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Double Rifles, Single Shots & Combinations >> Single Shots & Combination Guns
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Spud303
.224 member


Reged: 25/05/11
Posts: 48
Loc: ACT, Australia
BSA .32/40 sporter
      #259323 - 22/01/15 11:44 AM

I have been playing around with this BSA bolt action single shot in .32/40. While it is a very basic rifle, it is a terrific "British" light sporter and a quite accurate. Probably made pre WW1 (it appears in the BSA 1911 catalogue as the BSA Sporting Rifle, .32/40 calibre, for Medium Game) it has a 25" barrel, folding leaf sights (100,200 & 300), sling eyes and a Lee Metford style bolt with lever safety catch. Weighing in at just under 6 lb you could carry it all day in the bush without even noticing.
This one is in very good condition with a near perfect bore which is a real bonus as most of these rifles saw hard use in Australia as "Roo" rifles. I've owned 3 in this calibre and the other 2 had shot out bores. The nitro proof mark on the barrel states "32/40 Ex Cordite 27-165 MAX". With that in mind I loaded up some 165 gr jacketed and GC cast bullets (lyman 321296 cast hard) running at about 1,650 fps.
At 75 yds the three jacketed bullets almost cut a cloverleaf group 3" high of the aiming mark while the cast went 5" high but still in a tight group.

With a bit of load development I'd have no problems taking this rifle out after Fallow deer as long as I could get up close. I really like this little rifle.
Pete
[image][/image]

Edited by Spud303 (22/01/15 11:47 AM)

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Spud303
.224 member


Reged: 25/05/11
Posts: 48
Loc: ACT, Australia
Re: BSA .32/40 sporter [Re: Spud303]
      #259324 - 22/01/15 11:49 AM

And here are the proof marks....
[image][/image]

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Ash
.400 member


Reged: 10/05/11
Posts: 1653
Loc: Australia
Re: BSA .32/40 sporter [Re: Spud303]
      #259331 - 22/01/15 01:51 PM

Oh wow, i've never seen one of these before.
Very cool. How often do they come up for sale?

Can you get some pictures of the rifle, such as full length shots?

Cheers,
Ash

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Spud303
.224 member


Reged: 25/05/11
Posts: 48
Loc: ACT, Australia
Re: BSA .32/40 sporter [Re: Ash]
      #259332 - 22/01/15 02:57 PM

Thanks Ash. Here's a full length photo.
Pete

[image][/image]

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Spud303
.224 member


Reged: 25/05/11
Posts: 48
Loc: ACT, Australia
Re: BSA .32/40 sporter [Re: Spud303]
      #259333 - 22/01/15 03:03 PM

Now a close-up of the action fully cocked. The bolt head locks into the guide rail visible under the bolt using a small spring steel clip.

[image][/image]

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Spud303
.224 member


Reged: 25/05/11
Posts: 48
Loc: ACT, Australia
Re: BSA .32/40 sporter [Re: Spud303]
      #259334 - 22/01/15 03:16 PM

Ash, I forgot to add that they don't appear for sale very often. I found two in Dubbo and this one in Wagga over a 20 yr period! More often you'll find the .410 version and some in .310 Cadet and .300 Sherwood. I reckon the .32/40 is the pick of the cartridges that were offered.
Here's the original BSA add.....55 bob, those were the days!
Pete

[image][/image]

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Viking338
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Reged: 11/08/11
Posts: 480
Loc: Queensland Australia
Re: BSA .32/40 sporter [Re: Spud303]
      #259335 - 22/01/15 03:45 PM

That is really cool

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Claydog
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Reged: 17/08/12
Posts: 934
Loc: Katherine, Northern Territory ...
Re: BSA .32/40 sporter [Re: Viking338]
      #259336 - 22/01/15 04:00 PM

You should be right with that one. The advertisement says good for medium game to 500 yards, who could ask for more? I've not seen that model before. They knew how to put together light sporters in those days.

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tinker
.416 member


Reged: 12/03/05
Posts: 4835
Loc: Nevada
Re: BSA .32/40 sporter [Re: Claydog]
      #259337 - 22/01/15 05:14 PM

Really neat rifle!

