Bobby6821 Posted December 12, 2013 Report Share Posted December 12, 2013 Hi guys, I've just bought a lightning xl as I came across it for a decent price and it's like brand new, I've fitted a richter optik scope to it, very decent gun for a springer but I feel that there could be room for improvement to turn it into a good little hunting rifle. Do any of you guys use these? What mods/tuning would you recommend? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
evo Posted December 13, 2013 Report Share Posted December 13, 2013 it would be a good idea to introduce yourself to the PW folk firstly,, welcome anyway, don't know of any mods myself but I,m sure some of the lads will be along who have a bit more knowledge about your particular rifle, atb Evo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrisjpainter Posted December 13, 2013 Report Share Posted December 13, 2013 Hey Bobby, welcome to PW. Where you from mate? You can get dedicated tuning kits for the XL. http://www.solware.co.uk/air-pistol-air-rifle/Airgun-Tuning-Kit-for-BSA-Lightning-XL.shtml http://airgunbuyer.com/Showproducts.asp?cat=V-Mach%20Custom%20Tuning&SubCat=V-Mach%20Rifle%20Tuning%20Kits they might be a good place to start. Don't forget to chrono your gun before and after you do any work to it if you're really going to town on it! ATB mate Chris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amazed Posted December 13, 2013 Report Share Posted December 13, 2013 I would make sure but I think you can drop a gas ram in them. http://www.airgunbuyer.com/Showproducts.asp?cat=Theoben%20Gas%20Rams&SubCat=Theoben%20Gas%20Rams Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrisjpainter Posted December 13, 2013 Report Share Posted December 13, 2013 I would make sure but I think you can drop a gas ram in them. http://www.airgunbuyer.com/Showproducts.asp?cat=Theoben%20Gas%20Rams&SubCat=Theoben%20Gas%20Rams True story. HOWEVER, they don't fit the SE model (why, I have no idea, but just check which Lightning you have). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
secretagentmole Posted December 13, 2013 Report Share Posted December 13, 2013 My idea would be to sell it and by an HW95 as they are less likely to cause problems in the long term. The Lightning has a well earned reputation for snapping stock bolts! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bobby6821 Posted December 13, 2013 Author Report Share Posted December 13, 2013 Sorry, how rude of me. Hello I'm Bobby, I'm a soldier in HM glorious forces lol, currently based near salisbury, Wiltshire. Done a few operational tours, just recently returned from one in October. So I'm quite handy with a gun lol. Decided to take up air gunning as a hobby got a cometa fenix 400s carbine but just couldn't get along with it, sold that on and bought the bsa lightning xl that I have just now and this leads me to here talking to you fine folks. I've had mixed reviews about the gas ram and been told it can crack the stock??? I like the idea of it but don't fancy replacing the stock. How easy is it to strip a springer? I've got the exploded diagram and looks easy enough but haven't etempted it myself so have no personal experience on it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrisjpainter Posted December 13, 2013 Report Share Posted December 13, 2013 Sorry, how rude of me. Hello I'm Bobby, I'm a soldier in HM glorious forces lol, currently based near salisbury, Wiltshire. Done a few operational tours, just recently returned from one in October. So I'm quite handy with a gun lol. Decided to take up air gunning as a hobby got a cometa fenix 400s carbine but just couldn't get along with it, sold that on and bought the bsa lightning xl that I have just now and this leads me to here talking to you fine folks. I've had mixed reviews about the gas ram and been told it can crack the stock??? I like the idea of it but don't fancy replacing the stock. How easy is it to strip a springer? I've got the exploded diagram and looks easy enough but haven't etempted it myself so have no personal experience on it. no harder than anything you have hanging around in your day job! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the enigma Posted December 13, 2013 Report Share Posted December 13, 2013 (edited) I had a Lightning XL Tactical a few years ago. Mine was very twangy, so I stripped it down, changed the spring,spring guide and top hat. I got all the bits from Chambres and it worked out a good bit cheaper than V-mach etc. Polish the ends of the spring until smooth as glass and grease very lightly. I also gave the trigger sears a run over with very fine wet and dry paper to remove machining marks and then polished with Autosol. As for taking it a part, it's easy enough apart from the scope base, for which you'll need a block of wood and a big hammer. Edited December 13, 2013 by the enigma Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bobby6821 Posted December 13, 2013 Author Report Share Posted December 13, 2013 Cheers guys, may give that a bash this weekend then, what about the internals? Is there any need to give them a polish or would I be wasting my time? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the enigma Posted December 13, 2013 Report Share Posted December 13, 2013 Polish the ends of the spring, it'll let the spring turn freely on the spring guides. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fenboy Posted December 13, 2013 Report Share Posted December 13, 2013 Best tune for a newish BSA springer Step one ) Remove stock Step two ) Weigh in metal parts at the the local scrappy Step three ) Use the stock for kindling etc. Step four ) Pop out and buy a HW or AirArms Seriously BSA spring guns are truly awful these day when compared against HW or AA as you would soon realize if you tried one of the others . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
