The latest oldie 56 Vintage BSA Hunter

[Brithunter]

Hi All,

Well after a wait I got to pick up this rifle it's a 1956 Vintage BSA Hunter in .222 Remington, a true Modified short Mauser action of BSA's own design:-













Hope you like it, it seems that the magazine only holds three rounds, I expected it to hold more it has some surface rust on the magazine floorplate which I will consider what to do about. The blacking on the barrel is wearing thin and that on the bolt knob is worn off. I am looking for a rear sight for it to fill the dovetail in the barrel. Am sure I have one somewhere Now I just need tog et it listed on my licence for shootign to test it out. At the moment it's for collection only

Oh the scope is only to see what it looks like on the rifle. The rings are actually B-Square Weaver rings and don't fit the BSA's dovetails properly.

[Dan Morris]

Looks sturdy. Just a question, what kind of things does one have to do to now own firearms in England?
Dan

[Jack]

Nice rifle, Brithunter.
That action looks a lot like some of the Sako actions of that vintage- the dovetail scope mount, and I think one of the early Sako's had a safety similar to that.

[Brithunter]

Hi All,

Now Jack I am not familar with the vintage Sakos however BSA designed this during the late 1940's, yep it took some time due to the war damages etc to get it into production but it has the much vaunted "Three Rings of Steel" around the cartridge head. A prototype was shipped to the US for Elmer Keith to evaluate and he made a few sugestions for slight modifications which BSA incorparated. The first ones were in .22 Hornet and .222 Remington with the Hornet coming first. They are getting harder to find in good condition .

Now Dan,

To answer you question fully would equate to almost a book on the forums here but to simplify it you have to apply to the Police for a Firearms Certificate and get two references from people who know you and have done so for over 3 years. These people must be of certain position and character and list of those accepted is provided in the application pack. The guns and ammunition must be kept in secure storage at all times when not in use or being cleaned worked on etc to keep them out of unauthorised hands.

In law there is actaully no limit to the amount possessed but you will find the Police highly confrontational on your having more than one or two. They say you must have good reason to have them and shooting is not a good reason you can only buy what it on your certificate to buy and that goes for amunition too. Lot's of hoops none of which reduce crime one might add it's about control nothing more..

[Minihuntur]

OUCH! And I thought Canada's laws were bad. Well, they are, but not that bad.
Minihuntur

[Okie Hog]

Brithunter, your BSA is a beautiful gun. I have seen BSA short action guns here in the US but they are scarce.