Browning 71 modified to straight stock

WoodrowC · Post by **WoodrowC** » Mon May 12, 2008 1:43 pm

Background on this project: my Browning 71 is my #1 hunting gun for Northern Ontario moose and Whitetail deer. It has put meat in the freezer for many years, and has spent time with me in the bush in weather conditions only fellow hunters would understand and appreciate.
I reload the .348 Win. cartridge for different uses: 40 grains of Reloder 7 for whitetail and 48 for moose. I like it better than any other cartridge I have ever used, including the 45-70, for what I use it for: very effective on 1600 lb. bull moose with 200 yard range.
I've read the thread started by Getitdone about altering a 71 to straight stock, and decided to try it. I know the feelings of many who would never modify a good gun, and I respect that, but I feel that I now have my perfect lever action rifle for hunting big game in my neck of the woods.
Here it is:

The plastic finish had been removed long ago, so I cut the pistol grip away, lengthened the upper tang area by about an inch, and then cut the lower tang metal away. Then it was a lot of careful work with a flat file and sandpaper to blend the stock wood into the lower tang metal.

The next part is not for the faint of heart! I heated the finger lever with a propane torch, braced it on the inside so it wouldn't close up, and squeezed it in a vice. The lever was still attached to the frame so I could use the lower tang to draw it to in the vice. Worked like a charm. I can faintly see the two dimples on the bottom of the lever that it had in original form, but I think this could be filed out carefully.
I restained the wood and cold blued the lever temporarily, as I want to work on fixing the checkering once I get the tools.

It's not for everyone, but I like it a lot.

Gerry

deerwhacker444 · Post by **deerwhacker444** » Mon May 12, 2008 1:55 pm

Took alot of guts to do that to a Model 71. Looks great and something to be proud of..

Blackhawk · Post by **Blackhawk** » Mon May 12, 2008 2:49 pm

Very, very nice. I like it. I perfer the straight stocks anyway. Good work.

Johnny

Sixgun · Post by **Sixgun** » Mon May 12, 2008 3:36 pm

You got some big ones, my man. Nice work. I have always been a fan of the straight stock and lever, both for mechanics and looks.-------Sixgun

Post by **Hobie** » Mon May 12, 2008 3:41 pm

I'm a straight stock guy myself! Guts, yeah, it did take some guts.

Griff · Post by **Griff** » Mon May 12, 2008 3:55 pm

Congrats, fine job. finished projects are special!

kimwcook · Post by **kimwcook** » Mon May 12, 2008 4:20 pm

I'd of passed out for holding my breath way too long before I could get that done. You've got guts.

WoodrowC · Post by **WoodrowC** » Mon May 12, 2008 5:11 pm

Many thanks, friends.
It's sure not the first risky thing I've done in my life............

And it suits me right down to the ground.

Gerry

runfiverun · Post by **runfiverun** » Mon May 12, 2008 6:10 pm

those ain't guts youall are seein cause i sucked mine in thinking about doin that to mine. but mine isn't a browning.

tman · Post by **tman** » Mon May 12, 2008 7:08 pm

rjohns94 · Post by **rjohns94** » Mon May 12, 2008 7:12 pm

nice work, post and final product. I like the straight stock. welcome to the fire.

woods-walker · Post by **woods-walker** » Mon May 12, 2008 8:31 pm

Thanks for sharing that story.

Nice project and results.

O.S.O.K. · Post by **O.S.O.K.** » Mon May 12, 2008 8:37 pm

Sweet! Great job - makes it even more special when you put yourself into it like that.

Grizzly Adams · Post by **Grizzly Adams** » Mon May 12, 2008 9:40 pm

You know, of course, that the ghosts of Col. Townsend Whelen, and all those devoted Winchester designers who labored to make the 71 the ultimate in a lever action big game rifle, are frowning down on you for this!!!?

Nice job!

brucew44guns · Post by **brucew44guns** » Mon May 12, 2008 9:59 pm

I really like your rifle, it looks sharp, and yes you did have nerve to do all this. What if you had sneezed or got something in your eye at the precise wrong moment? But I'm going to keep on tipping things over with my long tang 71 just as she is. I'm a coward and I know it. Congrats on your rifle though.

clubkey · Post by **clubkey** » Mon May 12, 2008 10:11 pm

Great job, my hat is off to you Sir!

getitdone1 · Post by **getitdone1** » Mon May 12, 2008 10:34 pm

WoodrowC,

Thanks for showing us what you did with that Browning 71 carbine. Glad I helped a bit with the idea.

Seems to me there's no question that a straight stock and lever is gonna lever better.

Appears you chose to leave the "fat" forestock as is.

Any change with the sights--or planned?

A wonderful, top quality gun.

Don McCullough (Getitdone1)

Malamute · Post by **Malamute** » Mon May 12, 2008 11:46 pm

Good job. I've been thinking of doing that to my Winchester 71. I really don't like the pistol grip stock. It's either going to be straighten it, or sell it. I dislike it that much. May be simpler to get a straight lever from an 86, but I don't know if they directly interchange.

You have the shorter barrel also. I've been thinking of hacking 2" off mine, to make it a 22". Then it would be about right to me.

Jaguarundi · Post by **Jaguarundi** » Tue May 13, 2008 12:45 am

Nice job and first posting.

Welcome aboard WoodrowC.

TedH · Post by **TedH** » Tue May 13, 2008 7:10 am

Well done! Looks great.

t.r. · Post by **t.r.** » Tue May 13, 2008 7:10 am

Nice stock modification. That takes a steady hand and patience.

TR

WoodrowC · Post by **WoodrowC** » Tue May 13, 2008 7:54 am

Thanks for the welcome, Gentlemen. I've been reading and enjoying this forum for a few years. It feels like home.

Good one, Grizzly Adams.......I didn't even think about how Col. Whelen would feel!

Don..........Except for the pistol grip, I rather like the chunkiness of the Browning 71 fore-end and stock, especially the high comb. So other than fixing the checkering when the tools come from Brownels, and rebluing the lever properly, that will be it. The standard sights do the job for me. I considered a full length mag tube (from an '86 carbine) but not sure yet.
I wasn't really going for a copy of an extra light '86, just a trimmer '71.
And it fits my horse scabbard better as well.

Regards, Gerry

Henry McCann · Post by **Henry McCann** » Tue May 13, 2008 5:29 pm

Gerry,

Sacrilege, pure sacrilege! The 71 is perfect as originally designed. Can you tell I love the pistol grip?

That said, I would love to own an '86 extra light in .33 Winchester, which is what you have recreated in form if not caliber.

Nice work!

Mike D. · Post by **Mike D.** » Wed May 14, 2008 2:44 pm

Good job, but all you would have to have done was buy a Winchester straight lower tang and lever to get the job done. That way you could've kept the original parts. I did just the opposite and converted my '86 EL to a PG gun.

KWK · Post by **KWK** » Wed May 14, 2008 3:38 pm

I like it. Winchester should have offered it so.

tman · Post by **tman** » Wed May 14, 2008 7:12 pm

all u need to do is add a full length magazine tube to achieve perfection. do that and if u get tired of it u can always sell it to me