A local shop has a BSA 1215 that's been rechambered for 22 Hornet. I'm curious to know if this is a sound and workable conversion. Any experience or opinion?
It wouldn't be the first time. As to how good it is may depend on how the conversion to centerfire was done. When I had both a 12/15 and a Cadet, the blocks were interchangeable, but I never did anything with them as I traded the 12/15 off. So a new block is one way. I've heard that by changing the length of the block support arms on the lever you can raise (or lower?) the RF block when closed to a point where the firing pin will strike a CF primer. Seems like the block face and the barrel face might not be in perfect contact but probably close enough. Many a former 22 RF barrel has been used for the Hornet. There's no question on strength of the action, of course.
I owned one for a long time, although mine was a Model 15 that used the original barrel and had a bushed breech face to convert to center fire. It was a one inch shooter at 100 yards. Sold it after finding a custom Springfield 1922 converted to .22 Hornet.
Done right, they work very well.
Thanks for this information. Now, would anyone offer advice regarding the best way to modify the action. It appears the block would need to be lowerewd about .090" to move the firing pin to center. Lowering the prongs on the lever will lower the block but may affect the retraction of the firing pin. I 'd like to persue this conversion but want it to be right.
Bill, are you saying that the barrel has been chambered for Hornet but the block is still a RF in its normal position?
Bill:
Probably the best, although not least expensive, way to do this is to bush the breech face and install a new firing pin with the tip in the correct location. You can cut the tip off and have a new one installed on the existing pin in the proper location for the center fire breech block.
I don't know who is working on Martinis these days. Mine was done by a former gunsmith for Brownells, who had health issues and is probably long since retired.
You might ask the guys over on the ASSRA.com web site, as Martinis are fairly popular there.