Parker Hale & BSA centrefire rifles

[kombi1976]

I was wondering what sort of experience people have had with these 2 old mainstays of the British firearms industry......that was until the UK government decided a home defence and sporting industry wasn't "safe or politically correct"!

God help us if Australia ever gets that narrow minded, although our current Prime Minister, who is happy to join George W and Tony Blair in Iraq committing Australian soldiers and arms, has a pronounced gun phobia. Bit of a double standard, eh? But I'm off the point here.

I see plenty of ads for both BSA and especially Parker Hales. What's the consensus?

[Mikey]

kombi1976 - you're right about the politics friend, and with our national elections coming due we are faced with only one choice - continuing our Repubican administration with which our firearms rights are safe, or suffering under a communist administration in which social unrest, militant racism, and anti-constituionalist forces will rail against the working taxpayor.  It looks like the fight is on, and I'm stocking up on ammo.

As for the Parker Hale and BSAs - what I have seen is sporterized versions of the SMLEs by Parker Hale and they certainly look good.  I was tempted to add a 4th SMLE, a Parker Hale sporterization, to my collection, and to hunt with it because it looked so good but I let a younger fella take it as his first hunting rifle - screw chivalry, the next one is mine.  Mikey.

[kombi1976]

I'm actually after one of the Parker Hale designated hunting rifles, preferably in 7x57, which I've been told were built on 98 actions. Also, a friend's first real hunting rifle was a BSA non-SMLE action with a sporting stock in .303 British. He bought it in New Zealand where he grew up and shot his first deer with it. The rifle remains accurate to this day and he says he saw his nephew shoot a buck mid leap with it.

[Lawdog]

My 7mm Remington Magnum is a Parker-Hale.  Got it new in 1970 and it is one of the most beautiful M98 I have ever seen.  Very accurate but somewhat light weight(7.75 lbs. including scope(Weaver K6) and sling) for my tastes.  It is my JINXED rifle, that is it is still a virgin, never taken any game with it.  But seeing that it is the wedding present from my wife I’ll just keep it.  Lawdog
 

[kombi1976]

Lawdog, could you post a pic of you Parker-Hale? I'm yet to see what one looks like.

[ratherbefishin]

Parker Hale made beautiful military sporting conversions and you got a well made rifle for a very reasonable price.

[CzaRon]

I"ve owned a BSA Monarch Deluxe .30/06 since 1967.Except for one broken firing pin I've had no problems at all. Wanted to get a CF-2 Stutzen back when they were new but got layed off from  my job.Still looking at local gunshops and gun shows.

[Nightrain52]

In 1973 I had a Parker-Hale Varmint with a heavy barrel in 243. It was built on a Mauser action with one of the most beautiful Walnut stocks I have ever seen. It had the whiteline spacers on the butt plate, pistol grip cap, and black fore-end tip. Looked somewhat similar to a Weatherby with a real shiny finnish. Besides looking good it shot like a house on fire. At this time I was just starting to handload with an old Lee loader that you had to use a hammer with and it just neck sized the cases and all it had was the little powder dipper that came with the kit. Everything i threw at this rifle shot under an inch at 100yds with some load combo's going 1/2 to 3/4 in at 100yds. Oh yea I had a Tasco 10x32 fixed power scope on it. After a year or so I lost my job and had to sell it to feed the family.BWWAAAAAAAAAAAAA. I sure wish I had never let that one get away.

[unspellable]

Did Parker Hale at one time or another sell rifles made in whole or in part by CZ?  Or is my imagination getting overheated again?

[oso45-70]

Unspellable,
I'm not sure about the CZ but as i understand the Gibbs Rifle co. has taken over the operation. I have owned a few of the Parker Hale rifles and have never had a moments problem with them. I had a model 1100
m in 375 H&H and it was a Jewel, Like the dummy that i am i let it get away from me ( the story of my life ) All that i have had any dealings with were great........Joe.........

[7x57]

I started on a Parker Hale 30-06 the same model as my father's only about 1000 serial numbers later. Here in Canada they are relatively common and are reliable and accurate.

I now shoot a BSA monarch in 7x57 and it is one of the most accurate rifles I have ever seen. It sure thumps game too with 160 or 175 grain handloads. My rifle really likes the heavier bullets.

Personally, I would snap up any one of these rifles in any caliber, plus they are usually less than $400 Canadian on the used racks here.

[anthony passero]

if anyone sees aparker hale in a7x57 or a 280/7x64 please let me know it is my dream rifle.

                            anthony@passeroanthony@yahoo.com

[kombi1976]

I now shoot a BSA monarch in 7x57 and it is one of the most accurate rifles I have ever seen. It sure thumps game too with 160 or 175 grain handloads. My rifle really likes the heavier bullets.

I'm drooling as I read this.  

Got a pic of that, 7x57?

To be honest, I'd be just as happy with a .280 or 7x64 although there are a few BSAs and Parker-Hales around in 7mm Mauser so it'll be that when I purchase one.

[7x57]

Sorry about the late nature of my reply Kombi.
I'm a full time student so I can't get to the boards as often as I like.

I just grabbed a digital camera so as soon as I figure it out I'll post a pic for you.

For the record that rifle Is NOT for sale :grin: ...Nor will it be!
Best of luck on your quest for that 7x57. I can't say enough good things about that caliber. (very underrated.)

[kutenay]

In response to the query concerning Parker-Hale rifles made by CZ, there was a model known as the "Hussar" which used the Brno-ZG-47 action. I don't know if P-H manufactured the barrel or not, the stock was in "California" style and there were not many of them made. They were replaced with the P-H model using the "Santa Barbera" action, an inferior action, IMO. I have seen exactly one "Hussar" in many years of haunting gunshops and gunshows and it was a .308 Norma.

The earlier B.S.A. smallring Mauser-type rifles, with the controled feed feature, are really nice, especially those with steel bottom metal. After they dropped these features, I don't think much of them. I have shot quite a number of B.S.A. rifles and Parker-Hales as many of my co-workers and buddies bought them in the '60s, I was already smitten with Pre-64 and FN Browning disease---which has kept me broke ever since!

[rockbilly]

I picked up a BSA Monarch deluxe in 30-06 used (it was actually NIB) back in 1963-64 while stationed at Cannon AFB New Mexico.  The guy I bought it from picked it up in europe and brought it home with him.  I put a four power Redfield scope on it (it's still on today) and took it to the range.  I was really amazed at the performance.  From a bench, I could get two inch groups at 200 yards.  That old gun has taken more deer and elk than I can tow behind my F-250.  I haven't fired it in 25-30 years, it just takes space in the safe.

It's still a beautiful gun, it shows a little wear, but the blue is still deep, almost black, the jeweled bold shows little wear, and the stock is truly beautiful.  Its lemon wood (light, almost yellow) with a black wood forearm and pistol grip cap.

The guy needed money, so I picked it up for fifty bucks.  I can't understand why they are not worth much today, they shoot good and are a very reliable gun.

[kombi1976]

Why aren't they worth that much today? I guess in their time the Model 70 was the bee's knees and the British rifles were seen as another Mauser platform. That, of course, is enough endorsement for any rifle but it certainly isn't the end in terms of accuracy. Everyone knows that the barrel & stock have as much to do with how a rifle performs as the action do, even though some actions are definitely better than others.
As far as popularity there is a relatively small but very loyal following amongst older shooters I believe. A friend who's a dealer and collector has several BSAs including Martini Internationals, a SBS field 12g shotty, Cadet Martinis and other stuff. He loves his "beezah's", as he calls them and swears by them.