for the brass. More .348 brass has probably been cut up for wildcats than was ever used as originally intended. It was born a dead end. As a result, you can buy Starline brass in cartridges based on the .348 like the .500Linebaugh and .50AK but no .348.

Of course, the .356 Winchester went nowhere too so not every good idea and great performer is going to be a success.