BSA Bolt action Rimfire, Sportsman Fifteen

[trevj]

Anybody out there got any leads on a possible source for a bolt for a BSA Sportsman Fifteen?

I had one given to me the other day, it was found in the grass where a fellow was about to park a trailer, and is pretty badly rusted on the outside. The freak of it all is that the barrel itself is really really nice inside.

The tube mag was seized pretty solidly, and I did some damage getting the inner tube from the outer, but it is easily dealt with by making a slightly longer end knob.

No stock, but that is pretty much the least of my worries.

I need a bolt for it though and don't really want to have to make one or adapt one.

Will try WGP tomorrow.

Cheers
Trev

 

[MEC]

BSA Sportsman 15...! Good luck on finding a bolt. Take a look at 'Airgunspares.com' at least they have a picture of one (listed at 35 pounds) Bet that is more than the whole rifle was when new ! I believe there was something like 53000 or so made of this model, so hopefully there might be a few 'spare bolts' to be found. Probably best to look for one at the various UK sites. Again good luck, you will need it !!! EC, Merritt B.C.

 

[trevj]

I am going to start taking some pictures of this project and document the progress.

At this point I have put the propane torch to the action and sweated off the magazine tube, which was soft soldered in place. As are many of the parts that are sticking out from the basic tube of this firearm.

After I managed to destroy the outer end of the inner tube of the magazine, I removed the internals, and sorted through my collection of taps until I found one that could be run into the remains of the inner tube to get a grip upon it. I was then able to tap away at the outer tube and on the pliers I was using for grip, in order that he two tubes could be separated. Crude, yes, but the inner tube is salvageable, while the outer tube is still serviceable enough too. It was a choice between some damage, and a total loss, so, it was done.

I have had the offer of a bolt that should work. Cool!

This is going to be a fairly heavy refinish job. There is pretty good pitting about everywhere on the outer surfaces, which makes the condition of the bore doubly surprising.

My intent is to Rust Blue, using Birchwood Casey Plum Brown as my bluing solution. Will be my first time out with that, so will be worth the experiment time.

Cheers
Trev