Scoped BSA Cadet Major

[BC312]

I have a BSA Cadet Major rifled in .177. Not the best condition when i first got it. Needed some work but such a great little gun and very accurate with open sight using Marksman pellets. Love the simple and sleek design that you couldn't improve upon but for one thing, it would be even more accurate if scope groves were machine on top cylinder fitted using the simple 4x15 or 4x20 scope. Has anyone had this done to their Cadet Major, what do you think.

[WebleyWombler]

Better to glue or solder a rail on top than try to machine grooves into the air cylinder

[Abasmajor]

As it seems to be shooting accurately enough with open sights, I would leave it as originally produced and enjoy it for what it is.

Brian

[Sir rocco]

I would stick with it standard and perhaps look for an early meteor or mercury to compliment it,
Atb.

[Muskett]

Many an older rifle are very accurate with the open sights provided, but once adding a scope seem to lose that accuracy.
Thing is many are well behaved, accurate, to the distance that open sights allow. Once a scope is added, and the sight picture becomes so clear, then both expectations and the range invariably increases. Scopes also show the shooters normal wobble, and desperation to "get perfect", which when combined with pretty agricultural triggers that these rifles have, all adds up to a dogs dinner to groups.

These older rifles were intended to be shot with "flow". Brought onto target, aimed, and trigger squeezed, all in a flowing and deliberate way. It is swift and precise at moderate ranges. It is not the long drawn out target mode way to shoot. Yes, some bell target rifles were shot more deliberately, but still the distances were short. This way to shoot is swift and takes rhythm which is ideal for light weight sporting rifles; just don't expect to pin point 35m nat shoot plus.

A lot of air rifle shooting was done for the skills that the military demanded. Only recently are scoped combat rifles issued, and still many places they still aren't. Being able to shoot with iron sights is a great skill to master, and using a veteran air rifle is a great way to do it.


But then again just have fun.

[pajj]

I'd leave it standard.

[Brad3]

You need to leave this std. Everything about this gun screams open sights and perfect for its typical 10- 15 yds. plinking ranges where they can be super accurate.
I suspect any additional ramping would de-value it even more than a re-blue, although I saw a beautiful re-blue job fetch top dollar one time, I don't think you would get the same reaction with a ramp.
It's an underrated gun, following 50s style .22 rimfire lines, adequate low profile sights and the trigger can be adjusted better than the BSA Meteor. General build better than a Meteor for that matter.
I was never quite sure of scope on the Webley MK3, or early Airsporters for that matter.