Excerpt from my CD; Old Airguns and memories.
Hello to all;
It was back in 1969 when I received an ARM Magazine (Air Rifle Monthly) issue # 17 “Special 55 N Handbook” from Air Rifle Headquarters that I got my first real glimpse at a European break barrel Air Rifles. This was really an eye opener for me, 700 fps plus on a .177 caliber with one cock of the barrel. (I have 24 of the old ARM Issues I will include a photo; don’t quite remember how many were published?)
The 55 was simply the model number the N stood for “Nussbaum” German for walnut, actually here were several iterations of this rifle that were imported Burgo 45 and 55, BSF60, BAVARIA, BURGO etc. imported by WISCHO. Mine is a BAVARIA 55 N. As I understand it all were made by BSF in Germany.
Well enough of that; this really started my interest in the European break barrel Air Rifles, although I was still hesitant regarding ordering one of these units; that is until 1976, when I finally ordered a Feinwerkbau Model 124 .177 caliber. I ordered one of the M 55 N Rifles that I first saw in the 1969 ARM monthly in 22 caliber a couple of months later.
The 55 N was a really a nice little rifle, OAL 40” weight 6 lbs, cocking effort about 24 lbs, walnut Stock with finger grooves, metal butt pad, front and rear sights were both mounted on the barrel, rear sight was adjustable for both windage and elevation. Front sight had a slip on hood. All these units had leather breech and piston seals. Mine also had a scope mount rail located on the rear of the tube. It is also important to remember these units had “No safety”!!! That is all I will say about that!!
My B-55N went through several iterations over the last 47 years, I removed the front sight and hood, put some shrink wrap tubing to cover the missing sight with a little extra to use as a cocking cover. Then I installed a Bushnell 4 power Scopechief 22 scope for a while and installed a trigger shoe, I set trigger @ 3.75 lbs. I eventually went back to open sights leaving the shrink wrap to protect barrel when cocking. I eventually replaced the original front sight and installed a front sight with a red fiber optic tip. I have replaced the mainspring, leather piston seal and barrel seal as I recall about 4- times in the intervening years, I have replaced the two piece cocking linkage once, and it is currently still running on the last rebuild. I would estimate 60-80 thousand rounds thru this B55N, between me and my two sons! It is currently in the hands of my oldest son, who uses it for pest control, fur and feather; and plinking fun!!
The 55N is not a Target rifle, its capable of 1 to 1-1/4 inch groups @ 25 yards mostly using whatever Crosman .22 pellets that were available at the time locally, and will deliver 10 + ft. lbs in .22 caliber its light, it is easy to cock, carbine length, a delight to shoot and is a hammer on small pests! This rifle has given nearly 50 years of service with minimum upkeep and I expect this history will continue!
While I am very familiar with this rifle I decided to conduct a fresh velocity / accuracy test for this write up; target set at 25 yards and chronographed simultaneously. This time I would use a myriad of .22 caliber pellets to see if a little better accuracy could be coaxed out of this old warhorse! All testing was conducted from bench rest. Out of all pellets tested 2 rose above all others, the 14.0 grains RWS Match and the H&N 12.65 grains HP. were best! The RWS Match delivered 5 shot groups of 1.08 center to center, the H&N HP 5 shot groups of .900” center to center. Surprisingly the JSB 15.9 grain Exacts. COULD ONLY MUSTER 3.00” 5 shot groups, this is usually a very accurate pellet?? The Crosman PMHP 14.3 grains 5 shot groups of 1.860’’ 5 shot center to center, typical for Crosman pellets in this rifle.
The average velocity for The RWS Match pellets was 580 fps. @ 10.5 ft.lbs. The H&N HP 613 fps. @10.5 ft lbs. the Crosman PMHP 547 fps @ 9.5 ft. lbs. Not bad for this nearly 50 year old warhorse.
While there are a number of attributes, I could perhaps use to describe this B55N there is one that I think encompasses all of them ‘Dependable”, it can sit in a corner for several months, grab it to shoot and it always performs as it should!! No it’s not a 10mm Target Rifle nor a 100 yard PCP Rifle; not supposed to be, but it does its job very well; time after time! And yes, it has the requisite bruises and dings, this 55N will be in our family from now on. IT HAS ALREADY, WITHSTOOD THE TEST OF TIME!!!!!
