Go for it, the older lightnings were good rifles, don't think the newer offerings are much cop though...
Are all BSA springers less than optimal? Or can an older, Brummie BSA be fettled to make it better?
Don't laugh, but I've always fancied a Lightning (along with others) and I wonder if a cheap one would make a worthwhile project.
Thoughts?
Rob.
Go for it, the older lightnings were good rifles, don't think the newer offerings are much cop though...
The Mercury is a very elegant gun, the old BSA's were very well finished off stood above the rest at the time in that respect imho. A mint lightning could hold it's head up in the looks department today. My mate had an Airsporter S for quality and style it put our guns to shame i think i had a HW35E back then.
Changed it to mercury my mixup,
Last edited by buttloaves; 10-04-2017 at 09:56 PM.
I have a Brum Supersport that is very good. As is the Superstar.
Never owned a Mercury S, but they have a lot of fans on here.
I'd say get yourself a mk3/4 Mercury or a Challenger (if you can find one at a decent price) and get it tuned, they are lovely rifles to shoot after a fettle, not many break barrels can touch it on looks either.
Pete
Far too many rifles to list now, all mainly British but the odd pesky foreigner has snuck in
My old Mercury S was possibly the best ever BSA springer....far better than the Supersport/Lightning variations that followed it, which were over sprung and had slightly rougher triggers and occasionally dodgy safety catches.
Also the traditional elegance that was all Airsporter/Mercury gone forever after the mark.
It had a pivot bolt and no horrible plastic scope mount fitted to many of the models that followed it...also lacked the raised trigger block/arrestor ....more elegant than the later Challenger for it.
It edged out all my earlier Airsporter specimens incl. the later S version in accuracy terms.
It was walnut stocked with not so clever pressed chequering which i decided to sand out.
Loved the gun and wished i hadnt sold it.
I have found that my HW95 SFS tuned edges it though .....a HW of this time outclasses the BSA offerings from yesterday or today.....dont let anyone tell you different....its cobblers...even if we do view the old BSFs with rosey tinted specs....these were not as good IMO.
Feinwerkbau Sport.....now theres a topic !
I've owned several BSA's including Airsporter RB2 .22 and Mercury Challenger .22 Mercury S .177. Lovely to look at, well balanced, good build quality and make 12ftlb comfortably(.22). The triggers are described as very agricultural at best, and as a consequence render the rifle's inaccurate. My .22 HW77k will hit 1/2" spinners and similar size groups at 30 metres regularly.
The 1990's BSA's on the other hand will struggle to even get close to Weihrauch or Diana accuracy and so are better suited to 1 1/2" spinners and groups at 30 metres. However, my .177 AA TX200SR and Pro Sport will hit 10mm groups at 30 metres supported which goes to show that you don't need a German spring piston rifle for accurate shooting.