What Antique class rilfes are out there?

41 Colt

41 Colt

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I know the regulations:

Rifles:

manufactured before 1898 that can discharge only rim-fire cartridges, other than 22 Calibre Short, 22 Calibre Long or 22 Calibre Long Rifle cartridges;
manufactured before 1898 that can discharge centre-fire cartridges (whether with a smooth or rifled bore), have a bore diameter of 8.3 mm or greater, measured from land to land in the case of a rifled bore, with the exception of a repeating firearm fed by any type of cartridge magazine
Shotguns:

So what falls under this? I really like the looks of the old Winchester lever guns but they are repeaters. So what is available as an antique class cartridge rifle?
 
Basically everything that's not a repeater - single shots like rolling blocks, falling blocks, trapdoors, Martinis, Sniders, single shot bolts, etc., etc.
I assume that a double rifle would qualify as antique, since it's not technically a repeater. Anyone here know for sure?
 
Whatcha wanna do with it?

Hunt? Target shoot? Just make some noise at the range?Shoot silhouette?

Pretty much all tastes can be catered to except that there is the single shot thing to deal with.

Dunno about the doubles.

Probably more Rolling Blocks and Martini's out there than just about anything else. At least as far as Prescribed Antiques go. Winchester 1885's after that. Snider Enfield's, and Trapdoor Springfield rifles, too. Then the cost of admission starts to really climb. Sharps', Marlin Ballard, and a whole bunch of others in no particular order.
Plus two or three dozen other makers.

Then there are the early Mauser bolt guns, Vettereli's (Swiss, and probably spelled wrong). Some were single shot at birth, some were welded up to make them so.

Cheers
Trev
 
Double or SXS Rifles and shotguns in the right calibers are AOK
14 ga shotguns are hard to find tho 24 ga abit easyer.

Theres a few 45 70 SXS Rifled regulated custom rifles ive seen really nice guns that are Perscribed antiques in Canada.
 
An antique sportered Gew 71/84 or Gew 71 will run you about $150-$200 if you find the right person. The all wood originals fetch far more, but those aren't general use guns either.

43 mauser brass is findable, and the guns generally shoot rather well and have good bores. The actions on them are robust to say the least. The firing pin looks more like a pencil :p
 
A 71/84 wouldn't be considered antique unless you welded the follower into the upright position, or something along those lines, essentially turning a repeater into a single shot.
 
It will be for range use.

I looked up the Winchester 1885 model, those look pretty nice. Anyone have one? How do you like it?

I see Starline makes brass in both 38-55 & 38-55 Long, I take it these are chambered in the former when they are 38-55?
 
If it's an 1885 with an original barrel, chances are that 38-55 Long will work best in it. The older guns chambered in 38-55 had slightly longer chambers than the modern 38-55s.
 
The Winchester 1885 would be one of the cream of the crop antique single shots, although the King would probably be the Sharps, at least in my books. I have an origional Springfield Model 1888 in .45-70 that I really like. It has a very fancy, and well-designed Buffington sight.
 
I'm a fan of the '71 mauser single shots... The 43 mauser is super easy to load for and a very accurate round. I shout sub 2" groups at 50 yards with mine.... They also come up on the EE very reasonable from time to time....
 
Might as well forget about the Winchester 1885, unless you own an oil company or something. Originals are very hard to find, as most have been altered into ghastly looking target rifles. One of the 12.17 calibre rolling block can still be obtained quite reasonably, and ammo is easy to make.
 
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