Simple BSA Scorpion Questions.

[0liver]

Hello,

I have recently bought a Mark 2 .22 BSA Scorpion on Gunstar.

My question is about the sights. They are set as low as possible but the gun consistently shoots very high.
It is accurate if I compensate and aim about 4" lower than the target.

Is this a known thing: any advice ?

Also, I have seen pictures of Scorpions with a frontsight hood; I can't see how that would fit on and still allow the cocking aid to work unless it just clips on ; were the hoods fitted on all Scorpions ; there are no grooves on my frontsight ?

Also what pellets would anyone recommend ?

Thank you.

[ggggr]

Hello,

I have recently bought a Mark 2 .22 BSA Scorpion on Gunstar.

I had never seen one in real life before and I think that they are a bit ugly but I was so intrigued that I had to buy one.

It's great fun and seems to have more power than my friend's HW45 ( using a plastic trug as a penetration guide) and its brings a big smile to my face.

Anyhoo, my question is about the sights. They are set as low as possible but the gun consistently shoots very high.
It is accurate if I compensate and aim about 4" lower than the target.

Is this a known thing: any advice ?

Also, I have seen pictures of Scorpions with a frontsight hood; I can't see how that would fit on and still allow the cocking aid to work unless it just clips on ; were the hoods fitted on all Scorpions ?

Also what pellets would anyone recommend ?

Thank you.

The barrel might be bent, which you would have to check. Is the rearsight lowering when you adjust the elevation wheel? Sometimes they don't due to the threads being knackered or the pin in the rear of the cylinder being in upside down (hollow on top part). Have you dropped the metal rearsight blade (held by 2 screws) down to lower the rearsight? On the mk2 versions, which should have this type of rearsight, the foresight post is also on a ratchet (undo the screw on the top of the sight body and lift post up). I also think that originally Bsa did 3 different post heights for the foresight.
If it is the earlier sights, then there is not much I can suggest. Always worth letting someone else try the gun to see if it is you or the gun.

[0liver]

Dear ggggr,

Thanks for the reply.
The rear sights move fine and the blade is at its lowest setting.

I didn't realise that the front sights were adjustable at all; I undid the front sight screw and there is a movable foresight post but it doesn't seem to be on a ratchet it just slides; if I pull it up to a level that corrects the sights its almost all the way out; but I can push it back in without the undoing the screw so it doesn't seem right.

With the foresight at this ridiculous height it proves to be quite accurate.

I bought some pellets today and the gunshop owner looked at the barrel and said that it was straight but replaced the cracked breech seal saying that it could be the cause but it wasn't.

It shoots high for everyone.

So I'm still not sure; but I do appreciate your help and the moved foresight is a welcome temporary solution.

Kind Regards

0liver

[ggggr]

Dear ggggr,

Thanks for the reply.
The rear sights move fine and the blade is at its lowest setting.

I didn't realise that the front sights were adjustable at all; I undid the front sight screw and there is a movable foresight post but it doesn't seem to be on a ratchet it just slides; if I pull it up to a level that corrects the sights its almost all the way out; but I can push it back in without the undoing the screw so it doesn't seem right.

With the foresight at this ridiculous height it proves to be quite accurate.

I bought some pellets today and the gunshop owner looked at the barrel and said that it was straight but replaced the cracked breech seal saying that it could be the cause but it wasn't.

It shoots high for everyone.

So I'm still not sure; but I do appreciate your help and the moved foresight is a welcome temporary solution.

Kind Regards

0liver

The foresight post should have little grooves on it (like on small plastic cable ties) and these will have worn off if the screw hasn,t been undone properly when adjusting. sure that the foresight post came in 3 lengths. got a scorpion that has the post on just about full adjustment and it does stick up a fair bit. What I have come across on a few different guns is the barrel plunger being worn and this lets the barrel come up a few thou more than normal. It could be the groove on the plunger worn ant this lets the plunger out a touch too much. If you take the plunder out an sit a bit of shim steel on the flat and make sure it goes up the back ridge (think L) then that should stop the plunger coming out so far and the barrel coming up as much.

