Bolliger Rifles

12 March 2009, 04:50

LJS

Bolliger Rifles

Every time I go to the SCI show I admire the guns of John Bolliger ( Mountain Riflery ). I would like to have a really nice 375 done and am curious what the opinion of those more informed than I are about Mountain Riflery guns. If you had $15K to have a 375 built, who would you suggest over Bolliger. Do you think Bolliger's guns are worth the money? I find myself with a safe full of "tools" and want something pretty to look at as well. Any input is appreciated and an answer of buy a CZ and spend the rest on hunting is not what I'm looking for. Thanks!

12 March 2009, 04:58

new_guy

quote:
Originally posted by LJS:
If you had $15K to have a 375 built, who would you suggest...

I much prefer the lines and proportion of Ralf Martini's rifles. If the classic English styling is your cup of tea, then there's no need to look any further.

12 March 2009, 05:06

Rodney H.{500Jeffery}

Don't know anything about Mountain Riflery, but will check them out. Check out www.rbbigbores.com Ryan Breeding makes some pretty nice rifles also. Rodney.

12 March 2009, 05:39

GeoffM24

For that kind of money, or less, I'd look at Duane Wiebe, Martini Hagn, Lon Paul, or a nice used British .375.

12 March 2009, 05:46

N E 450 No2

quote:
Originally posted by new_guy:
quote:
Originally posted by LJS:
If you had $15K to have a 375 built, who would you suggest...

I much prefer the lines and proportion of Ralf Martini's rifles. If the classic English styling is your cup of tea, then there's no need to look any further.

Ralfs Bolt and Single Shot rifles are some of the best riles I have ever handled.

12 March 2009, 07:20

maxbear

Duane Wiebe, thats who I suggest. His work is outstanding. He is a HONEST MAN who does excellant work.

12 March 2009, 07:44

lee440

Bolliger is as good as any of the best on the North American continent. He built the first and last rifles in the SCI Guns of the Big Five. I have Tom Turpins "Modern Custom Guns" that shows some of his work and many other Fine American Craftsmen. I too, love Martini & Hagn's gorgeous English Classics, but Bolliger is every bit as talented. As an aside, the first SCI rifle he did, went for $225K and the last for 165K... Juuuust a bit out of my price range!!

12 March 2009, 07:53

M1Tanker

FYI - All of the metal work on the Bolliger rifles is contracted out to Dean Zollinger in Rexburg, ID. Dean is a top of the line gun builder and a super guy to deal with. He has been a family friend for many years. My Dad and I are having him stock our M70 300 WM rifles and I will be picking mine up in a couple weeks.

If you want a "Bolliger" rifle - skip Bolliger completely and go to the man who is doing the work. You will get a superb rifle built to your specs for a fraction of going through Bolliger.

www.deanscustomguns.com

12 March 2009, 18:04

Dewey

There are a number of makers I would consider, D'Arcy Echols, Duane Weibe and Ralf would be among my first choices and I have several projects for Ralf at present.

Jerry Fisher and Gene Simillion would be right up there as well and I would choose based upon who could finish my rifle soonest.

12 March 2009, 18:26

ozark hunter

+1 Gene Simillion

12 March 2009, 18:40

eezridr

M1 Tanker,

I tried clicking on that link you supplied and my computer said the site is infected with something called Malware. It states it is a malicious type software (perhaps virus). I am not a IT guy but I refrained from entering.

12 March 2009, 18:48

eezridr

If you are interested in a Bolliger rifle; You might try Bass Pro shops. They had bought quite a few for their fine gun room.
They have now closed their fine gun room in Dallas. Not sure about the rest of the country but if so they might be liquidating inventory.
It would not be like having one made for you but you might save allot of money; Also not sure of the calibers they had on hand.

EZ

13 March 2009, 03:45

LJS

I think I'm in love!!! I visited the Martini & Hagn web site and love their guns. Thanks for the advice guys. I'm afraid the has been replaced.

13 March 2009, 17:41

Stu C

Check out the rifles Nate Heineke is building. Well worth adding his name to your short list.

cheers,
- stu

13 March 2009, 18:26

new_guy

quote:
Originally posted by Stu C:
Check out the rifles Nate Heineke is building. Well worth adding his name to your short list.

cheers,
- stu

Nice rifles, but his G&H experience is very visible in the stock.

13 March 2009, 21:40

Stu C

If I were having a 400 Whelen built, that's pretty close to how I'd want it to look.

