The BSA Sportsman rifles were good and accurate but the split rear bridge meant they had to have a side mount for a scope. They were never much good as they flexed too much. I used to fit a fixed bridge just in front of the bolt handle, alter the bolt handle to a low recurve shape and fit a conventional top mount. I did lots of them and they made a very good scoped rifle. You don't see them much these days. I also used to make a lot of firing pins for them as they were easily lost when the bolt was out of the rifle. 'Fiddlers' used to turn the bolt handle when the bolt was out and they would slip off the bolt which allowed the firing pin to fall out. 'Fiddlers' still keep gunsmiths busy!
Bookmarks