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Thread: BSA Spitfire pros/cons.

  1. #1
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    BSA Spitfire pros/cons.

    Evening all. I’ve got a lead on what seems to be a very nice spitfire in my favourite flavour of .177 but know very little about them so wondered if anyone here has any experiences they’d like to share?

    I’m getting back into my older beezas and been thinking this would be a nice addition to my rapidly expanding family....

    Cheers
    All help, advice and wrist slaps gratefully received.
    Most sales open to swaps for older BSA’s, projects and or incomplete/bits. Currently quietly developing a hankering for a nice S10 BBK………..

  2. #2
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    They are unusual and interesting.
    Nice to shoot and the buddy bottle refill is a good idea.

    But when they leak only John Bowkett can fix them.

    To avoid or delay leaks use them every week.

    Many have really battered stocks!

    Pay £150 -£250

  3. #3
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    Totally agree with the above quote.
    You gotta keep using them or the valve will fail.
    John had to repair mine.

    I do like them very much though.

  4. #4
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    Thanks guys. Going to have a look shortly but from the pics it’s in great shape, externally anyway, and he says no leaks at all so fingers crossed.
    All help, advice and wrist slaps gratefully received.
    Most sales open to swaps for older BSA’s, projects and or incomplete/bits. Currently quietly developing a hankering for a nice S10 BBK………..

  5. #5
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    IMO they handle unlike any pcp you can buy today (in a good way!). Really nice to use. If it's the HF model the shot count is reasonable too. If it's the SF model make sure you get a buddy bottle with it.
    Easy to change calibre if you want, just need another break barrel of the same era (supersport or early lightning).

    With regards to servicing, I'm going to open mine up soon and see what makes it a specialist job. But as said before it probably isn't a DIY job.

  6. #6
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    Quote Originally Posted by cooper_dan View Post
    IMO they handle unlike any pcp you can buy today (in a good way!). Really nice to use. If it's the HF model the shot count is reasonable too. If it's the SF model make sure you get a buddy bottle with it.
    Easy to change calibre if you want, just need another break barrel of the same era (supersport or early lightning).

    With regards to servicing, I'm going to open mine up soon and see what makes it a specialist job. But as said before it probably isn't a DIY job.
    Hi it's not a job I would like to do with regards to service but I know of two people who have had theirs re sealed else where ,
    However I have a spitfire and at first I was not sure what to think of it but I'm getting more fond of it the more I use it, Who ever sees my one always seems amazed by it , Surprising the amount of people who have never seen or heard of them,
    I was offered a 177 cal one cheap as was tempted to keep the barrel and open the gun up to see what's inside, But hey all the best if your gonna try yours yourself.

  7. #7
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    Thanks again for all the comments. I've just got back from viewing and glad I went....... Stock is in good nick apart from the finish ( some fence treatment by the look and feel ) and the metalwork is in exceptionally good condition. Not quite 10/10 but a good 8.5 or 9 at least I'd say, and holds air and shoots very well. BUT


    Turns out it wasn't just the one, there was another ( has a leak ) "for spares" included in the price. No brainer really then eh?

    I was just putting them into the slips I took when he said he had a hard case I could have for a tenner if I wanted, another no brainer. As he came downstairs with it he commented it felt heavier than it should and upon opening discovered his old Westlake he had forgotten he had. He shut the case straight away and said I could have that too f.o.c..

    so to summon up I went out to look at a BSA Spitfire and came away with a pair, plus a hardcase and a cheap plinker for a tenner extra. Happy bunny or what.

    couple of pics here

    https://imgur.com/a/zBw5F

    btw, anyone know what the front sight on the Westlake is from originally please? Held moulded plastic with a pair of grub screws thru the bottom to hold it on the barrel. tia
    All help, advice and wrist slaps gratefully received.
    Most sales open to swaps for older BSA’s, projects and or incomplete/bits. Currently quietly developing a hankering for a nice S10 BBK………..

  8. #8
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    The Spitfire is a fairly light accurate PCP, especially the target model Bisley which gingernut has. They did not sell well when introduced because people thought they looked like a break barrel springer. I think the Firebird is a better version if you want to change calibres as the barrels are removed by loosening two allen screws, so you can have all the sizes you want and easily adjust power to keep legal.


