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Contributing Member
BSA Mercury Challenger rebuild
I recently fought a 'back garden bush war' against a rat issue back in April. I was caught out without any suitable rifle to deal with the invaders in a suburban environment.
So, I decided I wouldn't be caught out again and reached for an air rifle I hadn't looked at in 25 years. The BSA Mercury Challenger has been oiled up in a gunslip at the back of my safe since the mid 1990's.
The Mercury Challenger was last of the line for the classic BSA rifles, made for only 18 months before the company went into administration in 1986 and was subsequently bailed out by the Spanish company Gamo.
Well I haven't tinkered with an air rifle since I was in my teens, a long time ago, passing nails to Noah while he built the ark!
But I rather enjoyed it. It was a complete strip down, polished internals, fitting a long stroke heavy piston and reassembly with a tuning kit supplied by an air rifle guru called Welsh Willie!
Repaint/reblue and reworked woodwork and I now have a rifle capable (and safe to use in an urban environment with a suitable backstop) of blowing rats into the Stoneage....
A gap in the Armoury has now been filled!
I was amazed at the lovely beechwood stock, its looks previously hidden under the horrible BSA period gloop, one of the nicest beechwood stocks I've ever seen!
.303, helping Englishmen express their feelings since 1889
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Thank You to mrclark303 For This Useful Post:
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06-08-2020 06:00 AM
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Mr Clark, It came out really nice. It's fun to branch out sometimes. Salt Flat
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Thank You to Salt Flat For This Useful Post:
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Moderator
(Parker Hale Forums)
Nice one John, good to see the old BSA workmanship in the stock carving. Those air rifles always have a place for those little pesky critters to be terminated. 
'Tonight my men and I have been through hell and back again, but the look on your faces when we let you out of the hall - we'd do it all again tomorrow.' Major Chris Keeble's words to Goose Green villagers on 29th May 1982 - 2 PARA
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Thank You to Gil Boyd For This Useful Post:
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Contributing Member
Cheers guys, the tuning kit replaces the old steel spring guide and front top hat with custom made delrin replacements and a custom made Swedish
steel mainspring has delrin rings added to the front and rear of the spring.
The heavy short piston gives a longer stroke and greater capacity.
The existing parts (piston carrier and receiver tube) highly polished and everything re-fitted with a special lubricant.
Lots of modern technology employed, unheard of 35 years ago when the BSA was built.
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PM
