Just by way of an interim update.
I have been testing the rifle as much as I can, I took it over my range and did the fine tuning as far as zeroing was concerned, and all went well one ragged hole at 25yards.

Managed to get hold of a nice muzzle brake off of ebay for not a lot of money, anout £14 I think, finished the barrel nicely.
Still got some recoil I want to smooth out. The rifle is currently running at 11.85fpe so i feel I can sacrifice some power for a more docile recoil. I intend to reduce the spring by 1/2" (heat to cheery red and collapse a coil) I could remove the factory preload spacers, but I dont want metal to metal contact.

OK this is where I am starting from. Its a Hatsan Mod55s (.177) I got this new from Solware of TamworthI ran a couple of pellets throiugh to see were I was powerwise

Nothing to worry about, as always Hatsans always come on the money.
So I set about stripping and rebuilding this rifle. I carbined the barrel to balance the rifle better

Fitted a MTC Viper scope

and set about getting the rifle shooting staright. Still have a few more bits to do, but here it is for now

 

Hi and may the new year bring you all you want.

Well, I found myself in a little bit of a quandry, I was listing my air rifles for my profile on one of the forums I'm a member of and realised I didnt own a single Hatsan. This came as a bit of a surprise to me, as i spend all my time telling everyone how good they are.

What to do? The obvious thing was to get another one. I didnt fancy another PCP as, having already owned a few AT44's in all the calibres, and I didnt gel with the BT65. It had to be a springer.
Recently we (Pete, Mikey and myself) have been getting all abit competetive on our HFT/FT course and I have been trying to find the springer that suits me. I have been musing with getting another TX200 or a HW77/97 but the thought of all that extra weight, after spending so much time with a lightweight PCP, my BSA Scorpion, put me off a bit. I have been using the BSA Lightning, and whilst its a lovely rifle, I am really struggling with the trigger, theres nothing wrong with it, and in fairness, it has been getting better with use. But I find I am missing shots I know I should be getting, nothing is a "gimme" anymore. So I contacted Ty at Solware of Tamworth, and asked for his advice. Money, is a bit of a problem so I was looking at a Weihrauch HW95 at abiout £225, but, being an open minded sort of chap, asked Ty what else there was in a similar price bracket. Ty said to have a look at a CZ Slavia, so onto Google and search for these Czech built classics. Well all was looking good, nice Retro styling and some very good write ups and reviews, so I had a look at some exploded diagrams and lo and behold the trigger design was archaic, looking like something out of a B2. I know the deign is sound but I dont want to be in the same boat as I am with the Lightning and trying to find a solution to a problem I already have. Then it struck me..... I need something like a "Quattro" trigger like on one of my old Hatsans.

So, (bringing this tale, back on track)(sorry) Which hatsan do I go for, as I said before, money is more of an issue now, so I set myself a project. Build a competative FT springer for under £200 (not including the scope)* So I trawled through all my records of perormance and reliability and narrowed it down to 1, a .177. 2. a wooden stock, 3, Quattro trigger, 4 Money.

My choices were Mod95, Striker, Mod55 or try something different.
The Mod95 is probably the best springer that Hatsan make, it ticks all the boxes except not available in the UK in .177 plus the cost is getting higher on this model.
The Striker again a damn fine rifle .177 (tick) wooden stock (tick) Cost (tick) Trigger, Hmmmm can be bought back upto Quattro levels but at a cost big cross.
So Iit was back to the perenial favourite (and the cheapest) the Mod55s. .177 (tick) wooden stock (tick) Quattro trigger (tick) cost (big tick). The asthetics are a little challenging, all being a bit 1970's Gerry from the Good Life Volvo-esque, but I know how good they are. I have had quite a few of this model and its .22 sister the Mod60. So I know the quality and build and aolso know that for pennies can be bought up to spec. However, can I build one to FT standard, and be competative with it? Well thats the plan, and I will keep you up to speed on how it all goes. I have  deadline, April 14th for the UK Recoiling Championships an the Anston Club.

There, I have set myself a goal,now all I have to do is, put in the back of the net.

 I thought, as I haven't updated my Blog for a while, I would just use the oportunity to post my latest collection. So in no particular order, here they are.
First on the list is my BSA Lightning. This is a Gas Ram version in .177, a great rifle with all of the advantages of a springer, but none of the dissadvantages, ie recoil!

