BSA Spitfire SF Questions.

[Oldandshaky]

Hi, I recently acquired a BSA Spitfire SF Carbine in .22, it came with no instructions and as this is the first pre-charged rifle I've ever tried I have a few questions about it...
Filling: it came with a buddy bottle which is now empty and as there is nowhere handy to refill it I bought a pump in very good nick from this site. I have sent off for an adaptor 1/8x1/4 male which I'm hoping will allow me to fill the gun directly but will I need any sealing washers, 0 rings? and what pressure should it be filled to?
Also is it possible to refill the buddy bottle with a pump bearing in mind that I am quite old.

Although I really enjoy the new experience of shooting with no recoil and the accuracy and light weight of the Spitfire, I find the trigger is not very good, is there any way of improving it?

The Spitfire is shooting at around 8. 1/2ft lbs with Rws hobbies how can I improve this to nearer the legal limit? I realise that it could be because of low pressure as I have no idea what pressure was in the bottle in the first place. There is a pin sticking up through the scope rail that I'm told is a pressure indicator but I have no idea how to read it.

This Spitfire is the 7th BSA I own. I have five pre-war rifles and an Airsporter. I am fully capable of stripping these guns down and maintaining them in good order but I would not know where to start with this one. So can anyone recommend where I could get it tuned?

Many thanks for looking...Dave...

[stevew]

I've had an SF Spitfire, now have the HF in both .177 and .22. The SF is a good'un; from the bottle you should get 3 or 4 refills, giving around 60 shots. The pop-up gauge on the top is basically a blow-off valve; when the rifle's filled, the gauge will be at its highest and excess air is blown off. As you shoot this gauge will sink, giving you an idea of how much air is left.
As for tuning, there is only one man - John Bowkett. He designed the rifle and does amazing work tuning them. I had mine done; he said they were designed to be an FAC rifle and run best at 23-24 ft/lbs. Had mine blue-printed and raised to FAC level. It's now a superb long-range (for an air rifle!) rabbit gun giving around 30 shots.
Do a search for John's contact details.
The bottle needs filling to 232bar, IIRC, and will be good for you with a pump :-). Not a lot to be done with the trigger at home, but speak to JB....

[Oldandshaky]

HI Steve, thank you for the reply and the information. I will try to contact John Bowkett if things don't improve power-wise when my pump adaptor arrives...

All the best...Dave...