BSA Majestic or CF2?

[Cervus elaphus]

I hope the OP does not mind my adding to this thread. I received my BSA Royal/Hunter in 7x57 today, it would be the same rifle the Professor references just above.
Condition is a bit rough, bore maybe a 7 of 10, throat looks a little worn, but muzzle is tight and thats what usually counts.
Couple of interesting things. They use a screw to grab the front of the trigger guard that comes down from inside as shown in my pic. Never have seen that before. Wood in the trigger well was cracked though I find that in almost all old rifles and some newer ones!
It also had for a scope base a Redfield that I assumed was some std base that some clever machinist made to fit this receiver but in fact it was std offering from Redfield made for these rifles! Its a clever item, see pic.
It has 3 leaf sights, all matching numbers, no other stock issues other than being old and checkering nearly all wore off, still has BSA buttplate and pistol grip cap, and I suppose original old style swivels. Headspace is very tight and new brass needs to be sized down to chamber easily, otherwise it takes much force to close the bolt all the way, that seems odd indeed but not insurmountable, thats what sizing dies are made for right? Once they have been fired in the chamber they should be fine.
Will get some rounds made up and hopefully get it to the range soon.
I have some Parker Hale rings which are meant for the BSA rifles but looks like I have two rear rings as both have the recoil stud. Suppose I can use them if I either grind off or punch out the stud on one as the front receiver is not meant to use the stud. Otherwise I can put the Redfield back on, but I was hoping to use the PH rings, we shall see.
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Don't mind at all. Appreciate your contribution to the subject. Nice rifle and really nice caliber the 7x57. Yours has the classic distinctive schnabel forend like the Majestic. With the aid of a good gunsmith if needed, a lot of oldies can be brought back to life. I would skip the Redfield, get out the tools and put on a decent Leupold or Yukon Jaeger scope low mounted. Looking forward to some more photos as you go . Cheers

 

[Professor Mawla]

@Professor Mawla,
Thanks for the insight into those rifles! That it very wise advice about pinning the release latch on any DG rifle that has a floor plate that may open unintentionally! Not hard to do, depending on design. Drill a small hole through to fit a roll or tension type cross pin that will not come out and will block the function of the latch. And thanks for including the personal insights of John Coleman. I have always enjoyed and respected his wisdom.

@fourfive8
You are most welcome . And I am much inclined to agree with you . I personally always prefer the magazine floor plate release catches which are located OUTSIDE the trigger bow ( as can be found in the Winchester Model 70 or the BRNO ZKK-600 series ) . That way , there is absolutely zero chance of the operator’s knuckle striking the magazine floor plate release catch during recoil . My personal .458 Winchester Magnum is built on a robust Winchester Enfield Model 1917 action , which retained the original military floor plate release system . It is perhaps the most secure design of them all . The only way to open the magazine floor plate , is by inserting the point of a bullet tip into the hole near the magazine base plate , which causes the entire magazine assembly to come out into the operator’s hands . However , the trade off is that it is not easy to switch the contents of your magazine ( from soft nosed rounds to full metal jacket rounds or vice versa ) quickly . You must manually cycle the bolt in order to remove each round , one by one .

And yes . John is a true gentleman and a consummate professional . His immense proficiency as a hunter , is surpassed only by his humility . His three favorite calibres ( 7x57 mm Mauser , .338 Winchester Magnum and .458 Winchester Magnum ) also happen to be my three personal favorites . A little known fact about John , is that his Birmingham Small Arms Majestic rifle ( the .458 Winchester Magnum ) was actually the very first .458 Winchester Magnum to enter Rhodesia ( in 1958 ) .

 

[sestoppelman]

An older Redfield 2-7X now rides on top of the BSA in Parker Hale mounts, modded to fit.

