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Thread: Bsa Supersport History and Info (parker hale, bsa lighting)

  1. #1
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    Bsa Supersport History and Info (parker hale, bsa lighting)

    I built this information up when I was researching the little old BSA Supersport. I’ve tried to keep the links to any information I’ve included to stop copyright infringements….although I know some forums don’t like links. I can edit them out if needs be.

    I know some hate BSA, some do not. I thought I’d post this to help anyone who has a BSA or ends up having one.
    This information is supplied to the best of my knowledge, so if in doubt. Double check! If I’ve anything wrong, please amend in a post. (Generally the newer se models are a combination of Supersport and lightning
    S)

    INFO and HISTORY

    It is said that the action from the Supersport, Lighting and Parker Hale Striker are one and the same. Things that differ:- are the Barrels and Stocks. There maybe more, and if I find them, I will post them.

    The BSA Supersport is an air rifle produced by BSA Guns (UK) Limited a subsidiary of Spanish manufacturer Gamo. It is essentially the same rifle as the Lightning. It is made in three calibres, 0.177 in (4.5 mm), 0.22 in (5.5 mm) and .243 (.25)

    Earlier .25 barrels were not a true .25 (6.35) they were a .243 calibre, so be careful when buying secondhand. Newer barrels have been changed to .25 (6.35)

    Differences between the Supersport and Lighting
    • Lightning had a scope rail (maxi rail),
    • Lightning had a shorter barrel.
    • Lighting had a Volumetric silencer.
    • The Supersport .25 also had an adjustable transfer port
    • Barrels were 18” and 14.5” on the supersport
    • There was also a Gas Ram version
    • The Supersport custom came with a maxi rail

    The mechanics of the Supersport are simple; a spring and piston is compressed by pulling the barrel through 110° before a pellet is loaded directly into the barrel. The barrel is returned to the rest position and locks into place with a detent lock, the rifle is then ready to fire.

    There are two versions - the Mk2 version differing in that it has three cocking link arms, unlike the older two links - and there is now an external spring guide.

    Apparently the mk2 has different stocks,
    • Tactial (polymer plastic)
    • Walnut
    • Beech

    The barrels from BSA models, can all be interchanged between them.
    • Lightning
    • Meteor
    • Supersport
    • Mercury

    The breech seal from the Weihrauch air rifle range can fit the BSA barrels more efficiently.

    Trigger
    To upgrade the Supersport/Lightning trigger you need a new Goldstar trigger blade, trigger link and a little spring that goes between them.

    The Goldstar trigger isn't really a two stage trigger at all. In the "first stage" all you are doing is rocking the spring loaded blade against the link until the slack is taken up, then the link starts to move to release the sear just like the single stage unit. It just "feels" like a two stage but without any adjustment.

    Also, the Spitfire already has the Goldstar type trigger.

    BSA Supersport Custom (factory)

    BSA also released a limited edition Custom Supersport, it had upgraded parts over the original.
    • Stock with a raised comb and cheek piece,
    • Maxigrip scope rail
    • two stage trigger used similar that used on the Superstar
    • They have breech bolts not pins.

    Parker Hale Striker
    This is the same gun as the BSA Lightning, Birmingham made for Parker Hale, the barrel is screw cut for a silencer and it comes with a steel Parker Hale silencer.


    Positives and Negatives about the Supersport

    Positives
    • Full power starter gun
    • Nice looking
    • Lightweight
    • Pointable

    Negatives
    • Breech axis pin, it is not a bolt.
    • Single stage trigger
    • Hard to shoot accurately, because of recoil

    History of the BSA SUPERSPORT on the BSA History timeline
    • 1985 Gamo Ownership
    • 1986 BSA Guns liquidated, bought by Gamo and renamed BSA Guns (UK) Ltd
    • 1986 Introduction of Supersport air rifle
    • 1997 Introduction of Supersport Lightning air rifle
    http://bsaguns.co.uk/about/history.aspx

    Brochure

    http://www.ranger.uk.com/stockists/w...K-Brochure.pdf

    Remove stock, and check for serial number on the side and underneath of the breech block.

