Both make very good accurate rifles. So, why don't we see more of them? At matches or for sale, or advertising?
Wondering about Air Arms and BSA Rifles
- Thread starter Skip-in-WV
- Start date
BSA has geared their brand for mostly the domestic market in the UK is what I've taken away from what I have seen.
My guess is they are happy to fill the area in the market they currently occupy, and don't want to expand. Air Arms makes a quality product and want to keep it that way, and that is how they do it. International business is hard and costly, now more then ever.
My guess is they are happy to fill the area in the market they currently occupy, and don't want to expand. Air Arms makes a quality product and want to keep it that way, and that is how they do it. International business is hard and costly, now more then ever.
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I have both BSA Goldstars and the Air Arms S510 X.
Both platforms are exceptionally accurate and smooth shooters, but, both suffer from left side load ports which is troubling during field target as our ranging wheels make pellet loading more difficult. I liked my BSA’s so much I sent them to a tuner for the works! Eccentric wheels or nautiluses wheels solve loading problems especially when using a good FT routine
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Love my R-10 SE in .22. It is all stock, no mods except larger bottle and shoots near one hole groups at 25 yards. Just not AR-15 like, lever action, or sexy. Just works and does what it is designed to do. The US market is wrapped up in the muzzle velocity, FTLBS, and slug weight syndrome. The Europeans are not. Not criticizing anyone, buy what you are comfortable with and enjoy. Note the magazine load on the left and the tuning wheel on the scope. I have no problem with either.
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After using a friend's s510, while it was nice and accurate, the left load was a deal breaker for me.
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In my collection is an S410 that is a “one holer” and solidly dependable.
The left loading magazine eliminates the use of a scope focus wheel but there are few other downsides.
The left loading magazine eliminates the use of a scope focus wheel but there are few other downsides.
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I have both in .177 shooting HFT and If you are ever at a FT match in Oklahoma or Texas you can shoot either of mine.
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The BSA is the se model (affordable rubberized stock) I bought new in 2017 but has the R10 action and trigger group with the hammer forged barrel. The pellet I’ve found it shoots lights out is the H&N Baracuda Match 10.65 4.50. I just recently decided to do a complete reseal and replaced the factory reg with a Huma reg. (super easy gun to work on and service) prior to taking it to the Republic of Texas GP in a couple of weeks. Put it through its paces in a match in Clifton Tx. this weekend. The gun shot flawlessly but I can’t say the same for the trigger man.
My Air Arms is the S500 Gen2 model I bought in 2020. It has the factory preset non adjustable reg and higher pressure rated tube. The gun isn’t so pellet picky as it is pellet speed picky. It recently went back for warranty service (broken hammer guide) and I won’t have back in time to shoot it at the GP.
Both guns have the best triggers I’ve ever squeezed. I get 60 shots on a fill. Neither gun needs batteries.
As for the left side loading port and only on the BSA, I have the JDS Design magnetic wheel system. I range, pop the wheel off, load and shoot, pop the wheel back on. Rinse and repeat.
If you’re interested in either, reach out to me. I’m going a different direction in the 2024 season.
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The BSA is the se model (affordable rubberized stock) I bought new in 2017 but has the R10 action and trigger group with the hammer forged barrel. The pellet I’ve found it shoots lights out is the H&N Baracuda Match 10.65 4.50. I just recently decided to do a complete reseal and replaced the factory reg with a Huma reg. (super easy gun to work on and service) prior to taking it to the Republic of Texas GP in a couple of weeks. Put it through its paces in a match in Clifton Tx. this weekend. The gun shot flawlessly but I can’t say the same for the trigger man.
My Air Arms is the S500 Gen2 model I bought in 2020. It has the factory preset non adjustable reg and higher pressure rated tube. The gun isn’t so pellet picky as it is pellet speed picky. It recently went back for warranty service (broken hammer guide) and I won’t have back in time to shoot it at the GP.
Both guns have the best triggers I’ve ever squeezed. I get 60 shots on a fill. Neither gun needs batteries.
As for the left side loading port and only on the BSA, I have the JDS Design magnetic wheel system. I range, pop the wheel off, load and shoot, pop the wheel back on. Rinse and repeat.
If you’re interested in either, reach out to me. I’m going a different direction in the 2024 season.
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I've got them all! 
Not really, only 5 S4/5xx!
The S4/500 can load from either side. I don't know why a FT shooter would chose a repeater in the first place...
Here's a right side loading tray for the repeaters. https://smwengineering.co.uk/products/single-shot-tray-for-air-arms-s410
Not really, only 5 S4/5xx!
The S4/500 can load from either side. I don't know why a FT shooter would chose a repeater in the first place...
Here's a right side loading tray for the repeaters. https://smwengineering.co.uk/products/single-shot-tray-for-air-arms-s410
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In my experience Air Arms have been (relatively) solid shooters straight out of the rack. Never crude, but not cutting edge. Well built and dependable (especially before they started to use ‘ballistic polymer’ AKA plastic).
BSA’s depend on genre and how outsourcing they were feeling at the time. The R10 is a fine looking rifle, and if sent off to Mr Bowkett for a blueprint tickle a fine rifle indeed. Just don’t expect the unboxing-first-string performance they deliver compared to, say, an AA410.
Both are mostly solid and dependable rifles. Fettled they can be as accurate as anything at a 2x price point - and definitely better than anything slimmer wallet friendly.
BSA’s depend on genre and how outsourcing they were feeling at the time. The R10 is a fine looking rifle, and if sent off to Mr Bowkett for a blueprint tickle a fine rifle indeed. Just don’t expect the unboxing-first-string performance they deliver compared to, say, an AA410.
Both are mostly solid and dependable rifles. Fettled they can be as accurate as anything at a 2x price point - and definitely better than anything slimmer wallet friendly.
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For me I’m learning I prefer an airbottle gun to an airtube gun the latter can be too heavy or tippy
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Thanks for the info-I ordered one for my S510x do it will be interesting to fiddle with itI've got them all!
Not really, only 5 S4/5xx!
The S4/500 can load from either side. I don't know why a FT shooter would chose a repeater in the first place...
Here's a right side loading tray for the repeaters. https://smwengineering.co.uk/products/single-shot-tray-for-air-arms-s410
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If you haven't removed the magazine advancement mechanism before, be careful. No spring tension so parts won't go flying, but they are unsecured and can drop out.
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I think a Traditional Walnut stock is very Sexy - just not as popular in today's modern (video game) market
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I cannot comment about BSA but the AirArms guns that are made field target specific are 12 foot pound guns and i suspect that that is is turn off for a lot of shooters here in the US. I have a ProTarget and and EV2 and like them. Also anymore there is a lot of cheaper PCP stuff out there.
Rick B.
Rick B.
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