SKAN M32 MINI v BSA SUPERTEN

[Mike T]

Working in pest control I have been using a BSA Super Ten Bull Barrel Carbine for the last couple of years, mainly for indoor pigeon work. I have always found it reliable and very accurate if not a little heavy. On a recent indoor pigeon shoot I took along both rifles.

The Skan M32 is coupled with a deben lamp and AGS mini scope.

The BSA is coupled with a Logun lamp and Hawk Nite-Eye scope.

1.A number of people have complained that the M32 is too short, I am over 6 foot tall with 'long arms' and find it extremely comfortable to use. I find the BSA to be more cramped, this maybe down to the length of the scope.

2.The M32 has a better balance, pivoting centrally around the pistol grip. The super ten feels sturdy and rock solid but heavy at the front end.
The M32 can aquire the target quicker owing to the fact that it is lighter at the front.

3.There is a distinct lag from when the pellet leaves the Super Ten to hitting the target, this does not appear to be the case with the M32 (over 25m).

4.The BSA has a completely shrouded barrel and is very quiet. The M32 is also quiet and in the enclosed spaces I conducted my shoot I encountered no problems associated with noise. It is not necessary to add an additional surpressor.

5.Get used to the M32 trigger it has a useful 'bite' point to it, you know when it will go. Remember that if you do not take the shot, push the trigger forwards as it does not do this itself and could catch you out.
The BSA trigger is more adjustable, but messing with it makes it less likely that you will find it comfortable. The more you can mess with something the less it feels right.

6.Using a Skan M32 with accupels at 25m (32 .22 pellets) I was able to achieve a grouping of 9mm.
Using a BSA Bull Barrel Carbine with accupels at 25m (30 .22 pellets) I was able to achieve a grouping of 28mm.
The M32 has a BSA barrel, it produces significantly tighter grouping than the Super Ten using accupels with the sights set at 25m.

7.Loading is straight forward if a little fiddly, however it takes just as long to load 3 mags on a super ten (30 pellets) as it does one on a Skan
(32 pellets).

8.There are a lot more 'bits' sticking out of the Skan and I would say that it is more prone to collecting dirt in its nooks and crannies. The BSA is better in this respect.

Conclusion:
It is a bit like comparing a Ferrari to a Ford.
Both rifles are not designed for target shooting, they are hunting rifles pure and simple.
The BSA has stood the test of time and has proved reliable and has achieved a good clean kill ratio. This rifle should be called 'Mr Nice'!
The Skan however is a pure killing machine call him 'Mr Evil!'

There is however an old adage from my army days- KISS
KEEP IT SIMPLE STUPID! (MAKE IT SOLDIER PROOF)

We shal see what the test of time brings with the Skan

[The Ratcatcher]

I do pest control as well and have used both rifles. I didnt get on with the skan as it kept on jamming, pellets were hard to use. As for accuracy I would say that they were the same. I have a S10 Mk3 at the moment and can say that is a very accurate gun. A Lot of people say they dont like the skan as it is unaccurate beyond 25 yards. I use daystate Airwolfs now purely as you can turn the power down when shooting inside barns etc.

[The Ratcatcher]

Mike T. Can you fill in your profile so people know who and where you are from. Cheers Buddy.

[Mike T]

It is true that if you don't load the pellets correctly when the magazine is replaced you may get the odd bent pellet (This happened to me the first time, but it is a learning experience). A little care and there would be no problems. You have to be very selective when using pellets for pest control especially with the skan.
I have trialed over 30 Different brands of .22 and the differences in quality are striking. Grouping ranged from 10mm to 80mm over 25m. Overall I find accupels or crossman premier the best. I stick to domeheads, hollowpoint are really only good for very close range especially on birds (feathers act like a layered bullet proof vest ), pointy heads tend to over penetrate. A pellet should be hard enough to penetrate and soft enough to deform.

The M32, the mini version of the Skan is apparently more accurate, I'll post a couple of pictures of a target test of both rifles. I tested them side by side. As to my S10 Mk111 I think that bull barrel may slow the pellet down ever so slightly. I would expect both to be of a similar accuracy as they both have BSA barrels.
I will be taking them down to the sealand ranges shortly to do some side by side accuracy testing and zeroing.
I'll see if things drop off after 30m.
I prefer getting close to the animal, 15-25m this ensures a clean kill each time, long range shots may be necessary at times but there is more likelihood of wounding.