 I have a Hawke 3-9x40AO scope fitted, I like to use MTC scopes, but the ones I have (Viper 10x44SCB) are too long for the relatively short cylinder. I have tried to fit a sunshade, but even that is way too long, so i do suffer in the winter months with light pollution, with the low sun.

Next along is my latest addition to the group, its my BSA Scorpion SE, again in .177. I am growing to love short carbine type rifles. I like the light weight and manouverability. I have a silencer on it at the moment, but that will go, when I can get hold of a good (Rowan) airstripper. I have always been a fan of lightweight triggers and this one is superb.

I have got one of my MTC Viper scopes on this,and whilst I have not shot it too much, other than zeroing. The time i have used this rifle it has been spot on and super consistant. I will need to establish a shotcount so I know what the limitations are, as far as using it in competition.

The next along is another BSA, this time its a springer, a Meteor. This is a mark4 and is a .22

This is a "bitsa" I have built this from spares and secondhand parts I have got from Ebay and other sites. Plus a few new parts from John Knibbs. Its all still abit early doors with this and needs some time and fettling to get it all to "gel", But initial use would indicate a sound and reliable break barrel.

One thats been with me for a while (by my standards) is my Air Arms S400f Classic.

Now, as an example to anyone coming into the sport, and considering a consistant and reliable PCP, then look no further than this model. I have had two of these and though I am tempted to sell it on, it is still one of the best rifles I own. It seems to be the lightest rifle I own, but i would prefer the carbine version.

Everyone and his Dad has owned one of these Co2 classic offerings from the Chinese UK importer SMK. A XS (QB) 78. This one is a .177

I will never cease to be amazed by these rifles. So simple and yet very effective. When new they are all very low powered,anywhere from 4-7fpe out of the box. Yet with very little experience (which you learn) they are easy to strip and tune to 10+fpe. Not much to go wrong with one, and in standard form very reliable. But they never stay standard for long, but when tuned for power, reliablity can suffer a little if using the stad 12g caps, mostly caused by removal of the gauze filter, to increase gas flow, the debris from the piercing process can cause reliability issues. So there is always a trade off when tuning anything and when (notice I say WHEN) it does fail, it is a simple rifle to repair.

My next rifle, should be at the top of the list, if it was based on £=fun basis. This is the SMK XS19

When the Chinese started copying everyone elses rifles, BAM got to copy the Crosman Quest, and frankly, probably did a better job than the donor. This is an outstanding rifle. Out of the box, its near full power, most are 10-11fpe std. A good strip down and a deburr of the poorly finished machine work. A proper lube of, even the std spring. You will have a sweet shooting rifle.
The only thing with these rifles (and that includes the Crosman, it is a copy of) is the poor trigger. Its not the actual design, more the haphazzard use of tolerances. Everything is err-ing towards the safe end of the scale. Safety is vital, but, there is too much creep in the collection of parts within the trigger group. Luckily for us we can get hold of GRT 11 trigger blades. This is an aftermarket trigger blade, manufactured for an American company. Fitting one will totally transform the "feel" of the rifle, and brings the humble XS19 right up into the upper end of the beak-barrel market place. I am not saying this rifle is as good as say, a Weirhauch or a Walther, but the difference is a lot less than the extra £300 you would pay for the privilage.

The next of my rifles is, the Snowpeak TS45. This is a .177 and is currently staying with iron sights. I got hold of this from a Internet based gun sales site. It was in good visual condition, as can be seen in the pictures. However, this is from another time, and had a badly degraded leathger piston seal on it. I got hold of some stirrup pump seals, and after soaking them in neetsfoot oil, have fitted a new one and she is shooting very sweetly now. This is no 12fpe rifle, infact it currently shoots at about 5fpe. This may sound very low power, but, at 35 yards is as accutare as any rifle I own, beyond that however..... I think I can spit further.

This is a sidelever, Its configuration is just like an underlever, but the lever is on the righthand side.

 

The current list also includes a Diana (mod16) (I think)

And a "GAT" air pistol

These last two are due for renovation. I doubt they will be for "using" just something to restore to former glory and looked after.

Hi there, this is my latest aquissition, Its a BSA T10.

After my purchase of the BSA Lightning, I was looking for a .22 PCP and this being a BSA seemed the logical choice.

 

I am not really a fan of plastic (tactical) stocks but this caught my eye. A very robust feeling bit of kit. Though quite a lightweight feeling rifle.

