What sporting rifles have achieved cult status?

[ogilvyspecial]

I don't know about "cult status" but do know that five people (friends & wife's relatives) who know that I have two Winchester Model 71's (.348 Win.) never let me forget that if I ever want to sell one, they want it.

It's kind of a running joke now when they say "Don't forget" and I finish up by saying, "yeah, yeah, I know, you want first dibs on a 71."

 

[quneur]

Shotguns included?

I would say, any Belguim Browning; A-bolt, BLR, BAR, etc. Valmet, expensive rifles like Winslow, esoteric guns like the Garcia Bronco.

 

[2152hq]

Most any SxS double rifle,,but particularly those in the larger calibers.

+1 on the Mannlicher Schoenaurs. I'd add to it the pre-War Mauser sporting rifles.

Winchester 351 SelfLoaders seem to have a quiet cult crowd following them. Any decent one doesn't last too long when it's up for sale.

 

[McShooty]

Guess I will have to mention the Ruger No.1. Many shooters have a cult-like devotion to the single shot rifle. The Ruger is the best, and you don't even have to pay an irrational price for one. I am also high on the Winchester Model 1885 single shot, of which superb copies in modern calibers are made by Miroku and marketed by Browning.

 

[P&R Fan]

Guess I will have to mention the Ruger No.1. Many shooters have a cult-like devotion to the single shot rifle. The Ruger is the best, and you don't even have to pay an irrational price for one. I am also high on the Winchester Model 1885 single shot, of which superb copies in modern calibers are made by Miroku and marketed by Browning.

I agree. The Single-Shots have gone up dramatically. My Dad collected them, mostly Winchester Highwalls and Ballards. I know what he paid for some of them and they have risen dramatically.
I'm a life member of the American Single-Shot Rifle Association, and there are some really nice reproductions, but the originals are unbelievably expensive.
Jim

 

[LazyKB]

Will you accept actions? How about something built on a Mauser 98?

 

[Davwingman]

Seems like the early Sako rifles have a following.

 

[VAdoublegunner]

ditto on the single shot Brownings.

Early 78s are going higher and even the more recent 1885s are getting that way. Any of the models that can be used for long range single shot competition are very cult-y, especially the 1885 BPCR versions. Moreover, there aren't nearly as many of them out there as other modern sporting rifles, all adding to the mystique.

 

[Wyatt Burp]

These have, but I might be the only member of the cult...

These have a following and prices have gotten up there...

 

[Smith357]

Non Military Rifles with cult followings
Browning Safari
FN Commercial Mausers
Sharps and clones
Marbles Game Getter
Ruger 77s with the tang safety
Marlin Camp Carbines
Ruger .44 Carbine
Lyman GPR
Almost any pre 64 Winchester
Stevens 44
Ballards
Drillings
CZ 452
Remington 513, 541, 40X
Mossburg 44

 

[woodsltc]

Any of the .22 rimfire Anschutz sporter rifles (1416, 1710 etc...).

Don

 

[reddogge]

Winchester 1890, 1906, 62 and 61 pumps. Prices are going up pretty fast for good original examples. It's the old shooting gallery nostalgia thing.

 

[blackdeuce]

Non Military Rifles with cult followings
CZ 452

I was going to mention CZ. I don't know if they have a cult following, but they are well known for their accuracy.

All three of my boys have CZ452 trainers. I bought them a couple of years ago before the prices went up. Paid about $250 each.

I have a NIB CZ550 in .270. Pretty gun. The wood has a reddish tint to it.

 

[DCWilson]

Texas Star, right on! Mannlicher-Schoenauer carbines are the cat's meow! A big cat's low-pitched meow.

I have two, a 1903 and a 1908 (6.5 mm and 8mm respectively). The 1903 has original 2.5x Kahles glass on it with a two-piece scope mount numbered to the gun. It looks like the factory built it for somebody who then never shot it. This is the one where the "irrational price" part of the original post definitely kicks in. The 1908 is an OK gun, but nowhere near as nice as the 1903. The 1908 has been milled for scope mounts, but also has a flip-up striker-mounted peep sight.

I'm still looking for a decent 1905 (9mm) and some long-bolt 1924s (.30-06, 9.3 mm, 10.75mm, etc.) I obsess about these as much as I do Prewar Kit Guns and Regulation Police Target Revolvers.

 

[Smith357]

I was going to mention CZ. I don't know if they have a cult following, but they are well known for their accuracy.

All three of my boys have CZ452 trainers. I bought them a couple of years ago before the prices went up. Paid about $250 each.

I have a NIB CZ550 in .270. Pretty gun. The wood has a reddish tint to it.

It's a small cult but the .22 shooters just love them. The 452s have had trigger kits available for a while now. just start a thread asking which .22 you should buy and 80% of the replies will be "Get a CZ".

 

[raisedin99]

I would have to say some of the single shot Stevens target rifles. Ever hear of the "Walnut Hill", not sure but I believe the different series numbered something like 417 or 418 and perhaps a model 49 .

 

[Texas Star]

Texas Star, right on! Mannlicher-Schoenauer carbines are the cat's meow! A big cat's low-pitched meow.

I have two, a 1903 and a 1908 (6.5 mm and 8mm respectively). The 1903 has original 2.5x Kahles glass on it with a two-piece scope mount numbered to the gun. It looks like the factory built it for somebody who then never shot it. This is the one where the "irrational price" part of the original post definitely kicks in. The 1908 is an OK gun, but nowhere near as nice as the 1903. The 1908 has been milled for scope mounts, but also has a flip-up striker-mounted peep sight.

I'm still looking for a decent 1905 (9mm) and some long-bolt 1924s (.30-06, 9.3 mm, 10.75mm, etc.) I obsess about these as much as I do Prewar Kit Guns and Regulation Police Target Revolvers.

David-

My 1908 was in really nice shape, and didn't have that tang sight. Ammo was a big problem once Speer quit importing it. I got one box of 1930's Western factory ammo with the carbine.

I've read that these can be converted to 8X57mm, one of the few conversions possible with the rotary magazine. But also read that it's best to stick to US ammo, which is loaded on the modest side for that caliber.

Does anyone here know if that conversion is possible, and the pressure limits?

 

[Qball]

These have, but I might be the only member of the cult...

Cool... i have a Winchester model 1910 on the way.
Hope i get the license for it soon

 

[Dominus_Lex]

I don't know about "cult status" but do know that five people (friends & wife's relatives) who know that I have two Winchester Model 71's (.348 Win.) never let me forget that if I ever want to sell one, they want it.

It's kind of a running joke now when they say "Don't forget" and I finish up by saying, "yeah, yeah, I know, you want first dibs on a 71."

If it's not too much to ask, I have a 16yr old son, who would get in that line... Borrowed Grand Dad's 71 for deer season this year (he decided it was to "easy" to shoot em 200yd out with his 25-06) and it was love at first sight... jumped on gun broker to look for his own, and quickly returned it when he saw the prices.... thought I think it has his name on it now.

 

[gizamo]

Seems like most any with 45-70, 90, or 110 attached to it...

Giz