348 winchester as a CB rifle.

[like it all]

Earlier I asked about what caliber for a CB project rifle. The .30-30, 30-06, and .308 were front runners, but a 35 was considered by many best for bigger game. I've looked at many used rifles lately, and the 35 whelen and 35 rem were most common. I have run across a 348 Winchester model71 . Would this be viable? The load books put the 348 just below the 350 rem mag in power. What kind of problems could be encountered with the 348?

[Green Lizzard]

the only problem encountered with mine is lack of molds, i size down the 35 cal to .350 in two steps then size the nose to 340, not target grade but pretty darn good. i put the gas check on during the final pass base first which leaves it convex on the base which seems to do no harm

[williamwaco]

NO.

Very limited supplies of both molds AND brass.



.

[like it all]

After looking in the Lyman book, I see what you guys are talking about. I guess its 35 whelen , or a 45-70.

[runfiverun]

there is the option of a custom mold. [and hornady still makes gas checks]
the 348 is a very effective round within it's limitations [anything in north America within 100 yds]
but the rifle is waaaay heavy after carrying it up and down a couple of ridges.
and cost effective it ain't, in neither the brass nor the rifle itself.

[MT Gianni]

Ammohead has one and has shot an Elk with it and a cast boolit, IIRC. His is a beautiful rifle, if it floats your boat great but as mentioned it is a custom mold and hard to find brass. OTOH, 300 rds of brass should last you 35 years.

[like it all]

I see several break action rifles for cheap, are they viable? I only have experience with break action shotguns. For the kind of money the 71 would have cost me /, I could buy 2 or 3 Ruger amercans, a 308, a 30-06, and whatever.

[Duckiller]

Yea but a model 71 is probably the smoothest lever action ever made. Can you say that about your Ruger? RCBS recently had a 200gr mold. Lyman molds exist. And it kills lions ,tigers and bears. 250 gr Barnes soft point bullets can be impresive.

[mikeym1a]

If you are looking for something different, how about a .375 Whelen? plenty of boolits, and brass.....[smilie=s:

[MattOrgan]

The .348 M71 is a great cast bullet rifle that takes a little looking to find brass and molds. The RCBS 200 grain flatnose mold is outstanding and with the number of custom makers these days molds are not really an issue for any cartridge. As someone mentioned Hornady still makes gas checks. 348 brass seemingly lasts forever if you'll anneal them every 5 loadings or so. Cast shoots better than factory or jacketed reloads, a bonus. They are heavier that a M94 or 336, but the originals are works of art,I never mind carrying mine They are somewhat more than 100 yard guns,particularly with a receiver sight. If you want one there is nothing that should really make it impossible to enjoy;so go for it. I'm pretty sure the 71 is one of those rifles that will continue to appreciate in value faster than most.

[williamwaco]

Yea but a model 71 is probably the smoothest lever action ever made. Can you say that about your Ruger? RCBS recently had a 200gr mold. Lyman molds exist. And it kills lions ,tigers and bears. 250 gr Barnes soft point bullets can be impresive.

It is a very nice rifle. No doubt about that.
If I were a collector, I would certainly want one.

But not for my everyday cast bullet rifle.

[fouronesix]

Classic North Woods lever gun design based on the Winchester M1886. Try to pry one from the hands of an owner who has used one for that type hunting! Smooth, ergonomic, refined, strong design. What's not to like about them.

Cast bullets in the 200-230 gr range work well. You'll probably have to get a mold made- but quite a few choices these days for that- plus you'll end up with a mold that is right for the gun. I designed one using the Mountain Molds design feature a few years ago. Now have an excellent 200 gr RNFP GC mold that drops .350. Sized to .349- has worked in all the M71s I've tried it in.

Brass and GC are available.

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/738735/winchester-reloading-brass-348-winchester-box-of-50

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/701859/hornady-gas-checks-348-caliber-box-of-1000

Had 5 originals at one time, now down to a long tang standard pre-WWII rifle and a post WWII dlx rifle.
Here's the dlx rifle.

[rintinglen]

I bought one the year before last and have been very very happy with it. I have 2 molds, one an Accurate 2 cavity brass 220 grainer, one the excellent RCBS 200 grainer. Both are very accurate, but a bit boisterous with heavier loads. I have also had very good luck with the 358-429 .357 boolit sized .351. It hits way low, but loaded over 13 grains of Reddot, is very accurate and great fun to plink with. If all you want is a fun, cheap, CB gun, then there are many other paths to tread, but I enjoy shooting mine.

