What to do with an old BSA?
There are lots of ‘em kicking around, old BSA .22s, for the most part, unused & unloved, consigned to the back of the gun safe gently gathering dust & worse. The fact that there is still such a supply of these rifles that haven’t now been produced for several decades, is an indication of how well they were put together in the first place. However both time & shooting fashions have somewhat passed the venerable BSA Martini by. Even me, Mr Black Plastic have to confess that there is something about these old rifles, even though I sold mine a few years ago.
Anyway, on Sunday night as I whiled away the evening half watching television but mainly surfing gun porn & fantasising about future gun purchases, I came upon this up for sale by one of my local dealers
Now at £595 it is way way too spendy given that whilst cute, even the glass is nothing special (it is sporting an Optimate 6x44). Then again, just look at that walnut stock
With a 21” barrel & sound moderator fitted, to my way of thinking, you could while away many a happy afternoon just plinking away at either tins or targets. The only down side that I can see is the way the scope is mounted
With the rear bell sitting so far back over the action, swift reloads might prove a little fiddly & this in turn might any serious vermin control slightly difficult. But then, a little more research revealed this which is currently for sale by the same dealer that I bought my Mauser & Ruger 1022 Evolution from
At only £295, complete with forward mounted scope & moderator, to my mind, that looks a very handy little package. The cut down barrel might make it a little butt heavy but the addition of the moderator, even though not heavy should help keep the centre of balance between your hands
Now I know that there is an argument that says you should chop up these old rifles but to be honest, its not like there is a shortage of old BSAs & they go fo very little at auction.
In any case, I would rather see these old 12/15s refurbished & modified than have them rotting away unused. This to my mind would be a great little all round rifle as long as you dont get too hung up on the Martini action. It would certainly be short enough to have with you at night, bouncing around in your Landrover potting rabbits & will almost certainly be more accurate than the average shooter.
So, if you dont fancy buying the usual CZ or indeed a 1022, you might want to try something a little bit different. I can guarantee you that if you were to turn up on the range with either of the above, everyone would want to have a go.
Comments
Some classic glass and a set of sleek custom mounts would be the thing. Only snag is that older scopes have less eye relief but there must be something out there.
For the moderator, take the standard heavy barrel, backbore it for four inches. Recrown, fit baffles and a screw in end cap. - Seamless integral silencer!
Posted by: EX_STAB | April 29, 2008 8:26 AM
Mr James Leek the MD of BSA made sure the gun shop was kept open during the '30's. At the companies expense, he new what was coming.
Posted by: Nigel Johnson | April 29, 2008 5:54 PM
Strange laws we have. That "sound moderator" would get you 5 yrs in the pokey over here.
Love the walnut stock, though.
Posted by: Hog Whitman | April 29, 2008 8:02 PM
Martini actions are sweet and they are very seldom found over here in any condition but poor.
Posted by: DirtCrashr | April 29, 2008 11:53 PM
Didn't the Afgans turn those actions when chambered in .303 into pistols?
Posted by: Rhys | April 30, 2008 12:44 AM
Oh you bastard, posting pictures of beautiful old rifles like this...
Posted by: Kim du Toit | April 30, 2008 4:21 PM
Must get one into a .22 hornet. I have a greener take down where the chamber is a sewer and that is waiting on funding!
Posted by: TimC | April 30, 2008 7:23 PM