BSA Meteor Air Rifle

The BSA Meteor is a Break Barrel spring powered Air Rifle made in Birmingham UK by Birmingham Small Arms Company (BSA) and first produced in 1959. It was the first air rifle to have the ability to fit a telescopic sight, and remains one of the worlds best selling air powered weapons with over 2 million sold worldwide. Marketed as an introductory air rifle for plinking, hunting and firearm training. it is available in .177 (4.5 mm) and .22 (5.5 mm) calibers with a choice of either standard or carbine length barrels.

Specifications
Differing 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 ) model designated the Mk7 is a full power variant with an anti-beartrap safety mechanism, manual safety catch and hi-visibility open sights.