I thought I would furnish this report, which will be of some interest to collectors here.
Today, I range tested a .22 1922 BSA Standard, which I bought on Friday from Protek on the South Coast. Protek kindly tested this on their chronograph and it produced 589 fps 11.17 ft/lbs with Defiant Vintage; 575fps 11.32 ft/lbs with BSA Elite; 573fps 9.34 ft/lbs with Milbro Caledonian; 592fps 11.31 ft/lbs with RWS Superdome.
At a distance of 12 yards, I produced 1/4inch - 1/2inch groups quite comfortably, without effort, with five shots with each of the above pellets, bar Milbro.
I then tested three .22 Webley Mk3s - one belonging to a friend. Protek had kindly tested my A Series Mk3 (1968), which, remarkably, produced 586fps 11.77 ft/lbs with BSA Elites; 578fps 10.79 ft/lbs with Defiant Vintage and 559fps 10.07 ft/lbs with Superdomes. The remaining Mk3s produced a respectable 10-10.5 ft/lbs with varying pellets.
The Webleys were range tested but could not compete with the BSA Standard, with groupings of 3/4 - 1in. The Webleys were hindered by slightly stiff triggers; the BSA trigger was light and crisp. I also found the BSA beaded foresight produced a sharper image whereas the Webleys all had bladed foresights.
In due course, I shall carry out tests at longer distances but the weather is too wet currently and today's tests were conducted indoors.
Conclusion: I did not clean the BSA barrel but was astonished by the degree of accuracy, with all pellets overlapping holes. The Webleys produced looser groups.
I wonder what fellow collectors have discovered in any trials they have conducted.
Finally, I bought a small tin of barrel cleaning sponge-type pellets but reflected, later, that the lightness of these and the scant resistance they would therefore provide, if shot down the barrel, would place pressure on the spring and washer so I have refrained from using these as yet. Introducing a pellet behind them might be worthwhile, unless the pellet were to jam alongside the sponge in the barrel. I think I might leave these 'cleaning' pellets untouched.
I feel confident enough with my 1922 BSA to take on any modern springer, with open sights.
Rgds
Andrew.