BSA Super Sport Magnum .22 Cal.

Hello to all,

Back in 1986 I had a booth at the Shot Show in Las Vegas, I was taking a break and walking the floor looking at what was available and came across a booth that was representing BSA Air Rifles. BSA has a much storied history; (Birmingham Small Arms, England) they have manufactured Firearms, Air Rifles, Motorcycles, bicycles and even an automobile. They are probably best known for their BSA Motorcycles, a very popular line of Motorcycle’s both there and abroad.

There was an Air Rifle on a table at this booth that caught my eye, it was labeled, “BSA Supersport Magnum” It was a barrel cocking Rifle available in both .177 and .22 caliber, the velocity claim on the .22 caliber was 750 fps!! It was a very sleek looking rifle, OAL, 39”, WEIGHT 6.5 LBS, adjustable rear sight, barrel mounted , fixed front, rubber butt pad, safety was a lever on the right at the rear next to the tube. Also had a scope rail, the guys at the table said it was a Maxi Grip scope rail; that the scope rail was mounted on rubber strips, and would help eliminate scope slippage? The Cocking effort was about 30+lbs.

Anyhow I liked the rifle and vowed to look more into it after the show. In 1988 I was browsing thru my latest Shotgun News and saw an ad for the “BSA Supersport” from a company called “Precision Sales International Inc”.  I placed an order for the .22 caliber. At some time BSA became a subsidiary of “Gamo” in Spain, I don’t know anything other than that, and really am not interested, will leave that to someone else to sort out, I am only interested in the product!!  I have read that the DS prefix on the serial number of this rifle indicates 1986 production?

The “Supersport” was kept in my shop for pest control and plinking, it was light, handled well and was accurate, I did try a scope on it and a red dot sight neither was to my liking, they in my view took away from the ease of handling and quick sight picture I wanted with this rifle, although I may reconsider soon at my age now!! Back in that time frame I was pretty busy in my shop and did not have much time to devote to air guns, I think it was in late 1999 when I set out to finally determine the pellet for the BSA Supersport, I had just mostly used Crosman  .22 caliber which was good for about 1 -1/4 inch groups at 25 yards open sights.

After trying out a myriad of pellets I found three that displayed the most potential and were consistent accuracy wise with this rifle; RWS 14 grain. Match, RWS 11.9 grain Hobby and H&N HP, 12.65 grains The RWS 14 gr. Match delivered 697 fps. /15.1 ft. lbs. The RWS Hobby 11.9 grain delivered 760 fps. / 15.3 ft. lbs. and the H&N HP 12.65 gr. delivered 743 fps / 15.5 ft. lbs. All three of these pellets will deliver ¾ to 1 inch groups at 25 yards @ 15 + ft.lbs at the muzzle, a real “Thumper”, no it’s not a target rifle but it is ,in my view, more than adequate for my intended use! The RWS 14 grain Match always exhibited the most concentric group patterns and is the pellet I chose for this rifle. These rifles have hammer forged barrels and are quite good!!

I have thru the intervening years replaced the Mainspring and Piston seal twice, along with the breech seal, but other than that it remains as I purchased it some 30 + years ago; it still hangs out in my shop to this day, I call it my “Work Horse”!!

While on the subject of BSA, I also have a copy of a 1920s BSA break barrel Air Rifle made, as best I have been able to determine, by the Japanese in the early 1950s/60s, it has an engraving on top of the rear tube stating “Trade Mark” along with “Champion” and a serial # 268 in several places. I will enclose some photos, may put up a little something on it in the future, really a fun little Air rifle!!

Garey