Thread: Walnut and blued steel,

It's a long way into the chamber
Odd decision for a target training rifle
But they wanted to have the weight and balance of a Springfield bolt action

Following a thread I started a few weeks ago WTB,tidy BSA Hunter triple two ,I,ve got to scratch the trebly itch.Thanks to the numerous replys from various jokers, particularly big up to @akaroa1 who as middle link in the chain put me onto this purdy one circa 1959.Done no work on the hill with low round count.Having been a safe 'Queen' it's in fact a Regent model from the Royal line that succeeded the Hunter line approx 1956.I,m yet to fire it,but have discovered it's got an apawling glacial lock time due to a weak main spring which I suspect may not even strike the primer with enuff oompf.Possibly caused by being stored in a safe for decades in the cocked position loading up the spring tention?As you do I,m wanting to strip open the bolt to investigate possible oxidized storage oil gumming up the lock time.Being a modified mini Mauser action,I'm attempting to unscrew the striker clockwise past the fully cocked detent to spring it open ,but don't have the talent to get it spun past this point.Anyone know how to pull one of these bolts down? Note it's not like a conventional Mauser action where you first engage the cocked safety , withdraw bolt,to anticlockwise unscrew the bolt striker.Got me stumped...

@gundoc will answer that one...with my wee zastava I store bolt in the fired position as got a few light strikes when it was new...never had issue since.

@Micky Duck yeah nar @Mathias chimed in on how to get it apart.Apparently its all in the way you hold your tongue.Any rate got it apart,done the soak in petrol to release 60 plus years of crud,reassembled,but still rat shit lock time.For what ever reason the engineers @ Birmingham used a piss weak thin gauge wire in manufacturing these mainspings.Looks like something out of a daisy rifle.I realize this one is toast.So now on the hunt for a replacement with some decent tension,either genuine or Heath Robinson,as long as it works.Right now I,m reluctant to take it to the range.

BSA Viscount 7x57, reasonably tidy original piece wearing a first gen shiny 2.5-8 Leupold.


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Got a spring here for you.

@Mathias Noyce.You and me must be wired the same.Cant go past the classics.Black plastic with whistles and bells simply doesn't do it for me no matter how practical it may be .Some would argue it would look better in aperture irons

Originally Posted by bluebaiter222

@Mathias Noyce.You and me must be wired the same.Cant go past the classics.Black plastic with whistles and bells simply doesn't do it for me no matter how practical it may be .Some would argue it would look better in aperture irons

It must have had aperture fitted originally, as annoyingly the stock has been cut away on other side to allow for the PH base to fit plus the folding leaf was missing but I had a spare to refit & the hood.
Have to fess up, I've got a bit of S/S & carbon in the safe too, but always have a need for classic.

That 7mil wouldn't have to be a family hand me down from the late culler,uncle "Genlteman Jim" Davis by any chance?

Originally Posted by Mathias

BSA Viscount 7x57, reasonably tidy original piece wearing a first gen shiny 2.5-8 Leupold.


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oh mannnn, ive discovered a love for BSA shooters recently

Originally Posted by bluebaiter222

That 7mil wouldn't have to be a family hand me down from the late culler,uncle "Genlteman Jim" Davis by any chance?

No, deceased estate though but unknown.
Uncle Jim had a 243 Majestic that his son Alex has now ( I bloody hope he still has!!) My brother has Jim's Landrover, which was another love of his.

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Yeah I remember that Landy from NZDC back country trips.And in keeping with Gentleman Jim, it was in very tidy order despite the work it had done.Good to still see it chugging in the family fold

Winchester 1885 50 Eley
Aka 500 3" BPE
Aka 50-140
1890 production
Absolutely original
Mechanically perfect
Bore is 8 maybe 9/10
30" #3 barrel
Perfect wood




It's an express rifle and takes a huge case with a very big BP charge
Left is my recently restored 1885 45-70
Right is 500. Funny case with bullet seated only just fits in front of sight staff




I have everything on hand now I need to test fire it
But have one small item still to do before that happens
Expect it to be lively because the 500 is actually lighter than the 45-70

But not a high volume shooter

500 3" BPE vs 500 3"
And the winner is ?