Air Arms Air arms SE90

[JamieUK]

Was doing a few jobs at a friend's farm, and we got to talking about airguns (as you do) and he mentioned he had an old sidelever 'thing'. Now I'm not sure what the farmers are like over the pond, but I've never met one over here in the UK who looks after their guns, and.....this was no exception

He said 'I've tried to shoot a couple of squirrels but missed'.....no bl##dy surprise really! You can barely see through the scope

Took it home with me for a tidy up (it's the first time ive ever had to hoover an airgun prior to cleaning ) and was expecting it to need some love but.....

......how about that for a 30yr old/ abused rifle thats never been serviced?!

So....gave it a good clean up, and shot a couple of targets ( it's bang on after dialing the scope in) and here we go-

Airarms don't arf' know how to finish a rifle. The side lever ratchet is a bit OTT, but it's a beautifully made ol girl.

 

[cjtamu]

That’s awesome. ES looks liked a regged PCP. Had no idea AA made a side lever. I might have to look for one of those! Thanks for sharing. Your farmer buddy must be in shock.

 

[JamieUK]

That’s awesome. ES looks liked a reggae PCP. Had no idea AA made a side lever. I might have to look for one of those! Thanks for sharing. Your farmer buddy must be in shock.

They made several sidelevers (mostly the same action, just with different stocks/ barrel lengths) after the Sussex armoury days. The SE was the kinda final addition. This one has the 15" LW barrel, and they were at their best in the 90's.

The ES is astonishing really, especially as these ran an Oring piston seal! Considering this one has standard internals, the shot cycle is far from unpleasant, but with a proper guide set/ tune, could be really sweet I'd imagine.....even with that old school loading port.

 

[Bear-of-Grayling]

Wow! Now that’s a fixer-upper. Amazing. Good save!

 

[JamieUK]

Wow! Now that’s a fixer-upper. Amazing. Good save!

Have encourage him to at least treat it to a cheap gun slip.....these are becoming quite collectable now, especially with its period Simmons scope (maybe worth £400 as a combo over here)..... would be a shame if it ended up how it was again!

 

[cjtamu]

Have encourage him to at least treat it to a cheap gun slip.....these are becoming quite collectable now, especially with its period Simmons scope (maybe worth £400 as a combo over here)..... would be a shame if it ended up how it was again!

Afraid I’d be trying to get him to re-home that gun. If he’s just using for pesting I have lots of rifles that would do the job but don’t have the intrinsic value of that gun. And I can be very persuasive

 

[JamieUK]

Afraid I’d be trying to get him to re-home that gun. If he’s just using for pesting I have lots of rifles that would do the job but don’t have the intrinsic value of that gun. And I can be very persuasive

I hear ya....it crossed my mind but.....it'd only sit in my cupboard too as im more of a hunter. I'd describe this SE as 'an experience' rifle. The ratchet system makes the ABT on a TX200 sound silent but the cocking procedure (cocking the lever, then thumbing open the loading port) is a more involved experience than usual too. Nice, but not much fun in the field!