- stu

13 March 2009, 22:25

highcountry2

rifles stocked by kurt haase are a real masterpiece

13 March 2009, 22:47

Akshooter

I guided a father and son on a hunt about 10 years ago who showed up with a matching pair of unfired Bollinger rifles.
Of course we needed to shoot them before hunting to sight in (why anyone would take a rifle on a hunt that they never fired is the question were all wondering).
Of the two rifles only one worked the other would fire when the safty was released. We did have a loaner rifle and the hunt went on. I'm sure this is not normal on his rifles but I would choose all of the other gunmakers mentioned here first.
I just learned today that one of my old gunmakers Charley Coffen (he built 3 rifles for me) died on the 4th. I'm glad I have the rifles to remember him by.
Anyone who is a member of the guild will make a really fine rifle for you and there are plenty who are not in the guild who will as well.

14 March 2009, 02:57

N E 450 No2

I was at the recent Guild Show in Reno.

I saw a lot of rifles with GREAT workmanship.

They were fantastic, but... they ALL handled like a BOAT OAR.

EXCEPT for Ralf's rifles. Both his bolt rifles and his single shot handled like they were ALIVE.

Even though they only had one barrel, they handled almost as good as a prewar British double rifle.

14 March 2009, 03:13

Scrollcutter

I wouldn't want to start a fight, but...

Wiebe's ain't no boat oar. That's for damn sure.

14 March 2009, 04:33

N E 450 No2

Roger, no offense taken.
"Feel" of a rifle is a personal thing.

Ralfs rifles are made in the pre-War English tradition, ie minimal wood, all of it the right places, none of it where you do not need it.

"American" stock design is boat oarish, IMHO of course.

14 March 2009, 05:29

Dewey

Ralf builds a fine shootin' iron and so do a number of others, the "feel" is somewhat subjective, IME, and different for individuals.

One of the more experienced hunters and custom rifle buts who used to post here, is a huge fan of D'Arcy Echols and I have recently handled an Echol's Legend stock. The chap I refer to dislikes the Don Allen designed Dakota 76 Classic stock, I love mine and it handles, FOR ME, like a fine flyrod or British double.

I like the Echol's stock, but, recently got an AHR stock designed, I think, by Jerry Fisher and, of the two, the AHR feels a LITTLE better to ME....different strokes for different folks.

I don't really care for that style by Martini and prefer a SLIGHTLY more "American" classic style while managing to shoot original Brno 21/22 and ZG-47 stocks quite well and my original Obie Type B, 9.3 x 62, even with high EAW mounts works not too badly. sooooo.......

However, anyone having one of these Weibe rifles that they find to be "poor" in ANY respect...well, send it to me and I will treat it right!

14 March 2009, 06:00

MJines

quote:
Originally posted by maxbear:
Duane Wiebe, thats who I suggest. His work is outstanding. He is a HONEST MAN who does excellant work.

I will second that. Here is my Weibe rifle. Talk about classic English styling.

14 March 2009, 07:37

nyrifleman

Mike, gorgeous rifle. Details please!!!

14 March 2009, 07:45

MJines

Thanks, here is the full story:

http://forums.accuratereloadin...=316100279#316100279

14 March 2009, 08:02

nyrifleman

Thanks for the link Mike, enjoyed that.

15 March 2009, 03:45

LJS

Gentlemen: I want to thank all for their help and suggestions. I had a lengthy conversation with Ralf Martini this afternoon and I think I'm in trouble. I really love the old English style of his rifles and his lead times are about a year. I have confused myself by discussing calibers with him. I was sure I wanted a 375 but now I'm leaning toward a 300 H&H or a 7x57.

17 March 2009, 06:50

lee440

I guess you can't believe nothing that you read! What a dissapointment!

17 March 2009, 07:56

MHC_TX

quote:
Originally posted by LJS:
Gentlemen: I want to thank all for their help and suggestions. I had a lengthy conversation with Ralf Martini this afternoon and I think I'm in trouble. I really love the old English style of his rifles and his lead times are about a year. I have confused myself by discussing calibers with him. I was sure I wanted a 375 but now I'm leaning toward a 300 H&H or a 7x57.

LJS,

Good luck....building custom gun's can turn into an illness!!! All I wanted was a 300mag and a 416 somewhere in there I caught the flu.....it is addictive. Soon, you will be shopping for wood, action's etc.