BSA Lightening

[Hardrivejack]

I've always thought this is a lovely looking spring rifle, but have never had one and whenever I've mentioned them people have warned me off getting one. Have they got any better ?

[venoman]

No they are worst.

[Hardrivejack]

That answers that one then

[rabbitwrecker]

Awful things...

[Hardrivejack]

Real shame because I really do like the look of them.

[tinbum]

Real shame because I really do like the look of them.

Buy a non-working example cheap and hang it in the wall. That way you have the advantage of a pretty ornament and performance is marginally better.

[Hardrivejack]

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.

[cooper_dan]

So let me get this fraught, 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 would say a well looked after older model BSA supersport or Meteor S. But I like BSA so I'm biased
The band wagon will be here soon with their champion though

[rabbitwrecker]

Buy a non-working example

Shouldn't be difficult to find...

[phil384]

Had 2, hateful things. Should have learnt my lesson after the first one

[phil384]

Now have a Walther Terrus, a gazillion percent better.

[les allam]

I have a older brum Lightning in .25 cal and it is a good gun .
If you can get hold of a Webley longbow ( Birmingham made) they are a great light weight rifle.
Les..

[Portzy]

I've always thought this is a lovely looking spring rifle, but have never had one and whenever I've mentioned them people have warned me off getting one. Have they got any better ?

Would you be prepared to put a bit of work into a mechanically good/poor stock finish one if it came your way, at very reasonable cost? When I say reasonable I really do mean reasonable

[phil384]

I have a older brum Lightning in .25 cal and it is a good gun .
If you can get hold of a Webley longbow ( Birmingham made) they are a great light weight rifle.
Les..

I would imagine a .25 is alot tamer to shoot than the smaller calibres. My first was a Mk1 .22 and my second the newer .177 in a tactical stock. The older one was marginally better.

[maximus]

I've always thought this is a lovely looking spring rifle, but have never had one and whenever I've mentioned them people have warned me off getting one. Have they got any better ?

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.