Browning 71 and Cast Bullets
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Browning 71 and Cast Bullets
I just read a post on another board about the difficulty in using cast bullets in a Browning 71. Has anybody had this problem? If so what is the solution. Was thinking of getting 250gr LBT but due to the expense I want to be sure I am on the correct path.
Hi Mike,
I understand from others' posts that the Browning Model 71's throat needs to be lengthened to accommodate some of the larger cast lead bullets; particularly those with a large, blunt ogive. I have had difficulty chambering Beartooth's otherwise fine 245 grain cast lead bullet loads in my Winchester Model71 until I had a gunsmith lengthen the throat.
You can sidestep the problem by using a long, slender, round-nose cast lead slug like the Lyman# 350482. It weights 250 grains, nominally, and is gas-checked. It works in my Winchester. I can't say anything about the Browning.
A word about using cast lead bullets in the Model 71; it is picky about what it will shoot well. Ken Waters' article on handloading the .348 WCF in the July, 1976 issue of Handloader suggests that muzzle velocities above the mid teens, with cast bullet loads, usually result in a loss of accuracy. I have found that if I try to drive a cast lead bullets faster than about 1600 fps accuracy suffers greatly. So, I stick to "user friendly" handloads for target shooting. Plinking with a .348 with full power loads is not the most fun you can have on a Saturday afternoon.
I hope this helps.
Good luck.
I understand from others' posts that the Browning Model 71's throat needs to be lengthened to accommodate some of the larger cast lead bullets; particularly those with a large, blunt ogive. I have had difficulty chambering Beartooth's otherwise fine 245 grain cast lead bullet loads in my Winchester Model71 until I had a gunsmith lengthen the throat.
You can sidestep the problem by using a long, slender, round-nose cast lead slug like the Lyman# 350482. It weights 250 grains, nominally, and is gas-checked. It works in my Winchester. I can't say anything about the Browning.
A word about using cast lead bullets in the Model 71; it is picky about what it will shoot well. Ken Waters' article on handloading the .348 WCF in the July, 1976 issue of Handloader suggests that muzzle velocities above the mid teens, with cast bullet loads, usually result in a loss of accuracy. I have found that if I try to drive a cast lead bullets faster than about 1600 fps accuracy suffers greatly. So, I stick to "user friendly" handloads for target shooting. Plinking with a .348 with full power loads is not the most fun you can have on a Saturday afternoon.
I hope this helps.
Good luck.
Thanks for the heads up. I will have to find a gunsmith that can lengthen the throat on my 71 Browning. I wanted to work up a heavy bullet load for practice due to the cost of jacketed bullets, Barnes 250gr Orginals being my favorite. I was lucky enough to score 5 boxes for $21.00 each. I plan to use these sparingly.
I beg to differ,Yodar wrote:Hi Mike,
I understand from others' posts that the Browning Model 71's throat needs to be lengthened to accommodate some of the larger cast lead bullets; particularly those with a large, blunt ogive. I have had difficulty chambering Beartooth's otherwise fine 245 grain cast lead bullet loads in my Winchester Model71 until I had a gunsmith lengthen the throat.
You can sidestep the problem by using a long, slender, round-nose cast lead slug like the Lyman# 350482. It weights 250 grains, nominally, and is gas-checked. It works in my Winchester. I can't say anything about the Browning.
A word about using cast lead bullets in the Model 71; it is picky about what it will shoot well. Ken Waters' article on handloading the .348 WCF in the July, 1976 issue of Handloader suggests that muzzle velocities above the mid teens, with cast bullet loads, usually result in a loss of accuracy. I have found that if I try to drive a cast lead bullets faster than about 1600 fps accuracy suffers greatly. So, I stick to "user friendly" handloads for target shooting. Plinking with a .348 with full power loads is not the most fun you can have on a Saturday afternoon.
I hope this helps.
Good luck.
,plinking with a .348 with full power loads is pretty close to the most fun you can have on a Saturday afternoon. Just don't do it on a hot July day with just a tee shirt on...that steel buttstock leaves a mean bruise on your shoulder, that checkering is SHARP!!! 
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Mike R.,
If you are going to load some of those 250 grain Barns Originals, try 53 grains of IMR-4350. I get muzzle velocities just under 2100 fps and 1 1/4 inch groups at 50 yards from the bench. Don't waste them on plinking loads, use the cast lead bullets for that.
As an example of the Model 71's pickiness about loads; 52 grains and 54 grains of IMR-4350 didn't group nearly as well as the 53 grain load did.
Have fun experimenting.
If you are going to load some of those 250 grain Barns Originals, try 53 grains of IMR-4350. I get muzzle velocities just under 2100 fps and 1 1/4 inch groups at 50 yards from the bench. Don't waste them on plinking loads, use the cast lead bullets for that.
As an example of the Model 71's pickiness about loads; 52 grains and 54 grains of IMR-4350 didn't group nearly as well as the 53 grain load did.
Have fun experimenting.