BSA Meteor Air Rifle

The BSA Meteor is a break barrel spring powered rifle made in Birmingham, UK, by Birmingham Small Arms Company (BSA) and first produced in 1959. It was the first rifle to have the ability to fit a telescopic sight,[1] and remains one of the worlds best selling powered weapons with over 2 million sold worldwide. Marketed as an introductory rifle for plinking, hunting and firearm training. it is available in either 4.5mm (.177) or 5.5mm (0.22) caliber with a choice of either standard or carbine length barrels.

BSA Meteor
TypeRifle
Place of origin United Kingdom
Production history
ManufacturerBSA Guns (UK) Limited Gamo
Specifications
Mass2.6 kg (5.7 lb)
Length1040mm
Cartridge4.5mm (0.177cal) or 5.5mm (0.22cal) Lead Air Pellet
Actionbreak barrel, spring powered
Muzzle velocity550 ft/s (168 m/s)
SightsAdjustable

Specifications
RifleCarbine
Overall length104 cm (42 in)97 cm (39 in)
Barrel length45 cm (17 in)38 cm (15 in)
Weight2.6 kg (5.75 lb)2.6 kg (5.75 lb)

Meteors Mk's may be identified by the serial number prefix on the underside of the breech.

  • Mk1 = N & T 1959/62
  • Mk2 = NA & TA 1962/68
  • Mk3 = NB & TB - NG & TG 1966/73
  • Mk4 = NB & TB - NG & TG 1974/79
  • Mk5 = NH & TH 1979/93
  • Mk6 = ZE & WE 1993/2012
  • Mk7 = QF 2012

Operation

The 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 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 10 ft•lbf (13.6 J) of energy (for a good example) so range was limited to about 30m, with 15-20m being the maximum hunting range.

The rife was upgraded several times over its production, including the "Super Meteor" in 1968, some of these upgrades were merely cosmetic with slightly different sights and finishes. The latest (and final [2]) model designated the Mk7 is a full power variant with an anti-beartrap safety mechanism, manual safety catch and hi-visibility open sights.

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See also

References
  1. "BSA Chronology". Archived from the original on 2011-10-10. Retrieved 2011-10-08.
  2. "Meteor Mk7 at BSA's website". Archived from the original on 2011-09-27. Retrieved 2011-10-08.
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