Bell Target

[WebleyWombler]

http://www.belltarget.com/resources/...rget_Story.pdf


Bell target was well established before BSA began production of the Lincoln Jeffries type. I have seen a couple of photos from around 1900 where the participants appear to be using a mixture of Militias and Gems but I can't locate the photos now. Last week, someone on the other forum sold a militia that was marked up as a Lincoln Jeffries so I presume he sold them for target use before his own design came into fruition.

[perlin]

@WebleyWombler would love to see any old photos if you ever find them.
Looks like I need more time on the vintage airgun gallery, excellent site with an awful lot of information.
John

[WebleyWombler]

@WebleyWombler would love to see any old photos if you ever find them.
Looks like I need more time on the vintage airgun gallery, excellent site with an awful lot of information.
John

If you read through the link I provided, you will see a photo of the Kendrick brothers taken in 1904 (before production of the L/J-BSA started) and they appear in my eyes to be holding Militias . I will search for other photos but don't hold your breath.

[Jimlad]

Here's a photo of the Bridgend ( South Wales ) Air Rifle Team 1905, the Bridgend an District Air Rifle League . ( badarl.com ) formed in 1907/08, with a couple of breaks for the two world wars, still in existence today ( Six teams ) anxiously awaiting the lockdown to end to be able to start shooting again
https://imgur.com/ddJOMlo
And another of one of the teams ( Ffordd-y-Gyfraith ) today
https://imgur.com/9IrGADp

[perlin]

Good to see..Got to love the old bowler hats and flat caps . looks like a club with a healthy membership.
John

[Unframed Dave]

A few photographs from my collection.

Guernsey air rifle clubs between the wars https://imgur.com/gallery/VKbd94c

Not great quality, taken with my phone.

Dave

[edbear2]

My local league was BSA at the beginning;
"BSA rifles being specified came about because Lord Dudley and Lord Ednam were major shareholders in the Birmingham Small Arms Company - or BSA as it was better known - and usually all 10 members of one team shot with one BSA rifle with fixed sights..It was only in the 1920s that air rifles of a rival manufacturer, Webley, were allowed".

http://www.belltarget.com/lord-ednam.php

Some of our venues;

https://www.flickr.com/photos/312284...57631530525209

Post war the league guns went to Airsporter Clubs and Webley MK3's.......this continued up to the advent of the German stuff when slowly people switched due to the Rekord trigger and more weight, I won't say the accuracy was any better, they were just easier to get good results from so average shots improved their scores.

I have an Airsporter club and a 1911 BSA, both of which I have scored possibles with, but that is really hard work and rare compared to my TX which I built for the league with a longer sight base to suit my eyes;

https://www.flickr.com/photos/312284...57646258601290

We use normal full power springers only, many wear scopes for HFT or Hunting outside the bell season, so this makes it more accessable cost wise as no need to spend on expensive match PCP's or the weird olympic style shooting apparel as seen in some leagues. Older shooters or people who struggle can have a loader if required.

Open sights only, no apertures, no shooting aids of any type not even sight hoods...most use HW's or TX's (with iron sights added)....Power max is 11.6 checked at beginning of season then lable put on action, target is set at 5 or 6 pounds to ring, so even a big splitter is marginal. score 5 for a ding, 5 shots and two sighters allowed.

Guns can have CS and the like stocks / many are Venom or the like tuned and fettled triggers, but most are out of the box with a service / lube.

See the odd break barrel, there are two RB BSA's and a couple of HW80's and a Webley and a HW98 I can recall, but generally it's underlevers.


Mostly rural real ale and good food pubs around the West and North of the Worcester area....


ATB, ED.

[Kuyajonathan]

A few photographs from my collection.

Guernsey air rifle clubs between the wars https://imgur.com/gallery/VKbd94c

Not great quality, taken with my phone.

Dave

Made this comment else where here before, few 'Bougard/Bougord's feature in the photos, quite prominate Guernsey family, small holders/ market gardeners, family member Clifford Bougard came from Channel Islands to Nailsea, Somerset about 1900, set up successful grocery shop with market garden, heated green houses, supplied Bristol fruit &'veg wholesale market. Grew up with William, one of his grandsons, Cliff, William & his Dad were keen shooters, keeping pigeons, rats etc under control, recall target shooting too.