Found a great deal on a Browning model 71 but......

[lentuk]

I have always wanted a Winchester model 71 but the prices keep going up.
I recently found a pretty good deal on a 99% Browning/Miroku model 71 with six boxes of factory ammunition for $975.00.
Trouble is I want a Winchester 71 Deluxe, pre-war, long tang with the bolt mounted aperture sight and I don't know if the browning will cure that want....:cry:
OK so what would you do?

[starmac]

If you don't know, I sure don't. lol I reckon you just nneed to spring for it and find out. lol

[.45colt]

You have Your Heart set on the Winnie, save your money bide your time and get the Winchester. The Browning is a fine rifle but it's NOT a pre-war Winchester.....or You could buy the Browning and sell it for what You paid or more and keep the ammo as it's pretty expensive. but I bet if You do You will just keep the Browning.

[seaboltm]

Sort of like my dilemma with the 1895 Winchester. Prevailing wisdom is that the more modern Brownings and newer Winchester's are better shooters in the 1895. Of course the 1895 is a much older design than the 71, so that "prevailing wisdom" may not apply.

[photomicftn]

The 71 is actually the older design, being a minor modification of the 1886. The 1895 is the more updated design, handling the early smokeless cartridges from the get-go and having a box magazine that can safely hold pointed bullets.

The only choice is to own all of them.


Sort of like my dilemma with the 1895 Winchester. Prevailing wisdom is that the more modern Brownings and newer Winchester's are better shooters in the 1895. Of course the 1895 is a much older design than the 71, so that "prevailing wisdom" may not apply.

[lentuk]

OK there are six full boxes of .348 that come with the rifle, two silver boxed super x Winchester, two Winchester that say Browning 71, one Winchester white box super x and one box of Grizzly.
What is the ammunition worth by itself?

[skeettx]

Buy the gun, use it ALOT
While using it, Save up your pennys

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=448859358

[starmac]

The ammo by itself is only worth what you or someone would pay for it. To the majority of the guys here it is worth what the brass is worth, but there a few that might like to have a factory box full to keep on a shelf and look at it.

I wouldn't buy the 71 to get the ammo and sell the gun. I probably if I had my heart set on one, buy it and shoot it until exactly what I want pops up, then sell it or not.

[ehsa]

i have a browning model 71 high grade which i bought used.it came with a williams fool proof sight.i shoot it quite a bit and love it. i also have a prewar winchester m71 with bolt peep, long tang, 1936 a standard rifle and i shoot it as well.both are fine rifles.i woud certainaly say you will like the browning and keep looking for the winchester of your dreams.john

[451whitworth]

Do you have the money right now for the Winchester you described? Or are you getting the I want it now bug because you haven't saved up enough yet? The rifle you describe wanting is around $3K (or more) as I assume you want it in at least very good condition.

[Hang Fire]

The 71 is actually the older design, being a minor modification of the 1886. The 1895 is the more updated design, handling the early smokeless cartridges from the get-go and having a box magazine that can safely hold pointed bullets.

The only choice is to own all of them.

The parent M1886 may be older, but the M71 came out in 1935 and was discontinued in 1958 IIRC.

[lentuk]

Yes, I have the money for the Winchester.
Its just hard to find a rifle that I can put my hands on, I don't want to buy a rifle that expensive without being able to inspect it first.
I know there are reputable dealers with return policies on the auction sites but the hassle and disappointment of having to send it back is more than I am willing to deal with.
Any suggestions?

[skeettx]

1. We have NO IDEA where you live !
2. Buy a motorcycle and go to where the gun is :)

[lentuk]

I own several motorcycles and I live in Southern California, that's probably the biggest hurdle.

[starmac]

I can't say that I blame you, it is very rare I buy if it isn't a face to face deal. One reason is I hate going through an ffl, just adds to the cost. I guess if I was a collector, with my heart set on a particular rifle it would be different.

[seaboltm]

The parent M1886 may be older, but the M71 came out in 1935 and was discontinued in 1958 IIRC.

