bSA Sht .22 IV*

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So as luck would have it I came across one of these in my travels but unfortunately Bubba got to it faster than I did and I happened to find it pretty beat up and missing the bolt. The mag is there but empty. Serial number on the barrel matches the receiver but looks like a different stamping although marked BSA as well. It's of course drilled and tapped and is missing the sights.

The barrel is not sleeved which I thought these were but here's the worst part. It looks to me like it was rechambered to possibly a .222

My question is is this even worth trying to do anything with or is it just an unfortunate wall hanger?







 
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Has the barrel been cut? Which sights are missing- front, rear, or both? And why do you think it may be in .222?

Seems to me that if the barrel is uncut, sights can be obtained, ditto a bolt and so can a replacement buttstock. The tapped holes can also be filled it. The empty mag is normal for a .22 How's the bore?

Short answer- it might well be restorable. As always, more pics needed!
 
Even though a .222 Rem chambers, you need to do a chamber cast(Cerrosafe from Brownell's. Cheap it ain't. 1/2 lb. is $25US. More than enough though. And it's reusable stuff. No daft border issues on their site.) to be sure.
Butt stock is damaged too, but not terminally so. Fixable with epoxy.
The real issue is the bolt. You cannot just slap one in there. After you do the chamber cast, you'll need .222 Rem, if that's what it ends up being, headspace gauges. Rentable from the U.S. for reasonable money. No border issues either.
Any bolt($29 for the body at Marstar) will do, but you'll need a handful of bolt heads at $22 each from Marstar and another $30 for an extractor, its screw and spring. $27 for the firing pin and its spring. Expensive at $108 for just the complete bolt.
 
You need to look on the bright side! Defiantly worth keeping, Its an Ex Canadian issued rifle so its got some history their, and since Bubba already got to it, it opens the door for a really neat build.

If restored to a Military stock, A .222 Lee enfield sounds like a fun, cheap to shoot blaster that will let you enjoy the Lee Enfield for way less money then a .303, but with more bang then a .22LR.

Winter is here and this sounds like a nice project to take on for when its too cold to do anything outside. It will cost a bit, but I find projects like this can be fun, even if you put more money into it then you might be able to sell it for. You will have a unique project that you put together yourself, that alone is satisfying.

As for parts, barrel looks intact just has the front sight removed. keep an eye out on the EE as you never know what might turn up. Bolts pop up regularly as well. Can you post a pic of the entire rifle? Are the rear sight their?

I wonder what you could do for a magazine? I wonder if .222 will feed from a .223 magazine? If so a ten round AR Mag might be able to be made to fit with a little work.
 
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