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February 11, 2026
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Reloading for my .348, I acquired a 1966 Speer reloading manual in the data they call out powder 4320, 4350 and 4895. Are they referring to “H” or “IMR”. I have both types.
Thanks Mike
November 7, 2015
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IMR, may be good idea to buy a newer manual to have current data for modern powders. Don’t toss the old manual, they’re great for reference!
Mike
February 11, 2026
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Thank you,
I do have newer manuals however it only shows 200 gr and 220 gr. I bought and old manual because .348 had 150 and 180 loadings and was hoping to find them. I have orig 180gr speers and bidding on some 150gr. I found some online for 180gr but just wanted to clarify the manual. Old books are great to have for this reason on obsolete cartridges.
March 31, 2009
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I’m positive the old manuals were talking about IMR powders. Now that Hodgdon owns IMR we may be forced to use the H powders. In most cases you can use the H instead of the IMR but I would recommend to start low and working up. Powders that are close in burn rates don’t always produce the same pressures. Burn rate is just that, how fast it burns.
November 7, 2015
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I have a few older manuals, namely a 45th edition Lyman and a Mattern manual. The rest are less than 50 years old. I have some 200gr Hornady bullets occupying valuable real estate at the moment if you’re interested. I get nervous trying to compare IMR, Hodgdon and Accurate powders. Seems each number (eg 4350) is a rule unto itself so Chuck’s advice of starting low is prudent. It’s an old rule, gets better with age.
Mike
April 3, 2018
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The 150 gr loading by W-W was discontinued due to low SD and rapidly losing velocity. Winchester could have improved the ballistics by 175-225-250 gr loadings. Peters developed an excellent 210 gr bullet that was Inner-Belted to hang togethether. IMR 4350 is the best powder for 225 gr Hawk or 250 gr bullets in the .348. Newer powders producing higher velocity such as the H/Alliant CFE 223 powder do the business. Higher velocity with reduced pressure. Velocities of 250 gr bullets in the 35 Whelen have reached over 2600 fps. I have used CFE 223 and it works. Hawk, Fury. Woodleigh or hard to find Swift are current bullets. I still have some Hornady 200 gr FPs, discontinued-but a good bullet. I do not care for cast bullets in the 348. Gas checks in BN cases are tricky.
The Model 71 is not a bolt action, so pressure indicators are important. IMR 4350 and CFE 223 are my choices for the 250 gr jacketed bullet in the .348 WCF Model 71.
November 7, 2015
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If you have access to a Waters manual he lists loads for the 180gr bullets using RL-7, IMR-3031, IMR-4350 and H-4831. He was using the Speer FNSP bullet.
Mike
March 15, 2025
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I have this box of bullets. Would you be able to use them?
November 27, 2022
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Hotchkiss10 said
I have this box of bullets. Would you be able to use them?
If Kenpo5 isn’t interest in them, I would consider buying them from you. Bill
February 13, 2026
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Good day!
New member here. am hoping to hear from any serious Winchester 71/348 Winchester 71 shooters in this community. I use one of my Winchester 71s every year for spring bear hunting (opens here April1st 
. I pack a 71 every time I go to my hunting cabin, truck camping or fishing/camping.
I shoot reloads with the old Hornady 200gr bullets and Barnes X bullets. I play with cast bullet loads (255grGC).In my hands my factory ao is no where as accurate as my reloads, so I shoot factory n each of my 71s only to verify where they hit and velocity. By the way all my loads run at 2400fps or so.
I would be interested if anyone is getting velocities of 2500fps with factory or reloaded 200gr bullets. I have not seen that with any of my Winchester 71 or Browning 71 rifles.
I am up to 4 resizings with my current loads with no brass loss. I do not have an annealer and don’t anneal.Seriously considering getting an annealer after loading a batch of old brass a buddy annealed for me. I could feel a difference in sizing (smoother and more consistent). Accuracy was a bit better, caveats rifles all have receiver sights, eyeballs 7 decades old, and my accuracy potential wth iron sights is impacted by sunlight situation.
So no more “I”s, love to hear from folks who hunt with, shoot, and reload 348Winchester/Winchester 71s.
Cheers!
April 3, 2018
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Target shooters have found that “candle annealing’ works on case necks to extend case life and aid in re-sizing.
