Just curios on this model here, not really looking to buy one. I just can’t seem to find much info on it to satisfy my curiosity. There seems to be a Gas Ram model that has some reviews, but I was wondering about the regular Spring model.
BSA Lightning XL SE anyone?
- Thread starter intenseaty22
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I had the Springer version-I'd have kept it but it had issues from a previous owner over tightening the stock screws which actually damaged the stock. It was a little buzzy but very easy to shoot well. It liked a snug hold and had a quick shot cycle and accurate barrel. I'd get another if one comes my way....
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Hoping this file transfers okay. As excerpted fromAirgun Chronicles- Thirty Years of Airgun Testing and Competition -
View attachment 1544996813_14449848445c16c7cd5e7314.10620942_BSA Sringers.pdf
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Some experience with them, bought a .177 but wanted a .22. Enjoyed the .177 quality gun shot well for a carbine rather quiet with the built in moderator.
Found a .22 at an airgun show bought it since it was what I wanted in the first place. Just as nice as the .177 but with heaver pellets and for a bit more smack on critters.
Friend wanted a springer let him shoot many different guns he offered to buy the .177 sold it so I would have a airgun shooting buddy. He likes the gun and shoots it well.
Was looking on eBay of all places and found a .177 gas ram GRT. It was offered as damaged or broken seller was not sure. I figured the gas ram had become deflated, always wanted to work on one and it was cheep so bought it. When I disassembled it I found it was not broken, but EVERY thing inside was missing ! Totally Gutted.... Found a exploded digram online and compared it with what I had and did not have. Ordered every thing I did not have from England. Got the parts and started the rebuild, not much in the way of tuning just installed the parts trying to get it right. Have rebuilt a few springers and enjoy it, but this thing was quite a handful to work on. Its up and running but no where near the gun the springers are. cocking it is a PITA, it does have a nice shot cycle definitely no spring twang, But so far have not been able to keep a scope from sliding in the grove rails. Plastic trigger and creepy heavy pull. But the darn thing shoots well if the shooter does his part.
All in all there a nice gun love the look of them, kind of a nice short walk around gun, but the GRT is not as nice as the older springers are.
Hope this answers some questions
Hairsmith
Found a .22 at an airgun show bought it since it was what I wanted in the first place. Just as nice as the .177 but with heaver pellets and for a bit more smack on critters.
Friend wanted a springer let him shoot many different guns he offered to buy the .177 sold it so I would have a airgun shooting buddy. He likes the gun and shoots it well.
Was looking on eBay of all places and found a .177 gas ram GRT. It was offered as damaged or broken seller was not sure. I figured the gas ram had become deflated, always wanted to work on one and it was cheep so bought it. When I disassembled it I found it was not broken, but EVERY thing inside was missing ! Totally Gutted.... Found a exploded digram online and compared it with what I had and did not have. Ordered every thing I did not have from England. Got the parts and started the rebuild, not much in the way of tuning just installed the parts trying to get it right. Have rebuilt a few springers and enjoy it, but this thing was quite a handful to work on. Its up and running but no where near the gun the springers are. cocking it is a PITA, it does have a nice shot cycle definitely no spring twang, But so far have not been able to keep a scope from sliding in the grove rails. Plastic trigger and creepy heavy pull. But the darn thing shoots well if the shooter does his part.
All in all there a nice gun love the look of them, kind of a nice short walk around gun, but the GRT is not as nice as the older springers are.
Hope this answers some questions
Hairsmith
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Great info, thanks. I kinda figured on the Gas Ram. I think the next Springer will still be an HW97K or a TX200. These just looked interesting enough to want to know more.
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Can't go rong with a HW97 or any thing HW same for the TX200 - Prosport family.
But I still enjoy some of the odd lighter carbines for when I just want a walk around plinking or short range pesting gun.
Hairsmith
But I still enjoy some of the odd lighter carbines for when I just want a walk around plinking or short range pesting gun.
Hairsmith
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I have a pre-SE XL in .177 and refurb XL SE GRTs in .22 and .25. They all shoot excellent. Those barrels are no joke.
I found the UK XL locally from a Craigslist ad for "hunting items." Both front stock screws were broken, but I was able to extract and replace them with no problems. I polished and lubed the spring ends and put in a piston sleeve to detwang everything, but I did not venture to remove the scope rail and piston. Didn't need to, it shoots extremely consistent right around 12fpe. I also polished the trigger surfaces and maybe installed a lighter return spring. It's a keeper.