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Ash
.400 member


Reged: 10/05/11
Posts: 1653
Loc: Australia
Re: BSA .32/40 sporter [Re: tinker]
      #259347 - 22/01/15 11:46 PM

That is gorgeous, thanks Pete.

Odd sling swivel placements, i must say.

Hey Clay - to 500 yards...in populated areas!

It reminds me a lot of the Husky model 35's (been wanting one in 30-30 for awhile, but seeing your rifle has made me go oooooh! And 32-40 just looks so nice..)



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HuviusModerator
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Reged: 04/11/07
Posts: 3530
Loc: Colorado
Re: BSA .32/40 sporter [Re: Ash]
      #259350 - 23/01/15 12:45 AM

Those are very neat little rifles.
I had no idea of them until I saw a tatty 410 for sale here in the US.
It went very cheap and all I could think of is what a nice light custom rifle could be made of it. Something along the lines of a Lee Speed light express rifle is what came to mind.

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He who lives in the past is doomed to enjoy it.

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HuviusModerator
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Reged: 04/11/07
Posts: 3530
Loc: Colorado
Re: BSA .32/40 sporter [Re: Huvius]
      #259356 - 23/01/15 02:47 AM

Quote:

Those are very neat little rifles.
I had no idea of them until I saw a tatty 410 for sale here in the US.
It went very cheap and all I could think of is what a nice light custom rifle could be made of it. Something along the lines of a Lee Speed light express rifle is what came to mind.



Here it is. I guess it didn't sell.
Looks like the barrel is integral with the action though, hard to see if there is a seam there anywhere.

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=464583290

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He who lives in the past is doomed to enjoy it.

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Igorrock
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Reged: 01/03/07
Posts: 1641
Loc: Finland
Re: BSA .32/40 sporter [Re: Huvius]
      #259380 - 23/01/15 10:28 PM

Some years ago I saw similar .410 shotgun for sale here in Finland.

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Sarg
.400 member


Reged: 20/01/07
Posts: 1365
Loc: Nil
Re: BSA .32/40 sporter [Re: Ash]
      #259392 - 24/01/15 06:45 AM

Quote:

That is gorgeous, thanks Pete.

Odd sling swivel placements, i must say.

Hey Clay - to 500 yards...in populated areas!

It reminds me a lot of the Husky model 35's (been wanting one in 30-30 for awhile, but seeing your rifle has made me go oooooh! And 32-40 just looks so nice..)






The sling eyes are the same on BSA target Martini's & some SMLE-MLE Range rifles

I have seen a lot of those Husky single shots in NZ from 25/20 to 45/70, most look like new, can't remember a 30/30 how ever, do you want me to keep a eye out for one ?

Nice old BSA sporter a plus to have a good bore, never liked them in the old days, but now I have so many BSA type rifles I would like one as well, again a fair few in 410 in NZ !

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Ash
.400 member


Reged: 10/05/11
Posts: 1653
Loc: Australia
Re: BSA .32/40 sporter [Re: Sarg]
      #259405 - 24/01/15 11:07 AM

Sure Sarg, keep an eye open for me What price do they run over there? In Canada theyre about 250-350. Ive seen them in 25/20., 30-30, 32/20 and 45/70 (only online though).


Are the 410's ones that had shot out bores so they got reamed out? Or were they made that way?

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Norman4
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Reged: 16/01/15
Posts: 111
Loc: Vermont,USA
Re: BSA .32/40 sporter [Re: Ash]
      #259434 - 25/01/15 08:17 AM

Wonderful rifle. The caliber was somewhat popular here in the Northeastern US around the turn of the century. Usually in Winchester rifles. The 32-40 carbines were quite rare. Marlin also made many, though they are hard to find in my area. It was a popular white-tail round until eclipsed by the 30-30 first and then the .32 Special, which used a similar bullet at a higher velocity. My Grandfather used to admire the 32-40 and 38-55 because there was a lapse of time between when one pulled the trigger and then heard the thump of the bullet hitting the deer! I always thought this somewhat of a tall tail until I took a deer with a shotgun slug with similar results. I'm told the 32-40 was a popular target round in some areas of the country. I would think in a bolt action with cast bullets you should expect excellent accuracy.

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