Garey
Hello to all;
It was back in 1969 when I received an ARM Magazine (Air Rifle Monthly) issue # 17 “Special 55 N Handbook” from Air Rifle Headquarters that I got my first real glimpse at a European break barrel Air Rifles. This was really an eye opener for me, 700 fps plus on a .177 caliber with one cock of the barrel. (I have 24 of the old ARM Issues I will include a photo; don’t quite remember how many were published?)
The 55 was simply the model number the N stood for “Nussbaum” German for walnut, actually here were several iterations of this rifle that were imported Burgo 45 and 55, BSF60, BAVARIA, BURGO etc. imported by WISCHO. Mine is a BAVARIA 55 N. As I understand it all were made by BSF in Germany.
Well enough of that; this really started my interest in the European break barrel Air Rifles, although I was still hesitant regarding ordering one of these units; that is until 1976, when I finally ordered a Feinwerkbau Model 124 .177 caliber. I ordered one of the M 55 N Rifles that I first saw in the 1969 ARM monthly in 22 caliber a couple of months later.
The 55 N was a really a nice little rifle, OAL 40” weight 6 lbs, cocking effort about 24 lbs, walnut Stock with finger grooves, metal butt pad, front and rear sights were both mounted on the barrel, rear sight was adjustable for both windage and elevation. Front sight had a slip on hood. All these units had leather breech and piston seals. Mine also had a scope mount rail located on the rear of the tube. It is also important to remember these units had “No safety”!!! That is all I will say about that!!
My B-55N went through several iterations over the last 47 years, I removed the front sight and hood, put some shrink wrap tubing to cover the missing sight with a little extra to use as a cocking cover. Then I installed a Bushnell 4 power Scopechief 22 scope for a while and installed a trigger shoe, I set trigger @ 3.75 lbs. I eventually went back to open sights leaving the shrink wrap to protect barrel when cocking. I eventually replaced the original front sight and installed a front sight with a red fiber optic tip. I have replaced the mainspring, leather piston seal and barrel seal as I recall about 4- times in the intervening years, I have replaced the two piece cocking linkage once, and it is currently still running on the last rebuild. I would estimate 60-80 thousand rounds thru this B55N, between me and my two sons! It is currently in the hands of my oldest son, who uses it for pest control, fur and feather; and plinking fun!!
The 55N is not a Target rifle, its capable of 1 to 1-1/4 inch groups @ 25 yards mostly using whatever Crosman .22 pellets that were available at the time locally, and will deliver 10 + ft. lbs in .22 caliber its light, it is easy to cock, carbine length, a delight to shoot and is a hammer on small pests! This rifle has given nearly 50 years of service with minimum upkeep and I expect this history will continue!
While I am very familiar with this rifle I decided to conduct a fresh velocity / accuracy test for this write up; target set at 25 yards and chronographed simultaneously. This time I would use a myriad of .22 caliber pellets to see if a little better accuracy could be coaxed out of this old warhorse! All testing was conducted from bench rest. Out of all pellets tested 2 rose above all others, the 14.0 grains RWS Match and the H&N 12.65 grains HP. were best! The RWS Match delivered 5 shot groups of 1.08 center to center, the H&N HP 5 shot groups of .900” center to center. Surprisingly the JSB 15.9 grain Exacts. COULD ONLY MUSTER 3.00” 5 shot groups, this is usually a very accurate pellet?? The Crosman PMHP 14.3 grains 5 shot groups of 1.860’’ 5 shot center to center, typical for Crosman pellets in this rifle.
The average velocity for The RWS Match pellets was 580 fps. @ 10.5 ft.lbs. The H&N HP 613 fps. @10.5 ft lbs. the Crosman PMHP 547 fps @ 9.5 ft. lbs. Not bad for this nearly 50 year old warhorse.
While there are a number of attributes, I could perhaps use to describe this B55N there is one that I think encompasses all of them ‘Dependable”, it can sit in a corner for several months, grab it to shoot and it always performs as it should!! No it’s not a 10mm Target Rifle nor a 100 yard PCP Rifle; not supposed to be, but it does its job very well; time after time! And yes, it has the requisite bruises and dings, this 55N will be in our family from now on. IT HAS ALREADY, WITHSTOOD THE TEST OF TIME!!!!!
Garey
