BSA R10 Pre-charged air rifle

[TallNHairyDave]

Thanks Nick. I guess this is my cue to join one of the Airgun forums.

Might just wait until I can talk to the gun shop on Tuesday and get him to bring along a replacement O-ring for the bottle to the Club on Thursday and see if that solves the problem.

[TallNHairyDave]

Just found the BSA Owners Group website and oh dear.... There appear to be a LOT of people with problems with the R10 mostly with early production run guns though.

Typical problems -

• Leaks,
• Suddenly losing all pressure,
• Regulator deciding to spontaneously drop power for each shot to below 3ft/lb
• Regulator deciding to turn the gun into a FAC rated monster (emptying a full bottle in 30 shots??? Yow!)
• Magazine indexing failing
• Chrome plating shedding off the pellet probe
• Extremely poor accuracy (e.g. fliers all over the place even when bench rested)

Some people on there say they've been through two or three R-10s before giving up, getting a refund and buying something else.

I REALLY hope mine is only a wonky O-Ring!

[TallNHairyDave]

Am's just had a look at the bottle as well, and the O-ring on the bottle definately has a small nick in it. No damage to the threads or anything else, just a tiny dent or crease in the ring.

[ChrisR]

Sorry to hear your troubles Dave If it's a nicked O-ring it'll be dead easy to get fixed and maybe just keep a few spares handy if you're planning to fill it by removing the bottle. I only fill my Vermy via the quick-fill and hardly ever remove the buddy bottle any more and I always leave it charged and have had no problems with seals going. In fact many people say it's better to keep the rifle mechanism under pressure because it is designed to take it and having outward pressure guarantees that no damp or dust will creep in, which would have an even worse effect on the insides.

[TallNHairyDave]

Thanks Chris. Going to get a load of spare O-rings in and definately stick to using the quick fill only.

Didn't know about the "keep it charged" arguement - that makes a lot of sense.

Cheers mate.

[TallNHairyDave]

Changed the O ring, gave the new one a little rub over with molykote 111 (which BSA tell you to use on the O rings on the filling probe, so no harm to use it on the buddy bottle o-ring) and fitted the bottle.

YAY! Pressure and no hiss of escaping air!

[rcs]

YAY! Pressure and no hiss of escaping air!

Good news Dave

[ChrisR]

It's amazing how great products are sometimes let down by a tiny, cheap component that turns out to be a weak point. But sounds like you've got it all fixed and you'll really enjoy shooting it - the R10 gets some great write-ups

[Ashhow]

Double posted

[Ashhow]

Nice review there Dave, and it's good to see both that you have fixed your leakage problem with new o-rings and that you have got yourself some nice places to target practise with your new rifle. I really do wish there was a local gunclub in the Manchester area.

[Hatethatgiraffe]

Glad ya got it sorted Dave!

Back plinking again?

[TallNHairyDave]

Thanks guys. So pleased it was only a wonky O-ring!

Got a sample pack of defiant pellets on the way because the gus on BSAOG forum reckon they are the absolute best through the SuperTen and the R-10, but I spent a fun evening at the range tonight giving H&N Field Target Trophy pellets a good run through.

Damn, they group SO MUCH BETTER than the Superdomes.

Didn't get a chance to try out the RWS Superfields - will give them a go next week along with the Defiants, but I can say for now that H&N Field Target Trophies are the best pellets I've put through the R-10 so far.

Was very shaky tonight as I was late out of work so didn't get a chance to have dinner before getting to the range - just a mars bar and a bag of crisps. Needless to say, that made my first few targets I shot particularly awful (combined with the fact that my cheapie scope needed to be re-zeroed as I had been tinkering with it when I put Accupels through the gun last week - not realising that the awful accuracy was down to the sh*te pellets!).

Anyways... Here's the complete target sheet (an N.S.R.A. 1989 Prone Position 25 Yards), shot at 25yards, seated with bipod fitted.



And no, I don't know why I only put one pellet on 3,4 and 6 and only two on 9. Initial poor groupings were partly down to working on getting the scope re-zeroed and partly due to the shakes. Shakes began to recede after the mars bar a crisps and my aim improved!

Here's large versions of the two that matter, numbers 8 & 10...




Now that's more like it! (re-photographed number 10, with a 5 pence piece for scale and that's a current 5p, not an old one! ).

Didn't get a chance to try the 35y target because it was out of use this week.

And the 50y lane was set up with tin cans tonight. Death to the evil tin cans!

So I had a blast knocking them over for a while once I worked out the aim point to allow for the doubled range (scope is zeroed for 25m at the moment and is NOT mildots, just a trad crosshair. New scope is on it's way - with mildots). There were loud whoops of happiness from me (much to the mirth of my fellow shooters) when the first tin can launched itself backwards!

Now I just need to work on my shooting technique standing (i.e. without bipod or rest) 'cause I'm still very ropey at that (although am improving!)

[archie]

Shooting standing up is a totally different to the other positions, every movement is emphasised so much more. You`ll find with practice that when standing the cross hairs will move to a certain pattern (I do a wonky figure of eight). When you realise how yours move you then have to see the point when you take up the second stage on the trigger & release the shot.

[TallNHairyDave]

Thanks for the tip archie. I shall have a go and actually just watch the movment - see if I can work out what pattern it seems to follow.

[dbarnard2]

Dave, how are you still finding the R10. Am toying with the idea of treating myself to one but after reading about the problems that others have had there is a small bit of doubt niggling at me.