muffin Posted July 26, 2013 Report Share Posted July 26, 2013 Out of my depth a bit here have a BSA Cadet now 66 known it since I was 14 a bit used what do I do with it who could restore is it worth restoring had an airsporter years ago fancy one again do I chop in above Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
philm Posted July 26, 2013 Report Share Posted July 26, 2013 BSA Cadet was my first air rifle, I would have another for the memories! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bruno22rf Posted July 26, 2013 Report Share Posted July 26, 2013 You can pick up a Cadet for under £100 in average condition so you would need to consider the cost of restoration before taking the plunge-really nice ones still struggle to fetch good money because there are so many around. The Airsporter is still easy to find and is not a bad gun but there are better ones for just a little more if you can stretch your funds-work on the basis that if its German then its superior to any BSA of the same era. Look for a HW80,77 or 95-the Original 45 is also a fine gun if you can find a cared for example. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
la bala Posted July 26, 2013 Report Share Posted July 26, 2013 my first air rifle was a cadet major Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dekers Posted July 27, 2013 Report Share Posted July 27, 2013 my first air rifle was a cadet major If my memory serves me correctly about the only difference was the adjustable sight in the Major. For some reason these were much more rare. Great and easy gun to shoot, never much ft lb though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
muffin Posted July 27, 2013 Author Report Share Posted July 27, 2013 Had this cadet round the family a long time I had an airsporter in my teens and loved it thats why I fancy anther Some one gave me an ASI Sniper thats got me going knocking squirells down with it Living in the past does make decisions difficult Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
four-wheel-drive Posted August 2, 2013 Report Share Posted August 2, 2013 As you have had it for so long I would say keep it as it is and just have a go shooting it every now and then if you want something with a bit more go in it then get a second hand German gun they are quite cheep to buy but remember if you sell something it is probably gone forever. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnbaz Posted August 6, 2013 Report Share Posted August 6, 2013 If my memory serves me correctly about the only difference was the adjustable sight in the Major. For some reason these were much more rare. Great and easy gun to shoot, never much ft lb though. Hi Dekkers The Cadet Major is actually a longer gun than the Cadet (I don't have both but have seen them side by side).. I have a Cadet that;'s a bit rough!, I think the former owner tried reblueing with G96 (not a good idea as it's ****!!) The one next to last (r/h side) is a Cadet, the first six are Airsporters (mk1 & mk2) I'll have to dig them out and take another pic as i've acquired two more mk1 Airsporters since I took this one BTW, There's a new Ballistol Blueing liquid that's come out recently, i've seen the finished effects on a HW35 Luxus and it's superb!! I've bought a bottle and will try it on a couple of guns that I stripped, i'll post the results on here when i've had a go!! John Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
muffin Posted August 7, 2013 Author Report Share Posted August 7, 2013 Fantastic collection I think I might get an airsporter again any one I should look for The one I had as 15 year old did'nt have scope rails and a pop up pellet tap Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dekers Posted August 7, 2013 Report Share Posted August 7, 2013 I've not actually tried to sell this but have discussed selling it in the past, I have no real use for it anymore. So, available to anyone who wants to make the right offer, one owner from new...ME, and as near to new/original condition as you can get! 11.4ft lb last time it was checked! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnbaz Posted August 7, 2013 Report Share Posted August 7, 2013 (edited) I've not actually tried to sell this but have discussed selling it in the past, I have no real use for it anymore. So, available to anyone who wants to make the right offer, one owner from new...ME, and as near to new/original condition as you can get! 11.4ft lb last time it was checked! BSA1a1.jpg BSAa1.jpg Hmmmm, Very nice, any idea which mk it is?, looks to be a mk5 or 6.. Is it .177 or .22 cal?? I've a couple of more modern Airsporters, an 'S' and an RB2k 1st and 3rd are the Aisporters, 2nd and 4th are Mercuries (4th is a Challenger) then two Superstars and a Lightning XL last.. Cheers, John Edited August 7, 2013 by johnbaz Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dekers Posted August 8, 2013 Report Share Posted August 8, 2013 I think it is the Mk5, I've looked it up before but can't remember. Bought New by me circa 1972. .22. (crumbs, I feel old now.......) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rimfireboy Posted August 8, 2013 Report Share Posted August 8, 2013 I had the airsporter 'S' in .22. It wasn't good. Pressed chequering and very pellet sensitive. Worked well with eley wasp but not much else. Glad to see the back of that one, compared with its German contemporaries it wasn't in the same league IMO. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