 This is a rare rifle (apparently) I asked BSA for some info and I sent them the serial number, they came back to me with more info than I was expecting, with not only a year of manufacture, but the day and month aswell, impressive.

 This (as its name implies) is a 10 shot with a very neat magazine system. I like the concept of the indexing, in that, as you fire a round off, it will index to the next available pellet, sounds simple but very handy if you have to remove your magazine between shooting positions, as per FT and now HFT rules. One issue I do have however is that the "Newer" coloured mags fit as well, but they dont index to the next pellet, this only happens in the rifle, as you cock and reload. So if you have to remove the mag (by pulling the bolt back and moving the retaining peg) the mag is released in the "open" empty chamber, so when you re-fit the mag you need to cock it twice to get the next pellet in the chamber.

This was a secondhand rifle and came with the BSA WR scope,a 3-9x50, brilliant glass and very clear from about 25 yards, but I like a scope with parralax ajustment so this will be wearing an MTC scope very soon.

A simple, and very BSA, safety is fitted forward for fire and back for safe. I understan that the new Scorpion SE has done away with this safety type as the safety can be pulled on and visa versa with some clumsey cocking.

 Now this rifle is only one of a very few that were built using the 18" barrel and longer air tube. This feature is now only available on the "Export only" Scorpion (FAC) There was a very limited number built to customers requests with the set up I have with a sub 12fpe power limit.

 The threaded barrel actually came with a silencer attached, but I dont like silencers so I have now fitted a thread cover.

One thing I really like with BSA's is the recoil pad, it is very comfortable in the shoulder and  makes an already balanced gun easy to shoot.

I can "feel" the extra weight from the longer barrel and air tube out front, but I'm gatting used to it.

I am working hard with the rifle, and am always trying different things. I have fitted my own sling to it, the thread protector on the barrel and now the MTC glassware. I am currently experimenting with a BSA singleshot mag system as I am noe getting indexing issues using the new style mags, the old twin band ones are ok but not available new.

There is so much more to come from this rifle I will keep you posted on developments



1 Man, 1 Hunter, 1 Nomad.: The Hunter's Chronicles - Sunday 24th June 2012

1 Man, 1 Hunter, 1 Nomad.: The Hunter's Chronicles - Sunday 24th June 2012
Just read this post, great prose, well written and the subject matter is first class

BSA Lightning XL SE GRT

When I was a kid, I had an old D7 Bantam, and that was the last BSA I owned.
Well about a year ago I was at the club (MKARC) and one of the old lags there had a BSA Lightning with a Gas Ram. I had a few shots with it and thought it was kinda good in a weird way, the "recoil" was different to any springer I had shot. A sort of thud but nothing else, a bit like a recoiling PCP.
Anyway, as you all know I have a Walther LGV and for a springer it is awesome to shoot, but only for short periods as it is a heavy rifle to carry around and shoot. There is nothing actually wrong with it, and has responded to some mild tuning to reduce vibration and recoil, they have very little of both, but I wanted to make it as smooth as possible. Its biggest drawback is the weight/length. My plans included reducing the barrel length, but it only has a shortish barrel anyway.
The upshot of this situation is I fancied something different so I got this.

Its a BSA Lightning XL SE GRT (Gas Ram Technology) Its a .177  and seems to fit my profile for a "springer" Its fairly short and relatively lightweight. I am not so sure it is actually much lighter, but being shrter it brings the CofG back towards the shooter.

One thing the Walther lacks is any charracter at all in the stock, but the Lightning has it in spades.

I love the woodwork on this rifle. I am definitely not a fan of thumbhole stocks and I do like a good looking "sporter" style, This has this in abundance

I do like the reflex type silencer on this rifle.

The manual safety is good, a simple on and off.
As for shooting this beastie, well, Its different. Cocking the rifle is different as well, a simple nudge on the barrel to break and then, what I can only describe as a very fluid, (very thick fluid) cocking stroke that takes a bit more effort than i was expecting, but once the cocking point is met, a very free return.
Now I have my only niggle as, out of the box, the trigger is ...... not bad, more stiff, to release the sear, I am going to spend some time with this to get the firing as I want it. I was expecting something closer to the TX200 in trigger pull, so watch this space.
Accuracy is unbelievable, probably due to the absence of most of the recoil you would expect after cocking it.
So the moral of this tale is.......... get a Gar Ram for your springer, its has an inspiring effect