Air rifles

[Kevin Peacocke]

The BSA Airsporter Mk1 is in my opinion one of the most attractive air rifles ever produced. When we were boys hunting doves in the nearby woodland with our Diana 23's, pellets mostly bounced off. An older lad had an Airsporter and his doves fell every time, how I longed for one of those. I just found an immaculate example at Huntex that will come home with me, 60 years on!

 

[dougfinn]

The BSA Airsporter Mk1 is in my opinion one of the most attractive air rifles ever produced. When we were boys hunting doves in the nearby woodland with our Diana 23's, pellets mostly bounced off. An older lad had an Airsporter and his doves fell every time, how I longed for one of those. I just found an immaculate example at Huntex that will come home with me, 60 years on!
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Better late than never.

 

[Michael70]

The BSA Airsporter Mk1 is in my opinion one of the most attractive air rifles ever produced. When we were boys hunting doves in the nearby woodland with our Diana 23's, pellets mostly bounced off. An older lad had an Airsporter and his doves fell every time, how I longed for one of those. I just found an immaculate example at Huntex that will come home with me, 60 years on!
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There is just something special about vintage springers. The longing never leaves you and when you find the one, grab it!!!

Congratulations.

 

[rigbymauser]

I’ve been looking for one for many years. Its almost an english institution in its own way.

 

[Kevin Peacocke]

After a cleanup and a little oil it shoots very well. It loves the old Marksman pellets and at 25 meters the power is impressive as evidenced by the flattening. That funny little turret sight was loose, the spiting was missing, fixed by one out of a Parker pen, perfect. It also needs a stock forend crossbolt which I have ordered from the UK and will pick up later this week on the way to Scotland.

 

[spike.t]

Nice...i had a BSA meteor air rifle back then in the late 1960s...terrorised the hedge rows ....seem to recall pellets were often kept in my mouth if no pockets available....I had a 177 made by original I think....so managed to persuade my father I needed a bigger calibre. so the meteor was in 22....fun times in what seems like a different universe now...

 

[BeeMaa]

There is a huge difference between the .177 cal and .22 for their performance on small game. Obviously PCP’s weren’t available back in the day, but if I were on the market for a true hunting air rifle they would top my list.

Love the look of the wood stocks on those classics. Glad they are still able to perform with good accuracy.

 

[Withpainna]

Nice find on the BSA
For sourcing parts and accessories for my own air rifles, I rely on www.iwholesales.co.uk; they have a solid range for maintenance and upgrades

 

[skydiver386]

I've often encouraged those who enjoy firearms and hunting to invest in a high grade air rifle like you have @Kevin Peacocke

One of my first air rifles was an FWB124 and it was a fine hunting rifle once I mastered how to shoot it. As an old Field Artilleryman @Red Leg can explain how an artillery recoil mechanism works when the big gun is fired. Spring Pison air rifles work the same way, in that they must be held with a loose grip and allowed to recoil when fired. If they are held tight against the shoulder and Gorilla gripped, they tend to string shots all over the target.

The only real downside to older generation spring piston rifles was the two way recoil that could destroy the finest firearms scopes. An air rifle scope designed with lenses braced for air rifle recoil, and using rubber dampening mounts will give no trouble.

My latest acquisition is an Air Arms S500 that I got in trade at a show. I might have held out for the S510, which has a magazine, but a single shot is fine for a hunting rifle.

You'll never regret money spent on a fine air rifle.

 

[Kevin Peacocke]

There is a huge difference between the .177 cal and .22 for their performance on small game. Obviously PCP’s weren’t available back in the day, but if I were on the market for a true hunting air rifle they would top my list.

Love the look of the wood stocks on those classics. Glad they are still able to perform with good accuracy.

Ah, now who said anything about accuracy! You are absolutely correct, the modern pcp's lead that field hands down. I have two, both FX's, one is the bit older Royale in 0.22 and the new one is a Crown in 0.177. Both drive tacks and both are very powerful, dropping doves out to 100 metres. Both are wooden stocked.