[air-tech]

Try a thicker breech seal, to keep the barrel pointed downwards.

[0liver]

Dear Ggggr,

Thanks for the advice; before I take that route is it possible that you ( or anyone reading) could you take the time to confirm that this is the original/correct sight for a Scorpion ?

This is the only Scorpion that I have seen in real life; It looks like the images that I find on Google but , as I asked in my OP, I can't see how the hood would fit on.
On the Chamber's site there is a groove in the exploded diagram for it to slide into but mine does not have a groove.

Also the ratchet grooves that you describe are not present on this foresight post; they do not appear to be worn away because I can still see the moulding lines around the whole post.

http://i1258.photobucket.com/albums/...e/IMGP3771.jpg

http://i1258.photobucket.com/albums/...e/IMGP3773.jpg

http://i1258.photobucket.com/albums/...e/IMGP3774.jpg

http://i1258.photobucket.com/albums/...e/IMGP3775.jpg

http://i1258.photobucket.com/albums/...e/IMGP3779.jpg

Thank you.

[ggggr]

Dear Ggggr,

Thanks for the advice; before I take that route is it possible that you ( or anyone reading) could you take the time to confirm that this is the original/correct sight for a Scorpion ?

This is the only Scorpion that I have seen in real life; It looks like the images that I find on Google but , as I asked in my OP, I can't see how the hood would fit on.
On the Chamber's site there is a groove in the exploded diagram for it to slide into but mine does not have a groove.

Also the ratchet grooves that you describe are not present on this foresight post; they do not appear to be worn away because I can still see the moulding lines around the whole post.

http://i1258.photobucket.com/albums/...e/IMGP3771.jpg

http://i1258.photobucket.com/albums/...e/IMGP3773.jpg

http://i1258.photobucket.com/albums/...e/IMGP3774.jpg

http://i1258.photobucket.com/albums/...e/IMGP3775.jpg

http://i1258.photobucket.com/albums/...e/IMGP3779.jpg

Thank you.

It looks like the right sight (from memory) but the flat face of the post should have little serrations on it. Also the body should have grooves for the Protector, just on top of the vertical lines on the sides. wondering if this is a later/ cheaper version of the sight or if it was a bit of a bad batch that had been laying about somewehre?

[oliver13]

Hi,

I don't think that's an original Scorpion sight or, as mentioned, there would be 2 horizontal grooves for the protector to slide into. I'm sure it's a from some BSA, but I've no idea what - I thought they all had the option of a protector for the foresight

If someone replaced the rearsight as well it might not be compatible, & sitting too high?

Another possibility is wear under the breech end of the barrel where it seats on a rolled pin (part no. DP003), that's what decides the actual alignment of the barrel, there should be an actual few thou. gap between the barrel & the breech face of the compression chamber.

[0liver]

Hi,

I don't think that's an original Scorpion sight or, as mentioned, there would be 2 horizontal grooves for the protector to slide into. I'm sure it's a from some BSA, but I've no idea what - I thought they all had the option of a protector for the foresight

If someone replaced the rearsight as well it might not be compatible, & sitting too high?

Another possibility is wear under the breech end of the barrel where it seats on a rolled pin (part no. DP003), that's what decides the actual alignment of the barrel, there should be an actual few thou. gap between the barrel & the breech face of the compression chamber.

Hello oliver13,

Thanks for your advice; I had to have a good look before replying.

Firstly, I thought that the blame could be attributed to the fact that this is not an original Scorpion sight but I've looked around and I think that the sight looks like the Generic BSA sight that is sold by Protek or j.Knibbs. (no groove)
http://i1258.photobucket.com/albums/...ps459afa36.jpg
So,being suitable for all BSAs, this shouldn't effect the accuracy.