It is a relatively low-tech operation using candles, wet and dry terry cloth, with leather gloves. Case necks do not have to be cherry red for 348 case necks. It is a straight forward process with normal air cooling and cleaning of the treated case necks.
March 31, 2009
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450 Fuller said
Target shooters have found that “candle annealing’ works on case necks to extend case life and aid in re-sizing.
It is a relatively low-tech operation using candles, wet and dry terry cloth, with leather gloves. Case necks do not have to be cherry red for 348 case necks. It is a straight forward process with normal air cooling and cleaning of the treated case necks.
Good info. My modern annealer only gets the case to where the neck/mouth of the case just gets orange. Don’t quench, it hardens the brass.
December 13, 2006
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When I anneal cases, I dip the case neck in molten lead using bare fingers.
When case head gets too hot to hold, I drop it on a folded towel . . . .NO WATER QUENCH!
(Usually done before a bullet casting session.)
February 17, 2022
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Jim F in CT said
When I anneal cases, I dip the case neck in molten lead using bare fingers.
When case head gets too hot to hold, I drop it on a folded towel . . . .NO WATER QUENCH!
(Usually done before a bullet casting session.)
That’s ballsy! I respect molten lead with the same regard as Napalm. Got the scars to show why.
November 7, 2015
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oldcrankyyankee said
Jim F in CT said
When I anneal cases, I dip the case neck in molten lead using bare fingers.
When case head gets too hot to hold, I drop it on a folded towel . . . .NO WATER QUENCH!
(Usually done before a bullet casting session.)
That’s ballsy! I respect molten lead with the same regard as Napalm. Got the scars to show why.
I’ve heard of annealing brass that way but I also know what happens when the tiniest bit of moisture encounters molten lead. One visit from the Tinsel Fairy can be one too many.
Mike
February 17, 2022
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TXGunNut said
oldcrankyyankee said
Jim F in CT said
When I anneal cases, I dip the case neck in molten lead using bare fingers.
When case head gets too hot to hold, I drop it on a folded towel . . . .NO WATER QUENCH!
(Usually done before a bullet casting session.)
That’s ballsy! I respect molten lead with the same regard as Napalm. Got the scars to show why.
I’ve heard of annealing brass that way but I also know what happens when the tiniest bit of moisture encounters molten lead. One visit from the Tinsel Fairy can be one too many.
Mike
Or a trapped air pocket
January 20, 2023
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How much did you say that induction annealing machine cost? One trip to the ER might fade it.
- Bill
WACA # 65205; life member, NRA; member, TGCA; member, TSRA; amateur preservationist
"I have seen wicked men and fools, a great many of both, and I believe they both get paid in the end, but the fools first." -- David Balfour, narrator and protagonist of the novel, Kidnapped, by Robert Louis Stevenson.
March 23, 2007
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Zebulon said
How much did you say that induction annealing machine cost? One trip to the ER might fade it.
Speaking of induction annealers, I note that Burstfire has an offering now that’s less expensive than the AMP version. I haven’t tried it yet, but it looks like it might have merit.
March 31, 2009
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kujuak said
Good day!I am up to 4 resizings with my current loads with no brass loss. I do not have an annealer and don’t anneal.Seriously considering getting an annealer after loading a batch of old brass a buddy annealed for me. I could feel a difference in sizing (smoother and more consistent). Accuracy was a bit better, caveats rifles all have receiver sights, eyeballs 7 decades old, and my accuracy potential wth iron sights is impacted by sunlight situation.
So no more “I”s, love to hear from folks who hunt with, shoot, and reload 348Winchester/Winchester 71s.
Cheers!
Buy a gas annealer with a timer. You have to set up the flame exactly the same way each time. Keep the case in the flame just long enough for the mouth of the case to turn orange and gives off an orange flame. The blue tip of the flame should be aimed at the neck and be about 1/2″ away. I use a Bench Source but there are many others. The AMP is at least 2X what a good flame annealer costs. Your brass will be easier to size, bullets will seat easier, case life will be much longer, cases will stay where you sized them and not rebound so much.
Erik Cortina who shoots on the US team, and is a World champion f class shooter, did a comparison of the Bench Source and the AMP. The slight difference may be what a World Class Shooter needs but not necessarily what the average reloader needs.
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