Exactly. It's not only the year of design, but the year of metallurgy. Still, I see the point. Yes, the 1895 can do the pointed bullets. But I would bet the 71 is stronger than a very early 1895 rifle overall, due to metallurgy. But I could be wrong, and often am.

[seaboltm]

I can't say that I blame you, it is very rare I buy if it isn't a face to face deal. One reason is I hate going through an ffl, just adds to the cost. I guess if I was a collector, with my heart set on a particular rifle it would be different.

???? The first sentence confuses me, but I am many thousands of miles south.

[starmac]

???? The first sentence confuses me, but I am many thousands of miles south.

He wants to physically look at it before purchasing. I am the same way, not just with guns. I rarely order or buy anything off the net, unless I can't buy it face to face. Firearms even more so because of the unneeded extra cost of an ffl.

[Duckiller]

lentuk, buy it and shoot the ammo. You will have brass for the winchester when you get it. Model 71's aren't that common in So Cal so you may have a long wait for a Win. Especially since lots of "dealers" don't want to sell a gun in California. Probably don't want the DOJ to check out their FFL.

[photomicftn]

Gentlemen,

Points taken about dates of manufacture and metallurgy, but the original issue I challenged was about the relative modernity of the design of these actions and rifles.

The 71 was introduced shortly after final production of the 1886 and 1895 ceased in the 1930s, and was basically the same rifle as the 1886 with some updates and had the improved metallurgy of that period; however, it was chambered for a cavernous .50 caliber case held over from the old blackpowder days loaded with smokeless powder in a unique caliber, the .348 WCF, itself an improved .33 WCF. Design-wise, it's a true blue 1886 at it's heart.

The 1895 was chambered for the Krag, .30-'03 and .30-'06, all modern (at the time) high-intensity smokeless military rounds. The 1895 was not as enduring as the 1886 or 71, nor as beloved, but is surely a newer design than either.

[Full disclosure: I own these rifles and shoot them]


Exactly. It's not only the year of design, but the year of metallurgy. Still, I see the point. Yes, the 1895 can do the pointed bullets. But I would bet the 71 is stronger than a very early 1895 rifle overall, due to metallurgy. But I could be wrong, and often am.

[photomicftn]

Jump on it. The Browning guns are great, as are the Winchesters. I bought one of each within a year of each other, and I've kept them both. Not very many made of the Brownings, not mention the Winchesters.


I have always wanted a Winchester model 71 but the prices keep going up.
I recently found a pretty good deal on a 99% Browning/Miroku model 71 with six boxes of factory ammunition for $975.00.
Trouble is I want a Winchester 71 Deluxe, pre-war, long tang with the bolt mounted aperture sight and I don't know if the browning will cure that want....:cry:
OK so what would you do?

[alamogunr]

I have both the Browning/Miroku 71 and 95. The 95 is in .30-40 Krag. Luckily I got them both several years ago before even they got pricey. I'm not nostalgic about original Winchesters in either model and I shoot both without worry

[451whitworth]

Yes, I have the money for the Winchester.
Its just hard to find a rifle that I can put my hands on, I don't want to buy a rifle that expensive without being able to inspect it first.
I know there are reputable dealers with return policies on the auction sites but the hassle and disappointment of having to send it back is more than I am willing to deal with.
Any suggestions?
It's nice to know I'm not the only one. I have passed on alot of firearms on auction sites because of the extra $100 in shipping/FFL fees plus the hassel of getting the FFL to actually send their info to the seller. And of course one person's 98% condition is not the other person's idea of 98%. Returning the firearm just became a $150 looking fee. But that's the way it is.

[Jackpine]

When in doubt, BUY! Much easier to resell than to buy after it is gone.

[TXGunNut]

Buying the Miroku makes sense but if the Winchester is what you truly want you won't be happy until you get one. The quality of a Miroku is hard to beat but the satisfaction of owning a nice vintage Winchester means more to some folks-including me.

[lentuk]

I am buying the Browning on Saturday, Ill just keep looking for the Winchester.

