BSA Model 12 Martini .22 Rifle

[2010blackhawkdown]

I fire this rifle at my local range(i live in england) its definatly a good gun, i prefer it to the anshuwtz target rifles, the bolt action single shot .22

[USRimfireShooter]

You've made a lot of nice .22 related videos. Thanks. You don't seem to wear eye or ear protection. Here, in California its typical to wear them both inside and outside. just curious, is it typical where you live not to wear either?

[314299]

@USRimfireShooter I think this is the only video I have up where I'm not wearing glasses, I generally do wear eye protection. This video was taken on a private range where I was shooting alone at a paper target 50 yards away, I think the glasses got dirty and I took them off. I thought the risk under the circumstances was moderate, however I don't recommend it, we should wear eye protection while shooting. I was using earplugs, you just cant see them in the video.

[danthegunman1]

hi how much did that gun cost

[314299]

@danthegunman1 I don't recall as it was purchased quite a few years ago. Now they seem to be selling for $400 to $650.

[DepakoteMeister]

In the Air Training Corp in Britain in the late 1970s we used to shoot these (or Martinis very similar) and .22LR Lee Enfields for 25yard indoor target practice most weekends. The Martinis were reversed for the better shots (because we preferred the sights).

[Bodiezscubaandgaming]

i own this rifle but its not a fully a martini 303 its a noun rifeled barrel and take 410 catrejes i use it for hunting shame its not still a rifle

[314299]

@Bodiezscubaandgaming A .410 Martini shotgun would be an interesting gun to have.

[Bodiezscubaandgaming]

@314299 it is intresting to have but i woould like the originality of thr rifle. i am using it this sunday i will post a video soon

[TheKodiak72]

@314299 W&W Greener made alot of martinis into 12G riot guns

[heebyjeebus]

Got one - incredibly accurate weapon.

[314299]

@heebyjeebus Yep, that they are.

[superremf1]

Apologies for the double post, the first did not seem to have posted !. The programme was on satellite t.v I think it may have been a history channel type thing. It was either Tony Robinson, or someone like Ian Hislop reflecting on events after ww1. I'll try and find out what it was. I am currently joining a small bore club, and have been looking at BSA martinis on the net, I have just seen a Parker Hale Dewar rifle on one of the sites, the ultimate to my eyes.

[superremf1]

I recently saw a documentary showing just such a thing, it featured a pub in the midlands of England (probably not too far away from where this rifle was built) with an indoor range consisting of a cast iron pipe about 20" diameter inlet into the wall with a bullet trap and illumination at one end. The idea was to allow indoor practice with rifles just like this one.

[superremf1]

I saw such a documentary, it featured a pub in the midlands of England (probably close to where this rifle was made) and the "range" consisted of a large cast iron tube about 20" diameter inlet into the pub wall. At the other end of the tube was a bullet trap with illumination. The idea was to allow indoor practice with just the kind of rifle you have.

[314299]

@superremf1 Any idea what the documentary was called?

[superremf1]

Superb, classic British rifle introduced after the Boer war to improve the standard of marksmanship, when even some pubs had small, short distance ranges for patrons to use. Ironic that now, the government is hell bent on banning civilian ownership of firearms. Beautiful rifle which still shoots like hell, enjoy it,

[314299]

@superremf1 That would be quite the novelty, a pub with a range!

[DepakoteMeister]

@superremf1 In England the next school along from mine had a small-bore rifle range in the loft in use still during the 1970s and early 1980s.

[tacfoley]

It is - see - rifleman org uk and look up the Model 1 page.

My little rifle, as far as we know unique, is at the bottom of that page.

tac

[314299]

@tacfoley I had a look - wow! Awesome little rifle and case.

rifleman org uk/BSA_Model_1.html

[tacfoley]

A beautiful old gun, well-told.

I have three older BSAs, including a take-down model 1 - see the page on the BSA history site.

Best

tac

[314299]

@tacfoley Is the BSA model 1 a bolt action?

[randoriremix]

i have the 1940 version shoots 5 rounds through the same hole at 100 yards using velositor ammo and i put a had a scope and suppressor fitted and cut the target barrel down to 16 inches i higly recomend these rifles ive never seen one that shoots poorly

[314299]

@randoriremix Sounds interesting. You should do a video on that rifle.

[randoriremix]

@314299 ok ill do one next time im out and about and ill send it to you if you would like im from new zealand so they are cheap about 250usd here im going to turn one into a 17mach 2 when i can get hold of another one

[314299]

@randoriremix That would be great to see. They sell for more here - $400 to $600 depending on condition.

