My new purchase *pics added*

StevieK

StevieK

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Hamilton, ont
Well I went to the Woodstock gun show today to try and sell some guns to make more room in the safe. Of course I ended up coming home with one more than I walked in with. Some rifles just catch your eye and you can't fight the urge, even if you weren't looking for anything like it. Today it was a gorgeous little BSA in 222 rem. I really had no interest in BSA guns, I told myself I wanted a 223 instead, and had also decided I would buy an O/U or 22 rim fire before another centre fire rifle. But this little puppy looked up at me with those brown eyes and I found myself returning to the table to look at her. The beautiful walnut stock with elegant lines on the shadow cheek piece helped me rationalize that reloading for the 222 would make it no pain to find ammunition, and the nickel supra 6x43 scope sealed the deal. So as the show was wrapping up I talked the guy down and walked out with my new baby. I figure $600 for a pristine (actually looks brand new) 222 wearing German glass isn't the worst deal I've made.
So make me feel better about the gun that I wasn't planning on buying, tell me about your love of the 222 and BSA rifles and also let's hear your opinion on nickel scopes
 
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PIC ssss ?
Triple deuce - it's been called inherently accurate. Warren Page's The Accurate Rifle devotes a chapter and more to it. Mine shoots well.
Oh - and you really "needed" to save that one - happy shooting with it.
 
Stevie K... I'm envious and I hope you are going to post pics.
I would love to acquire a 222 BSA because I have a 7X57 and a 458 both BSAs and nearly matching.
That would nicely round out my set...
 
One of my first small-caliber centerfires was a BSA in .222, bought back around 1980. That heavy-barrel gun shot countless groundhogs over the next decade, and easily printed one-ragged-hole groups at 200 yards...which is pretty small when you are dealing with .22-cal bullets. It was my only varmint rifle for about 10 years, and I didn't realize what a gem it was until long after I sold it...I thought they all shot that way!

They don't.

Certainly not the only gun I regret selling, but absolutely one of the ones I miss the most. I still have a soft spot for the .222, have one in a Sako AI Hunter, but it's not the same.
 
jjohnwm said:
One of my first small-caliber centerfires was a BSA in .222, bought back around 1980. That heavy-barrel gun shot countless groundhogs over the next decade, and easily printed one-ragged-hole groups at 200 yards...which is pretty small when you are dealing with .22-cal bullets. It was my only varmint rifle for about 10 years, and I didn't realize what a gem it was until long after I sold it...I thought they all shot that way!

They don't.

Certainly not the only gun I regret selling, but absolutely one of the ones I miss the most. I still have a soft spot for the .222, have one in a Sako AI Hunter, but it's not the same.
Click to expand...

The one I picked up is a sporter, it's actually got a very thin barrel profile . I personally don't enjoy heavy barreled guns, I owned one in 22-250 but quickly sold it because I like walking around with my guns and the heavy barrel just makes the gun too bulky to carry or ever try to shoot offhand. I can only hope that mine will shoot as well as yours did :)
 
I agree completely...now. Back then I was young and stupid, and schlepped that heavy gun, complete with Harris bipod attached, all day over hill and dale. But it was a beautiful gun, very easy to look at while relaxing on top of a hill waiting for a hog to appear. I'm sure you will love yours...do yourself a favour and hang onto it if you like it!;)
 
Here's some pics, best I could get with my iphone

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Beautiful BSA Regent short action! This model was chambered in .222 and .22 Hornet. While I have owned a .222 in the past I have never seen a Hornet.

For a 60 year old rifle it is in wonderful condition.
 
I have three .222's and don't need another, but that one would have followed me home if I found it at a show at that price too! Congratulations on a great find! I don't know much about the BSA action but it looks the proper size for the cartridge. Can anyone explain?
 
That was the very first sporting action built by BSA in the early fifties. That short action "Regent" - as I mentioned chambered for .222 and .22 Hornet - was followed later by a medium action called the "Viscount" chambered in .257 Roberts, 7mm Mauser (7x57) and .300 Savage. The third action length the "Imperial" was built in both standard and featherweight versions and was first offered in 30-06. Lastly the rarest of the so-called "Royal Line" was the magnum "Imperial" action in .458 Winchester. All of these "Royals" were controlled round feed and all were 100% hand-made. In the 60's in an effort to cut costs BSA changed the designs slightly and went to push-feed Majestic and Monarchs. The last models built were the CF2 which were offered in a good number of styles and chambering.
 
Thanks for that information Boo. I had tried to look through my big book of guns, but the model descriptions were lacking and I saw nothing that indicated what model this was. Although I'm not familiar with the BSA guns I did notice when i first picked up the gun that the action was smaller than a typical short action, I figured it was built specifically for a 222/223 sized case. It handles wonderfully. I had no idea it was that old. The gentleman that sold it said he had it for a while but hadn't shot it in years. I would have guessed 1970's from the condition. But built in 1950's really impresses me, he took fantastic care of his gun. Whenever I can get it out to punch some paper I will post some pics
 
Stevie, I had the same rifle except the action said 222 Hunter on the side, it shot very well and was very well finished,
similar redish colored walnut stock and open sights, only wear on my rifle was the anodizing on the floorplate otherwise
also an excellent example, oh did I mention it shot very well. BTW it is rare to find a CRF 222 rifle by any manufacturer.
BB
 
Great find, congrats. My father had a BSA when I was a pup. No idea what model it was, but it was chambered in 22.250. It had a sporter weight barrel and was an absolute tack driver and was the demise of more than a few ground hogs and jack rabbits. Sadly it was stolen, and never replaced. Hope yours shoots as well.
 
'Boo said:
That was the very first sporting action built by BSA in the early fifties. That short action "Regent" - as I mentioned chambered for .222 and .22 Hornet - was followed later by a medium action called the "Viscount" chambered in .257 Roberts, 7mm Mauser (7x57) and .300 Savage. The third action length the "Imperial" was built in both standard and featherweight versions and was first offered in 30-06. Lastly the rarest of the so-called "Royal Line" was the magnum "Imperial" action in .458 Winchester. All of these "Royals" were controlled round feed and all were 100% hand-made. In the 60's in an effort to cut costs BSA changed the designs slightly and went to push-feed Majestic and Monarchs. The last models built were the CF2 which were offered in a good number of styles and chambering.
Click to expand...

This is very interesting as I have long wondered what model best describes my 458.
Various sources have called it a Majestic or a Royal or the Emperor and now the Imperial.
Manufactured in 1958, its a push - feed action and has worked flawlessly for me over three decades.... best $ 150 I ever spent on a rifle regardless of its name ...
 
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