.348 owners

lefty315

Handloader
Sep 29, 2004
948
485
Question for those of you that have had, currently have or just plain know the answer. Did Speer make a 220 grain bullet for the .348? Ran across a guy that says he has some. I can't find much on the internet but maybe I'm not looking in the right place. My guess is they may be as old as me.
 
Speer did make a 220 grain bullet. Data for loading the .348 with this bullet was provided in the first Speer loading manual. They listed data for the .348, including data for the 220 grain Speer FN as late as the No. 7 Reloading Manual.
 
I have a Speer No. 11 Reloading manual printed in 1987. No reload data in it for the 348.
 
The oldest manual I have is No 11. Anyone care to share a photo of the page with the 220's on it?
 
So I ended up making a deal for 263 of the 220 grain .348 bullets and 100 Hornady 200 grain bullets. Anyone have one of the older Speer reloading books that would show some data with the 220’s?
 
180 not good in .348 factory loads dropped the 180s pretty quick bad SD for .348.

The 200gr are good along with the old 220gr. For deer using RL 19

The best are the 250's Barnes FN or the old 250 Slivertips with Reloader 19 powder for heavier game elk/moose/bear

What a great rifle the Win 71 in 348 Win.

Let me get in my books I have data for all...weights.

200gr RL 19 @ 65.0 Great Deer load Extremely good accurate load
220gr RL 19 @ 63.0
250gr RL 19 @ 59.5 My Favorite Alaska load for moose and Bear( like a Lever Action 338 Win.)
All loads very accurate

WW brass WLR primers
 
I actually called Speer today and the customer service person had reloading manual #9, as the oldest he had access to. It was published in 1974 so it's possible these things were made before I was born, 49 years ago!!!
 
Tried all the powders best results with RL 19 in 348 Win
IMR 4895 @ 50 to 52 with Speer No. 6 and 220gr
But strongly suggest RL 19

63.0 of RL 19 was a standout of all the loads with the 220gr over 2300 FPS and 1 inch groups
With 4895 vel was their but accuracy was not.





“Remember accuracy kills”
W. Earp
 
I have almost every rifle I load for shooting either IMR4350 or H4895. I'm sure I could get better velocity with other powders but I'm hitting my target velocity with those two powders and my accuracy it what I want it to be. I've been getting great results with H4895 and the 200 grain Hornady so I'll probably give that a shot.
 
Bullets arrived yesterday, pretty sure they are older than me. Looking forward to working up a load.
 

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Sorry I tossed my old Speer manual a long time ago.

Enjoy your very cool lever action and those great old bullets.

Guy
 
lefty315":7ksn7pqy said:
Bullets arrived yesterday, pretty sure they are older than me. Looking forward to working up a load.

Very cool Lefty. You scored on that deal. (y)
 
Lefty, I have the 45th edition Lyman manual dated 1970. On page 294 it lists the .348, it shows loads for a 200 grain Remington S.P.C.L. No. B22836 and 220 grain Speer S.P. If you PM me your cell number I'll send you pics of the page. I'm computer stupid and have never posted a pic on the internet.
 
Sorry man I missed this one. It will take me a couple days, but I have Dads speer manual from the early 60's. Cant remember what edition... I will look for you. Probably the weekend before I get to it. Remind me If I forget. CL
 
Lyman 44th page 86 .348 Winchester w/ 220 grain Jacketed:

IMR-4895 start = 47.0, max = 52.0

IMR-4350 start = 54.0, max = 60.0
 
Thanks guys. I found an old Lyman book I brought home from my Grandad's that has it. A buddy also had an old spiral bound Speer manual that listed 4895 48-52 grains. So it gives me a place to start.
 
Lefty I see a lot of folks using from 4895 to 4350/RL19 in theirs. I just happened to have RL17 in the hopper when I started loading for mine. It worked well with Hornady 200’s and Woodleigh 250’s. I’ve even heard of folks doing real well with H4831. It is a HUGE case so I could see where it would work fine as well. I do love that 348/M71. It is my favorite lever rifle. Accurate and very powerful in my opinion.
 
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