BSA Lightening

[Eddy2246]

So let me get this straight, are you guys saying it's not very good ?

So if I want a decent carbine-ish spring break barrel at a similar price bracket, what would you suggest ? Wrist injury means it also needs to be light weight-ish.

I've had my lightning around 4 weeks, spent hours cleaning polishing etc. The trigger is the worst I have used very very heavy,terrible.i have since replaced it with one of Welsh willys triggers and replaced spring (titan xs). Took of abtrap and safety. It's defo better. Cocking is ok but gets tiring when plinking. I've also got a hw99 and to be honest that beats xl se hands down,cheaper,light and easy to cock, after spit and polish.

Good luck buddy

Atb ed

[nrj.]

I have an XL SE in .177 ,out of the box it was a bit grim,jumpy and twangy.I decided to spend a little money on it,Paul Short stage 1 tune,Hawke 3-9x40 Ao scope and a Weirauch silencer,transformation,smooth to cock and fire,trigger is just ok,very quiet now all the twang has gone,great accuracy easy 1/2" groups at 30 yards.so now it shoots almost as good as it looks.

[phil384]

So let me get this straight, are you guys saying it's not very good ?

So if I want a decent carbine-ish spring break barrel at a similar price bracket, what would you suggest ? Wrist injury means it also needs to be light weight-ish.

Walther Terrus (Yes I'm biased but I've had quite a few springers and I love this one)

It's also about 70 quid cheaper than the Lightning
And Better
And Light

Look at youtube vid reviews of the Walther, people love 'em

[Hardrivejack]

Pretty much similar to response I've had in the past when I've look at them. Avoid and go for s HW99 instead.

I'm not technically minded / skilled enough to start messing with stocks or internals so it would either their have to be a new one and just go with it out of the box, or something already tuned. I only need one rifle so looks like I'm sticking with the Theoben.

I love the Theo but do worry that if it springs a leak in the future, can it be repaired ? Who can do it or how much is going to cost.

[clarky]

Walther Terrus (Yes I'm biased but I've had quite a few springers and I love this one)

It's also about 70 quid cheaper than the Lightning
And Better
And Light

Look at youtube vid reviews of the Walther, people love 'em

Agree here.....the Terrus is so much better as is the HW99/50 etc.
If you compare the breech pivot block area of the BSA Supersport/ Lightnining derivatives you will notice straight away the much more massive build quality of the German counterparts.
Its so much weaker and general feel of the lock up so inferior.

Comparing triggers is a silly idea.
Accuracy comparisons another silly excersice.

[rabbitwrecker]

I love the Theo but do worry that if it springs a leak in the future, can it be repaired ? Who can do it or how much is going to cost.

Easily...

[Hardrivejack]

What springers are worth looking at with similar looks to the Evo & lightening in .177. Looked at the sis imp but not available in .177 so looking for other ideas.

[dalesman917]

I have one of the new Lightening XLSE's amongst my collection of 30 air rifles. I just liked the look and thought I would have a play! Originally intended to get the Lightening SE as it was cheaper but the gunshop only had the spring powered XLSE in .22 so ended up with that. The trigger was my biggest issue, the second stage rolled rather than broke but I swapped a screw that enabled me to reduce the sear engagement and it now breaks nicley and is no hinderence to shooting accuartely. The gun groups very well with FTT and makes a nice combo with a Hawke Vantage 2-7x32 PX on it. The obvious choice for you is a HW99, it has a better trigger, breech bolt and internal dimensions that make it a lovely rifle to shoot with a mild tune up. Personaly I'm not keen on the look or ergonomics of the stock and prefer the BSA. Had a quick couple of shots with my BSA yesterday and it really is not as bad as people make out, shoots with minimal twang and produced a one hole group at 20 yards straight off after not being shot for weeks, poor mans Fenman IMO.

I've had my lightning around 4 weeks, spent hours cleaning polishing etc. The trigger is the worst I have used very very heavy,terrible.i have since replaced it with one of Welsh willys triggers and replaced spring (titan xs). Took of abtrap and safety. It's defo better. Cocking is ok but gets tiring when plinking. I've also got a hw99 and to be honest that beats xl se hands down,cheaper,light and easy to cock, after spit and polish.

Good luck buddy

Atb ed

What sort of power are you getting with Titan spring? I'm only getting 9.8ftlb out of the box, which limits hunting range to 25yds IMO. Other than that like the gun. OK it doesn't sound like one of VHTV videos but neither does my HW80

[Eddy2246]

What sort of power are you getting with Titan spring? I'm only getting 9.8ftlb out of the box, which limits hunting range to 25yds IMO. Other than that like the gun. OK it doesn't sound like one of VHTV videos but neither does my HW80

I'm only getting around 9ft lb, but I have cut a coil off to try and reduce harsh firing cycle. After a few hundred pellets the power bands will go on and see how she fires then.

Atb

[dalesman917]

I'm only getting around 9ft lb, but I have cut a coil off to try and reduce harsh firing cycle. After a few hundred pellets the power bands will go on and see how she fires then.

Atb

Sounds like that about as much power as can be controllably harnessed. Ratting gun it is then.

[maximus]

What sort of power are you getting with Titan spring? I'm only getting 9.8ftlb out of the box, which limits hunting range to 25yds IMO. Other than that like the gun. OK it doesn't sound like one of VHTV videos but neither does my HW80

In. 22 mine is high elevens, totally stock, never been apart yet
.

[Blackrider]

My personal take on this is ;
OK a .22 but for a Carbine air rifle, you can do a lot worse than a Theoben Fenman. Yes they do come in .177 but I prefer the .22 version for field work.
If you can find one, they also come in .20 which I believe are superb but I have yet to own one !

But if these don't float your boat then I'd go with probably the best break barrel air rifle obtainable and adaptable, the Weihrauch HW 80.
Yes bigger, heavier and more expensive but so dependable !
I have four, one in each "common" caliber and I wouldn't part with either !

[sarfarm]

I had an early Lightning and found out why they called it that,IT NEVER HIT THE SAME PLACE TWICE

[averageplinker]

I had an early Lightning and found yout why they called it that,IT NEVER HIT THE SAME PLACE TWICE

Boom, boom (as Basil Brush used to say)