I recently picked up a Browning model 71 in 348 win and when I went to shoot it , it wont fire. Put in a new mainspring and made no difference. There is no indent on the primer at all. Firing pin moves freely and when i push the pin forward with my finger there is lots of protrusion.
Out of ideas on what the problem could be
Any ideas would be appreciated
most all newer lever action have a second safety on the lever
look and see if yours does
its a small pin and if you dont grip the lever to to close tight it wont fire
Is the hammer going all the way down when its released? If it is and the firing pin is floating as it should then it could be a headspace problem. I would pm John Taylor on here and see what he thinks.
I have to ask, would this be CCI primers? I had a custom 308 rifle, I built myself on a Mauser action, and loaded some rounds the same as always, but used CCI primers, I had gotten at a local shop. Of the 20 rounds I had loaded, only 3 fired. Now keep in mind, I had put in a #26 striker spring, the original Mauser spring was 19#. There was not even a shiny spot or sign of a dent on those rounds. I went home and got some of my tried and true load using WLR primers, and it was business as usual. I called CCI and they told me it happened from time to time, to send them back and they would replace them. I thanked them. I then went out and loaded 3 rounds each, in 7 different calibers, guns, with the CCI primers, same result. I took what I had left, dumped them in a bucket of used motor oil to kill them, then disposed of them. I have not shot CCI since then, except for one try with their Bencrest primers, and got hangfires with them. Just asking in case.
Hammer falls all the way down and seems normal, maybe a little weak but normal. Thats why i replaced the mainspring but made no difference.
Use only Fed 210 primers in my leverguns, too many problems with CCI and the harder cups
I converted it to solid - sorry cant really remember how I did that - and would have to strip the rifle to figure it out again - happy to offer suggestions if you pull yours down and send me pictures two things I do rememberOriginally Posted by 244ack
1) I left the return spring IN at the front of the firing pin so it spring returns as well as the pin retracting with the lever stroke
2) rear end of firing pin on yours should have a smaller diameter button bit protruding (a bit over 1/8th diameter) out the centre of the firing pin? my gun that piece has been replaced with one with no notches and an extension of 85thou that contacts the hammer
Thats the end of the little blocker contraption. if you are going away for a bit - try dosing the gun with some crc or kroil or whatever is used for unlocking tight threads and such - put the gun on its back action open and squirt the stuff in side the firing pin along that little moveable bit and also along the firing pin channel as much as you can and leave it to run in - if this thing is seized up the problem is between the top of the firing pin and the breech bolt I think .
also I have infringed by my use of the b word in my post so proly gonna get banned for a month or beheaded or sumthin - so If ya see this might be the last of me.
Good morning
If your M71 has a rebounding hammer that no good lousy lawyer safety device could be causing your issue.
If your hammer "springs back" off the firing pin you are "blessed" with a rebounder that will cause you all sorts of grief until you cut it off.
Guess how I know about those.
Mike in LLama Land
"Come unto Me, all you who labor and are heavy burdened, and I will give you rest." Matthew 11:28
Male Guanaco out in dry lakebed at 10,800 feet south of Arequipa.
Take a pencil and drop it down the barrel on a closed breech. Aim the muzzle towards the ceiling. Pull the trigger. The pencil should be launched several inches up the barrel ( you'll hear it ) If so you have a problem other than the safeties.
Once you have found the problem, try the test again. Saves ammo and is safer to do.
Rapidrob- Thanks for the tip. I will try that
My 71 is the traditional half -cock version. No rebounding hammer
Is sounds like a significant headspace issue....with those rounds you're attempting to fire. If the firing pin is free, and you can push it forward with your finger so that it protrudes, and the hammer is falling, the primer just isn't in the right spot when the pin gets there due to either the case too far from the pin or the case is moving forward as it gets hit. Don't take this the wrong way or anything, but are you sure this used gun you got is actually barreled with a .348 Win? Has it been rebarreled where the headspace could be way off? How does a factory round fit in the chamber? It's kind of odd that it won't even dent the primer based on what you're describing with the firing pin moving and all.
Had the same problem with mine when I first got it, replaced the main spring with no results. Ended up putting a spacer under spring worked like a champ.
It will still have this junk firing pin though or something very much like it.
23 is the rebound spring right at the front end of the firing pin
Last edited by indian joe; 03-05-2020 at 09:00 AM.
Anything is possible I guess but highly unlikely that a browning would have a headspace problem sufficient enough to cause a fail to fire.
We know that the bodgy firing pin will do it - why not look there? the rebound hammer has been eliminated ............................
The Browning/Miroku guns didn't have the rebounding firing pin IIRC, only the Winchester versions (which I have). If the headspace is correct and the firing pin isn't broke off, it should be hitting the primer enough to leave a mark.
Hope I dont ruin your day but those are the parts I kept after I fixed the lawyer firing pin on my BROWNING model 71 - the barrel is branded "Browning Arms Company -Morgan Utah and Montreal P.Q." ...........I bought it new in the early 1990's, imported to Aussieland by Fuller Firearms (I believe).
It has the proper half cock notch - at about 1/4 inch back from fired position - has a coil mainspring assembly that is a pure mongrel to work with - trigger spring is separate and appears identical to an original Win.
Has a return/rebound spring at the pointy end of the firing pin (that I left in) which appears to be unnecessary because the ears of the lever retract the firing pin via the angled cuts in the side of the pin body (as in a 92 or 86) - part of Browning's original design that didnt really need to be messed with.
This also prevents an out of battery discharge (firing before lever fully closed).............I tested that part of my modification very thoroughly with primed shells, and could not get that gun to fire until the locking bolts were fully home. ------ would not have proceeded otherwise!!!
My Browning DID NOT HAVE A SOLID FIRING PIN......................................
Last edited by indian joe; 03-05-2020 at 07:24 PM.
Really appreciate everyone's input. Gives me a direction to go
Put a couple layers of scotchtape on the head of a brass cartridge to see if there is resistance when you close the breech to check headspace.
Is there a history of Browning model 71's with headspace problems??????
I've never heard anything but praise for bothe the 71's and the 86's from Browning. Closest thing to the real thing. Of course there could always be that one bad apple.
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