 

[Cervus elaphus]

An older Redfield 2-7X now rides on top of the BSA in Parker Hale mounts, modded to fit.View attachment 395552

Yes that looks good, really good

 

[Cervus elaphus]

Haha Cabelas Firearm Department is renowned for misinformation of all types but have at helping them .
I don't think a CF2 is worth messing with really, I love the Old Majestic & Monarch but they have had their day, parts are hard to find if needing repair, I remember the early ones broke firing pins & the bolt safety's wear badly.
I have had many many of them, only just sold a BSA Hunter in .222 Rem & just before that one in .22 Hornet which is one (if not the only) 22 Hornet to work from a normal internal magazine as opposed to a Clip magazine .

I see a guy here selling a BSA Majestic Emperor in .458Win, I have always wanted one of them, if only they built them on the early control feed action .

The Emperors were CRF only from 1957-58. After that, all push-feed

 

[sestoppelman]

Took mine to the range today and was very pleasantly surprised at how well it shot with a semi rough looking bore.
Using a tried and true 7x57 load of R19 and Nosler 140 gr Ball tips, I got good groups with the smallest probably just over half inch and the largest an inch and three eighth's. No brag paper, busy range today, but it did shoot just fine, worked perfectly, smooth in operation.
Couldnt be much happier for a first outing.

 

[sestoppelman]

This rifle is built on the medium length action so its almost like a short action, bolt is at least a half inch shorter than a Mauser and action is 7" from end to end. May have to send it out for that rechecker job after all!

 

[sestoppelman]

Anyone know what the twist would be in the 7mm BSA rifle? I read on another forum that a 10" twist was used which is a little slower than what one usually sees, and I see the same above in De Haas's book.
I ran the tight patch cleaning rod drill a couple of times on mine and came up with 9 or just over so was wondering if anyone has any other info on that.

 

[Zvekizmija]

Hello guys. I finally found something that can help me solve my mystery, and that might be people from this forum. I actually have one of these BSA rifles, and I think it's the CF2 model in .308 winchester. I replaced the old barrel with a new one and it is very accurate, its breech - action works very well. My question is, which rifle is most similar (chassis) to the BSA CF2 model (remington, sako, mauser, savage, howa or what?) I ask because of the stock. I would like to replace the old wooden stock and put some synthetic, folding.Your help would mean a lot to me, thank you very much!

 

[Zvekizmija]

Rebarelling my BSA CF2

 

[sestoppelman]

Every action is different. You would need to find a stock specific to that rifle, bottom metal is very different from others.
There may be such a thing as a generic stock that is not inlet for any particular action, but then you need to inlet it or have it done. I dont even know if such exists.
Were it me I would use the stock its in and call it a day.

 

[Zvekizmija]

Thanks for your reply. I know they different. But I don't have the opportunity to try any of the stocks "in live", I have to know exactly or something like which action it fits, so that I can order the stock online I have to find a solution. I really like this action, which works smoothly and perfectly, like the Tikka or Sako rifles. Thanks once again for the answer, if you find a solution in the meantime, remember me. Great regards!

 

[sestoppelman]

I have a BSA also, but the earlier model Royal made in the 50's, love it.
But again, I can only recommend maybe getting a copy of Bolt Action Rifles that gives dimensions for the various rifles, BSA among them.
Otherwise you are likely looking at gunsmith work or a custom stock.

 

[Zvekizmija]

Yes... I know... I must find some solution. Anyway, thank you for help.

 

[Sideshow]

Well that’s the first CF2 that I’ve seen with Majestic stars on the bolt.

 

[Hunter-Habib]

Biggest difference between B.S.A Majestic & B.S.A CF2. The Majestics came with those beastly integral muzzle brakes.

 

[Sideshow]

Yes on some models but the main difference is that back of the bolt head and the brass pin cocking indicator. The Cf2 had this. Which you can see on the above mode.

 

[Sideshow]

 

[Sideshow]

Well I’ll be dammed lol it is a majestic

 

[Sideshow]

Here’s the majestic bolt