[TXGunNut]

I am buying the Browning on Saturday, Ill just keep looking for the Winchester.


Good plan, at least you'll have brass and maybe a load or two when the Winchester happens along.

[ThorOdinson]

I owned exactly what you want. Had to sell it. I spent at least 5 years looking for it. Had a standard model before finding the deluxe. The deluxe caused a lot of drooling by my hunting buds. Later one of those Buds told me of yet another deluxe that had been rechambered to a .348-.450 which was the same as the .450 Alaskan. Even had the chambering reamer. Shot it about 3 times before buying it. I've seen the Brownings. Nice but that 1936 Winchester just had an aura and feel about it. California is pretty backwards and Colorado just recalled 2 legislators that forgot the people are the boss. Forced another to resign. Thor

[CLAYPOOL]

I like that remark; "Because of the unneeded cost of a F.F.L.". I can tell you that there is "Cost" to having a F.F.L. Don't doubt that for a second. The gun room / reloading room at the head of my first, 100 yard range, materials cost all most $ 4000.00 for lumber alone. They have been waiting patently for more money. We are now getting ready for the concrete pour in the next week or two. Another $ 1000.00 or so. Then when spring comes another addition of 18 x 18 again. Unknown cost on that. Then the second floor firing room to shoot over the first bullet trap to gain yardage. But LIFE will be very good. Oh and when they come to visit you and look you and your records over. HMMnnnnnnn.

[starmac]

Claypool, if I buy instate an ffl is not needed, unless I buy from a dealer.
I prefer to look at one anyway, and an ffl is then unneeded. Not saying there isn't a cost to be an ffl. It just adds to the cost of the firearm, that I don't need to pay buying face to face.

[762 shooter]

I have purchased many rifles waiting on the one I thought I wanted. Some scratched the itch some didn't.

Most of my internet purchases have been NIB firearms. Buying used could be hinky. Two used purchases that turned out well were a GSR and a 1874 Shiloh.

I see a transfer fee as a protection payment to an intermediary to keep the ATF off my back.

762

[Geezer in NH]

IMHO unless you buy from a shop where you can look at the gun you will not be happy. This may or will cost you more there are no free rides.

[smkummer]

I was loading ammo for a friends Win. 71 made in the 50's and it was a rifle. Smoother than my pre-64-94. The kick was bearable with the 200 hornandy bullets going close to factory velocity but we both seldom fired more than a box of 20 between the 2 of us. I had just bought a lyman mold and was loading reduced cast bullets with gas checks when his brother wanted the gun back (it was their father's). Hope he can get the gun back again someday and we will really enjoy it with cast bullet ammo more in the 30-30 power factor. I speculate if the .348 was originally loaded with a .358 bullet, it would have been a lot more popular and other manufactures might have chambered it.

[lentuk]

Well I got to pick her up yesterday, time to strip the slippery/shiny stock finish like I did on my 1886.
Any recommendations on a good 200-220 grain .348 mold?
http://i336.photobucket.com/albums/n358/longbowman/180_zps0167cc28.jpg?t=1415208820

[451whitworth]

The Accurate 35-220B is a good one

[Greg B.]

If you are still looking for that pre war Winchester you might try Doug Turnbull Restorations. They might be able to fix you up with something suitable.

[helice]

Brownings have never been a disappointment for me whether bolt or lever or shotgun. Your picture is truly eye candy for me and I appreciate your posting it. I'm too far north to shoot with you so I ask you to punch some holes with all that ammo and post us some targets so I can enjoy the shoot vicariously. Nice finish job and congratulations on a nice rifle.

[lentuk]

Stripped the slippery finish off, still looking for a vintage Redfield or Lyman all steel receiver sight.
http://i336.photobucket.com/albums/n358/longbowman/f3e575b7-e89d-46b0-969b-90d3914b6d16_zpscd6225c7.jpg?t=1415711590

[John Taylor]

Nice looking gun. I picked up a butchered 71 several years back and sold most of the parts except the action. Now I'm building a 50-100 out of it and have the parts but not the time to finish it, to busy working on every one ells guns.