Originally Posted by
andrewM
That was kind of you to post that, Flint, and I found it very interesting. It tells us a quite a lot about the backdrop in those days and the competition. It was also interesting that the author should compare the Mk3 with the Airsporter but, doubtless, this was inevitable. Whilst I know nothing of pellet technology, I think it would be fair to say that this has developed in the 60 years or so since that article. I was able to obtain three tins of the old .22 Eley Wasp pellets at Kempton a year or so ago. However, my Mk3 prefers Superdomes and H&N Sniper Light to the old Wasps. Perhaps the skirt of the pellet expands to fit the barrel, as these pellets are the metric 5.5mm.
I wonder what pellets you have tried in your Mk3 and whether you have discovered a similar preference for 5.5mm.
I think it was Lakey, here, who informed me that the Mk3 progressed to 'button' rifling in the late '60s or early '70s. Previously, I think he mentioned that each barrel was hand finished and the rifling would take 90 minutes or so. I wonder if the 'button' rifling made much difference to the accuracy. On the other hand, whilst I had 1in groups in my mind for 25yds, I now think it is feasible to improve on these.
It is a pity the author did not test both rifles, above, alongside the older pre-War BSA Standard. I think this would have had the edge over both the Mk3 and Airsporter. I wonder how the Webley Mk2 Service Rifle would have performed as well.