The Winchester model 71 a new story.

Win71 · Post by **Win71** » Fri Dec 21, 2012 6:20 pm

Yes, the Model 71, .348 is a keeper for sure my 1937 standard model was purchased by my Dad the week he returned to Michigan from WW II in Europe in 1945. The rifle was hanging for sale in the Dixie Bar in Mackinaw City, price $100, it went home with Dad and has been in the family since. Over the years it has accounted for many memorable hunts and many Michigan whitetails by Dad, until his passing in 1996 and myself since. This year as a tribute to Dad, I took the old Model 71 on a Michigan Elk hunt after drawing a cow tag for the December hunt. I was hunting with my wife, my son, my brother and a few other friends in the Pigeon River State Forest about 65 miles from my home, on the 7th day of the hunt a nice cow elk was taken when a single shot from the .348 Winchester was placed behind the front shoulder at 200 yards. The elk staggered and dropped as is so familiar after hearing the bang – thud from Barnes 250 grain bullet striking home. Another memory was created by the old rifle with Dad smiling down on me, my family and friends and his Winchester model 71. Merry Christmas to all.

RIHMFIRE · Post by **RIHMFIRE** » Fri Dec 21, 2012 6:29 pm

great story, fine looking rifle....
and a nice pile of elk meat...
merry christmas...

Ji in Hawaii · Post by **Ji in Hawaii** » Fri Dec 21, 2012 6:41 pm

WOW, Great gun, great history, great shooting.
The only gun of my dad's of similar vintage is a type 99 7.7mm Arisaka he brought back from occupied Japan that and a cavalry saber. I always thought it would be nice to hunt with it. I also have a 1921 vintage 1903 Springfield but he got that in the 1950s through the NRA civilian marksmanship program.

ollogger · Post by **ollogger** » Fri Dec 21, 2012 9:44 pm

thats a great story, very nice pix of the elk you & the old 71, also like the Stormy Kromer!

ollogger

buckeyeshooter · Post by **buckeyeshooter** » Fri Dec 21, 2012 9:48 pm

That 250 grain Barnes is a hammer in the .348! Great job!

hfcable · Post by **hfcable** » Fri Dec 21, 2012 9:53 pm

wonderful story and picture! that is what this site and lever guns are all about.

thank you!!!

WinM71 · Post by **WinM71** » Fri Dec 21, 2012 10:32 pm

Great story & photo.

3leggedturtle · Post by **3leggedturtle** » Fri Dec 21, 2012 10:55 pm

What a great pic, I like the flannel hat. What scope and mount are on it,and When was it mounted? 3leg

mod71alaska · Post by **mod71alaska** » Fri Dec 21, 2012 11:12 pm

Great hunting and shooting with my sentimental favorite rifle and cartridge! Thanks for sharing a wonderful personal story.

Merry Christmas to you and yours!

Post by **Old Savage** » Sat Dec 22, 2012 12:28 am

Some of you have such history with your rifles. Congrats!

Post by **Old Savage** » Sat Dec 22, 2012 12:29 am

Durn good thing you did not shoot him behind that back shoulder

BigSky56 · Post by **BigSky56** » Sat Dec 22, 2012 12:40 am

Good shooting enjoy that elk meat, using your Dads rifle makes it a better memory. danny

guido4198 · Post by **guido4198** » Sat Dec 22, 2012 4:48 am

OUTSTANDING...!!!!!!!!

.45colt · Post by **.45colt** » Sat Dec 22, 2012 5:06 am

Fantastic!! What a Christmas dinner.Elk.

.

Win71 · Post by **Win71** » Sat Dec 22, 2012 6:52 am

Thanks all, a question came up regarding the scope and mount. Yes, it happened back in 1965 when my Dad's eyesight started to fail some. He had a local gunsmith drill and tap the Winchester and mounted a a Weaver K-4 in a Weaver mount, the Weaver has long since fogged and it is currently wearing a Leupold M-8 Compact, 2.5 x 20. I know money part of the equation is hurt but this Model 71 isn't for sale and never will be! Merry Christmas All.

86er · Post by **86er** » Sat Dec 22, 2012 9:17 am

Fantastic

Bill in Oregon · Post by **Bill in Oregon** » Sat Dec 22, 2012 10:14 am

Heartwarming post sir! A fine elk taken with your late father's lever rifle. Bet he was watching you make that shot!

M. M. Wright · Post by **M. M. Wright** » Sat Dec 22, 2012 10:29 am

Great post. Thanks for sharing and congratulations on your kill. Love that rifle.

tman · Post by **tman** » Sat Dec 22, 2012 5:10 pm

Win71 wrote:Thanks all, a question came up regarding the scope and mount. Yes, it happened back in 1965 when my Dad's eyesight started to fail some. He had a local gunsmith drill and tap the Winchester and mounted a a Weaver K-4 in a Weaver mount, the Weaver has long since fogged and it is currently wearing a Leupold M-8 Compact, 2.5 x 20. I know money part of the equation is hurt but this Model 71 isn't for sale and never will be! Merry Christmas All.

Way

. Might try your mount on my 71 carbine when eyes go bad

Thanks!

336A · Post by **336A** » Sat Dec 22, 2012 6:29 pm

Congrats on a fine elk and very nice rifle.

grouse · Post by **grouse** » Sat Dec 22, 2012 7:12 pm

Nice Elk! Great Story. Wonderful Rifle!

Merry Christmas!

3leggedturtle · Post by **3leggedturtle** » Sat Dec 22, 2012 7:22 pm

Win71 wrote:Thanks all, a question came up regarding the scope and mount. Yes, it happened back in 1965 when my Dad's eyesight started to fail some. He had a local gunsmith drill and tap the Winchester and mounted a a Weaver K-4 in a Weaver mount, the Weaver has long since fogged and it is currently wearing a Leupold M-8 Compact, 2.5 x 20. I know money part of the equation is hurt but this Model 71 isn't for sale and never will be! Merry Christmas All.

Just curious is all. Get tired of all "experts" whining about guns being bubba'd. Its a rifle made to hunted with, and your dad was smart enough to make his rifle work for him. My sights get fuzzy and I scope and peep most of my rifles. I also didnt realize there were elk in Michigan, or did you shoot it elsewhere? Todd

Win71 · Post by **Win71** » Sat Dec 22, 2012 8:24 pm

Elk were native in Michigan until the 1880's, then were re-introduced in 1918 with a small group of animals released near Vanderbuilt in the North Central Lower Pennisula. The herd grew throughout the years until it reached a size that threated it's habitat and the animals became a problem to local farmers when they expanded their range. Hunting of the elk started annually in the 1980's as a tool to manage the herd to keep them in their range in the Pigeon River State Forest. The herd is kept between 800-1000 in number, but usually reaches 1200-1500 each fall. So the DNR draws about 200 or more licenses from applicants each June for hunts in September, December and sometimes January if the quota isn't reached. The drawing is open to Michigan residents only at this time. I was one of 100 selected for the December hunt this year (30 bulls, 70 cows). There is talk of doing a similar drawing for a moose hunt in the future as a management tool in the Upper Pennisula.

kevin in nh · Post by **kevin in nh** » Sun Dec 23, 2012 8:53 am

My 71 Standard is also a 1937....thankfully it has open sights, as a peep is too hard to lock on a Deer anymore.....58 and my eye site gets a little worse every year.....so for hunting unless it's up close I reach for a scoped rifle or shotgun.......kevin

All three are Winchesters.......

The Winchester model 71 a new story.

The Winchester model 71 a new story.

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