I want to buy an Heirloom Rifle

[idcurrie]

My family has a tradition. Each man in the family tree seems to pass down his hunting rifle to future generations.

This started with a 256 Newton rifle which is about to turn 100 years old. It's still used every year to kill a deer. This rifle is incredibly well made with amazing attention to detail. For example, there are two rear sights. The 'long range' rear sight flips up behind the primary rear sight and sits higher for long range shooting. The sight is slightly to one side of the other rear sight to account for bullet drift due to spin at long ranges. The set trigger is simply the finest thing I've even squeezed. The wood is a high grade walnut, everything is hand made and exquisite.

It's truly a family treasure.

I've been thinking a lot lately about what my contribution to this tradition will be.

I've hunted with lever action rifles, and all other manner of rifles.

I seem to have settled on 3 Weatherby Vanguard Series 2 rifles. They're all stainless steel with nice optics and the Talley one piece of mounts.

They fit me very well, the weight mitigates recoil, I have a steady sight picture with them. They're very accurate. They're so well designed, if it gets soaked you can take the bolt completely down by simply twisting the rear portion of it with your hand.

So those Weatherby rifles are fantastic tools. That's all I see them as, though.

They just don't have that special something that I would want for an heirloom rifle.

Now, at the range the other day, a gentleman had, I think, a Browning White Gold Medallion. I think that's what it was called but I can't seem to find it on Browning's site.

The rifle was beautiful! The text cut into the barrel was so precise and clean. It had scroll work all over the receiver. Gold trigger, gold buck mark on the trigger guard, high grade walnut stock with a rosewood cap. I could get it chambered in a standard cartridge with a 22" barrel or a magnum chambering with a 26" barrel.

This seems to fit the bill, to my taste, for what I'm looking for in something I'd be proud to hand down to future generations.

Now, I'm in Canada so my choices may not be as wide as those south of the border nor the prices as low.

It seems I can get various similar browning rifles for around $1300. I really like the Talley one piece bases that I saw on the rifle at the range.

I'm thinking maybe a nice Leupold scope or maybe some other high end brand would suit the rifle well. I do like the idea of those alumina flip up scope covers that you can get for the Leupold scopes.

Can anyone give me any advice or feedback on this rifle or maybe some alternatives? What scope would go well with it? I'd like to spend less than $1000 on the scope.

 

[conhntr]

I wouldnt think of a browning a-bolt as an "heirloom" rifle. For something to pass on to future generations i would think of;

A nice 22lr; you can enjoy watching/teaching kids in the family to shoot!
Marlin 39 (an earlier one i would buy a new production)
Cooper, winchester 52 etc
Remington 552 or browning sa-22

Thats my opinion. The entire family will get alot more enjoyment out of shooting "uncle bobs" 22 as a kid, than a old deer rifle as an adult

 

[primalmu]

I'd also recommend a .22LR. A nice CZ would make an excellent rifle. My CZ452 is the most well-made .22LR I've ever shot (and probably qualifies as the most well-made rifle, period, that I've ever shot).

 

[StretchNM]

I'm thinking along the lines of:
- a Ruger #1 in any caliber that suits your area of hunting;
- a nicely cared for Savage 99, again in suitable caliber;
- a custom-made rifle (custom to your specs). Maybe a Cooper or similar.

 

[Flatbush Harry]

I have two wonderful rifles I would be proud to pass on:

1. a Ruger No. 1A in 6.5x55 SE that shoots to well under 1 MOA with hand loads, wearing a Leupy VX-3 2.5-8x36
2. a Ruger 77RSI in SS .308 Win that is a one-hole shooter with Hornady 168gr A-MAXs over 44.0gr of Reloder 15, also scoped with a Leupy 2.5-8x36 VX-3

I'm also delighted with my Rem 700 XCR II in .375 H&H, mounted in a B&C Medalist Sporter stock, scoped with a Zeiss Conquest 3-9x40 scope with Z-Plex reticle. All three, scoped as they are, would be gifts I'd be proud to give.

Cheers,

FH

 

[Abel]

A Browning White Gold Medallion is OK. I mean, it's a beautiful, well made rifle. But, you are looking to pass down a rifle to future hunters after you are long gone. I would go with a Winchester Supergrade or the Winchester M70 Jack O'Conner Tribute or the M70 Featherweight in 257 Roberts...with a Zeiss Conquest 3-9x40mm.

 

[P.B.Walsh]

Win. 70 Supergrade with a glossy higher end Leupold.

 

[ColtPythonElite]

CZ 452 American....better get it now if you want new.

 

[jehu]

If you want it to be well built and last for generations look at Sako!

 

[Zeke/PA]

Look for a Pre War or Pre '64 Model 70 Winchester but they ain't cheap.
I'll second the Ruger#1 suggestion but most folks don't like the idea of a
"non-repeater".
I don't know why!.

 

[Stealth01]

Cooper of Montana... http://www.cooperfirearms.com/our-rifles

 

[Picher]

Hunting is getting to be less popular these days. Some of my grand children don't hunt and may never, but they all love to shoot, especially .22LRs.

Some of the best rifles to hand down are:

Rimfire:
Winchester 9422
Cooper
Winchester 52 Sporter ($$$$$)
Weatherby/Anschutz sporter $1K
Anschutz Sporters
Volquartsen - Ruger 10-22 clone

Centerfires:
Sako
Kimber
Tikka
Winchester Super Grade
Cooper
Remington Custom Shop rifles???

Shotguns:
Beretta O/U
Winchester 101, 20 gauge
Benelli Semi-Auto 20 ga
Browning Citori or Superposed

How about a custom rifle by a high-end gunsmith?

 

[Chuck Perry]

Since you're satisfied with the Vanguard, what about a high(er) end Weatherby? The Mark V's come in all sorts of finish/stock levels.