    Prefix Codes for the Supersport
    http://www.airgunspares.com/store/content/87/BSA/

    AR Supersport Rifle .177 1997 -
    AAR Supersport Rifle .25 1997 -
    DS Supersport .22 1986
    0 Parke-Hale Striker .177 (same as Supersport Air Rifle)
    0 Supersport & XL .25

    Supersport Manual
    http://www.airgunsofarizona.com/Manu...Supersport.pdf
    http://www.airrifleshop.co.uk/Airgun%20manuals.htm
    http://bsaguns.co.uk/support/manuals.aspx

    BSA production moved to Spain, but then it came back to England
    http://nigelallen.blogspot.co.uk/search/label/BSA

    Historical site
    http://cinedux.com/bsa-airguns.php

    Reviews
    http://www.gunmart.net/gun_review/bsa_supersport/


    Spare Parts for the Supersport
    T.W Chambers
    https://www.gunspares.co.uk/products/24314/Supersport/
    John Knibbs International
    http://www.airgunspares.com/store/category/64/360/BSA/
    Redbeck
    http://www.airrifleshop.co.uk/Airgun...S_SSTK_BSA.htm
    Protek
    http://www.proteksupplies.co.uk/bsa-...day-parts.html

    Workshop guides

    June 2010 Spring Gun Tuning - Striker Part 1
    July 2010 Spring Gun Tuning - Striker Part 2
    Summer 2010 Tuning - Striker Part 3
    http://www.air-rifle-tuning.com/v-mach/Reading.html


    Magazines Known to have the BSA Supersport in

    Airgunner February 1988 – Featured guns – Daisy 814, BSA Scorpion, BSA Supersport, Diana 52, Cammo Commando, Haenel Model 1, Haenel Model 28

    Airgun World June 1987 – Featured guns – Crosman Model 66, Webley Vulcan, BSA Supersport, Daystate Huntsman, RWS Diana Sport 1000, Theoben Zephyr 335

    Airgun World March 1988 – Featured guns – Webley MkIII, BSA Supersport Custom, Podium

    Airgun World September 1988 – Featured guns – Taurus Pneumatic, Theoben SLR88 Imperator, BSA Supersport, Weihrauch HW50S, Webley Excel, Diana Firebird 34, Haenel 303

    Airgun World February 1998 – Featured guns – Vixen KT Special, Crosman Model 1, Manor Firearms Magnum 52, Airlogic Genesis, BSA Supersport

    BSA stripdown
    Here is a BSA Meteor Strip down until I find a Supersport one
    http://anotherairgunblog.blogspot.co...l/BSA%20Meteor
    Strip down article airgun world BSA Supersport – 04/02

    Standard Measurements

    All measurements are taken with the best of my knowledge. If anything is incorrect, please reply so it can be amended.
    Spring Room 185.9mm
    Nylon Piston head 6mm
    Nylon piston head seal diameter 29mm
    Nylon piston head seal thickness
    Transfer port length 12mm
    Piston in rifle, start of cocking slot to start of piston cocking slot. 21mm
    Breech wall inside to start of cocking slot 84mm
    Piston stroke 70 mm
    Piston 235g
    Inside Piston Diameter 23mm
    Top of Piston Diameter 29mm
    Length of Piston 135mm
    Piston Cocking Slot (overall length) 8.9cm
    Bottom of Piston Diameter (head end) 28.5 mm
    Breech face to end of Cylinder 24.1cm
    Thickness of Cylinder 2mm
    Length of Cylinder 30.7cm
    ID Cylinder near trigger 29mm
    ID Cylinder near Transfer port 29mm
    Cylinder Cocking slot (overall length) 12.5cm
    Transfer Port diameter 3mm
    Spring Coils 34 Coils
    Spring Outside length 24.3cm
    Spring Diameter 19mm
    Spring Inside Diameter 13mm
    Spring Guide length 76mm
    Spring Guide Diameter OD 13mm

    To keep things legal, please have access to a chronograph
    Chrony
    Caldwell Ballistic Precision Chronograph
    Shooting Chrony Alpha Chronograph
    Chrony F1 Chronograph
    Combro Cb625 Mk4

    Guide for Shortening your mainspring
    http://www.air-rifle-tuning.com/v-ma...files/AS01.pdf

    Notes:-
    • To get Radius is divide the diameter by 2.
    • Volume CC =Pie X Radius X Radius X Length divide by 1000
    • CC means Cubic Centmeters
    Muzzle Energy in Foot Pounds fps x fps x grains / 450240
    Convert ft.lbs to Joules ft.lbs x 1.355817 = Joules
    Convert Joules to ft.lbs Joules x 0.737562149 = ft.lbs
    1 Grain 0.06479891 grams
    1 Grain 0.002285714 ounces
    1 Kilogram 2.2046 lbs
    1 Pound (lb) 0.4536 kilograms
    1 Inch (") 2.54 cm
    1 Centimetre (cm) 0.3937 "
    .177 Cal 4.5 mm
    • .20 Cal 5.00 mm
    • .22 Cal 5.5 mm
    • .25 Cal 6.35 mm

