.222 BSA Monarch

nickyb · Rookie Member Joined: Sep 23, 2009 Posts: 8

Gday everyone, I'm new to your site.I came across it looking for the ballistics program and stayed for some advice.

Got a BSA off my uncle chambered for .222rem. I've already got L461 in .223rem, so I dont really need a .222rem. So I was wondering if the BSA action was worth rebarrelling, in .204 ruger. Does anyone know enough about the BSA to say whether it is strong or accurate. From what I can see it has an adjustable trigger, a sako type extractor and ejector monte carlo stock. It's a pretty nice rifle really, would appreciate some feedback.

cheers Nick

SingleShotLover · Posted: Wed Sep 30, 2009 5:12 am Post subject: Re: .222 BSA Monarch

The BSAs had a reputation for being accurate and being basically a Mauser action should be plenty strong enough. It all depends on how much it will cost you to rebarrel versus just buying what you want.

Tristan · Rookie Member Joined: May 07, 2013 Posts: 5

G'day everyone I own a BSA .222 monarch rifle and it is having trouble extracting empty casings. I was wondering if anyone else has had an similar problems and how they fixed it or if anyone knows how to remove the extractor from the bolt? any advice would be much appreciated.

Thanks
Tristan

PaulS · Posted: Mon May 06, 2013 9:24 pm Post subject: Re: .222 BSA Monarch

Are you shooting factory cases?

Tristan · Rookie Member Joined: May 07, 2013 Posts: 5

yes I am using a factory Remington ammunition, it does extract them but then drops the casing before it can be ejected properly. could the spring on the extractor be a bit worn out?

PaulS · Posted: Mon May 06, 2013 10:15 pm Post subject: Re: .222 BSA Monarch

If you take the gun to a smith he might be able to tell you exactly what is wrong and what it will take to fix it.
It could be a weak spring or a broken extractor or it might be a worn ejector. I am not familiar or knowledgable enough to tell you what the "common" problems are and without examining the gun I can't start to point you in the right direction. That is why I recommend a gunsmith. A good one can tell a lot just by examining the gun. If you tell him what it is doing and he looks it over the chances are it can be fixed before you leave.

Tristan · Rookie Member Joined: May 07, 2013 Posts: 5

Thank you for the advise I will get in contact with a gunsmith and see what he recommends.

Elvis · Posted: Mon May 06, 2013 11:10 pm Post subject: Re: .222 BSA Monarch

welcome Tristan thats good advice from Paul. the only elcheapo type fix I can think of (scottish blood coming out again) is to take bolt out and give a plurry good degrease with some crc or even a soak in gasoline to see if there is junk in there stopping it doing what its ment to. does it have the 3 position safety like a winchester so you can lock spring and strip it?? if so degreasing would be easier still.

Tristan · Rookie Member Joined: May 07, 2013 Posts: 5

hey Elvis thanks for the advice, I pulled the bolt out and degreased it in gasoline yesterday but It didn't make much difference. I have noticed the extractor has a bit of play in in it so I have removed it and the spring. I was thinking of getting an engineer to make a new spring for the extractor as the old spring is nearly 50 years old and may have lost some compression. what are your thoughts on getting a new spring made?

Vince · Posted: Tue May 07, 2013 2:21 am Post subject: Re: .222 BSA Monarch

Hi Nicky..welcome to the site mate. Grab a beer and sit awhile.

Your little .222 sounds like a nice rifle. Before you decide to rip it apart and re-barrel it, have a think about the value of the rifle...both sentimental and monetary. To me, the most important value is sentimental. If there isn't any sentiment attached to the rifle, then have a shop around to see what a new .204 will set you back and what the cost of re-barreling will run to with a quality barrel.

Gidday Tristan. Grab a beer and pull up a stump mate.

From what you say, it certainly sounds like the spring has lost it's tension. Shame BSA aren't operating anymore...they would probably send you a spring for nothing. Back a couple of years ago I had a similar problem with my Krico .22 rimfire that I bought in 1969, but it was the firing pin spring. The Company sent me a new spring from Germany without any dramas.

Don't waste your time getting an Engineer to wind up a new spring...will most likely cost your more than everything else is worth. However, if you visit a reputable Gunsmith, chances are he will have a spring sitting on his bench, or in his "buggery box" of bits and pieces, that is perfect. If he doesn't, I'll lay odds he knows where to get one.

SingleShotLover · Posted: Tue May 07, 2013 4:55 am Post subject: Re: .222 BSA Monarch

Tristan wrote:

hey Elvis thanks for the advice, I pulled the bolt out and degreased it in gasoline yesterday but It didn't make much difference. I have noticed the extractor has a bit of play in in it so I have removed it and the spring. I was thinking of getting an engineer to make a new spring for the extractor as the old spring is nearly 50 years old and may have lost some compression. what are your thoughts on getting a new spring made?

Look at the schematic www.gunpartscorp.com/M...-35576.htm . No listing for the parts you need, but you might give them a call and see if there is a substitute. Good people and very helpful.

Tristan · Rookie Member Joined: May 07, 2013 Posts: 5

I just want to thank everyone for all the advice and being so helpful. I am off to see a gun smith today and will hopefully get back with the rifle ejecting properly. I will let everyone know how it goes.

Thanks again
Tristan

Ominivision1 · Posted: Tue May 07, 2013 3:08 pm Post subject: Re: .222 BSA Monarch

John Knibbs wrote an excellent book on BSA rifles called "The Golden Century", Using quotes from the book directly from past employees of BSA. The rifles listed below are grade categories from highest to lowest.

Emperor
Viscount
Majestic
Monarch
Regent

I passed down a BSA Majestic featherweight to my oldest son chambered in .270 win and it is still a beautiful rifle to this day.

I did hear about the mauser action using the long (wrong extractor) for a period from 1956 till 1963 according to the book.

Here is a link to the book. www.bsaairriflebooks.c...n-century/