Things come to he who waits.

[Hsing-ee]

Can we have a picture Pete, theres none on Google.

Also, did you say it has a PIN instead of a bolt holding the barrel on?

[TonyL]

I knew the Custom had the nicer stock with the higher cheekpiece and also the Maxigrip scope rail. I didn't realise it had the breech bolt; cheers Pete.

Many years ago I bought the standard Supersport to avoid the rail and put a Custom stock on it.

Personally, I think the Challenger is a far more graceful rifle. And, with the smaller diameter piston (and lighter?) a sweeter shooter, generally? Certainly in my limited experience of them, the Challenger was the sweeter rifle.

Hey, Pete, Mr Beeza Guru.....I'm hoping my Supersport project may arrive with me tomorrow. Just thinking slightly ahead to tinkering time.....it's yonks since I worked on that one of mine.....does piston removal entail sear removal or will pulling the trigger suffice?

[look no hands]

I knew the Custom had the nicer stock with the higher cheekpiece and also the Maxigrip scope rail. I didn't realise it had the breech bolt; cheers Pete.

Many years ago I bought the standard Supersport to avoid the rail and put a Custom stock on it.

Personally, I think the Challenger is a far more graceful rifle. And, with the smaller diameter piston (and lighter?) a sweeter shooter, generally? Certainly in my limited experience of them, the Challenger was the sweeter rifle.

Hey, Pete, Mr Beeza Guru.....I'm hoping my Supersport project may arrive with me tomorrow. Just thinking slightly ahead to tinkering time.....it's yonks since I worked on that one of mine.....does piston removal entail sear removal or will pulling the trigger suffice?

Tony correct me if I'm wrong but I'm sure the 28mm cylinder size of the Challenger is the same as the Supersport (Merc, Superstar and Airsporter as well), are you getting confused with Project 'Cock which is 25mm?

Totally agree with you about the Challenger being more graceful, sorry mate but I'm not quite sure about piston removal as I've never done it on a Supersport, I've only ever owned a couple of Lightnings and I never opened them up, I've opened a Superstar up (same procedure as a Supersport) but never took the piston out because of the Maxigrip, if you need opening up advice I can help with that.

Pete

[TonyL]

Tony correct me if I'm wrong but I'm sure the 28mm cylinder size of the Challenger is the same as the Supersport (Merc, Superstar and Airsporter as well), are you getting confused with Project 'Cock which is 25mm?

Totally agree with you about the Challenger being more graceful, sorry mate but I'm not quite sure about piston removal as I've never done it on a Supersport, I've only ever owned a couple of Lightnings and I never opened them up, I've opened a Superstar up (same procedure as a Supersport) but never took the piston out because of the Maxigrip, if you need opening up advice I can help with that.

Pete

Cheers, Pete. I didn't know the piston size for sure, I was just guessing, but it surprises me that he guns you mention all share the same diameter piston. Every day's a school day!

Stripping down won't be an issue, Pete. As mentioned earlier, I stripped that one of mine many years ago and remember that it was very easy. I even still have the tube with the cut-out to compress the spring to clear the retaining pin - it came with a spring compressor many moons ago.

I just couldn't remember if you could remove said piston without removing the sear / trigger.

I also did the Challenger. Not as bad as one would think, but really can't see why they went to the trouble of going down the Maxigrip rail route.

[look no hands]

Cheers, Pete. I didn't know the piston size for sure, I was just guessing, but it surprises me that he guns you mention all share the same diameter piston. Every day's a school day!

Stripping down won't be an issue, Pete. As mentioned earlier, I stripped that one of mine many years ago and remember that it was very easy. I even still have the tube with the cut-out to compress the spring to clear the retaining pin - it came with a spring compressor many moons ago.

I just couldn't remember if you could remove said piston without removing the sear / trigger.

I also did the Challenger. Not as bad as one would think, but really can't see why they went to the trouble of going down the Maxigrip rail route.

It was all the rage a little while ago to fit the Diana 28mm piston seal to Airsporters to replace the O ring heads, if BSA had used the same sort of rail that was fitted to the early HW85 which just slotted in and was held on with a screw and was also the standard 11mm size width, then I can see why, now as we all know the BSA rail width is stupid but on the Challenger a rail that butts up against the rear trigger block (or deeper well cut grooves in the cylinder) was good as it allowed the scope mounts to come back that little bit further to give better eye relief, I actually used a set of two piece reach forward mounts turned around and filled a few thou off the bottom of the reach forward section to be able to mount on the rail and overhang the trigger block and give you even more eye relief.

You've just reminded me to find out my spring removal tool that's been hidden away in my parts tin waiting for the day that another BSA turns up.

Pete

[johnbaz]

I bought a .177 Airsporter mk1 that had a scope rail made, The fella that did it was a retired engineer who's garage put out fitting shop at work to shame!!

He drilled the cylinder (5 holes) and threaded them to a 4BA thread but had mislaid the screws as he'd removed the rail, I keep meaning to get some off fleabay but keep forgetting!

Here's another mk1 that a blacksmith must have scoped up!!

Sellers pics..






EDIT-It was only £65 posted so I can't complain!!



John

[look no hands]

Can we have a picture Pete, theres none on Google.

