forindooruseonly
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- Joined
- Oct 3, 2009
- Messages
- 1,076
Here are a couple of rimfires you don't see everyday. BSA started producing smallbore competition rifles on a Martini action in the early 1950s. They were fairly successful in competition, and eventually were built in five different variations until production ceased in the 70s.
I have a soft spot for firearms that strike me as unusual. Not that the BSA International isn't recognized in competition circles, but among the the wider shooter community it's a bit of unknown. It's unfortunate too, as it is a wonderfully comfortable and well built rifle that is more capable than most shooters. The specialized purpose certainly limits their usefulness, too big and heavy for the field; shooting off-hand takes some effort. Even then, I'm still surprised these aren't more sought after - especially when I see as many people shooting off benches as I do.
The action is a marvel. The ejection is almost freakish in how hard and far it pitches the spent cases. Under my local covered range, I'm careful to not position myself with anyone immediately to the right - they'll be pelted with hot .22 cases bouncing off the ceiling. It has a solid, precise feel to it and is easy to load without looking at the chamber. Very natural, and you don't have to come off the stock.
So it's a nice solid rifle, so what? There must be a hundred different rifles that would fill the same role for a casual smallbore shooter like me. So what's the attraction? I'm not quite sure why I'm so fond of them. I think a little has to do with the aesthetics, a little more about the quality, another factor is the accuracy, maybe some is because I don't see them very often. It does have a lot going for it. However, these two guns are half a century old. Technology and technique have changed much since this rimfire's heyday and, head to head with a modern target rifle, the old BSA lags into obsolescence as a top competitor's rifle. It's run has effectively been finished. Despite this, I see them at some competitions and on forums continuing to perform well for their owners. Like a trusted old dog that's had it's day but still can, if coaxed into it, make a showing.
The scoped version is the first version of the International, the one with the Parker-Hale sights is a Mk.II...
I have a soft spot for firearms that strike me as unusual. Not that the BSA International isn't recognized in competition circles, but among the the wider shooter community it's a bit of unknown. It's unfortunate too, as it is a wonderfully comfortable and well built rifle that is more capable than most shooters. The specialized purpose certainly limits their usefulness, too big and heavy for the field; shooting off-hand takes some effort. Even then, I'm still surprised these aren't more sought after - especially when I see as many people shooting off benches as I do.
The action is a marvel. The ejection is almost freakish in how hard and far it pitches the spent cases. Under my local covered range, I'm careful to not position myself with anyone immediately to the right - they'll be pelted with hot .22 cases bouncing off the ceiling. It has a solid, precise feel to it and is easy to load without looking at the chamber. Very natural, and you don't have to come off the stock.
So it's a nice solid rifle, so what? There must be a hundred different rifles that would fill the same role for a casual smallbore shooter like me. So what's the attraction? I'm not quite sure why I'm so fond of them. I think a little has to do with the aesthetics, a little more about the quality, another factor is the accuracy, maybe some is because I don't see them very often. It does have a lot going for it. However, these two guns are half a century old. Technology and technique have changed much since this rimfire's heyday and, head to head with a modern target rifle, the old BSA lags into obsolescence as a top competitor's rifle. It's run has effectively been finished. Despite this, I see them at some competitions and on forums continuing to perform well for their owners. Like a trusted old dog that's had it's day but still can, if coaxed into it, make a showing.
The scoped version is the first version of the International, the one with the Parker-Hale sights is a Mk.II...
