Airsporter RB or Superstar books, catalogues?

[Gamocfx]

Hi Chaps,

This must be the spot to get some advice on the rotating breach Airsporter and the Superstar? I believe both were around in the early 90's but articles on them seem pretty sparse! Are there any publications that cover BSA in its later years or early Gamo ownership?

I am particularly interested in the "S" version of the Airsporter (and indeed the Mercury). I do have a few Gamo catalogues from the early 90's but none of these guns make an appearance... how much does a working example of these guns fetch please?

One last question-was the Airsporter with the rotating breach easier to dismantle than the previous models?

Thanks in advance.

[look no hands]

The RB2 Airsporter is sort of easier to take apart because the rear trigger block doesn't screw off/on but just has 3 bolts (2 either side and one through the Maxigrip rail) and then it just comes out, the RB2 also has a small alloy plate that is fixed in place with a grub screw that is sandwiched between the rear underside of the cylinder and the trigger block cocking arm mounting section and it stops the cocking slide from coming out of the rear of the cylinder, I think the rest of the strip is the same as the older Airsporters after that.

Pete

[Gamocfx]

Thanks Pete, I think the Airsporter is a fantastic looking gun and its a shame that the rotating breach has died out (I cant think of a current rifle using one) which is odd because it appears to be such a good design.

I will live in hope of acquiring an RB2 at some point.

[look no hands]

Thanks Pete, I think the Airsporter is a fantastic looking gun and its a shame that the rotating breach has died out (I cant think of a current rifle using one) which is odd because it appears to be such a good design.

I will live in hope of acquiring an RB2 at some point.

The RB2 isn't as nice to fire as the other Airsporters, I had an RB2 carbine a little while ago and just couldn't get it smooth to shoot, even with delrin guides and a good polish inside.

I agree the rotary breech is a very safe way of loading but isn't the most efficient when it comes to tuning, the Superstar seems to be nicer to shoot and isn't as harsh as the RB2, I don't know why considering they are almost the same design.

I think one of the Gamo models has a rotary breech but couldn't tell you which one, as for prices of S models, they seem to differ massively depending on where you buy it but generally you are looking at between £200-300 for a decent one now but some places will charge a lot more because of the greed factor.

Pete

[Gamocfx]

Thats interesting on a number of levels Pete, I never imagined a carbine RB2 was made and I bet it looked like an airgunning super model! It a pity it seemed a bit rough for you and an even greater pity how expensive they now are! I was looking at your rifle list and it reads like my own wish list-a Mercury S carbine!? Again I never knew this was created but sounds perfect.... Airsporter S also perfect.

Are there any books that cover the later BSA rifles?

[look no hands]

Thats interesting on a number of levels Pete, I never imagined a carbine RB2 was made and I bet it looked like an airgunning super model! It a pity it seemed a bit rough for you and an even greater pity how expensive they now are! I was looking at your rifle list and it reads like my own wish list-a Mercury S carbine!? Again I never knew this was created but sounds perfect.... Airsporter S also perfect.

Are there any books that cover the later BSA rifles?

Here's the old sales thread to my RB2 http://www.airgunbbs.com/showthread....ne-22-for-sale

Not sure they actually did a proper Mercury S carbine, I have a Airsporter S carbine, I have so many BSA rifles and last weekend made a Challenger Bitsa rifle, I have a standard untouched Mercury S and a Challenger and a couple of used condition ones.

I know John Knibbs did a book about BSA's but I think it's out of print now and costs a fortune if you can find one.

Pete

[Gamocfx]

Your collection sounds vast, I will have to look up what a challenger actually is! LOL I will show the wife this thread to back up my claim that I have not enough guns. There does seem to be a lack of books on airguns from the 70's onwards...

[look no hands]

Your collection sounds vast, I will have to look up what a challenger actually is! LOL I will show the wife this thread to back up my claim that I have not enough guns. There does seem to be a lack of books on airguns from the 70's onwards...

I'm sure John won't mind me using his library photo of his Challenger

https://www.flickr.com/photos/8163995@N07/18340607429

The Challenger was the very last run of the Mercury rifles, lovely stocks on them but a shame they never made them in walnut.

Pete

[Gamocfx]

Stunning work... just when I decide I am tired of older rifles and only need one or two more I see something like this and that wants list grows immediately. Again, never seen one or even knew it existed but the quality can be seen in the pic.

[look no hands]

Stunning work... just when I decide I am tired of older rifles and only need one or two more I see something like this and that wants list grows immediately. Again, never seen one or even knew it existed but the quality can be seen in the pic.

Yes they are very nice once sorted, getting harder to find now and just as rare as the Mercury S models but do pop up for sale every now and then.

Pete

[evert]

Hi Chaps,

This must be the spot to get some advice on the rotating breach Airsporter and the Superstar? I believe both were around in the early 90's but articles on them seem pretty sparse! Are there any publications that cover BSA in its later years or early Gamo ownership?

.....

I have two BSA ad brochures/folders showing the airguns BSA had at the moment. While they are very similar, there are some differences:
One shows the Superstar Mk2, plus the Airsporter RB and the Stutzen with RB breech.
The other shows the Superstar Mk2, but the Airsporter and Stutzen are replaced with the Spitfire and the Lightning.

I belive they are from the 90's, perhaps one is early 2000's.

[look no hands]

I'm sure the BSA challenger does have a walnut stock. I know this because mine has one.
It says they have a walnut stock on here as well.


https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/BSA_Mercury_Air_Rifle

Yours must be a very rare one indeed as all the Challengers normally come with the deluxe beech stock, I wouldn't believe everything you read on Wikipedia, all of the Challengers I've owned and seen have all been beech stocked but I never presume and I'm always happy to be proven wrong as BSA have often done some strange things.

Pete

[Gamocfx]

Evert, your lucky to have the catalogues/leaflets, despite looking I have never come across any other than Gamo, I suppose they were disposal by design. I dont think the Spitfire was in the range long compared to the Airsporter and Mercury... I had forgotten about that rifle.

[ken69]

Evert, your lucky to have the catalogues/leaflets, despite looking I have never come across any other than Gamo, I suppose they were disposal by design. I dont think the Spitfire was in the range long compared to the Airsporter and Mercury... I had forgotten about that rifle.

I have a 4 page flyer/catalogue which I have scanned to pdf and sent to the email address listed in your profile. On the front page it shows three rifles in piled arms formation, Gold Star, Super Star and RB2 Stutzen. Second page shows Gold Star, Super Star Mk2, Super Star and Mk2 Carbine. Third page shows Airsporter RB2, Airsporter RB2 Carbine, Super Sport Custom and Super Sport SS Carbine. Last page shows Super Sport, Meteor Mk6, Meteor Mk6 SS Carbine and 240 Magnum pistol. Only guessing on publishing date but any advance on 1993???

[Gamocfx]

Ken thank you for sending the catalogue... it is printing out in the other room as I type this. I very much appreciate you taking the time to do that, I owe you a beer should we ever meet! Also in that catalogue I think I have seen "the one"! A Meteor in carbine form??? I know so little but the wonder of discovery makes up for being ignorant. Another rifle makes the list, I have a Meteor that is in the catalogue but the carbine is stunning.