Also, did you say it has a PIN instead of a bolt holding the barrel on?

Please stop skipping past what's been said already Alistair

The Custom comes with a bolt NOT a pin and if you go back to line no 8 there's a link to a sales page for a Custom.

Pete

[Hsing-ee]

Please stop skipping past what's been said already Alistair

The Custom comes with a bolt NOT a pin and if you go back to line no 8 there's a link to a sales page for a Custom.

Pete

Oh, I like the look of that. Handsome like a race 'orse. A bolt you say? Hmm... mebbe I will look for one of these as well. Rocking-horse dung you say? Let me write to my Unobtanium dealer ...

[look no hands]

Oh, I like the look of that. Handsome like a race 'orse. A bolt you say? Hmm... mebbe I will look for one of these as well. Rocking-horse dung you say? Let me write to my Unobtanium dealer ...

It will probably be cheaper to get a standard cylinder machined to accept a Challenger/later Merc breech bolt and nut.

I've just been down Pompey gunshop and retrieved said beast and I have to say it's not a bad little rifle, it's not been looked after very well, the stock has your typical scratches and wear and the blue has suffered with spots of rust which luckily have come off but it's not perfect (what does it take to rub an oily rag over the metal work after every time you use it), anyway as you all know I hate starting HW99 threads but I recon if BSA had kept this model going it would have been a pretty good rifle to challenge the sweet little 99 to a bit of fisty cuffs, the trigger is really crisp on this one, although it's not a proper two stager there's no creep on the first stage with a positive stop and lets off very predictably, not sure what's going on inside? if it's the same condition inside as it was outside then it's going to need work, although it doesn't actually twang or is as ruff cocking as I thought it was going to be, in fact it's pretty smooth, I've not chronoed it yet as the breech seal is shagged (although it's not puffing air out vertically) and obviously there is no wobbly barrel as the bolt does it's job as it should but the good thing about it is it's bloody light.

Pete

[TonyL]

A HW breech seal will do the job very nicely, Pete.


Sadly, my Wobblysport didn't arrive as I hoped it might today.

As and when I do get my mitts on it I'll evaluate and see if it's worth getting the jaws machined to accept a bolt. It all depends on whether I feel it'll be staying or not.

[junglie]

It will probably be cheaper to get a standard cylinder machined to accept a Challenger/later Merc breech bolt and nut.

I've just been down Pompey gunshop and retrieved said beast and I have to say it's not a bad little rifle, it's not been looked after very well, the stock has your typical scratches and wear and the blue has suffered with spots of rust which luckily have come off but it's not perfect (what does it take to rub an oily rag over the metal work after every time you use it), anyway as you all know I hate starting HW99 threads but I recon if BSA had kept this model going it would have been a pretty good rifle to challenge the sweet little 99 to a bit of fisty cuffs, the trigger is really crisp on this one, although it's not a proper two stager there's no creep on the first stage with a positive stop and lets off very predictably, not sure what's going on inside? if it's the same condition inside as it was outside then it's going to need work, although it doesn't actually twang or is as ruff cocking as I thought it was going to be, in fact it's pretty smooth, I've not chronoed it yet as the breech seal is shagged (although it's not puffing air out vertically) and obviously there is no wobbly barrel as the bolt does it's job as it should but the good thing about it is it's bloody light.

Pete

I had an early brum supersport with the same trigger, they can be improved by carefully polishing the sides of the sears & trigger cage & shimming the side play out with small nylon washers. mine was a .22 & grouped better than my 124 sport once I'd tuned the trigger but had a weird twisting torque untill I fitted a slip washer at each end of the mainspring.None of the lightnings I had through my hands even came close to that brummy supersport even after careful tuning.

[look no hands]

I had an early brum supersport with the same trigger, they can be improved by carefully polishing the sides of the sears & trigger cage & shimming the side play out with small nylon washers. mine was a .22 & grouped better than my 124 sport once I'd tuned the trigger but had a weird twisting torque untill I fitted a slip washer at each end of the mainspring.None of the lightnings I had through my hands even came close to that brummy supersport even after careful tuning.

I won't need to do anything to this trigger, I'm happy with it as it is, I've always loved the trigger on the Superstar and this is the very same trigger, the HW lovers will probably slag it down saying it's no were good as the Rekord unit but we all have our preferences and I feel this one is just as good.

Pete

[johnbaz]

It will probably be cheaper to get a standard cylinder machined to accept a Challenger/later Merc breech bolt and nut.



Pete

Hi Pete

This is my mk2 Mercury (Standard) that was machined to take a Haenel pivot bolt, It was converted by a chap called Ed Bishop from darn Sarf, He made a few changes from standard including the shroud, adjustable butt pad and the stock refinish!






John

[look no hands]

Hi Pete

This is my mk2 Mercury (Standard) that was machined to take a Haenel pivot bolt, It was converted by a chap called Ed Bishop from darn Sarf, He made a few changes from standard including the shroud, adjustable butt pad and the stock refinish!






John

I remember you showing me this on my old Facebook page, I think using the proper BSA bolt keeps things looking tidy as it sits flush with the cylinder and it won't need the stock modifying either but what's been done to yours is better than the horrid pin

Pete