BSA Lightning CLX.

[ashf9999]

Fitted my sprtsmatch 13mm direct to the cylinder today. Unfortunately can't use the arrestor pin as its too close a fit in the hole in the cylinder. They did creep a bit so I tightened them as much as I dared and they seemed to stay put. I didn't want to use the rail as it puts the scope too high. For the best solution a 13mm one piece mount would be the best solution on this gun.
Whilst messing I ran the gun over the chrono, its doing 800 fps with 8.44. Too close for comfort so it will come apart to reduce velocity and harshness. Still happy with my purchase though

Do NOT NOT NOT go for BSA branded one piece mount (BSA p/n 601) for this gun. I bought 4 or 5 (from I think our sponsors) a while back ie last summer-ish as they seemed good value for the spec. They claim to have a reversible clamp and can go from 9.5-11mm and also 13mm. Up to 11 they are fine, however the bolt holes for the clamp are not spaced evenly top to bottom - consequently when you try to reverse the clamp to fit a 13mm it won’t. And the bolts are made from cheese… And the position of the arrestor hole in the 601 mounts doesn’t match the hole position on BSA cylinder dovetails, so that can’t be used on BSA guns - or the Lightning CLX at least.

Maybe they’ve tweaked them since last year and they actually fit. They’re USA made, so I suspect they’re just a rebadge, rather than made to BSA spec.

Ok for standard dovetails, no good for BSA dovetails. How strange. And not a patch on a Sportsmatch mount in terms of general ruggedness.

Maybe try a Sportsmatch arrestor block behind the front or rear mount. Ok you can’t use the arrestor block’s pin (unless you can use the forward hole?), but it’ll increase clamping area. CORRECTION - of course Sportsmatch don’t do one for 13mm dovetails.

Here’s how a Vantage 3-9x40 AO fits on mine directly (no rail) with the Sportsmatch 13mm mounts. Thankfully eye relief is ok for me using the arrestor pin. I’d have slightly preferred the increased height with the rail, but this is actually fine (including by Tinbum’s method).

Have shifted the scope forward slightly since I did this post, but still uses the arrestor hole. Would be slightly more flexible if the front hole was the same size - ie able to take a stud.

[TonyL]

Compared to my mates 95, the lightning has a snappier shot cycle and fierce recoil.

So far very pleased, thinking of a TBT spring in the future.

Fitted my sprtsmatch 13mm direct to the cylinder today. Unfortunately can't use the arrestor pin as its too close a fit in the hole in the cylinder. They did creep a bit so I tightened them as much as I dared and they seemed to stay put. I didn't want to use the rail as it puts the scope too high. For the best solution a 13mm one piece mount would be the best solution on this gun.
Whilst messing I ran the gun over the chrono, its doing 800 fps with 8.44. Too close for comfort so it will come apart to reduce velocity and harshness. Still happy with my purchase though

It's certainly sounding like a little de-tuning will be in order to improve the firing cycle then.

Also definitely sounding like points are to be deducted for the scope mounting provisions.

[maximus]

It's certainly sounding like a little de-tuning will be in order to improve the firing cycle then.

Also definitely sounding like points are to be deducted for the scope mounting provisions.

I have checked and sportsmatch don't do a one piece mount to suit the BSA dovetail. It may be best to get the normal 11mm one and reverse the clamp to make it wider. The two piece T06 BSA mounts fir perfectly to the BSA rail which to be fair to BSA is what they expect you to use. For me it puts the scope too high but if sportsmatch did a low version that would be ok for me.

[TonyL]

Yep, I know what you mean. I tend to (mainly) use 32mm objectives and would prefer lower mounts where possible. I like the scope to be as close to the centre line of the bore as possible. To be fair, though, correct head positioning is the most important factor and it might be, for many people, that the mediums place the scope in a more suitable position?

BSA's Maxigrip scope rail has provided much discussion for years. I'm guessing it came about originally (around the mid-80s?) due to criticism of the very shallow grooves on the cylinders of Meteors, Mercurys and Airsporters of the time. I, for one, would have much preferred deeper, normal grooves milled into the cylinders, but maybe wall thickness didn't allow? Although looking at the earlier SuperSport, the standard model had normal grooves, the Custom version had the Maxigrip. The standard model's grooves are perfectly adequate. When I bought a new one in the '80s, I went for the standard one to swerve the Maxigrip.

All this talk of SuoerSports and Lightnings is making me want to sort the trigger on my early ratty looking SS and get it working again!

[maximus]

The dovetails in the cylinder on the clx are actually nice and deep and measured just under 12mm (11.95) on my gun. I'm hoping that a little tuning and backing off the power will help combat the scope creep and the two piece mounts without the pin will be ok. I have plenty of other guns where this is the case, including my fenman.

[evert]

all this talk of suoersports and lightnings is making me want to sort the trigger on my early ratty looking ss and get it working again!

Do it!

[Mike1969]

I have medium sportmatch mounts mounted directed to the main tubes dovetail and they fit perfectly
with the arrestor pin in the back hole

[maximus]

I have medium sportmatch mounts mounted directed to the main tubes dovetail and they fit perfectly
with the arrestor pin in the back hole

When I tried mine with the pin in the front hole the fixed side of the mount was held out of the dove tail on the gun. I could rotate the mount around the pin slightly. The rear hole is tapped and slightly larger in diameter but I think I would struggle to get the eye relief i need with that setup.

Regards Max