Will BSA Ever Make a Springer That Challenges HW Again?

[sebbo200]

Always loved the look of the BSA lightning
Couldn't find a Brummy made one ended up with an EU one ( yes I should of read more reviews)

In the motorcycle world Theres a saying "don't ride your dreams" it applies here

I was so disappointed in it - kicked like a mule, shook it's fixings loose

The worn out mercury I had as a kid was a better gun

[KWK1]

Stupid maxigrip rails and 14mm dovetails doubled down on the stupidity. Nailed down the lid on the coffin

Most guys were daunted by removing a maxi grip and it's been a very, very long time since the gasket became unobtainium.

The Mercury S was on the right track and they dropped the ball when the maxi grip went on the Challenger which incidentally has one of the best BSA springer stocks.. The problem with the old sleek back block was it put the dovetails too far forward and made the gun difficult to overhaul when you have much of a spring in it.

[TonyL]

I needed a small block plane for a job at home the other week, I could have got a new one for £15 but the quality was awful, so I ended up getting an old Stanley one instead, really well built and solid, they just don't make things like they used to.

Absolutely, Pete.

[32:1]

A bit rough around the edges and if the 400 had a better metal trigger, then may be worth the money, I really wanted to likethe one I had but it just wasn't pushing my buttons.

They do have metal triggers

[32:1]

Not sure anyone would buy a new quality fault free sub12 springer from any manufacturer as the cost would price it out of bounds

Let’s face it AA are about the best and then can be improved massively by fitting a TL22 kit, but for me it’s far to heavy to start with, if it was made of Titainuim I may be able to carry it. Nothing from HW pushes the quality envelope like AA and some have issues still not addressed but why should they if it keeps selling it, if HW didn’t have the record trigger they would get slated for the rest of it.

Theres not much that we can say shoots great out the box and all respond or need things for them to be what we want, part of the fun we all say or is it part of the scam.

For me as a returning springer shooter after a decade or two with pcps and no brand loyalties or much actual springer experience, only having a 95 and 80 from the hw stable, a Popey longbow and a TLtx200 to compare and the Longbow was best of those, Ive now found the Cometa stuff great value for money and they offer so many options and choices along with a lifetime warranty, that’s something nowadays a company willing to stand on their products as long as you own it 😎 So are they AA quality, no but who would expect that from a gun costing 1/3 of the price, do they need anything doing, yes I’d say they respond the same as other makes to a bespoke set of guides and a spit n polish. Overall Cometa produce a decent budget focussed air rifles that shoot well with decent stocks that my hands fit, decent hammer forged barrels to boot which all mine eat jsb lead very well indeed

I see the budget area of springers where the sales are as people enjoy working on and personalising their guns, we would all be bored to death of a fault free sub12 airgun, come on where’s the fun it one of those so let’s keep buying what we like and putting it right ourselves 😂

[look no hands]

They do have metal triggers

The one I had was plastic.

[Hsing-ee]

I see the budget area of springers where the sales are as people enjoy working on and personalising their guns, we would all be bored to death of a fault free sub12 airgun, come on where’s the fun it one of those so let’s keep buying what we like and putting it right ourselves ��

Funny you should say that, I just tested a new-to-me ProSport and all the pellets went through the same hole at 25 yards. Instead of being delighted I felt a gloom descending, it was the end of the journey, nothing for me to do or worry about. It didn't need me, it was as accurate as a mathematical equation. Where is the fun in that? Fortunately Guy has given me the wreckage of two Motherwell-built Dianas, one of them the rare Series 70 Model 71 from which to built the ultimate HFT Springer - an impossible task.

[capt hindsight]

Cometa!

Joking aside, expensive springers already exist, there is little incentive for anyone to compete.

Most definitely not a Spanish Weihrauch

However, Cometa Fusion is the only scoped springer I've kept.

[32:1]

The one I had was plastic.

The 400 has new trigger block and a metal blade

[32:1]

Funny you should say that, I just tested a new-to-me ProSport and all the pellets went through the same hole at 25 yards. Instead of being delighted I felt a gloom descending, it was the end of the journey, nothing for me to do or worry about. It didn't need me, it was as accurate as a mathematical equation. Where is the fun in that? Fortunately Guy has given me the wreckage of two Motherwell-built Dianas, one of them the rare Series 70 Model 71 from which to built the ultimate HFT Springer - an impossible task.

I liked my prosport but not enough to keep it as the edges of the cocking lever became uncomfortable shooting it at the range, but yes a lovely thing and AA bluing is awesome. I couldn’t carry an AA nowadays as I need a lightweight

I’ve just bought an old Omega and that’s got the quality feel about it, deep bluing and excellent machining, shame Webley went downhill like bsa.

[32:1]

However, Cometa Fusion is the only scoped springer I've kept.

I’ve half a dozen Cometas now and the fusion is next on my list, I’ve shot a few fusions and liked all of them even the .177 but so far the locker is fusionless

I’ve a hankering for a .25 Cometa so that may just fill the gap

[Hsing-ee]

I liked my prosport but not enough to keep it as the edges of the cocking lever became uncomfortable shooting it at the range, but yes a lovely thing and AA bluing is awesome. I couldn’t carry an AA nowadays as I need a lightweight

I’ve just bought an old Omega and that’s got the quality feel about it, deep bluing and excellent machining, shame Webley went downhill like bsa.

Never hear much about the Omega, it is upstaged by the premium quality Venom Webleys. But the design was finally what the company ought to have put out in 1981, stealing all the good features from the best German rifles. I don’t think I’ve ever handled one never mind owned one. Maybe something to look out for next year …

[look no hands]

Never hear much about the Omega, it is upstaged by the premium quality Venom Webleys. But the design was finally what the company ought to have put out in 1981, stealing all the good features from the best German rifles. I don’t think I’ve ever handled one never mind owned one. Maybe something to look out for next year …

I owned one, it fell apart internally, apparently it was Venom tuned according to the BBS member I got it off, but unless it had been aboard the Exxon Valdez when it sank, then I don't think it was, it still had all the standard internals, including one of those black placky spring guides that Webley used.

[Hsing-ee]

I owned one, it fell apart internally, apparently it was Venom tuned according to the BBS member I got it off, but unless it had been aboard the Exxon Valdez when it sank, then I don't think it was, it still had all the standard internals, including one of those black placky spring guides that Webley used.

Did you get it to work? By 'fall apart' do you mean the piston washer spring and guides were all banjaxed, and the whole lot held together by thick grease (tune in a tub)?

Venom tuned might just mean someone tuning it with spite, if there's no paperwork then it could be anything in there .. as you discovered.

[TonyL]

I have shot a couple of Omegas. One belonged to a friend who I took along to Jim's WBPS shop in Bewdley in the mid-80s. The Omega was on the rack winking at us. A very nice rifle. I think it was mildly tuned. I also seem to remember it having a Kassnar scope on it. I think it was a Beta 4x32, if memory serves correctly?

The rifle and scope combo was lovely. Shot very nicely and very accurate. Trigger not up to Rekord standards, as expected, but very usable. And I loved the manual breech lock. I love these manual breech locks anyway. Solid, reassuring and such a refined way of locking the breech. Dare I say it, those detents on Longbows and ProElites don't endear me to those rifles!

I'd happily give an Omega a home (as I would a Longbow, despite the previous comment).

I wouldn't be so keen to home the underlever Eclipse that followed the Omega, though. That breech arrangement, although safe, is so, so long.....