    Titan Main Spring Data
    Model Outer (mm) Inner (mm) Thickness (mm) No. Coils (mm) Length (mm)
    No. 1 21 14.5 3.25 31 280
    No. 2 22.7 15.5 3.65 30 291
    No. 3 20.8 14.73 3.26 34 304
    No. 4 22.62 15.64 3.65 28 252
    No. 5 19 13.19 3 32 290
    No. 6 19.7 13.3 2.92 39 341
    No. 7 20 13.8 3.3 30 255
    No. 8 20 13.8 3.3 34 295
    No. 9 21 14.75 3.3 27 280
    No. 10 21 14.8 3.1 27 230
    No. 11 18.8 12.8 3 31 230
    No. 12 22.8 15.6 3.65 41 410

    NO 1 :
    BSA Airsporter, Mercury, Challenger, 635 Magnum, Supersport, Lightning, XL, XL Tactical, XL SE, Superstar, Goldstar, Centenary.
    Air Arms Firepower, Jackal, Woodsman. Khamsin Original/Diana Model 34/35/36/38/45 (48/52/54 std power), Weihrauch / Beeman HW99, HW99S, HW77, HW77K
    FWB 124, 127. RWS Firebird

    NO 2 :
    Weihrauch / Beeman HW80, HW80K HW90(To Replace Gas Ram)
    Air Arms Pro Elite.

    NO 3 :
    Weihrauch / Beeman HW97, HW97K Original / Diana Mod 35/45/50,
    Hammerli 401

    NO 4 :
    Weihrauch / Beeman HW35, HW35k Webley Eclipse(std).

    NO 5 :
    BSA Meteor MK1, 2, 3, 4, 5, Original / Diana Mod 24, 26, 27, 28, G46, 70, 71, 78, 79,80, SMK XS19, XS38, XS20( MKI)

    NO 6 :
    BSA Meteor MK6 & MK7, Comet. Crosman Phantom. Mod 800
    Hatsan

    NO 7 :
    BSA Polaris, Webley: Tracker, Osprey, Excel, Viscount, Xocet, Stingray, Falcon, Hawk MK1-3 Norica All models,
    Relum All models (USING EXISTING INNER), Baikal All models
    Cometa 5, Haenel mod. 303,
    Gamo Sniper, Hunter 440, Commando, Delta, Apache, CF16, Rangemaster, CFX, Statical, Magnum, 1000, Shadow, CSI, Whisper, 68. Gunmark Phantom, NAC,
    Weihrauch / Beeman HW55 & 55T, SMK XS208, SMK SYNSG,
    Ruger Blackhawk

    NO 8 :
    Webley Vulcan, Victor, Omega, Longbow, Weihrauch / Beeman HW95, HW95K, HW98, HW98K Gamo 3000,

    NO 9 :
    Air Arms TX200 MK1 & MK2, Weihrauch / Beeman HW57, HW57K

    NO 10 :
    Air Arms TX200 MK3, Pro Sport

    NO 11 :
    SMK – All Models however springs needs cutting to length. B2, B2 Custom, Synthetic, XS, XS12, XS15, XS17, XS18, XS19, XS20, XS208, TH208, SKL208, DB4, DB5, XS36,
    Stoeger X3, X5, X10, X20, X50, XS3, XS5, XS10, XS20, XS50

    NO 12 :
    Cometa – 100, 200, 300, 400, Fenix and Dragon

    NO 13 :
    Gamo Paratrooper, CF20, CF30, CFX, BSA Comet

    NO 14 :
    Diana 350 Magnum, Webley Patriot

    NO 15 :
    Weihrauch / Beeman HW45, HW25, Original 20
    Edgar Brothers/EB All spring models SMK XS38
    Webley Spector, Value Max, VMX, Stingray (New), Tomahawk (New), Patriot,
    Diana mod. 25 and mod 5(pistol), small Baikal ie IG38, G36 and Webley Sport, Slavia 620
    Last edited by Andy001; 06-03-2017 at 10:16 AM.

