bsa airsporter mk5 0.22 under repair

[ken69]

If it were mine I would probably fit a Webley Pro System Silencer and a period gloss scope

[Geezer]

If it were mine I would probably fit a Webley Pro System Silencer and a period gloss scope

Even better a period Galway, Air Logic, or Hushpower one.

Walter lists Airsporter barrels at 485mm (19.1”) for standard and 500mm (19.7”) for the S model.

[Phil Russell]

Now I am pretty sure that on BSAs the actual rifled barrel ends before the muzzle, maybe 1cm? Sorry I do not have one to hand but I think this is right. So if your rifling comes right up to the muzzle then yes you have been cut down.
Regarding the foresight: Some rifles ... maybe Gamo ones... had a plastic unit that fitted over the muzzle and included a foresight element as part of the moulding. I guess this is irrelevant as you would have to find one and find one the correct diameter at that.
Did the original foresight securing holes penetrate into the barrel? I don't know. But it maybe possible to tap a shallow hole without going into the rifling. But then you have the issue of the thread used as I bet it was not a standard UNF or BA or even metric one.

As the foresight was removed, presumably the intention was to use a scope.

Cheers, Phil

[stonyat421]

well cheers for the reply's
think il be going down the road of a silencer and scope for this one

as i have not been on here for a while does any one no if uk neil is still on the group

cheers tony

[Geezer]

Airsporter barrels of this era were 485mm (19.1”) standard, and 500mm (19.7”) on the S.

It’s interesting that they were round numbers in metric. Supplied from abroad? I don’t know.

The muzzles were indeed counter-bored (larger, non-rifled bit at the end).

The front sight block has a small male lug that fits a shallow female depression cut into in the top of the barrel.

Slightly behind that, a vertical screw running through the front sight block (look at the diagram on Chambers) fits a tapped and threaded vertical hole in the barrel. IIRC, the latter hole is both in and goes through the counter-bored section, not the rifling. The screw either does not protrude inside, or only does a tiny bit, and not enough to impede pellet flight.

I’ve read suggestions that the counter-boring was intended to protect the crown from damage in the field.

It does that, but, if I am right in the para above, I suggest it was primarily adopted to allow the front sight to be screwed on from above as described without having to work with very fine tolerances or risk a random “choking” effect by pushing the top of the rifling down a bit in manufacture.

PS: U.K. Neil retired and sold up his machinery a few years ago.

[stonyat421]

Airsporter barrels of this era were 485mm (19.1”) standard, and 500mm (19.7”) on the S.

It’s interesting that they were round numbers in metric. Supplied from abroad? I don’t know.

The muzzles were indeed counter-bored (larger, non-rifled bit at the end).

The front sight block has a small male lug that fits a shallow female depression cut into in the top of the barrel.

Slightly behind that, a vertical screw running through the front sight block (look at the diagram on Chambers) fits a tapped and threaded vertical hole in the barrel. IIRC, the latter hole is both in and goes through the counter-bored section, not the rifling. The screw either does not protrude inside, or only does a tiny bit, and not enough to impede pellet flight.

I’ve read suggestions that the counter-boring was intended to protect the crown from damage in the field.

It does that, but, if I am right in the para above, I suggest it was primarily adopted to allow the front sight to be screwed on from above as described without having to work with very fine tolerances or risk a random “choking” effect by pushing the top of the rifling down a bit in manufacture.

PS: U.K. Neil retired and sold up his machinery a few years ago.

cheers for that shame would not mind another one of those silencers