.348 Winchester

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dave cash

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I recently inherited a .348 Winchester. It's a beautiful gun, and I am really itching to put a half dozen rounds through it before I store it away in my safe. The problem is AMMO. Where is the best place to find some for less than $75.00 a box?
 
I used to have a very nice model 71 Winchester that I was forced to sell. Along with 200 rounds of factory ammo.
I really regret that move.

I hit a deer across a lake and it sounded like slapping a fat lady in the butt with a wet canoe paddle. It is a remarkable cartridge.
 
sounded like slapping a fat lady in the butt with a wet canoe paddle.
Click to expand...

I think I'd pay money to see that...


As for the original poster that is a handloaders rifle I am afraid. I just wish I had a Model 71 to handload for.

Hornady makes a 200 gr 348 dia bullet still, IIRC. brass is kinda sketchy but winchester still makes it in seasonal runs. Dies are available from RCBS, LEE and others. Get you a hand press and mebbe some IMR 4350, RL7 and 4198.

Of course, that is if you don't handload already...but this is how I got into handloading...45-70 wasn't cheap for me so...
 
I think if you want factory ammo you will have to suck it up and pay the price. Even buying the components and having it custom loaded would not save you much money. You can try to keep an eye on the auction sites like gunbroker but there seems to be a good deal of bidding on this ammo when it does come up for sale.

My 71 never had a single round of .348 shot through it after I bought it, it went straight to McGowen for conversion to 450 Alaskan. Of course that is a reloader's cartridge as well.

4502-1.jpg
 
I inherited a mod 71, had to sell it. It was my father's elk, moose and grizzly gun. He shot a coyote with it at about 75 yards, there was a boumty in South Dakota in those days. Blew the entire chest away on the coyote. Very deadly on big game, too much for deer. Beautiful gun whith a Williams peep sight, sling and nice checkering.
 
Well, I recognize that backdrop there detonics.

anyways, I have lusted over a .348 for some time now, and it is certainly on my list. No one makes a winchester 71 in other calibers that matches that profile.
 
I inherited mine too. I occassionally find a box or 2 of ammo. Got some in Fredricksburg, Texas a few years back for $34/box . More recently (2 years ago) bought some, probably reloads, for $25/ box.

Try these folks for better prices. It is where I got the $25/box stuff ... haven't shot it so no reviews forthcoming.

http://www.gunsnet.com/
 
I hit a deer across a lake and it sounded like slapping a fat lady in the butt with a wet canoe paddle. It is a remarkable cartridge
Click to expand...
Good one! haha


The .348 is quite the cartridge. It was the only one offered for the Model 71 made from 1936-1958, so really an exclusive gun and cartridge. The original plan for the gun was to replace the Model 1886 and Model 1895 as a complement to the Winchester Model 70 bolt action rifle. Also to replace a raft of cartridges .33 Winchester, the .45-70, the .35 Winchester, & the .405 Winchester.

There were 2 grades of this gun: Standard and Deluxe. The Deluxe has many other features including wood checkering, a pistol grip "cap" and peep sight.
If your like me and have the standard one, you don't have any of the above and the rifle is somewhat plain looking (but still awesome looking :D)

Definatly going to have to reload for this one, unless you've got enough bank to pay the insane prices for the stuff online.
 
I had a browning model 71..its was the commemoration of the Winchester. Very nice gun, I hope to buy one again one day.

Most powerful cartridge I ever shot.

Theres Winchester Super X, Hornady and Cabela's has Buffalo Bore brand.

I had 7 boxes of Winchester Super X Browning Commemorative.. sold em all for like $400 on GB.
 
I sold my 348 in 1977 for $345. which was a very fair price. I was not sad to see it go since I found the recoil to be too harsh for me.

Marlin's 444 is sort of a modern replacement for Winchester's 348. That is, a hard hitting lever gun for truly large game animals.

TR
 
No one makes a winchester 71 in other calibers that matches that profile.
Click to expand...
Yes, it is a shame that no other chamberings were offered in the 17 configuration. IMHO, it is one of the best configurations ever offered on the 1886 action. Very practical and good lookin' too!
 
Of late I have been downloading my 450 Alaskan rounds using Trail Boss powder. While some of my hotter loads are nearly equal to 458 Win Mag ballistics the 400 grain lead over a case full of Trail Boss is very pleasant to shoot, very accurate as well. If I had it to do again I think I would go with the 500 Alaskan instead but my 450 has proven very effective on dangerous game up close.

A basic reloading set up could make the OP's 71 affordable to shoot again, would not take too many rounds to pay for the reloading equipment given the cost of factory ammo today.
 
Years ago, I bought a Mdl 71 and after I shot up the box of ammo that had been thrown in, I decided I should take up reloading, to "save money." Shot a couple of deer and an elk with the .348, then sold/traded it.

But it started me on the handloading disease, and like many of you, I've loaded for over 20 cartridges. Still "saving money......"
 
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