.45-70 Browning M-71 HiGrade Custom Rifle

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Pete44ru
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.45-70 Browning M-71 HiGrade Custom Rifle

Post by Pete44ru »

If you have a chance to get yore paws on the Summer 2008 issue of
GUNS OF THE OLD WEST, a magazine by Harris publications -
there's a pretty nice article in there, w/pics, of a custom Browning M-71 High Grade, converted to .45-70, with a full-length magazine !

It shore wuz purty !

The rifle has a Frontier Americana repro bolt peep machined into the bolt, a Douglas 22" barrel of the same contour as the original .348 barrel, and a full-length magazine - both with a nice polish/blue that contrasted with the pickled/engraved receiver.

The conversion was done by Regan Nonneman (Nonneman Custom Rifles), and consisted of the rebarreling, a new mag w/hanger(s), a Miroku M-1886 .45-70 lifter, and some bolt face work.

IIRC, the owner said it came in at 8.7lbs.

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1886
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Re: .45-70 Browning M-71 HiGrade Custom Rifle

Post by 1886 »

I read that article. It was pretty. 1886.
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Hobie
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Re: .45-70 Browning M-71 HiGrade Custom Rifle

Post by Hobie »

I had to shake my head that somebody would convert a M71 to .45-70 when the 1886s already existed. Purty dumb was what I was thinking but then it was his money (I hope the article paid for it.)

BTW, FWIW I saw a Grade I 1886 rifle asking $1699 at the show this weekend. No box but it looked to be excellent to fine condition.
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Leverluver
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Re: .45-70 Browning M-71 HiGrade Custom Rifle

Post by Leverluver »

"I had to shake my head that somebody would convert a M71 to .45-70 when the 1886s already existed. Purty dumb was what I was thinking but then it was his money (I hope the article paid for it.)"

+1

If you want an 86 get one. Leave the 71s alone.
pharmseller
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Re: .45-70 Browning M-71 HiGrade Custom Rifle

Post by pharmseller »

Leverluver wrote:"I had to shake my head that somebody would convert a M71 to .45-70 when the 1886s already existed. Purty dumb was what I was thinking but then it was his money (I hope the article paid for it.)"

+1

If you want an 86 get one. Leave the 71s alone.
'Nuff said.

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Pete44ru
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Re: .45-70 Browning M-71 HiGrade Custom Rifle

Post by Pete44ru »

Aw - Come on, fellas - cut the owner/author some slack !

Iffen' you'da read the article, and my OP, he used a Browning repro for the conversion, after all; and (in the article) he mentioned having a gennie M-71 Deluxe safe queen that he didn't want to desecrate.

And, re: using an M-1886 instead, tell me again - exactly how many pistol-gripped M-1886's have you run across ? ;)

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Mike D.
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Re: .45-70 Browning M-71 HiGrade Custom Rifle

Post by Mike D. »

Uhhhh, not too many. 'Cept this one, of course. Started out as an Extra Light, and just sorta "evolved". :mrgreen:
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1886
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Re: .45-70 Browning M-71 HiGrade Custom Rifle

Post by 1886 »

I agree with the Pete. If a fellar has a hankerin for a .45-70 built on the 71 platform more power to him. The pistol grip does in my useless opinion handle recoil much better than the straight grip. Either way we can all agree it was pretty. 1886.
Pete44ru
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Re: .45-70 Browning M-71 HiGrade Custom Rifle

Post by Pete44ru »

.

And today, Cimarron has made 3 different ( a standard, a Deluxe, and a scout-scoped ) .45-70 Model 71's - Who'd a thunk it ?

http://www.cimarron-firearms.com/produc ... ifles.html



Image

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tman
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Re: .45-70 Browning M-71 HiGrade Custom Rifle

Post by tman »

Mike D. wrote: Sun Aug 24, 2008 7:51 pm Uhhhh, not too many. 'Cept this one, of course. Started out as an Extra Light, and just sorta "evolved". :mrgreen:
Image
Dig the full mag! Lever actions look better that way. Might have that done to my 71 carbine.
mohavesam
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Re: .45-70 Browning M-71 HiGrade Custom Rifle

Post by mohavesam »

Pete44ru wrote: Sun Aug 24, 2008 7:19 am Aw - Come on, fellas - cut the owner/author some slack ! ...he used a Browning repro for the conversion, after all; and (in the article) he mentioned having a gennie M-71 Deluxe safe queen that he didn't want to desecrate.
Worse!
Winchester M71 - 47,000+- over 20 years. Pre-war technology & metallurgy
Browning M71 - 12,000+- over two years. CAD/CAM and modern metallurgy.

Which is more rare?
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Rimfire McNutjob
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Re: .45-70 Browning M-71 HiGrade Custom Rifle

Post by Rimfire McNutjob »

I desecrated an original from '57 ... to 450 Alaskan though. Not a Deluxe nor Bolt Peep ... just a Standard.
... I love poetry, long walks on the beach, and poking dead things with a stick.
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