BSA Scorpion pistol (versus HW45)

[Antoni]

What series Scorpion do you have, PA RA PB RB ?
They are all much the same but I have several different versions ranging from '73 to '77.
I'll need an email address.

It's RB49116.

My e-mail a/d is g4zre somewhere close to talktalk point net. I'd appreciate a manual because I've got them for nearly everything here. Got a radio which is a bit un-intuitive. The downloaded manual explained a couple of things.

[Antoni]

Using a "Little Samson" spring balance probably intended for weighing caught fish, along with a loop of string I measured the trigger force of the Scorpion. The string loop naturally acted vertically centrally on the trigger. There are three ways to cock the trigger.

Just break the action and re-close: 1½ pounds force

Break the action and quarter cock so that the auto safety activates, then allow the spring back to rest and close the action The click is louder but still: 1½ pounds force

Load and fire the pistol: just a smidgeon [smidgeon<tad<dab] less than 1½ pounds force.

The troubled shooter kindly e-mailed me the manual (thank you) which states that the standard Scorpion trigger weight is 1½ pounds force and describes how to adjust it if desired. If Messrs BSA said it should be that, it will stay at that.

For comparison checked the HW45. I'd adjusted it just by feel when I first bought it: 2¼ pounds force whether loaded and fired or just trigger-cocked.

Who'd have thunk 'light as a feather' was as high a force as that?

I'm on a roll here... for the gas blow-back pistol I had to use a bigger spring balance: 6 pounds force

.

[Antoni]

Not much to do today so got the old Tenma sound level meter out in the garden. The measurements were taken 1½ feet up and 4 feet from the meter to the muzzle. dB peak-hold and A-weighted.

Scorpion pistol ~5.3 FtLb .22
101.5 100.4
With cocking aid 104.5 104.5

HW45 ~4.9 FtLb. Sold as a .22 but fitted with a Weihrauch .177 barrel.
105.8 105.9

HW80 ~10 FtLb .177
106.8 107.0

Beeman P17 ~2.2 FtLb Single pump pneumatic .177
100.4 100.9 102.3

Surprised that the Scorpion's cocking aid makes the gun significantly louder.

[guitardan]

I'm long overdue a Scorpion project.
It was on my list first when I started with pistols, but too many webley's got in the way lol.
ATB
Dan

[Dornfelderliebe]

I'm long overdue a Scorpion project.
It was on my list first when I started with pistols, but too many webley's got in the way lol.
ATB
Dan

Get one but make sure it has the cocking aid, if you don't like it at least your forearms will get a workout.

In different ways I like mine as much as my premier.

[lodmoor]

I have done a few Scorpion projects in the past, had two almost given to me, covered in rust and one had been taken to a powered wire brush that also caught the plastic. Internals were a mess too. Lots of polishing, nickle plating and internal rebuild to them both (.177 and .22). Done for fun many years ago (beyond me now, just passed 80) but sold them on for decent money. Probably still out there now.

I have my original MKII bought in around 1976 (I know the books say they came out later but it has scope rail so it is a MKII) I later bought a MKI sans scope rail. Even got a vintage BSA scope on the MKII.

Never noticed any sound difference with/without cocking aid, I must try that out this weekend. (If I can still cock them, need two hands for my HW35E these days).

Ho hum, age don't come alone.

[Evostu]

Just bought a boxed scorpion myself great pistol

[Troubledshooter]

I have done a few Scorpion projects in the past, had two almost given to me, covered in rust and one had been taken to a powered wire brush that also caught the plastic. Internals were a mess too. Lots of polishing, nickle plating and internal rebuild to them both (.177 and .22). Done for fun many years ago (beyond me now, just passed 80) but sold them on for decent money. Probably still out there now.

I have my original MKII bought in around 1976 (I know the books say they came out later but it has scope rail so it is a MKII) I later bought a MKI sans scope rail. Even got a vintage BSA scope on the MKII.

Never noticed any sound difference with/without cocking aid, I must try that out this weekend. (If I can still cock them, need two hands for my HW35E these days).

Ho hum, age don't come alone.

I bought a .22 Mk.1 from Thomas Turner of Reading in Mid to late 1973, even though Phil Bulmer in his 'strip' article sates they didn't come out until 1974, so would think your date for the MK.11 would be correct.
I would have thought the claimed reduction in muzzle noise with the cocking aid in situ, would be down to the aid slightly shielding the user from the muzzle blast.
I still have a few Scorpions in various states, plus a box full of spares, including a few hammers, which I must sort out and list one of these days.
I'm of a similar age and I too don't find the Scorpion that easy to cock any more.

[rapidresponse1]

very nice the scorpion

[Dornfelderliebe]

Not much to do today so got the old Tenma sound level meter out in the garden. The measurements were taken 1½ feet up and 4 feet from the meter to the muzzle. dB peak-hold and A-weighted.

Scorpion pistol ~5.3 FtLb .22
101.5 100.4
With cocking aid 104.5 104.5

HW45 ~4.9 FtLb. Sold as a .22 but fitted with a Weihrauch .177 barrel.
105.8 105.9

HW80 ~10 FtLb .177
106.8 107.0

Beeman P17 ~2.2 FtLb Single pump pneumatic .177
100.4 100.9 102.3

Surprised that the Scorpion's cocking aid makes the gun significantly louder.

Not surprising Antoni, I always felt my .177 was louder with the aid.
A little while ago I managed to get a silencer adapter from Protek supplies which fits over the barrel but with a cut out for the front sight.
Then I went to A &M custom gunsmiths ( nearer to you than me) and got a Titch silencer, short and fat, and made a good job of quieting it down. all ok.
Then I asked them to let me try a twink. I've never heard anything like it. With the owner firing it All report disappeared and all I could hear was the internals and they were not as loud as we are all led to believe.
The only problem was the twink was too long but it was good.
I was told in no uncertain terms not to use their silencer as a cocking aid.
Any way got my Meteor out today and tried it with the titch and it was reasonable but fits perfectly in my Ramsbottom gun bag so there it will stay
Looks like I've got to get another titch and in for a penny get a Twink aswell.
Try and find an adapter that allows you to use the front sight

[Antoni]

...Then I went to A &M custom gunsmiths ( nearer to you than me) and got a Titch silencer, short and fat, and made a good job of quieting it down. all ok.
Then I asked them to let me try a twink. ...

Thanks for the info re A&M. Added it to my airgun notes.

Point is, the Scorpion is relatively quiet. Least likely to need a silencer. That's what gave me the idea to quantify the relative loudnesses of my airguns. The measurements were taken fairly close to the muzzles, at neighbour distances they'd be much lower.

The loudest was the Alecto / Zoraki. I had to return it to the shop because of leakage. Excellent pistol tho. I never measured it but it was LOUD. It was a used one and came with a spring-baffle-principle moderator (Wiehrauch?). Very effective. Bit of a pain doing the travelling buying and returning it but the shop in Derby was entirely professional.

At least I briefly had the experience of using the pistol and was amazed at the efficiency of the moderator. If I ever need one I'll fire up the lathe and use that design idea. It wouldn't be my first home-made job.

[GRAZY]

Had both before and preferred the style and overall finish of the HW45. Not a fan of the big plastic grip on the scorpion and don’t think Iv seen alternatives for it but maybe I’m wrong. The standard HW45 fits colt auto grips so loads of options there and never had a problem getting it on aim. I think a loose hold was best and lots of people say to strip out the excess grease as otherwise this can cause inconsistent shooting.
I once had a version I think was called the custom combat, it had 3 barrels, a finger groove grip and a threaded muzzle. Sadly and as happens too often sold it never to see another.