[randoriremix]

@314299 hoping to head out this weekend to do some shooting will try to do a video then sorry its been so long been moving house everything is pretty hectic at the mo cause of the earthquakes

[morearrows]

Thank's that has to be one of the most practical, level headed, descriptions of a rifle, it's birth, purpose and usage, anywhere on the net! I have one of these actions, (or very simmilar), as originaly fitted to a .310 caliber barrel on the martini cadet rifle, i posess it as an interesting keepsake and love the history that comes with it, It is a lovely example of the stuff of old world practicality.

[314299]

@morearrows Thanks for your comment. I'm not sure if the .310 Martini action is exactly the same size as the model 12 in the video, but if they are not the same they are very close. I would love to have a .310 cadet Martini, hopefully someday I will come across one for sale at a decent price.

[snowsniper8]

that is one darn good lookin gun!

[KevinJKtheman]

This takes me back, we used these in the Army cadets, back in the early seventies, Martini rifles chambered to .22 small bore. Don't think they'd have them now, they were considered ancient even then, thanks for posting

[314299]

@KevinJKtheman It's nice to hear from someone who used them while in Cadets in the UK. Here in Canada cadets used the C No.7 .22 rifle, but now all they use are air rifles.

[CalCorpLaw]

Thank you for one of the best-produced, most-concise and informative videos of ANY KIND on You Tube. Great Work

[314299]

@CalCorpLaw Thanks for the kind words and thanks for watching!

[Odin1978]

Nice gun!

[lukefromdownunder]

I WANT ONE

[Jrhoney]

I'd like to get one of these. Know any good loactions?

[314299]

@Jrhoney I can't really suggest any particular place to buy one, just keep an eye on Gun Broker, Auction Arms and perhaps the Shotgun News.

[kermit30au]

Thanks for that. Im new to guns just buying my first only this week. Im learning about other actions and calibers. Found videos like this very informative. Great to see everything in action.

[314299]

@kermit30au Glad you found the video useful. Good luck with your first purchase!

[djtwig999]

@kermit30au i second that one mate ;-)

[233NATOMAN]

Have you tried Eley or other good target ammo ?

If so how did your groups improve ?

Graham

[314299]

@233NATOMAN I think the best groups fired with this rifle were with old Dominion target ammo, at just around an inch at 100 yards. I'm sure Eley ammo would shoot as well but it's not common or easy to find around here.

[233NATOMAN]

Very pleasant and easy viewing.Historically interesting with reference to the Boer Wars.

I have the Mark V 1980's which is still giving sterling service fitted with a Weaver scope mount and also Target Sights.

Graham

[314299]

@233NATOMAN Thanks for the comment. It must be nice to have such a modern (1980's) Martini!

[morearrows]

Thanks, that was just perfect, interesting and informative from start to finish!

[314299]

Glad you enjoyed it - thanks for watching!

[kittygawngetit]

:) great video, I'm going to try and use a martini the next time I go shooting, my uk club has a couple that look like they haven't been used in years. Thanks

[314299]

I bet you'll like shooting one.

[kittygawngetit]

@314299 Yeah i enjoyed the martini actions style and feel but unfortuently the sights were not set so i wasn't getting the bulls i wanted. Still fun to use though :)

Thanks for vid :)

[314299]

Glad you got to try one for yourself!

[idgewe]

i love these bsa rifles at the moment they are really cheap in the uk i just purchased a 12/15 for £100 (british currency ) i dont no what that is in canadian money . cool rifle and vid .

[314299]

As of today £100 is $154 Canadian dollars. That's a heck of a deal on a model 12/15 as over here the usually sell from $400 to $600 dollars Canada depending on condition. Congrats on getting such a great rifle for so little!

[idgewe]

@314299 thanks i will have many years of pleasure from it .

[MrPipezu]

I have model 12 also and I would like to know if it is possible to adjust trigger? My rifle has way too sensitive trigger and sometimes it has come off when I have closed the bolt. Too dangerous to use and because I would like to get it back on the range. Thanks for answering!

[314299]

I'm not aware of any adjustments that you could make to the trigger. Your best bet would be to take it to a good gunsmith, they might be able to re-cut the sear engagement surfaces.

[dawnninjawolf]

Where can you get these, and for how much?

[314299]

As with any vintage firearm if you want one you have to look around to see what is out there and the current going price. For instance Bob Adams Collector Firearms has one listed on his website for $ 795.

[dawnninjawolf]

Thanks.

[lovemorembigi]

Excellent video - many thanks! I have a BSA Model 15 and can appreciate the warm endorsement displayed in your tribute to this class of rifle.

