BSA Lightning XL accuracy
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BSA Lightning XL accuracy
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Topic: BSA Lightning XL accuracy (Read 6139 times))
AKFred
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BSA Lightning XL accuracy
«
on:
January 26, 2011, 03:07:15 PM »
I am relatively new to the airgun world acquiring my first airgun, a B-26 about a year ago. After a long struggle it finally shoot reasonably well. I'll go into that story some other time.
I recently found a new English made BSA Lightning in .177 that I could not pass up. I mounted a 6X bugbuster scope with 14 mm BLK mounts and have shot it at 20 yds with various pellets. Upon inspection it was well lubed and shot smoothly right out of the box. I was able to get some decent groups of about .75 inches on first shooting with Cross Premier HP and slightly better with JSB RS Pellets. H&N FTT, FTS, JSB heavies, Beeman HP, and Crow Mag pellets all gave worse groups. Since the initial trial it has been shot several hundred times and during that process the groups with all pellets got worse with an occasional flyer. I pulled a dry patch through the bore and that helped a little.
I was hoping for some of those ragged hole groups that I hear about on this forum, but so none so far.
I also have a M34 that will keep pellets within 1/2 inch at 20 yards.
What can I expect from the XL? Do I just have to be more patient and shoot it a bunch more, experiment with different holds?
Any pellet recommendations or tips from those of you with experience with this gun would be appreciated.
Thank you all.
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GunnerAl
Expert
Posts: 1137
Re: BSA Lightning XL accuracy
«
Reply #1 on:
January 26, 2011, 03:29:14 PM »
There may be more than one reason that things have begun to "spread out". I have a Lightning XL and in general, it seems to be ok but here are some things that could have gone slightly west over that several hundred firings...
1. Scope may be playing up (at fault)
2. Scope mounts either coming loose or just moving slightly
3. Barrel seal getting worn or flattening out over a period of time, allowing air to sneak out (have a look at this one closely)
4. Piston seal worn
5. Misuse of oils or lubes allowing it to get into the barrel - this is ALWAYS bad news as it causes dieselling and bad all-round for the gun as well as accuracy.
6. Stock screws have come loose, especially the front ones. The Lightning has pathetically small front screws which are known to come loose all the time.
That's just a few thing to look for. I'm sure others can point out even more.
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Tpatner412
GTA Moderator
GTA Senior Contributor
Posts: 2820
Real Name: Tyler
Re: BSA Lightning XL accuracy
«
Reply #2 on:
January 26, 2011, 04:14:20 PM »
I have some troublegetting really good groups out of mine as well. It shoots very well but takes a lot of technique. I would definitely checkthe stock screws because
On mine they came loose offer and quickly but that can easily be solved with some loctite
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Cleveland, OH
Pyramyd Insyder
Pyramyd Air Field Target Team
Current Stable:
Thomas FT Carbine
Ripley AR5s .177, Gary Cane Stock
Air Arms NJR 100
FWB 601
Edgun Leshiy 2
GunnerAl
Expert
Posts: 1137
Re: BSA Lightning XL accuracy
«
Reply #3 on:
January 26, 2011, 04:33:10 PM »
True,
When I first picked up mine (second-hand), I went over it trying to find why the previous owner had accuracy problems. I found several unchecked areas of concern, including loose screws. I could not believe hown small-a-thread they used for such an impartant job - very poor thought gone into this. The timber too in and around the rear screw had all caved in,, cracked/split,, collapsed etc to the point where there was actually very little for the screws and cylinder to anchor against. No good for accuracy, as well as the life of the stock at all. I can see why a few Lightning stocks have split. Once again, very poorly designed by BSA. They skimped bigtime on this model to make a cheaper rifle and they partially succeeded. When you look at it under the surface, it does look cheap... I love BSA's but they are not the BSA's of old...
