.348 WCF Questions/Reloading

salvo · Post by **salvo** » Wed Sep 19, 2007 5:07 pm

I finally have the funds to buy the Winchester 71 that I posted pictures of a few months ago. While I'm waiting for it to be delivered I was hoping you guy's could post sources for dies, brass and bullets, some favorite loads would be helpfull too!

Here are a few pictures "Mulder" the PO sent me. I will take and post more when it gets here.

Kansas Ed · Post by **Kansas Ed** » Wed Sep 19, 2007 5:27 pm

Nicely Done!!! Quite the rifle there. I use IMR-4064 as most on here also do. Don't like the Hornady bullet, prefer the Barnes Original if you can still find them. If not try the Hawk bullet. I like the 220 gr. slug personally. As for dies...Redding hands down. CCI Bench Rest primers.

Ed

Have fun!!

Cimarron Red · Post by **Cimarron Red** » Wed Sep 19, 2007 6:00 pm

Midway lists .348 brass, but says it's unavailable, seasonal run.

Blue Star lists it but I don't know if they actually have it.

http://www.blue-star-inc.com/

Rimfire McNutjob · Post by **Rimfire McNutjob** » Wed Sep 19, 2007 6:49 pm

That ... is a beautiful 71.

WinM71 · Post by **WinM71** » Wed Sep 19, 2007 6:50 pm

I think Chestnut Ridge Supply still has brass. It's about $31 per 50, $4.50 shipping no matter how much you buy. I'd grab some before it gets real tough to find again. www.chestnutridge.com

I like the Hornady bullet and IMR-4064. I've had pressure signs with roughly comparable loads of RL-19 and IMR-4350, though I don't know why that should be. Besides, I like using IMR-4064 because it was the powder used in the first commercial .348 loads back in 1936.

salvo · Post by **salvo** » Wed Sep 19, 2007 7:27 pm

Thanks for the info, I better get some brass quick!
I could not sleep last night, so I broke out my reloading manuals to start planning a load and was surprised that no one even lists the .348

1886 · Post by **1886** » Wed Sep 19, 2007 7:27 pm

Riley's Sports of Hooksett N.H. 603 485-5000 x1 has 75 pieces of .348 brass at $25.00 per 25. Buy all of it. Ask for Ron he can help you. Redding dies are good also get a Lee Factory Crimp Die. Most shooting supply houses will have the dies. 1886.

WinM71 · Post by **WinM71** » Wed Sep 19, 2007 7:29 pm

The Hornady manual has always listed the .348. I don't have the current edition, but it figures that they would still list it, given that they offer the .348 bullet.

WinM71 · Post by **WinM71** » Wed Sep 19, 2007 7:36 pm

As 1886 mentioned, the Lee Factory Crimp die is a must. Less than $9 at Midway, and makes bullet crimping a cinch. The roll-crimper on the bullet seating die is a real pain. Uneven crimps (crimp is based on case length, so if the cases differ slightly in length, you get different degrees of crimp) and even collapsed cases if some are significantly longer than others. The real case life enhancer is a neck-sizer die. Grab it if you ever run into one. I got one on ebay a while back, and it cuts the case stretching (most of which occurs during full-length sizing) way down.

CBinNH · Post by **CBinNH** » Wed Sep 19, 2007 7:41 pm

Lock, Stock & Barrel has all you are looking for.
http://www.lockstock.com/prodinfo.asp?number=WBR348
http://www.lockstock.com/prodinfo.asp?number=HRN341
http://www.lockstock.com/prodinfo.asp?number=LEE90760
http://www.lockstock.com/prodinfo.asp?number=RED80336
http://www.lockstock.com/prodinfo.asp?number=LEE90857

Mike D. · Post by **Mike D.** » Wed Sep 19, 2007 8:18 pm

A favorite load for my Winchester 71 is 60.5 grains of IMR 4350 behind the 200 grain Hornady FP. It has an average velocity of 2402 FPS and prints 2 1/8" groups at 100yds. The gun also has the Lyman 56 receiver sight.

salvo · Post by **salvo** » Wed Sep 19, 2007 9:38 pm

Great links and information! I sure appreciate the help.
Never have used the Lee Factory Crimp die before, I think I'll try it on the 348 and get one for 30-30 too.
I have always just backed off the full length sizing die a bit, if the ammo is just for one gun, that should work about as well a neck die shouldn't it?

Eric M. · Post by **Eric M.** » Wed Sep 19, 2007 10:57 pm

I think that you will find that the standard reload for us guys that have loaded for the .348 over the years is 59.1gr of IMR 4350 using Hornady 200gr Flat Point Bullet.
I have used this load for over 40yrs with great results.

Good luck in finding brass.

Eric

salvo · Post by **salvo** » Wed Sep 19, 2007 11:26 pm

I was checking out the Hodgdon Reloading Center site.
http://data.hodgdon.com/main_menu.asp

They list the starting load of H4350 at 61 grains and Max at 66 grains. Much higher than you guys recommend? Curious.

Mike D. · Post by **Mike D.** » Thu Sep 20, 2007 10:29 am

You can go higher than 60.5/4350, but accuracy suffers beyond that. That has been the experience with my 71, anyway. I'll have to dig out my record and check some more loads.

salvo · Post by **salvo** » Thu Sep 20, 2007 8:42 pm

Thanks Mike D. I bet those 66 gr loads would be hot!

Rimfire McNutjob · Post by **Rimfire McNutjob** » Thu Sep 20, 2007 9:07 pm

That's a pretty clean 71 standard for it's age. Nice find.

Yodar · Post by **Yodar** » Thu Sep 20, 2007 9:32 pm

Salvo,

I had a lot of great information for you on reloading for the .348 WCF. I must have spent a half hour looking up sources, researching old load data, and typing it up to send to you. Unfortunately when I hit the "Submit" button I got a message back that said that site could not be found. I assume all that work went down the drain. I will speak harshly to the webmaster about this.

So, if you want to chat about reloading for the .348 give me a call on (928) 771-9713 or e-mail me at cnaretto@cableone.net. As for Chuck.

salvo · Post by **salvo** » Thu Sep 20, 2007 10:25 pm

Thank you Yodar, at least your work was appreciated!
I'll save this thread and give you a call when I get the components. Unless I should talk to you first?

On another note, I have got into the habit of copying posts before hitting the send button. The old forum trained me well

salvo · Post by **salvo** » Thu Sep 20, 2007 10:44 pm

Rimfire McNutjob, thanks. I bought the 71 from Mulder, he signed up to the old site right before it took a dump. This will be the last of four Winchesters that I have bought from him. Two 94's (1953 & 1954) one 64 (1953) and this 71.
So far they have been better looking in person than the pictures and as far as I can tell, never shot!

Here is the 64

And the 1953 Model 94. The 1954 is coming with the 71:P

Yodar · Post by **Yodar** » Fri Sep 21, 2007 10:28 am

Salvo,

For a near-full-power load try Winchester cases and primers, 53 grains of IMR-4350, a 250 grain Barnes JSP, OAL=2.79". MV=2066 fps.

For something that is a lot more pleasant to shoot try 24 1/2 grains of IMR-4198 with a 250 grain cast lead gas check bullet, OAL=2.79". MV=1500 fps.

There are a couple of bullet caster I can refer you to if you wish.

.348 WCF Questions/Reloading

.348 WCF Questions/Reloading

.348 supplies