[314299]

Thanks for the comment, glad you enjoyed the vid. Have you owned your model 15 for very long?

[lovemorembigi]

My first rifle! Purchased as soon as I turned 16 [and could get a licence] in 1969 and it's still in my happy possession. A club rifle that must have fired thousands of rounds before I bought it - and many thousands since. It was uncompetitive for club shoots by the early 1980's but won me a D Class gold medal in a national champ shoot in 1971 - its best ever in my hands - ha!

[314299]

Wow, 40 years of ownership! That's pretty impressive. Obviously BSA made a heck of a durable product. Do you think your rifle is as accurate it now as it was when you bought it?

[lovemorembigi]

Yes, I'd have to say that it's as accurate today as it was then - on a good day with Tenex it would give me a score of around 85%. The barrel and action and sights are excellent. But even 85% is not good enough versus modern Anchutz rifles so for competitive purposes it's now pretty much a lost cause.......

[314299]

That's interesting to hear. While time and technology move on, the old BSA rifles still have more character.

[modelleg]

Nicely done!

[314299]

Thank you!

[Louisthefish23]

Bit like the martini henry rifle firing the .45 cal round during the 1870's

[314299]

Yes, a miniature version of the same action.

[sledgemeister]

Lovelly old rifle, I have 3 original BSA .310 cadets. I plan to keep 1 original and convert the others, although I reall cant bring myself to do it. I guess I will have to reload .310's.

[314299]

I'd love to get my hands on a .310 Cadet, an interesting little round and an interesting little rifle. I think a couple of companies make proper "heel" type bullet molds for them.

[sledgemeister]

They are a sweet little rifle for sure and shoot surprisingly well. Theres a fellow here in aus that makes very good molds for obscure calibres like the 310. If you google Cast Bullet Engineering you can see the list he makes. He can also make custom molds.

[314299]

Yes I've seen his website and photos of his molds, they look very nice. I think RCBS also lists a .310 cadet mould as a special order item.

[DIRTNAPPIN222]

very informative....thanks & nice rifle.

[314299]

Thanks!

[zinger1111]

Beauty rifle & great video.

[314299]

Thank you and thanks for watching!

[majorporpoise]

When I search "Martini cadet rifle" on gunbroker, everyone says they're in .310 cal, is that .22LR?

[314299]

Martini Cadet rifles are different and are chambered for the .310 Cadet round, which is a center fire round, not similar to the .22 LR. You might have better luck searching Gunbroker if you search for "BSA Model 12".

[majorporpoise]

Thanks!

[314299]

Thanks, it's a relaxing and fun to shoot little rifle.

[AussieMaleTuber]

Gooday mate. This is a wonderfull review and I really love it. Thanks (... once again)!

David

[314299]

Thanks! I enjoy sharing these old rifles through the medium of video, but I really should get a better, purpose made video camera.

[izzy1948]

great review, i wish i could find a rifle like that here in the states

it would be neat to have a .22 martini-henry style rifle

[314299]

There is a dealer in the states who sells a lot of Martini style rifles, he often has BSA .22 Martini rifles for sale. If you Google "adamsguns" you will find him.

[majorporpoise]

Sort of looks like a mix between a Martini Henry & a Shiloh sharps rifle.

[314299]

Of course it is a very close cousin to a Martini Herry It's really just a smaller and improved version.While you can buy a new replica sharps you can't get a replica Martini, which is too bad.

[majorporpoise]

You wouldn't believe how expensive .557/450 ammo is.

20 rounds for over $110 U.S.D.

[314299]

Yeah, I've seen it for sale, it's definitively a reloading proposition. I actually have a set of .577/450 dies and no rifle, but I'll find one someday.

[majorporpoise]

I have no interest in that rifle.

I'd rather buy surplus ammo for my Enfield & Garand.

[314299]

There is bugger all .303 surplus to be had around here. Another reason why I like the .22 Martini - cheap and easy to get ammo for.

[majorporpoise]

.303 surplus is plentiful in America, if you look at the right place.

I have over 2,000 rounds of POF .303 Enfield rounds.

[yammo12]

very enjoyable video good commentary

[314299]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[assassin616]

great video, i luv that rifle, looks so cool, i will most likely never own one though because i live in england

[lexmark136]

time to move, donchu think ?

[314299]

I agree, there's plenty of room here in Canada for anyone interested in shooting!

[yevgenz]

Hi Shawn!

Very nice video and a very interesting rifle.

Regards,

Yevgen

[314299]

Thanks Yevgen, it's nice to hear from you.