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samTN
Plinker
Posts: 185
Re: BSA Lightning XL accuracy
«
Reply #4 on:
January 26, 2011, 06:42:43 PM »
I bought two British made BSA's (0.177 and 0.22) in September 2010 and sold them by January 2011. They both shot very well, my 0.177 liked the JSB exact and was very accurate, but the quality in general is no match to RWS.
Now, back to you rifle. Since the rifle is new, I would say the problem might be with the scope and the mounts. Make sure they are well attached to the rifle. Also check for loose screws. You should get really tight group with your BSA.
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0.177 Beeman R-9
0.20 Beeman R-9
0.22 HW 80k
0.22 AA ProSport
AKFred
Guest
Re: BSA Lightning XL accuracy
«
Reply #5 on:
January 26, 2011, 09:29:00 PM »
Thank you to those who responded. I have checked screws. I agree that the two forward screws are small. Mine have not loosened, no have the stock screws. I've a good quality Leupold scope mounted on solid mounts that have remained tight, all checked. This rifle dieseled one time on the first shot fired, none noticed since then. I will check the breach seal. I do not have a chronograph, so do not know what velocities I am getting from this one, however the shot cycle is smooth and quiet. I've taken the anti-bear trap spring off and the trigger is not too bad.
I plan to keep shooting it and after a few hundred more pellets will report again.
Any additional ideas or pellet recommendations would be welcomed.
Thanks again
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AKFred
Guest
Re: BSA Lightning XL accuracy
«
Reply #6 on:
January 26, 2011, 09:33:27 PM »
Just a note. I changed scopes to the older 2X7 Leupold I had. Group results are about the same as with the 6X bugbuster, but the crosshair is finer on the Leupold and easier to keep on a precise spot on the target.
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tpw
IF IT AINT BROKE, DONT FIX IT
Expert
Posts: 1188
MY BABIES
Re: BSA Lightning XL accuracy
«
Reply #7 on:
January 27, 2011, 01:13:09 AM »
if it is new,you will need to put more rounds thru it. if you got it used, try more pellets. i had one in 22 and was nice but a bit tricky to shoot well. you might try rws pellets like superdome or super hpoint. i hope this helps
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AA s200 in 22 w/leapers 3x12x44 30mm swat scope 12ft
CZ 200s in 177 w/leapers 3x12x44 30mm swat scope 12ft
benji marauder in 22 w/leapers 3x12x44 30mm swat scope
umarex EBOS 177 w/bushnell trophy red dot sight
bam b16 in 22 w/sun optics 2x7x32AO scope
crosman 357 in 177 70s model
Paddy
Guest
Re: BSA Lightning XL accuracy
«
Reply #8 on:
February 19, 2011, 08:02:25 AM »
BSA Lightning .22 V.S. Cometa Fusion .22
These guns would be used for hunting rabitt. Which one would be better?
Thanks.
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Tpatner412
GTA Moderator
GTA Senior Contributor
Posts: 2820
Real Name: Tyler
Re: BSA Lightning XL accuracy
«
Reply #9 on:
February 19, 2011, 03:48:57 PM »
I have owned both in .177. The Fusion is going to be more powerful. Probably around 19-20 FPE in .22. The BSA is going to struggle to get up to 16-17 FPE. I really like both of the guns. I would say the trigger on the lightning is nicer. They both have a pretty intense recoil. The cometa is a bit louder but they are both very nice guns. Assuming you were inside 30 yards I think either gun would be fine
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Cleveland, OH
Pyramyd Insyder
Pyramyd Air Field Target Team
Current Stable:
Thomas FT Carbine
Ripley AR5s .177, Gary Cane Stock
Air Arms NJR 100
FWB 601
Edgun Leshiy 2
AKFred
Guest
Re: BSA Lightning XL accuracy
«
Reply #10 on:
February 19, 2011, 05:21:43 PM »
My XL is finally coming around and shooting pretty well with several kinds of pellets. One thing I did was lay a very thin layer of foam packing material on double stick tape between the action and the stock. This appears to have helped accuracy.
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BSA Lightning XL accuracy