BSA Buccaneer

[Wildcatter]

Just received my BSA Buccaneer in .177 from Amazon at a wonderfully cheap price.  The unboxing was simple as it seems to have been rewrapped in a cardboard.  There is no manual with what I received, just a fill probe, 2 extra probe o rings, one rifle and one magazine.  Can't complain, though, it was safely packaged, blemish free and the beech stock is wonderfully grained.  The rifle is light weight, shoulders easily and the stipling on both the grip and the forearm are very nice and grippy.  A nice touch to carve in the BSA logo on the stock.  I've heard of fit issues with the butt stock pad and the end of the stock, but all seems nice and in order.

Loading the magazine is actually simpler then I thought.  I'm used to the PRod's magazine where you have to spin the face counter clockwise and start putting the pellets in.  This mag is also spring loaded, but you load one, spin it to the second hole and load the next, etc., until you are done.  The bolt on the rifle has to be pulled back to both remove and to insert the magazine.  The magazine has a little "nipple" at one end that fits into a corresponding hole on the other side of the magazine loading area and it's magnetic.  It seats very easily.  The bolt pull back is smooth, but does take some oomph to it at this point.  I've heard it breaks in later on, but at this time, there's a little pull involved.  The bolt pulls in and out very smoothly and cycles the JSB 10.34 jumbo's with ease.  In fact, you can't tell if you've loaded a pellet or not until you fire.  I repeatedly shot the 11th shot on a 10 round magazine...oops!

There was no such thing as accuracy until the first 50 pellets were put through the gun.  I started with Benjamin hollowpoint domes; no good.  I then moved onto the JSB 10.34s and they were shooting poorly at first.  The accuracy was bad enough I thought maybe I was clipping pellets on my LDC, but shortly, the JSB's started to stack.  Enough so that I took the rifle out from the 12 yards I started testing at to 30 yards.  Accuracy was spot on.  I had about a 1" group at 30 yards and that is directly attributed to the Barska rifle scope I am using to break in rifle.  The crosshair is so thick it covers the bullseye at 30 yards.  A better scope will be mounted shortly, I can promise you that. 

The entire action is smooth but does lead to the one of the weakest points of the rifle.  The trigger.  It is a two stage trigger with a lot of creep in the second stage.  It does break consistently at the same spot, but the creep can throw you off.  I understand it's supposed to be adjustable; I just haven't done it yet.

Other then this minor problem, I am more then pleased with the rifle.  I have a Hatsan AT44L Pump Action in .177 that was my rat gun and now the pump action won't cycle.  I could have it fixed, but I've had a few issues in the field with this rifle's weight, lenght and the pump action is not as ideal as I thought it may be for ratting.  This new set up will shave both length and pounds off my get up for rats and should sparkle in the field.

I'll know in about a month  .

All in all, for the price I paid, I would suggest everyone and anyone get one of these.  Very smooth action and it THUMPS.

There are way more pros then cons on this rifle; PROS = cost, fit and finish, beautiful stock, great bluing, that BSA cold forged barrel, smooth bolt action, magnetic and spring loaded magazine, manual safety, power and accuracy.  CONS = Mushy trigger and very loud.  A great rifle whether you're starting into PCP air gunning or already established.  If you have a need for a .177 plinker/pester and funds are tight, Amazon will deal these rifles at 3 to 400 every little bit.  When they do, snap one up!

[Taso1000]

John,

Congratulations!  I was wavering to get this rifle too.  Does your rifle from Amazon have the BSA ldc or the threaded barrel?

If it has the BSA ldc, is it permanent or removable?

Thank you!

Taso

[Wildcatter]

Comes with a small muzzle break and no LDC.  The muzzle brake comes off to expose threading for that purpose, though.  I have a Baxter Walton LDC that I put right on.  It needed it....love the rifle, though...

[Taso1000]

John,

Thanks!  That what I was hoping!

Taso

[vigilandy]

My 177 has a full shroud and Tuna trigger from Rocker1.  Tuned down to 750 fps or so.  VERY quiet.  And trigger is a nice improvement over the Gamo.   


Oh, and both my 177 and 25 have a strong preference for heavy pellets.  Eg hates the 8.4gr,  loves 10.3gr. Hates 25gr,  loves 34gr.

[Wildcatter]

Mine is loving the JSB Jumbo 10.34.   Hits hard.  Feels like around 850 to 880 fps...

[K.O.]

One of the most accurate pellets in my .177 Buc is happily Crosman ultra mag 10.3... but only slightly better than the AA 10.3...

at 50 yards the H&N Snipers and Crosman ultra mags are sub .5" if I do my part and the wind is not up...

H&N Sniper Mag 15g  and JSB 13g monsters can handle a full 3200 psi fill... the 10.3 lose a bit of accuracy above 2500 psi (10.3 JSB 2300)...

the 7.9 Benji/crosman 1800 psi...

Almost all domed pellets are one big hole at 30-40 yards at their psi sweet spot... I send a mag and then refill.

[kzz1kaw]

Gamo urban is similar to the buccaneer but in 22