The BSA Meteor is a series of break barrel spring powered rifle first made in Birmingham, UK, in 1959 by The Birmingham Small Arms Company and the first BSA air rifle engineered to fit a telescopic sight.[1] It is one of the worlds best selling air weapons with over 2 million sold worldwide. Marketed as an introductory rifle for plinking, hunting and firearm training as a replacement for the BSA Cadet, it is available in .177 (4.5 mm) and .22 (5.5 mm) caliber with standard or carbine length barrels.
| BSA Meteor | |
|---|---|
| Type | Rifle |
| Place of origin |  United Kingdom |
| Production history | |
| Manufacturer | BSA Guns (UK) Limited Gamo |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 2.6 kg (5.7 lb) |
| Length | 1040mm |
| Cartridge | .177/.22 calibre lead pellets |
| Action | break barrel, spring powered |
| Muzzle velocity | 550 ft/s (168 m/s) |
| Sights | Adjustable |
Specifications
edit| Rifle | Carbine | |
|---|---|---|
| Overall length | 104 cm (42 in) | 97 cm (39 in) |
| Barrel length | 45 cm (17 in) | 38 cm (15 in) |
| Weight | 2.6 kg (5.75 lb) | 2.6 kg (5.75 lb) |
Operation
editThe spring and piston were compressed by breaking the barrel through 125° before loading a pellet directly into the breach. The barrel is then returned into place and secured with a detent lock. The single-stage trigger is adjustable for pressure. The sights are plastic with the front sight being able to be switched from a bead to a blade and the rear adjustable sight could switch between a "V" and "square notch". The cylinder had two shallow grooves to accept a telescopic sight. The top of the barrel was stamped BSA GUNS LTD ENGLAND followed by a BSA piled arms symbol and the air chamber was stamped BSA METEOR between the scope grooves.
The rifle was packed in a polystyrene tray with a printed cardboard sleeve. The standard kit included a bottle of oil, a small tube of Eley wasp pellets and a pressed steel target holder with a few targets. The Meteor was a light and easy to use rifle with a " muzzle energy" of about 9 ft•lbf (12.2 J) of energy so range was limited to about 20m, with 15m being the maximum hunting range.
Upgrades and serial numbers
editThe rifle was upgraded several times over its production, including the "Super Meteor" in 1968 for Mk's 3,4 and 5, some of these upgrades were merely cosmetic with slightly different sights and finishes. Different Mk's may be identified by the serial number letter prefix on the underside of the breech;
| Model | Production year | Calibre prefix |
|---|---|---|
| Meteor Mk.1 | 1959-1962 | N 0.177 / T 0.22 |
| Meteor Mk.2 | 1962-1968 | NA & NB 0.177 / TA & TB 0.22 |
| Meteor & Super Meteor Mk.3 | 1967-1973 | ND & NE 0.177 / TD & TE 0.22 |
| Meteor & Super Meteor Mk.4 | 1974-1979 | NG 0.177 / TG 0.22 |
| Meteor & Super Meteor Mk.5 | 1979-1994 | NH 0.177 / TH 0.22 |
| Meteor & Carbine Mk.6 | 1993-2007 | ZE 0.177 / WE 0.22 |
The latest (and final[2]) model designated the Mk7, has a UK power legal limit" of 11 ft•lbf (15 J) of energy with an anti-beartrap safety mechanism, manual safety catch and hi-visibility open sights, now manufactured by Gamo (UK) Limited.
See also
editExternal links
editReferences
edit- ^ "BSA Chronology". Archived from the original on 2011-10-10. Retrieved 2011-10-08.
- ^ "Meteor Mk7 at BSA's website". Archived from the original on 2011-09-27. Retrieved 2011-10-08.