Winchester Model 71

Winchester Model 71
Winchester Model 71
Type	Lever-action

The Winchester Model 71 was a

lever-action rifle introduced in 1935^[1]

and discontinued in 1958.

Description

A slightly modified version of the Browning designed

big game in heavy timber, including the great bears, if using the 250-grain (16 g) bullet. It was once very popular for hunting in Canada and Alaska

.

Tthe rifle was expensive, and with less costly lever action rifles available in common and fairly powerful rounds such as .35 Remington.

Cartridges of the World remarks that factory ammunition was available in 150, 200 and 250-grain (16 g) weights. Only the 200-grain (13 g) weight is still available in factory ammunition.

Browning re-issued the Model 71 as a limited edition in the mid 1980s. The Winchester and Browning versions showed very high degrees of craftsmanship.

As of August, 2013, the Winchester Repeating Arms website again lists model 71s as available, new from the factory.

The Winchester Model 71 still has a loyal following for what is arguably "the finest big bore lever gun that has ever been" as well as being used as a strong and solid platform for various 'wildcat' projects.

Sources

The Cody Firearms Museum research office
Barnes, F, Cartridges of the World
Madis, George, The Winchester Book. Houson: Arts and Leisure Press, 1971.

References

^ "Serial Number Applications Tables" (PDF). www.bbhc.org. Retrieved 2012-07-05.
^ "Winchester 71 Info". Leverguns.com. Retrieved 2012-07-05.

[1] "Serial Number Applications Tables" (PDF). www.bbhc.org. Retrieved 2012-07-05.

[2] "Winchester 71 Info". Leverguns.com. Retrieved 2012-07-05.

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