Airsporter S barrel question?

[DEAN C.]

I am building a bitsa tap loading Airsporter S model, and I am thinking of shortening the barrel to get the carbine look and make it handle better, or more like my Pro sport anyway. So I am looking for suggestions and advice.

Now I know that short barrels shoot just as accurately as a long one at sub 45 yards, and as my Air arms pro sport shoots superbly to 55 yards with it's very short barrel in comps, so I have no worry about using a short barrel.

The surprising thing to me was that after testing it I have found no choke at all in the original full length S I have!!Is this normal? I might check a few of the other Airsporter actions I have myself to see if the standard models were choked.

How do you all think it will shoot before I chop it??? and has anyone else done it? I have shortened many of my own barrels before for HFT/Ft and hunting air rifles on my lathe so the engineering is no problem.

I would also like to know the barrel length of the original BSA Airsporter carbines/stutzens if anyone can help.

[Geezer]

Should be fine, assuming you crown it properly.

Stutzens had 14" barrels. I think the carbines did too.

[Shed tuner]

yeah, keep it at least 12" and it'll be fine.

[DEAN C.]

Cheers guys, 14" is sounding ok. If anyone can confirm the exact length is as Geezer has said, that's what I will make it to.

I also understand that the carbines/stutzens have a counter bored barrel the same as the later Airsporters, which I have always thought were to help make it easier to fit the front open sight by drilling/tapping through without going into the rifling. I prefer the look of the Mk1/2 Airsporters though where they are just turned, they would be easier to crown as well.



Any other advice welcomed. especially on the latest ideas for smoothing out the A/S internals. Titan spring? Alloy piston/O ring? or has anyone perfected a parachute type lip seal yet?

[Airsporterman]

Hi Dean, as I said, my Carbine deluxe has the counterbored muzzle - I like the look of both but I suppose the through bore would be easier to crown correctly?

I heard or read somewhere that all Airsporter barrels were choked - so that's what I believed.

I have admitted before - I took the hacksaw to my 'plinker' Airsporter Mk4 I had owned since a kid and hacked off about 4 - 5"! I know!
I didn't know much about 'crowning' and the like then. I even replicated the counterbore - don't ask!
To be fair, it was just my plinker rifle and remained a plinker rifle - it wasn't worth much then or now, then I ended up plonking an alloy 'silencer' on the end that probably didn't do much in the way of silencing as the rifle had quite a loud report after fitting it - accuracy - don't even ask - it wasn't that accurate before the 'shortening' - but it looked good and was fun to shoot!

If I can get my Carbine out tomorrow - I will measure the barrel length for you mate!
(time I had a drool over it again!)

ASM

[Airsporterman]

Hi Dean, apologies for not providing sooner!

I hope this info is of some help to you in your project mate!
The usual 'disclaimers' apply - the info is given freely in 'good faith', allowing for my failing eyesight, stupidity, cheap instruments of measurement, poor lighting conditions, shaky hands, nerves etc! (the fact I am half deaf and the other half is stupid can also be a hindrance as it has been throughout my life! )
The information provided is as accurate as I am able and is not supposed to be any way 'representative' or 'conclusive' of any of BSA's products, or indeed of BSA's rifles of the type etc! (especially with regard to the 'Plinker' variant'! )

BSA Airsporter Carbine Deluxe (Boxed) (Walnut stock) .22 cal.
Barrel Length -- 14 ½” inches to the loading tap centre line.
12“ To the breech block shoulder.
Barrel Outside Diameter -- 17 mm approx.
Note: - the rifle has no ‘Counter bore’ at the muzzle end!

BSA Airsporter Centenary Rifle (one of a thousand) .22 cal.

Barrel Length -- 19 5/8” to the loading tap centre line.
17 ½” to the breech block shoulder.
Barrel Outside Diameter – 17mm approx.
Note:- the rifle has a counter bore at the muzzle end!
Counter bore diameter – approx 9.5mm approx internal diameter.
1” along inside barrel.

BSA Airsporter Mk5 (Boxed) Beech Stock. 22 cal.
Barrel Length -- 18 ¾” to the loading tap centre line.
15 ¼” to the breech block shoulder.
Barrel Outside Diameter -- 15.5mm approx.
Note:- the rifle has a counter bore at the muzzle end!
Counter bore diameter – 9.5mm approx internal diameter
1 3/8” approx along inside barrel.

BSA Airsporter Mk1 with Walnut stock (original) .22 cal.
Barrel Length -- 18 7/8” to the loading tap centre line.
18 ½” to the breech block shoulder.
Barrel Outside Diameter -- 15mm at muzzle to 20mm approx at Breech. (note - tapered barrel)
Note:- the rifle has no ‘counter bore’ at the muzzle end!

BSA Airsporter Mk2 with Walnut stock (standard) .22 cal.
Barrel Length -- 18 ¼” to the loading tap centre line.
16 7/16” to the upper part of the sloping edge of the breech shoulder block.
Barrel Outside Diameter -- 15.5mm Approx.
Note:- the rifle has no ‘counter bore at the muzzle end!

BSA Airsporter Mk4 (‘Plinker’) (‘non – standard’ modified ‘carbined’ barrel) .22 cal.
Barrel length -- 15 ½”approx to the loading tap centre line.
12”approx to the breech block shoulder.
Barrel Outside Diameter -- 15.5mm approx.
This rifle has a counter bore – (the sizes are not known as it is fitted with an alloy end piece)

Also:-
Out of Interest, dimensions for a BSA Mercury Barrel not yet fitted to any rifle!

BSA Mercury Barrel .25 cal.
Barrel Length Overall -- 18 ½” from breech end to muzzle end approx.
Barrel Outside Diameter -- 15.5 mm approx.
Note:- the barrel has a ‘counter bore’ at the muzzle end!
Counter bore diameter -- 9.5mm approx internal diameter.
4 3/8” along inside of barrel. (measured twice)
(Another interesting note – the tapping for the foresight fixing passes through the barrel and into the larger muzzle counter bore!)

Hope this helps you buddy!

ASM