Thread: P14 mag follower

As a follow on from this post, have now had this rifle passed on to me. I’ve been quietly looking around for a 7x57 that had good bones but left me enough to put some love into. After nearly two years, the universe dropped it in my lap. Isn’t karma wonderful!!



It’s an interesting bit of kit with a mishmash of different components. After much digging and some help from @Kimber 7mm-08, have established that it’s an Enfield P14 action (Eddystone built) then post WW2 surplus bought up by BSA, late 40’s early 50’s, where the actions were machined, restamped with BSA logo and stock sporterised but still is .303 caliber. Spread around the Commonwealth and sold on to the public.
I’m only guessing but possibly during the mid-late eighties or early nineties, it was fitted with a Hawkin barrel, chambered in 7x57, 23.25” long with a 1:11 twist rate. A Tony Hawkin barrel??? Little or no info about these aside from the fact that he was well known in black powder circles but did produce the odd centrefire barrel as well. Any feedback would be welcome.
The action carries a set of Parker Hale dovetail mounts. Not sure if it’s relevant but they’re 16mm across. I did put a set of REM700 Talleys next to them and it seems that the holes line up and the action is machined to suit. I did read somewhere that the P1917 action went on to become the Remington 30 so maybe some compatibility there???



The Timney trigger was a real bonus.



The fit up of the BSA stock of unknown vintage, is crude to say the least but for some reason this whole combination just feels right. Nicely balanced and comes to the shoulder beautifully.
The previous owner purchased this rifle from, I think Allan Millar’s in Dunedin, mid ‘96 and has had it ever since. It developed feed issues and attempts at rectifying the problem failed so its languished in the gun safe for the last ten years or so. I’m told it was a good shooter and am inclined to believe so given it’s makeup. Time and some attention will tell.