 

[CraigC]

Cooper or Turnbull. One of his rebarrelled and refinished 1886's would be a wonderful heirloom.

However, the most important component of an heirloom is the memory it carries with it. In other words, what you do with the rifle will be far more important than the rifle itself. A really fancy rifle that sits on a shelf for 20yrs will have little value beyond what a buyer would pay for it. Dad's or grandpa's old rifle that he spent years hunting with will be priceless.

 

[CB900F]

idcurrie;

If you're looking for the same quality of construction as that Newton, I'm thinking a custom gun. I'm a lefty & I'd wanted a 6.5 X 55mm Swedish Mauser for years. Don't hold yer breath till you find an available left hand bolt gun in that caliber either. You'll fall down, turn blue, and twitch before it happens.

Therefore, I had one built and I'm damn glad I did. You, kinda, get to pay for it at your own pace too. Which makes things a bit easier than writing a fairly substantial check for a Mauser G3 or Blaser & watching your bank account take a nose dive.

900F

 

[gp911]

I'm with Craig on this one. I inherited a couple ordinary guns and what made them special was the memoried, not the finishes.

 

[Still Shooting]

"Heirloom," or "Grandpa's Gun?"

"However, the most important component of an heirloom is the memory it carries with it. In other words, what you do with the rifle will be far more important than the rifle itself." (Thanks for that thought, CraigC)

It is an interesting coincidence that I am reading this thread, just after rubbing in another coat of BLO/Japan Dryer/turps on the forend of my maternal Granddad's 1925 vintage Winchester '07 .351WSL. I have already replaced a bent (and shimmed) front bead sight, removed a little rust from the counterweight, and glued a split in the forend wood (almost inevitable for the early '07). The rifle is now shootable, and I have over 100 rds. to play with. I paid a little extra to buy new reloads from Buffalo Arms, and will soon order some custom brass. I recently found 100 bullets, and bought a set of reloading dies from Redding.

I have recently "tuned up" a load for my Dad's deer rifle, which was also his Dad's. Neither man ever fired it at a deer that didn't come home as venison, so I refuse to hunt it - but I like to shoot it at the range. The gun isn't fancy, and my Granddad bought it used in 1920 for $12. It's a Remington Model 14 in .30 rem. I've recently done some work on the Remington as well.

I am now 66, so I won't be using these guns for a lot longer, but I have a daughter (one of three) who is 29 and becoming more and more serious about shooting, and rifles in particular. My wife of 9 years (who is now 31) didn't grow up with guns, but she can shoot sub-moa at 100yds. with her Ruger .243, and with my .270 as well. When I die, the two of them will likely have to strike a deal over who gets which of the rifles and shotguns.

To me, the essence of the gun is its history, and the remembrance of how much my father and my grandfathers loved to hunt with those rifles.

 

[Old Shooter]

Any gun that "Grandpa" had is going to be a heirloom gun.

If you have a special one now, that is the designated heirloom.

If you don't have one in that catagory now, pick up a nice one (The Browning would work nicely, as would many others) and let them know that is your favorite gun and will pass down thru the generations.

And nobody said it has to be a new gun. When they get it, it will be a used gun anyway. I (personally) would look for a nice pre-64 model 70 or 94, mayby a nice, older Remington 700 and call it good. I would also make sure I used it quite a bit before it got "passed down".

 

[fanchisimo]

Heirloom to me means sentimental value more than financial value. I think the gun has more significance than what type of gun it is. My Dad doesn't ever shoot guns but he has kept my Grandpa's Marlin Model 15 Single-shot 22 LR. and Ithaca Model 300 shotgun since he died. Since I have an interest in guns they will be passed on to me and I will pass them onto my children someday. These aren't worth a whole lot, but they are in the third generation of the family. Virtually no offer would be enough to separate from them.

 

[BCRider]

If the extended family has a fair number of valid bigger game hunting rifles already I'd suggest that you could go with a rifle that fills a vacancy in the lineup as well. As suggested already a nice .22 could be a great introduction and training gun for the young'uns. Or perhaps a nice shotgun which can be used for bird hunting and busting some clays. The key would be to look at the options and fill one of the voids.

 

[bushmaster1313]

Heirlooms are made not bought:

My Dad's favorite rifle
The rifle my grandfather got from his wife as an anniversary present.
The gun I always wanted and got when I retired.

 

[conhntr]

Not trying to bring down the mood; but make sure you add a line in your will if handing down is your intention. We had a relative die young who was in possession of several guns that had been in the family for some time and handed down. Unfortunately he died without a will; and the state designated executor (a family member who is anti gun) sold off everything to an auction (without even letting anyone know) And pocketed probably a small percentage of what they where worth. Very sad and tragic. Just make sure you wishes are known and recorded in a legal will!

Im younger as well and after that episode i went ahead and had my lawyer write one up.

 

[valnar]

Assuming centerfire...

I think a nice Winchester with upgraded wood, or any Sako. Wood or synth, pick your poison.

Tikka, Rugers, Browning, etc can all be nice, but I think Sako and Winchester are the best of them without going custom.

 

[tryshoot]

When my dad died in april, I wanted a win 190 and not a limited ed. 10/22 lam. ss Ruger. I hunted with him my whole childhood and that is what he carried. Other three went for value.

 

[mickeydim468]

My heirloom rifle was a Remington Nylon 66 that my dad bought in 1970, after his hunting rifles had been stolen. He never bought another gun, and when he died, my mom gave the rifle to me. I was the only son, so mom thought it was only right for me to get it. I still have it, and no amount of money will get it away from my family. It will go to my daughter, she loves shooting it. She will know how to completely rebuild it, if necessary, before I am done teaching her how to use it.

Mike!