Picked up another trainer today

mcminn

mcminn

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So today I was lucky enough to find what I feel is a really good deal on a 1915 BSA .22 trainer conversion. It will feel right at home alongside my 1917 BSA and 1943 Longbranch.




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mcminn said:
Good eye. The No.7 magazine works but it's just not right.
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Can you tell me more about these "22" stamped mags. A friend came over last night to show me his recently acquired SMLE (from an aging FIL that purchased it from a Sask hardware store barrel full back in the 60's). It is a Lithgow, 1942, II* marked .303. (non # matching). The interesting thing to me, although it is a .303, the mag is stamped .22 the same as your picture shows. I have read that all trainer mags are hollow bodies just to collect empty brass however this one has a follower and spring in it. The follower is shaped different than any "military surplus" I have seen before, that being full length inside the mag body with a feed hump on one side. This follower has a large hole at one end (back end and I suppose it is to do the brass collection job) but at the front it has two ribs leading to the chamber mouth that would appear to be a track for rimfire ammo to be fed center of chamber. The owners of the gun claim to have used the mag to feed the .303 (holds ten shots) and it works flawlessly they say.

I own a BSA trainer that has the empty mag body that came with it but not sure if it is "original" to the gun. The folks that own the above rifle have offered to trade me the .22 marked mag for any old "surplus" mag that will fit their gun...on the hunt at the next avail. gun show.
 
The follower in the .22 mags is used to guide the cartridge into the chamber and then the empty case is supposed to fall into the mag through the large hole at the rear.

While 303 will fit, the small cartridge guides at the front of the mag are different than on a 303 mag, they are cut square, this means that the 303 cartridge can very easily jump up out of proper alignment.
 
Hey fingers, if you get a chance to pick up that magazine, do it. The C No.7 rifle and some of the No.4 rifle conversions had the follower and they are worth decent money. I am on the lookout for an empty SMLE .22 stamped magazine if you ever want to sell yours.
 
mcminn said:
Hey fingers, if you get a chance to pick up that magazine, do it. The C No.7 rifle and some of the No.4 rifle conversions had the follower and they are worth decent money. I am on the lookout for an empty SMLE .22 stamped magazine if you ever want to sell yours.
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Unfortunately mine isn't stamped "22", it just an empty mag body.

Is there a "period of manufacture" that has been ascertained by anyone for the mags with the spring & follower, were the "post war, during the war, prior war". Were they just "Canadian" or more worldwide?
 
Someone with more knowledge than me might chime in but to my knowledge, the No.7 is the only rifle that was a purpose built .22 with a magazine so it had a proper loading ramp. Since the No.7 is based on a number 4 action, some of their magazines have been retro fitted over the years. I have two. My No.4 Longbranch magazine is stamped Lb and my No.7 is stamped with the C broad arrow. All others were just gutted and marked .22 so they weren't accidently used for anything else.
I'd still be interested in your empty mag if you want to sell it.
 
I have a number of no3 trainers that I got out of the middle east, they have mag bodies with 22 on them. I think
the mags with the 22 followers are for the no 7s. I have a mint no 7 in the box and the extra magazines have
the followers and marked 22.
 
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