Which Rifle Descisions

[gadjet 0]

Hi,

I want to upgrade from my smk CO2 rifle to a PCP, I've been looking at a BSA Ultra multishot SE and a Brocock Contour supersix.

 

After talking to some gunshops, the main question they ask is "What do you want to do with it?"

 

My answer is mainly target shooting, maybe try some HFT but not really hunting etc.

 

The guidance is to go for an Air Arms S400 single shot but I'm not really keen on the look of the the S400, I'm told that the single shot is more accurate than the multishot option and HFT sites don't like multishot because the rifle remains loaded after your shot.

 

So I'm after some feedback from people who owns these guns: -

Is a multishot really that less accurate than a single shot?

Is a multishot a no no for HFT?

Is the BSA Ultra any less reliable than the Air arms S400?

 

After all I don't expect to be winning any competitions and I'd bet that any good rifle will be more accurate than me, at the end of the day I really like the look of the BSA Ultra but don't want to end up with a gun I don't really like.

 

[jamesS410 106]

Hi. Ive used the s400 and currently shoot with the s410 and honestly don't believe there is any difference in accuracy between the two and can't realistically see any reason why feeding pellets from a magazine in to the breech should make the rifle any less accurate than manually pushing the pellet in. Once the pellet is past the breech it sits in the same position in the same type of barrel in both rifles. If you think you need the option of single shot loading it is possible, if somewhat fiddley, to do it by hand or failing that Rowan engineering make a single shot adapter for the s410. I was between the s410 and the ultra but eventually plumped for the s410 as I preferred the traditional bolt action and greater number of shots per charge, especially with the larger cylinder of the classic version,although I believe these issues have been addressed with the latest update to the ultra. Hope this helps

[villaman 9,983]

You will not go far wrong with a ultra. Some body on the bsa forum just won a hft comp with a ultra

[gadjet 0]

Thanks for the feedback.

 

I was thinking the same thing about the accuracy of a multishot, once the pellet's in the breech what's the difference, I'm struggling to think why it would matter but I'm sure ther's some reasoning behind it.

 

I've also not found anyone that has any issues with the accuracy of the Ultra.

[Mr Mcgoo 18]

Total poo no difference at all between multi shot and single. Maybe the quick loading cycle causing people to rush shots? Either way it's total tosh and down the the shooter. I'm using the s400 for pure hunting. It's single shot for now but ordering rowan multi shot conversion end of the month.

It's personal preference, I would go into the gun shop and hold them all and see what feels the most comfortable, I've lost count of times I've bought rifles after all the hype and hated them one I've held one.

Chris

[shergar 42]

I would go for the s410 you won't see any difference in accuracy between that and the ultra just think the air arms is better made and more reliable , my friend has an ultra se and has had a few problems with seals , air gauge and magazine indexing , it's been back to the shop a few times and it's only 18 month old .

 

go for a multi shot and get a single shot adaptor for hft then if you want to go hunting you have a 10 shot mag

 

shergar

[Rez 4,957]

I think it's down to the "chance" that round could be mis fed into the breech with multi shot magazine. I personally have found that my multi shot SE is more consistent over perhaps a 20-25 shot string with its single shot adaptor than it is with its magazine. Naturally, it's an opinion, but maybe in hft where every shot counts, as it does with live quarry of course, and competition settings create a mind over matter thing, other than the no no with multishot rifles, they perhaps make the shooter mentally more comfortable, therefore shooting more consistanly, as they can feel the pellet into the breech and call shots better. With a magazine, your probably 'less connected' to the process.

 

Reading this back it might be well off topic. Been down the pub and the auto spelling on the iPad has helped no end.

Edited May 9, 2014 by Rez

[gadjet 0]

Don't worry James, comments not off topic.

 

I've found a single shot magazine for the BSA Ultra so this would address the HFT multishot magazine issue, as per shergar's comments.

 

I'm a bit worried about the reliability issues with the BSA Ultra though, is this a common thing with Ultras?

[Rez 4,957]

Ultras are so sound my man.

[secretagentmole 1,701]

Ultra MMC models have several weak points!

 

1) Side switch to release the probe, prone to breaking.

 

2) Probe, if you do not catch it with your thumb as it rockets back it can break as well!

 

3) Safety catch, apparently that can snap too.

 

The MMC action can be a bit of a faff (had one and never liked it). I would recommend the Air Arms over this particular BSA as I do not like that cocking mechanism. The Ultra SE I have never shot, I have however shot the close cousin, the Scorpion SE. The Ultra is light, portable, compact, accurate too. But so are other guns without that silly MMC!

Edited May 11, 2014 by secretagentmole

[gadjet 0]

secretagentmole,

 

I would be buying the Ultra SE with the single bolt action, I saw the MMC version on Youtube and I wouldn't want one, too many actions to carry out.

[Tron 173]

The Ultra SE and the Scorpion rifles are much more complicated to strip/repair/tune compared with the AA 400series rifles. the AA400/410 are much easier to get along with. The BSA's are accurate enough but no better than most.