Are all BSA springers less than optimal? Or can an older, Brummie BSA be fettled to make it better?
Don't laugh, but I've always fancied a Lightning (along with others) and I wonder if a cheap one would make a worthwhile project.
Thoughts?
Rob.
Registered User
Are all BSA springers less than optimal? Or can an older, Brummie BSA be fettled to make it better?
Don't laugh, but I've always fancied a Lightning (along with others) and I wonder if a cheap one would make a worthwhile project.
Thoughts?
Rob.
Registered User
Go for it, the older lightnings were good rifles, don't think the newer offerings are much cop though...
Registered User
The Mercury is a very elegant gun, the old BSA's were very well finished off stood above the rest at the time in that respect imho. A mint lightning could hold it's head up in the looks department today. My mate had an Airsporter S for quality and style it put our guns to shame i think i had a HW35E back then.
Changed it to mercury my mixup,
Last edited by buttloaves; 10-04-2017 at 09:56 PM.
Dodgy Diana User
I have a Brum Supersport that is very good. As is the Superstar.
Never owned a Mercury S, but they have a lot of fans on here.
Registered User
Were they ?Originally Posted by TORNADOS7
Over sprung at 10.5 in 22, shit trigger, terrible quality stock bolts that had a habit of snapping ....
Looking for TO-6 Trigger unit unmessed with or T0-6 kit for 34
Registered User
I said earlier the Lightning was an elegant gun, my mixup i meant the mercury, the trigger block was a nice touch i thought. Also if i remember the muzzle was finished off different to other makers, did they have any faults? they looked well made.
Admin Team
Not fair.
You failed to mention the wobbly barrels and dodgy safely catches!
Even better looking than a HW35
I'd say get yourself a mk3/4 Mercury or a Challenger (if you can find one at a decent price) and get it tuned, they are lovely rifles to shoot after a fettle, not many break barrels can touch it on looks either.
Pete
Far too many rifles to list now, all mainly British but the odd pesky foreigner has snuck in
Registered User
thats for sure my recently aquired challenger has pushed even my HW99s down to second favorite springer to pick up & have a plink with & I really was surprised by this!
Registered User
You must have got a bad'n then cos mine was spot on, yeah the trigger wasn't the best out there but perfectly usable all the same and the rifle shot spot on accuracy wise, plenty of poke for rooks and general airgun quarry...
Registered User
My old Mercury S was possibly the best ever BSA springer....far better than the Supersport/Lightning variations that followed it, which were over sprung and had slightly rougher triggers and occasionally dodgy safety catches.
Also the traditional elegance that was all Airsporter/Mercury gone forever after the mark.
It had a pivot bolt and no horrible plastic scope mount fitted to many of the models that followed it...also lacked the raised trigger block/arrestor ....more elegant than the later Challenger for it.
It edged out all my earlier Airsporter specimens incl. the later S version in accuracy terms.
It was walnut stocked with not so clever pressed chequering which i decided to sand out.
Loved the gun and wished i hadnt sold it.
I have found that my HW95 SFS tuned edges it though .....a HW of this time outclasses the BSA offerings from yesterday or today.....dont let anyone tell you different....its cobblers...even if we do view the old BSFs with rosey tinted specs....these were not as good IMO.
Feinwerkbau Sport.....now theres a topic !
Registered User
I've owned several BSA's including Airsporter RB2 .22 and Mercury Challenger .22 Mercury S .177. Lovely to look at, well balanced, good build quality and make 12ftlb comfortably(.22). The triggers are described as very agricultural at best, and as a consequence render the rifle's inaccurate. My .22 HW77k will hit 1/2" spinners and similar size groups at 30 metres regularly.
The 1990's BSA's on the other hand will struggle to even get close to Weihrauch or Diana accuracy and so are better suited to 1 1/2" spinners and groups at 30 metres. However, my .177 AA TX200SR and Pro Sport will hit 10mm groups at 30 metres supported which goes to show that you don't need a German spring piston rifle for accurate shooting.
Registered User
The barrel was fine, it was the sweep, build, trigger and quality of materials I had issues with
Looking for TO-6 Trigger unit unmessed with or T0-6 kit for 34
Registered User
The HW's of the time beat the BSA in accuracy possibly because they weight 2KG more so soaked up the recoil!!
Great for paper punching or plinking but definitely need a sling for the field The HW were a pig to lug round all day, very accurate and well made but a pig never the less.
The BSA guns were lighter but less accurate (perhaps ?) . I have a Brum made BSA supersport. I only shoot out to 25 meters (hunt) and its as good as HW offerings for that and just as accurate , the safety is re settable and dosn't click loudly when released unlike the HW 's. It also diddnt eat the cylindfer when the cocking arm attacked it unlike my HW99s which did !
Recent HW offerings generally need a fettle to get the best accuracy out of them any way
Id say a old Super sports not too bad a gun
Registered User
Quite right. There isn't or wasn't a BSA spring rifle that could live with an HW77, HW80 or HW35 never mind the Diana range or AA TX and PS series. The accuracy just isn't there nor a well engineered trigger or consistent build quality. They are mostly lovely to look at and to shoulder one is very easy like a fine side by side shotgun; the problems start when you try and hit small kill zones at 30 yards. I speak from personal experience, BSA spring piston rifles are barn yard guns, no more. Well that's my rose tinted spectacles firmly crushedThe barrel was fine, it was the sweep, build, trigger and quality of materials I had issues with
*Quick edit* Why was the Airsporter RB and Challenger rifles advertised with a 2 stage trigger when they clearly were not?
Last edited by derekj; 30-04-2017 at 02:02 PM.
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