Secondly, your point about the breech end of the barrel.
The whole barrel pivot feels tight with no sideways movement.
The parts that I believe you are referring to seems in good condition except for a little burr.
If you would be kind enough to have a look, maybe you could say if this could affect the alignment or not; maybe it's not possible to tell from a photo but I'd thought that it may be worth asking.

http://i1258.photobucket.com/albums/...ps135dbb59.jpg

http://i1258.photobucket.com/albums/...ps5a6c49cd.jpg

http://i1258.photobucket.com/albums/...ps844ae58a.jpg

Thanks, once again, for your help.

[air-tech]

Although it's a BSA sight if the top of the blade is not the same height as the "proper" Scorpion sight then the gun could shoot too high/low depending.

[0liver]

Although it's a BSA sight if the top of the blade is not the same height as the "proper" Scorpion sight then the gun could shoot too high/low depending.

Hello,

Thanks for the reply.

I'm a bit confused about these sights now and keen to learn.

If they are the Generic ones that I suspect then they should fit all BSAs , I guess.

From what I've read the Meteor sight, at least, is the same as the Scorpion sight; Or is there a dedicated Scorpion sight ?

If I add add a longer foresight post to correct the problem it would have to be stupidly high.

I'm taking the gun apart to replace the buffer washer; part of me just hopes that when it's re-assembled the problem will just have magically disappeared.

.

[oliver13]

Hello oliver13,

Thanks for your advice; I had to have a good look before replying.

Firstly, I thought that the blame could be attributed to the fact that this is not an original Scorpion sight but I've looked around and I think that the sight looks like the Generic BSA sight that is sold by Protek or j.Knibbs. (no groove)
http://i1258.photobucket.com/albums/...ps459afa36.jpg
So,being suitable for all BSAs, this shouldn't effect the accuracy.

Secondly, your point about the breech end of the barrel.
The whole barrel pivot feels tight with no sideways movement.
The parts that I believe you are referring to seems in good condition except for a little burr.
If you would be kind enough to have a look, maybe you could say if this could affect the alignment or not; maybe it's not possible to tell from a photo but I'd thought that it may be worth asking.

http://i1258.photobucket.com/albums/...ps135dbb59.jpg

http://i1258.photobucket.com/albums/...ps5a6c49cd.jpg

http://i1258.photobucket.com/albums/...ps844ae58a.jpg

Thanks, once again, for your help.

Hi,

Good photos - which clearly show there's no excessive wear to the breech lock up.

What about the rear sight, is it possible the sight has fouled the plastic stock where it projects slightly above the rear of the compression cylinder. Conceivably the rear action screw has been over tightened in the past, pulling the action down too low?
This would have the effect of making the rear sight too high, at it's lowest adjustment, is it being held up by contact against the plastic?

Right now I'm about out of ideas that don't involve some modifications to something...

[0liver]

Hi,

...i s it possible the sight has fouled the plastic stock where it projects slightly above the rear of the compression cylinder. Conceivably the rear action screw has been over tightened in the past, pulling the action down too low?
This would have the effect of making the rear sight too high, at it's lowest adjustment, is it being held up by contact against the plastic?

Right now I'm about out of ideas that don't involve some modifications to something...

Hello Oliver13,

Thanks for the reply; I only just noticed it a second ago when I was re-checking the advice given to me.

The sight, when fully lowered, does touch the plastic at the rear of the gun but this only stops the sight from lowering about a millimetre more.

( I'm afraid that I didn't quite understand the rear action explanation).

You also said,

Another possibility is wear under the breech end of the barrel where it seats on a rolled pin (part no. DP003), that's what decides the actual alignment of the barrel, there should be an actual few thou. gap between the barrel & the breech face of the compression chamber. . . .

I stripped the gun and checked every component including DP003, ( there is a gap); everything seemed in very good condition including the buffer washer.

Grrr said

. . .What I have come across on a few different guns is the barrel plunger being worn and this lets the barrel come up a few thou more than normal . . .

I inspected the plunger as well, which shows no signs of wear at all.

I too am at a loss . . I'm putting the problem down to the replacement sights ( well the front one at least for sure is a replacement based on its lack of hood groove.)
I might try making a beefed up metal front sight that is higher than the present one.

Thanks for all the suggestions.

0liver