    Baz


    [IMG][/IMG]
    BE AN INDEPENDENT THINKER, DON'T FOLLOW THE CROWD

  9. #9
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    my mate can reseal them and has made the tooling/jigs to do it
    I've a firebird that he rebuilt and it's still holding air 18 month's later (I fire it once a month just to keep it working) when I get time i'll be sorting barrels in .177 .20 and .25 for a full set

  10. #10
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    Quote Originally Posted by gizwaz View Post
    Thanks again for all the comments. I've just got back from viewing and glad I went....... Stock is in good nick apart from the finish ( some fence treatment by the look and feel ) and the metalwork is in exceptionally good condition. Not quite 10/10 but a good 8.5 or 9 at least I'd say, and holds air and shoots very well. BUT


    Turns out it wasn't just the one, there was another ( has a leak ) "for spares" included in the price. No brainer really then eh?

    I was just putting them into the slips I took when he said he had a hard case I could have for a tenner if I wanted, another no brainer. As he came downstairs with it he commented it felt heavier than it should and upon opening discovered his old Westlake he had forgotten he had. He shut the case straight away and said I could have that too f.o.c..

    so to summon up I went out to look at a BSA Spitfire and came away with a pair, plus a hardcase and a cheap plinker for a tenner extra. Happy bunny or what.

    couple of pics here

    https://imgur.com/a/zBw5F

    btw, anyone know what the front sight on the Westlake is from originally please? Held moulded plastic with a pair of grub screws thru the bottom to hold it on the barrel. tia

    You done well there buddy and the spare one will be ideal if you want a try at sealing yourself,
    I've just put a rail on mine to fix my night vision for the rats, I think being single shot and a easy access to load pellet along with easy break barrel cocking will be ideal for night shooting plus I won't need the shot count,

  11. #11
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    Quote Originally Posted by gizwaz View Post
    Thanks again for all the comments. I've just got back from viewing and glad I went....... Stock is in good nick apart from the finish ( some fence treatment by the look and feel ) and the metalwork is in exceptionally good condition. Not quite 10/10 but a good 8.5 or 9 at least I'd say, and holds air and shoots very well. BUT


    Turns out it wasn't just the one, there was another ( has a leak ) "for spares" included in the price. No brainer really then eh?

    I was just putting them into the slips I took when he said he had a hard case I could have for a tenner if I wanted, another no brainer. As he came downstairs with it he commented it felt heavier than it should and upon opening discovered his old Westlake he had forgotten he had. He shut the case straight away and said I could have that too f.o.c..

    so to summon up I went out to look at a BSA Spitfire and came away with a pair, plus a hardcase and a cheap plinker for a tenner extra. Happy bunny or what.

    couple of pics here

    https://imgur.com/a/zBw5F

    btw, anyone know what the front sight on the Westlake is from originally please? Held moulded plastic with a pair of grub screws thru the bottom to hold it on the barrel. tia
    Looks a good buy, and the front sight on the B2 looks a lot like the one fitted to a target Spitfire ! John Bowkett told me the main cause of leaking is a Teflon seal that must fit exactly, and sometimes has a little corrosion near it when stored for a prolonged time. People who do their own repair tend to replace this with different material which stops the leak but causes erratic shot f.p.s. each time you start firing the rifle after leaving it unused.

    Baz
    BE AN INDEPENDENT THINKER, DON'T FOLLOW THE CROWD

  12. #12
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    my mate makes his seals out of delrin not ptfe and they work fine both sealing wise and mine seems consistant when shot other the chrono

  13. #13
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    Quote Originally Posted by --ped-- View Post
    my mate makes his seals out of delrin not ptfe and they work fine both sealing wise and mine seems consistant when shot other the chrono
    Delrin worked for me also.

  14. #14
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    Nice buy mate! 👍

    I have a mint spitfire with a gourgoeus stock and have recently had it serviced and blueprinted but Jon bowkett. It is a tack driver and for some reason I can shoot so accurately with it stranded unsupported at 45 yards that it still baffles me ? It’s just so steady on aim that I can only put it down to the barrel is quite long and with the Silencer must just bance my wobble perfectly.

    It’s a delight to use and I’m very glad I bought it, definately a speacial rifle and if you think about it it’s a true one off piece of gineus which you are lucky to own if you do....I sure am😊

    Enjoy
    Atb
    Daniel

  15. #15
    Join Date
    Nov 2007
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    I've got a Firebird in .22 and I have a hard time missing with it. It's much easier to take out in the field then my S-10 or Rapid. Its had a slow leak for about 5 years and takes about 2 months to empty. I've been pretty consistent now with dry firing it. I also bought a non working Spitfire for $60 I'd like to get fixed but no one in the US works on them. I ended up taking the barrel off and putting it on my Lightning and it's now more accurate then the original barrel, not sure if they hand selected the Spitfire and Firebird barrels but both are take drivers. One thing I really like is the Antibounce device on them, it cuts down on the report and I dont use a LDC. If it holds air and the price is reasonable you'll get a very accurte and consistent airgun.

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