348 Winchester ??

[tred1956]

Hi,
Just got some Brass (200 NEW Winchester), Bullets (200-200Grain), and RCBS Loading dies in a purchase for 348 Winchester. Don't know anything about this cartridge but from what I have been reading it was offered in Lever Guns. Was wondering what rifles it was offered in? How hard one is to find? Trying to decide whether to search for a rifle or let it go. Any one familiar with this cartridge? All input appreciated.
Thanks
Doug

 

[Hal]

I think it was offered in a M-71 Winchester.
Browning also made a run of these rifles.

Hal

 

[ledward]

Great cartridge, I have a Browning '71 carbine and a new Winchester '71. The reproduction rifles are great quality, an original '71 can run can get very pricy. I use mine for elk with a 250 grain Barnes original. The '71 win and 1886 are the same action, they are big and heavy compared to rifles like the '94 win or 336 marlin.
I find the hardest part is finding brass in recent years. If you like lever guns and like to have something different than everybody else it is a great round that will stop anything you point it at. Great cast bullet shooter if you are into that as well

 

[wapiti25]

the 348 at 200yds it is right there with the 308. I carried my Winchester 71 as a Iron sight rifle for elk. Would be good for wild hogs, deer, elk. The rifle was used in Alaska but the barrel was changed to big bore like a 45-70.

 

[Tommie]

Brass, bullets and rifles in .348 aren't plentiful (to say the least). It's a cool cartridge though.

In Alaska, Model 71 Winchesters were popular for big bears. Many of them were rebarrelled to 450 Alaskan which is a .348 Win necked up to .458 with minor changes in body taper. That round runs with the .458 Win Mag. Can't imagine pulling the trigger on one of those bruisers!

 

[Ray B]

A fellow that I worked for about 40 years ago had a '71 in 348. It was a great cartridge that was somewhat underloaded since the factory ballistics put it about equal with a 358 Win but it has far more potential. the boss complained that it kicked too much for him, so it mostly sat in his closet.

 

[SSL]

.348 offers moderately heavy recoil, but developed a bad reputation as a result of the Winchester 71s having rather poor stock designs. Great cartridge for medium to Big game at reasonable ranges. Cast bullets should be .001 to .002 over bore dimension...assuming loads so loaded will chamber.

 

[snert]

Darned pretty rifles and really gaining in price, if you can find a clean one. Fine rifles.

 

[V509]

If you decide to sell please pm me

 

[Barlow]

A friend of mine owns one that's 100% original, with minor hunting use. All model 71's are 348 Winchester's. Barlow

 

[Medic505]

I had a Browning lever action in .348 once. When I bought it, a box of ammo with two rounds fired came with it. When I sold it, the box of ammo with two more rounds fired went with it. Thing kicked like a mule.

 

[Medic505]

I have to tell the rest of the .348 story. The gentleman I sold it to was a County Deputy here. I was drinking coffee with him one morning and he said "I'd like to find a short barreled lever rifle that would shop a car". I told him I could sure fix him up. He purchased the Browning and it wasn't but a couple weeks till he shot a Ford F-150 that was coming at him head on at a road block. He shot through the radiator, the bullet went through a fan blade, through the water pump and into the block. I ask him after he retired how many times he shot it. His reply was, " I still have half of that box of ammo that came with it. He's dead and gone now, not a clue what happened to the rifle. I'd sure like to have it back, had some of the prettiest wood I've ever seen on a factory rifle.

 

[tred1956]

WOW,
Thanks for all the input fellows
Doug