muffin Posted August 8, 2013 Author Report Share Posted August 8, 2013 Do not feel old I had my airsporter when at school getting my pension now So tell me how much Thanks for look at great collection Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dekers Posted August 8, 2013 Report Share Posted August 8, 2013 Do not feel old I had my airsporter when at school getting my pension now So tell me how much Thanks for look at great collection You have PM. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arjimlad Posted August 8, 2013 Report Share Posted August 8, 2013 I have an heirloom BSA Cadet Major which my uncle had secondhand in the 1960s. I had a new spring & piston seal put in it and now my boys enjoy plinking with it. It also accounted for a fair few mice around the goatsheds when I was younger. Lovely smooth gun, although the Mk1 Meteor is better. Whether it is worth "doing up" depends on how much you want to keep it, and how much needs doing. I can't imagine new seals & spring costing you more than £20-30 all in, and you'll struggle to find another gun for that money. If the stock's tatty you could strip & oil it yourself. If the bluing is gone you can just keep it plum brown like mine is now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drone Posted September 5, 2013 Report Share Posted September 5, 2013 (edited) I used to have a cadet major 22, which I bought for a couple of quid in 1956, bought a 177 junk one for a quid in 57 and fitted the barrel to mine and have lost the 22 barrel. I see they now make a grand. One really ****** off oap. The 177 was great though, shot more than my share of rooks with it. I can't remember if the airchamber was the same size but the 177 barrel fitted perfectly, btw watch out for smooth bore cadets and cadet majors they were the fairground rifle of choice and you couldn't even hit the inside of the barrel unless you were lucky (well you know what I mean). Edited September 5, 2013 by drone Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnbaz Posted November 24, 2013 Report Share Posted November 24, 2013 I used to have a cadet major 22, which I bought for a couple of quid in 1956, bought a 177 junk one for a quid in 57 and fitted the barrel to mine and have lost the 22 barrel. I see they now make a grand. One really ****** off oap. The 177 was great though, shot more than my share of rooks with it. I can't remember if the airchamber was the same size but the 177 barrel fitted perfectly, btw watch out for smooth bore cadets and cadet majors they were the fairground rifle of choice and you couldn't even hit the inside of the barrel unless you were lucky (well you know what I mean). Hmm I've never seen a Cadet Major go for a grand!! I almost bought one a couple of years ago at a bootsale, bloke wanted £55 for it but it needed a reblue, OK in all other respects though.. Some more Beesas! 1906 BSA Air Rifle (Needs tlc) A pretty rare .177 cal mk1 Airsporter Airsporter Stutzen.. The top one of these Lightnings is new to me, It's a mk1 but on an XL walnut stock.. BSA Scorpion pistol.. Two BSA Magnum240 overlever pistols.. BSA Airsporter mk2 that needed a refurb.. BSA Ultra Multi.. Bought a really badly abused mk1 Airsporter that needed the stock repairing after the last owned dry fired the gun It was already broken so he 'repaired' it with interior wall filler!!! It took some removing rust/black gloss paint but got there eventually!! Reblued (Blacked!), it's the action at the right hand side.. Stock repaired and refinished.. I can't rebuild it yet as I need to make a new piston seal, the old one fell in bits!! John Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rimfireboy Posted November 24, 2013 Report Share Posted November 24, 2013 Good stuff john, how many air rifles have you got? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnbaz Posted November 24, 2013 Report Share Posted November 24, 2013 Good stuff john, how many air rifles have you got? Around 70-ish, around 97 guns in total with the pistols John Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rimfireboy Posted November 25, 2013 Report Share Posted November 25, 2013 (edited) Around 70-ish, around 97 guns in total with the pistols John Plinkin' 'eck john, that's more than a small gun shop,lol.... Edited November 25, 2013 by Rimfireboy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David M Posted November 25, 2013 Report Share Posted November 25, 2013 Some nice looking hardware on here...!! I have my Dad's old .177 BSA Cadet Major that he owned since the fifties. 35 years ago I used to terrorize the sparrows and starlings for a local farmer when I was best mates with his son, it was our job to keep them from his grain during our Summer holidays. I have a pcp and powerful carbine springer I mainly use now but the 6.4ftlb BSA still brings a smile to my face when I plink with it. A lovely lightweight gun that is very easy to cock and point. I painted the face of the open sights white so they stood out when aiming at a dark or light target. My Dad was a marksman during his National Service days and was truely amazing to see shoot this gun. He would aim and shoot incredibly accurately and quickly for an open sighter, hitting sparrows at 25 yards+ practically every time. Now of course, the law has tightened up and all garden birds are safe. It still has the same spring and all original parts, it never seemed pellet sensitive (as far as we could tell..!) and was fed on whatever make the local newsagent had in at the time, normally packed in a small cardboard box. The last one I saw was gathering dust on a top shelf of a gun shop for £70. I'll own mine until I drop though......... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
muffin Posted November 30, 2013 Author Report Share Posted November 30, 2013 this is great stuff on here I am keeping my cadet.going to get rid of Webley Tempest mint in box and Webley premier tatty and get my self an airsporter these are fantastic on this post Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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