Brent,

I think Stutzen rifles first gained popularity for Alpine Hunting in the Tyrol and elsewhere.

Going back to muzzle-loading days I believe that they were often made with a steel shod butt so that with that and the full stock to the muzzle they could be used as a climbing aid.

They are supposed to have issues with grouping and holding their zeros, but fortunately my 9.5 Mannlicher-Schoenauer doesn’t seem to know that.