I just grabbed the .22 GRT refurb from field supply for obscenely cheap, but it arrived with a deep crack in the stock wrist area. I contacted BSA US, and they say they can't get a replacement stock, but would see what they can do if I send it in. I think I'll just repair it. I test shot it despite the crack, and it insisted on stacking pretty much any pellet I put through it. It makes around 15FPE. The trigger can be improved a lot with some polishing and a longer M2.5 adjustment screw, but don't go too far, because the screw removes overlap.
I like the .22 so much, I took advantage of an Ebay coupon and picked up a .25 refurb at a reasonable price. It shoots very well with FTT and GTO pellets, hitting almost 17FPE with the GTOs at 680fps and the FTTs at 595. The stock on this one is not broken!
I'm sort of a fan of the BSA SE springer platforms since they can be found fairly cheap, aren't too terrible to work on, and come with great barrels. I have a pair of Supersport SE springers in .22, both soft tuned to 12 and 13 fpe. The Lightning SEs with their shorter barrel and heftier stock seem easier for me to shoot accurately than the longer barreled Supersports or the lighter 1st gen XL. I will warn you though, that after many thousands of shots, I am getting some pivot sideplay and horizontal group spread in one of my Supersport SEs. I'll try to shim the pivot one of these days...
Here's a comparison pic of the original XL and the .22 GRT SE, and a pic of the .25 GRT. The .22 serial number ends in -15 and the .25 in -13 so, I assume they are 2015 and 2013 models. Also a family pic with a UK Supersport and Supersport SE for comparison.
Thanks for asking and have fun!
.
I found the UK XL locally from a Craigslist ad for "hunting items." Both front stock screws were broken, but I was able to extract and replace them with no problems. I polished and lubed the spring ends and put in a piston sleeve to detwang everything, but I did not venture to remove the scope rail and piston. Didn't need to, it shoots extremely consistent right around 12fpe. I also polished the trigger surfaces and maybe installed a lighter return spring. It's a keeper.
I just grabbed the .22 GRT refurb from field supply for obscenely cheap, but it arrived with a deep crack in the stock wrist area. I contacted BSA US, and they say they can't get a replacement stock, but would see what they can do if I send it in. I think I'll just repair it. I test shot it despite the crack, and it insisted on stacking pretty much any pellet I put through it. It makes around 15FPE. The trigger can be improved a lot with some polishing and a longer M2.5 adjustment screw, but don't go too far, because the screw removes overlap.
I like the .22 so much, I took advantage of an Ebay coupon and picked up a .25 refurb at a reasonable price. It shoots very well with FTT and GTO pellets, hitting almost 17FPE with the GTOs at 680fps and the FTTs at 595. The stock on this one is not broken!
I'm sort of a fan of the BSA SE springer platforms since they can be found fairly cheap, aren't too terrible to work on, and come with great barrels. I have a pair of Supersport SE springers in .22, both soft tuned to 12 and 13 fpe. The Lightning SEs with their shorter barrel and heftier stock seem easier for me to shoot accurately than the longer barreled Supersports or the lighter 1st gen XL. I will warn you though, that after many thousands of shots, I am getting some pivot sideplay and horizontal group spread in one of my Supersport SEs. I'll try to shim the pivot one of these days...
Here's a comparison pic of the original XL and the .22 GRT SE, and a pic of the .25 GRT. The .22 serial number ends in -15 and the .25 in -13 so, I assume they are 2015 and 2013 models. Also a family pic with a UK Supersport and Supersport SE for comparison.
Thanks for asking and have fun!
.
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So, I just went off babbling about my BSAs without addressing your question about the spring version...
The Lightning SE and Supersport SE share the same powerplant. I have two Supersport SE springers. They come with heavy .128 wire springs and heavy piston weights which makes them pretty jumpy, harsh, and loud at 16fpe out of the box. I put softer springs in my Supersports, but I think the heavier stock and the silencer on the Lightning XL might mitigate the oversprung and harsh feel the Superports had.
My .22 GRT was advertised as a springer, and I had planned on softening it up like I did to my Supersports. In its full power GRT form, it's a little stiff to cock, but is accurate as heck with surprisingly controlled recoil for its power level, so I'm not complaining.
