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Thread: BSA P14 Sporter
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06-01-2025, 20:52 #1
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BSA P14 Sporter
Evening all
Hope someone can shed some light on the following
My brother in law has just acquired a 303 P14 BSA Sporter, looking at the rifle, it does not appear as if it has been sportified by some firearm enthusiast, but rather factory produced, there are numerous BSA stamps and even the bolt knob is straight, as opposed to the dog leg on the military issues, there are corresponding serial numbers on the barrel, on the bolt and inside the stock.
I tried to do some research on the internet but cannot find anything definite....
Is there anybody on the forum that can provide ant insight
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06-01-2025, 22:28 #2
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Re: BSA P14 Sporter
Same here.
Turns out to be a very light, accurate snd fun gun.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1eN6...w?usp=drivesdk
This is the original catalogue….
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
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07-01-2025, 20:52 #3
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Re: BSA P14 Sporter
Hi Grobbie
Very interesting catalogue, however unless I missed it nothing is mentioned about the Pattern 14 in 303....produced by BSA....
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07-01-2025, 20:55 #4
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Re: BSA P14 Sporter
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07-01-2025, 21:09 #5
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07-01-2025, 21:56 #6
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08-01-2025, 05:55 #7
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Re: BSA P14 Sporter
A lot of hunting rifles were produced on the basic design and tooling built to make the P14. Winchester and Remington both had models that were "neatened up" P14's.
However as far as I know BSA never made P14's and the straight bolt handle also sounds strange.
Can you share some pictures perhaps?
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08-01-2025, 07:27 #8
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Re: BSA P14 Sporter
Hi Guys
Thanks for the info, I will post some pics later on today, as previously mentioned the action, barrel bolt and even the barrel channel of the stock all have the same serial number, the BSA marks even appear under the bolt handle. I tried to identify some cut and reweld on the bolt handle where the dog leg could have been removed/straightened, but cannot see anything. The stock is well made with a cheek piece swell, and a BSA butt plate is fitted to the stock.
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08-01-2025, 07:33 #9
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Re: BSA P14 Sporter
Doing some research again and found this info along with identical pics from someone else who has an identical rifle, rebarreled to 30-06
If you wanted a possible "potted history" of the rifle (assuming it is a P14) I would offer the following GUESS (based purely on the odds/what happened to most)
Produced in 1916 at Remington or Eddystone
Sent to the UK when it either went straight into storage or saw some use with training units.
Put into storage post-war 1919/20
Removed from storage in 1939/40 passed through the Weedon Repair Program (WRS) where its volley sights were removed and it was cleaned up and certified as serviceable
Issued to a Home Guard / LDV unit in 40-41 used in this capacity until replaced.
Placed in storage at the end of the war
Surplussed out to BSA in the early 50s
Converted to the sporting format and sold on the civillian market.
Very few (if any standard P14 rifles) saw action on the Western Front. Some of the rifles were sent to India directly from the factory, some were supplied to the Baltic states post WWI, many supplied to Greece post WWII -- however given that your rifle was acquired by BSA from the british govt it is unlikely that your rifle is one of these - hence the story above. It is unlikely that your rifle was ever in combat of fired in "anger"
But it is a testament to the design and materials that @100 years after it was produced (although heavily modified) it remains a perfectly serviceable hunting rifle.
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08-01-2025, 07:35 #10
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