Thread: BSA centrefire variants

Mathias

Your Posts are extremely interesting. For one, they have finally cleared up for me the ongoing (global) confusion about the BSA 'Hunter' models of the 1950's. Technically speaking, the only 'Hunter' models were the short action .222 and .22 Hornet models with 'Hunter' stamped on the outer chamber. However, your .220 Swift is the FIRST non .222 or .22 Hornet I have ever seen so stamped 'Hunter' by BSA. I would therefore suggest yours is a VERY rare Rifle!

Also, your Viscount Box labelled 'Hunter' (which I have also never seen before) 100% proves that the old timers on this Forum are right - i.e. throughout the 1950s ALL of the BSA centrefire Rifles of whatever calibre WERE called 'Hunters'. They may not have been stamped 'Hunter', but they were called 'Hunters'. It's great to have this FINALLY clarified.

I don't pretend to know everything about older BSA Rifles, but I do know quite a bit and can talk about them all day!! :-)

My current BSA Collection includes all original, mint .222 and .22 Hornet stamped 'Hunters', original mint Viscount/Regent Featherweights in .243 and 30-06, and a very interesting and original 1956 7x57 Viscount/Regent from South Africa which in its life has taken a LOT of big game out there.

SARVO sold an unfired, 100% mint US-market .222 Hunter on this Forum 2-3 years back, and I regret not buying it.

The older BSAs were generally excellent, accurate and beautiful Rifles, which is why the NZ Cullers blew most of their original barrels out! In fact, I think the main reason the NZ Cullers eventually moved to the Sako Vixen as a preferred shooter was its slight weight advantage (although it was/is also incredibly accurate), and because the Hunters had been so thrashed!