  2. #2
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    Just picked up my 2nd supersport, a .25 carbine :-)

    How can I tell if it's a .243 or a .25?
    Thanks - Geoff.

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    Apart from measuring it if you can borrow some modern (H&n etc) .25pellets try and load them if it's very very tight😱 Then you have the .243!

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    And the Brocock Independent?.

  5. #5
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    I just put some rhino greens thru it, they seem to work.

    Its a 14.5 inch barrel version, that has a female screw thread for a silencer at the end. It also has a maxi grip rail with a Webley speed point on top.

    No visible serial number.


    Seems to be a nice little plinker :-)
    Thanks - Geoff.

  6. #6
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    Some one said the new .25 barrels were phased in around 2010 ish, no confirmed dates and BSA were unhelpful when I was building this database.
    So I couldn't add it.

  7. #7
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    Very helpful post. Thanks for doing it.

    Two things:

    - The link to the pyramydair blog takes me to a post about ballistic coefficients, not BSAs.

    - You say there was a gas ram variant. Do you mean the current Lightning is offered with a gas ram? Because there were also the drop-in (nearly) AWT aftermarket rams, but not (IIRC) a factory gas ram offered for anything other than the latest Lightnings.

    And, of course, old Supersports are really quite nice, whereas new Lighnings are awful.

  8. #8
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    Quote Originally Posted by Geezer View Post
    Very helpful post. Thanks for doing it.

    Two things:

    - The link to the pyramydair blog takes me to a post about ballistic coefficients, not BSAs.

    - You say there was a gas ram variant. Do you mean the current Lightning is offered with a gas ram? Because there were also the drop-in (nearly) AWT aftermarket rams, but not (IIRC) a factory gas ram offered for anything other than the latest Lightnings.

    And, of course, old Supersports are really quite nice, whereas new Lighnings are awful.
    D'oh. I'll have to check my links on my pc. Not sure how it's moved!

    I was mainly referring to factory guns. Yes the latest lightings.
    I should have been more clear, thank you.

  9. #9
    look no hands's Avatar
    look no hands is offline Even better looking than a HW35
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    Quote Originally Posted by piggy589 View Post
    And the Brocock Independent?.
    The Independant is basically a Gamo with a BSA barrel and fancy walnut/beech stock, nothing like the Supersport, even the breech block is different.

    Pete
    Far too many rifles to list now, all mainly British but the odd pesky foreigner has snuck in

  10. #10
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    Quote Originally Posted by look no hands View Post
    The Independant is basically a Gamo with a BSA barrel and fancy walnut/beech stock, nothing like the Supersport, even the breech block is different.

    Pete
    Ah,I remember trying one out and being less than impressed.

    The trigger in particular,horrible,stiff,and with little, if any first stage movement.

  11. #11
    look no hands's Avatar
    look no hands is offline Even better looking than a HW35
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    Quote Originally Posted by piggy589 View Post
    Ah,I remember trying one out and being less than impressed.

    The trigger in particular,horrible,stiff,and with little, if any first stage movement.
    Very true, mine needed a decent tune to be usable, Gamo triggers have nearly always been bad but the one on my Independent is actually pretty good after I lightened the trigger spring.

    Pete
    Far too many rifles to list now, all mainly British but the odd pesky foreigner has snuck in

  12. #12
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    Amazing post Andy.
    I had a Striker in .22 for a while and I thought it a rather good little gun.

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    Nice write up, many thanks for posting.
    Regards,
    Dave.

  14. #14
    look no hands's Avatar
    look no hands is offline Even better looking than a HW35
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    I've had a couple of Brummy Lightnings in the past (one was the newer XL model), one of them was SFS tuned with the Superstar trigger conversion and I have to say it was a lovely little rifle, the only thing that let it down was the bland stock, Custom stocks used to supply them for BSA's but not anymore, which is rather stupid considering they still have the info needed for the cutouts.

    I'd love a Supersport ss custom but they are like hens teeth.

    Pete
    Far too many rifles to list now, all mainly British but the odd pesky foreigner has snuck in

  15. #15
    Hellequin's Avatar
    Hellequin is offline I used to be indecisive.....
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    What a great post! Thanks for all the info, I love my little Supersport Carbine; basic open sights, light as a feather and decent power. It's loads of fun and a cracking little rifle. Oh and it's a 1996 Brummie made rifle, pre-maxi grip!
    Wyrd bið ful aræd

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