I ended up installing one of the .128 Supersport SE springs in my HW77K along with Tinbum guides to make a poor-mans Vortek SHO type setup. It works well in the 77 making almost 18 twangless footpounds with .22 GTOs and Baracuda Green pellets.
The Lightning SE and Supersport SE share the same powerplant. I have two Supersport SE springers. They come with heavy .128 wire springs and heavy piston weights which makes them pretty jumpy, harsh, and loud at 16fpe out of the box. I put softer springs in my Supersports, but I think the heavier stock and the silencer on the Lightning XL might mitigate the oversprung and harsh feel the Superports had.
My .22 GRT was advertised as a springer, and I had planned on softening it up like I did to my Supersports. In its full power GRT form, it's a little stiff to cock, but is accurate as heck with surprisingly controlled recoil for its power level, so I'm not complaining.
I ended up installing one of the .128 Supersport SE springs in my HW77K along with Tinbum guides to make a poor-mans Vortek SHO type setup. It works well in the 77 making almost 18 twangless footpounds with .22 GTOs and Baracuda Green pellets.
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Thanks for your input DanD, nice group of guns you have there. I think it was the bull barrel and stubby sort of appearance along with an OK price (retail) that got me curious in the first place. I guess if ever I see one for dirt cheap I may jump on it and make it a project gun. Thanks again.
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I got this old style lightning that my dad bought years ago and I got it from him when I was 14 or 15 and I’m 26 now the gun was amazing. I’m talking 1/8” groups at 25 yards. I put thousands of rounds through this gun. The sear is messed up so the gun won’t stay cocked now I have been searching for more parts or for someone to fix it for me but haven’t had much luck 
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There was enough talk in the forums about inconsistent lockup contributing to vertical stringing with the “SE” and later versions of the BSA guns. Enough to scare me away from them.
In hindsight I wish I had tried one out. I really like the look of them, if I could wring out about 1” accuracy at 25 yards a .25 Lightning XL SE would of made a great little bunny basher.
I sort of compare it to the argument people make against the HW35 in favor of the HW95. The 95 might be a better all around performer and easier to shoot with extreme accuracy, but the HW35 in my experience is the best balanced off hand shooting rifle ever built. It’s a sweet little rifle.
The BSA Lightning/Supersport guns are similarly engineered to the HW35. In that they have larger diameter piston and a shorter stroke. I have never handled them but I would imagine it’s a great off-hand rifle, good woods rifles. And the stocks look really sexy.
In hindsight I wish I had tried one out. I really like the look of them, if I could wring out about 1” accuracy at 25 yards a .25 Lightning XL SE would of made a great little bunny basher.
I sort of compare it to the argument people make against the HW35 in favor of the HW95. The 95 might be a better all around performer and easier to shoot with extreme accuracy, but the HW35 in my experience is the best balanced off hand shooting rifle ever built. It’s a sweet little rifle.
The BSA Lightning/Supersport guns are similarly engineered to the HW35. In that they have larger diameter piston and a shorter stroke. I have never handled them but I would imagine it’s a great off-hand rifle, good woods rifles. And the stocks look really sexy.
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I have the BSA GRT .177 model,it is about the best handling and looking pellet rifle I have;I want so much to like it because of those reasons.
Butt in reality and a big butt at that, I have never had a rifle that was so hard to get to shoot accurately !
I have done more than my part,finally I read all I could about it and turns out you get a good one or a bad one,crazy that I hear so much about how good BSA barrels are....and the barrel certainly looks good to me,yet it shots terribly and is very inconsistent...I am talking 1" groups at 25 yds.is the best I can get.
One of the biggest disappointments I have had in my pellet gun experience.
If you are lucky and get a good one it will properly become a favorite.My advice is to make sure you are getting a good one.I certainly hate to have to say what I just said.
Butt in reality and a big butt at that, I have never had a rifle that was so hard to get to shoot accurately !
I have done more than my part,finally I read all I could about it and turns out you get a good one or a bad one,crazy that I hear so much about how good BSA barrels are....and the barrel certainly looks good to me,yet it shots terribly and is very inconsistent...I am talking 1" groups at 25 yds.is the best I can get.
One of the biggest disappointments I have had in my pellet gun experience.
If you are lucky and get a good one it will properly become a favorite.My advice is to make sure you are getting a good one.I certainly hate to have to say what I just said.
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