BSA Scorpion or HW 45 ?

[DM80]

HW45 all day its more accurate and more powerfull than the scorpion the 45 is just better built its trigger is better the Bsa is ok but its rubbish compared to th HW45.

[peddy]

I struggled shooting either of them accurately, I prefer my premier e series, far more compact and running at just over 3fpe and much lighter makes a great plinker. As mentioned my cp1 at 5fpe beats all of them

[Benelli B76]

When this thread was started over 2 years ago it was comparing two spring pistols, at the time my CO2 Crosman 111 surpassed both of them for power and accuracy, and I don't think the CP1 was available in UK.

Baz

[Geezer]

HW45 all day its more accurate and more powerfull than the scorpion the 45 is just better built its trigger is better the Bsa is ok but its rubbish compared to th HW45.

Dave,

I’m going to politely disagree with you a bit. I have owned only one example of each, but also tracked reviews and commentary by others.

Bottom line up front: I think they are equal. But very different.

Power: Scorp is in good condition always a 5+ gun. 45 is often mid-4s in factory trim.

Accuracy: tie. I can make a case that the Scorp is easier to achieve results with, because of its conventional layout and therefore normal spring-surge characteristics, rather than the overgrown Johnstone-Fearn Webley arrangement of the HW.

Build quality: not sure. Probably HW.

Ease of servicing: HW. By miles.

Handling: tie. The Scorp is colossal and the HW is smaller, and the HW has a 1911-style grip, so ought to win, but the Scorp is not bad either.

Trigger: my Scorp has a nice one. So does my 45. Tie. Advantage overall to the 45?

Cocking effort: 45 wins.

Coolness: well, I am of the age when the Scorpion was new and dead cool and the 45 did not then exist.

As I’ve said on here before, I spent many years thinking the Scorpion was a truly silly thing. Only once I got one did I change my mind. It’s surprinsgly good. (And the 45, while good, is not as great as some suggest).

Just my opinion.

[DM80]

the bsa scorpion is ok I do like them but the 45 is just better ive owned many of both pistols and for me the Hw is more accurate better built its lighter and Ive always found the 45 is just easier to shoot the trigger and safety mech on the bsa is terrible and unreliable for me its the scorpions biggest downfall and facts are facts the 45 has been around since the early 80's and today still sells in vast numbers the bsa died a death years ago.


dave.

[ETCHY]

I now have a Scorpion & an early HW45 both in .22.

I don't know why but somehow I've never quite enjoyed either . The Scorpion I just struggle to be accurate with (although it looks damned cool) & the HW45 whilst I find accurate & solid is somehow just soulless.

To be honest for plinking I find my old Webley Tempest more fun than both

[Geezer]

the bsa scorpion is ok I do like them but the 45 is just better ive owned many of both pistols and for me the Hw is more accurate better built its lighter and Ive always found the 45 is just easier to shoot the trigger and safety mech on the bsa is terrible and unreliable for me its the scorpions biggest downfall and facts are facts the 45 has been around since the early 80's and today still sells in vast numbers the bsa died a death years ago.


dave.

I now have a Scorpion & an early HW45 both in .22.

I don't know why but somehow I've never quite enjoyed either . The Scorpion I just struggle to be accurate with (although it looks damned cool) & the HW45 whilst I find accurate & solid is somehow just soulless.

To be honest for plinking I find my old Webley Tempest more fun than both

Agreed that the 45 is objectively better, but also somehow boring. The Scorp is nice, when it works, and a 70s icon. And they are surprisingly accurate if you get a good one.

Also agreed that other guns are more readily appealing for plinking. In my case, the Diana LP5 and various Webleys, esp the Senior.

Someone should do an objective test. Scorpion v 45 v Diana LP5 Magnum v Diana LP8 v Browning 800. Etc.

[Inspector 71]

Someone should do an objective test. Scorpion v 45 v Diana LP5 Magnum v Diana LP8 v Browning 800. Etc.

Scorpion: sits nice and low and is surprisingly well balanced for Its size. Average trigger. Powerful and quite accurate with practice and familiarisation. Ages prematurely due to the easily scratched plastics.

HW45: sits too high for one-handed use. Looks good and is very well made. Dual power option is a boon. Very accurate and powerful. After market grips transform handling. Trigger is sublime.

LP8: poor construction, unwieldy and a dreadfully heavy and unpredictable trigger.

LP5: never had the pleasure

Browning 800: bin.

[Geezer]

Someone should do an objective test. Scorpion v 45 v Diana LP5 Magnum v Diana LP8 v Browning 800. Etc.

Scorpion: sits nice and low and is surprisingly well balanced for Its size. Average trigger. Powerful and quite accurate with practice and familiarisation. Ages prematurely due to the easily scratched plastics.

HW45: sits too high for one-handed use. Looks good and is very well made. Dual power option is a boon. Very accurate and powerful. After market grips transform handling. Trigger is sublime.

LP8: poor construction, unwieldy and a dreadfully heavy and unpredictable trigger.

LP5: never had the pleasure

Browning 800: bin.

Agree with that. Have owned a Scorp and 45, read about the others.

I think the 45 can be OK one-handed, though. Bore line is high, but weight is fine (1.15 Kg, which is about 2.5 lbs).

I’ve had a few of the regular Diana 5s. I’d really like a go with the Magnum. I think they might be quite nice.