[451whitworth]

I would take a M71 as an everyday cast bullet rifle 8 days a week. I have 3 Brownings and one original. I use Accurate 35-220B and LBT 250gr. LCFN at 2200 fps. With Williams receiver sights they shoot itty bitty groups. The Brownings seem to think they are scoped bolt guns with the tiny groups they print. None of them have any throat and any bullet that sticks out of the case must be land diameter or they chamber difficult.

[Le Loup Solitaire]

I have a Winchester M71 in .348. Picked up quite a bit of brass for it some years ago when brass was readily available and for a reasonable price. Have always used Lyman mold 350482, a 250 grain round nose that looks like (and is) an overgrown 311291. Recoil at around 1900-2000fps isn't too bad. With factory loads running at around 2200fps kick is a bit more than an 06. Two versions were available-the deluxe pictured in post#12 above and the standard version which I have. The M71 has always been a favorite of Alaskan guides especially when converted to various wildcats some of which were very powerful cartridges. A set of dies and a 310 tool were special order items back in the day so I settled for a Pacific "pak tool". It was slow going and I wound up getting a set of RCBS dies for loading the 348. It is a good looking gun and fun to shoot. LLS

[grouch]

CBE has 2 or 3 molds for .348, and I'm sure Veral Smith at LBT would make a good one for it.
Grouch

[ofreen]

My Winchester M71 is an early standard model. It has the bolt peep and is beautifully made. Just working the action and watching a cartridge cycle is entertainment all by itself. I use an NEI mold I bought back in the '80s. If you can get a good original in decent shape for a reasonable price, i'd say go for it. As others have pointed out, brass and molds are no great hurdle.

[pdawg_shooter]

.348? A.339 bullet intended for a .338 Winchester and two wraps of 16# paper is just about perfect.

[Springfield0612]

As was said before, .348 Win components are still out there you just gotta be patient and quick. 4 months ago I got a trade local, I traded the guy 100 Magtech .38 S&W boolits and I think 50 .38 S&W brass and a couple other items and I got 50 .348 Win brass and 200 bullets to go along with it. Also when I first signed up on this site I did a trade, I gave 1K .38 SPCL and got like 100 .348 win brass, and some other items as well. Next I'd love to get a mold for the .348 Win, just gotta save my money.

[shadowcaster]

The 348 is a sweet rifle.. As said above, if you look around there are molds and gas checks to be found and Buffalo Arms carries brass.

http://www.buffaloarms.com/Detail.aspx?PROD=157062

Shad

[Green Lizzard]

i patch lees 220 gr 338, but it has a round nose that is just a little too pointy for mag tube

[Springfield0612]

http://www.armslist.com/posts/2279396/seattle-washington-ammo-for-sale-trade---348-win--w-c-f--ammunition

Some .348 components up for trade. This isn't mine and I don't have a dog in the fight just hoping to help someone out with some bread crumbs.

[Beau Cassidy]

Nothing wrong with a .348 Win or cast bullets in them, either. I am sitting on 3 of them right now. I whacked my first elk- a cow- with one at about 75 yards and my own Lyman cast bullet. Bang Flop. It was a neat experience for me because the guy I was hunting with told me not to bring the rifle.

[winchester85]

i plan on using my 71 for a cow elk this year. i was going to use it for moose, but the situation just didnt work out right. i also have an 1885 uberti in 348, it shoots VERY well.

[johnly]

I have a mold from the C350-225-FN group buy to feed my Browning M71 rifle.

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?26399-C350-225-FN-Group-Buy-for-348-Winchester

If you need some samples for a test drive, just drop me a PM.

John

[6GUNSONLY]

I just recently acquired a very nice Model 71 deluxe made in 1952. Shot it Sunday for the first time with 200 grain Hornadys I loaded. I look forward to finding a good bullet mold and working up some good cast bullet hunting loads.

[alamogunr]

This thread almost makes me wish I hunted. I've gotten too old but several years ago I ran across a Browning Miroku 71 at a very good price. I like the looks of the Model 71 so much that I couldn't pass it up. Bought a Mountain Mold in 250 gr. I don't remember if I specified bore ride or not but that's what it says. I don't shoot it often but I do get it out and look at it from time to time.