secretagentmole Posted December 13, 2013 Report Share Posted December 13, 2013 Amen to that! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kent Posted December 13, 2013 Report Share Posted December 13, 2013 (edited) They tune ok, I did one and its been good enough to keep hold of for 3 yrs. step one get rid of the plastic bit of junk that goes round the spring it binds step2 clean and polish all metal to metal wet and dry first including cocking slot Step 3 its oversprung remove some and grind / polish the ends square and flat, loose a little power but actually hit what your aiming at. step 4 hold it real gentle and let the gun move as it wishes recoil happens with pellet still traveling down the barrel Its a muddle fiddling the piston sear etc past the trigger good luck, give me an military auto anyday, you will cus and swear some promise you that, don't bother with the kits they are little better than the std stuff. Forget bigger springs you need smaller and gas rams they increase recoil and bounce You can go a lot further and add buttons to the piston etc but I recon that's a step too far if your asking Edited December 13, 2013 by kent Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amazed Posted December 13, 2013 Report Share Posted December 13, 2013 Best tune for a newish BSA springer Step one ) Remove stock Step two ) Weigh in metal parts at the the local scrappy Step three ) Use the stock for kindling etc. Step four ) Pop out and buy a HW or AirArms Seriously BSA spring guns are truly awful these day when compared against HW or AA as you would soon realize if you tried one of the others . Ha ha Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bobby6821 Posted December 14, 2013 Author Report Share Posted December 14, 2013 Wow, some hatred for the bsa springers on here guys. Remember the gun is only as good as the person pulling the trigger I get great groupings from it and I'm happy with it, that's why I'll be keeping it and looking to do some improvements to it. I've no doubt that AA and HW do make great guns as I've been looking at the 410 for when I go to purchase a pcp but until then this is what I'm working with at the minute : D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the enigma Posted December 14, 2013 Report Share Posted December 14, 2013 They're not that bad. I ran mine a shade under 11ft/lb and it shot a lot smoother and more accurately than when it was closer to 12ft/lb,but then again mine was the Tactical it was very light. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fenboy Posted December 14, 2013 Report Share Posted December 14, 2013 Wow, some hatred for the bsa springers on here guys. Remember the gun is only as good as the person pulling the trigger I get great groupings from it and I'm happy with it, that's why I'll be keeping it and looking to do some improvements to it. I've no doubt that AA and HW do make great guns as I've been looking at the 410 for when I go to purchase a pcp but until then this is what I'm working with at the minute : D True but with the modern BSA's unfortunately the person pulling the trigger is often better than the gun ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrisjpainter Posted December 14, 2013 Report Share Posted December 14, 2013 Wow, some hatred for the bsa springers on here guys. Remember the gun is only as good as the person pulling the trigger I get great groupings from it and I'm happy with it, that's why I'll be keeping it and looking to do some improvements to it. I've no doubt that AA and HW do make great guns as I've been looking at the 410 for when I go to purchase a pcp but until then this is what I'm working with at the minute : D Ideal. why worry then! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bobby6821 Posted December 14, 2013 Author Report Share Posted December 14, 2013 Ideal. why worry then! Lol good point, not worried but with everything else there's always room for improvement. You lot are a difficult crowd lmao Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kent Posted December 14, 2013 Report Share Posted December 14, 2013 They're not that bad. I ran mine a shade under 11ft/lb and it shot a lot smoother and more accurately than when it was closer to 12ft/lb,but then again mine was the Tactical it was very light. They are all the same too much spring for the size of gun, make it smoother and hence more efficient and reduce the spring as much as possible Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mad1 Posted December 14, 2013 Report Share Posted December 14, 2013 I bought the tactical xl last year in .177 and there more recoil and such a clunk than a .410 !! I'd love to be able to calm the recoil down and make it usable .... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NIGHT SEARCHER Posted December 15, 2013 Report Share Posted December 15, 2013 I would give Sandwell Field Sports a ring. I have a HW 97 KT that shot very well out of the box but was told it could be better. So i sent it to Sandwell for there £65 stage 1 tune. What you get is a new Spring. Seals. Top Hats. Polished Internals. Polished Piston. It came back a different Rifle. Easier to Cock. A lot less Recoil. Smoother to shoot. Far more Accurate. And very Consistent power at 11.7 ftlb shot after shot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Longbower Posted December 15, 2013 Report Share Posted December 15, 2013 I put a .22 (new ) Gas Ram in an old .22 lightning, and it went well over 12ft/lbs, so sent the ram back. The replacement was giving . 11.4 ft/lbs, but is creeping upward. So this may have to be taken out and returned. So be careful , and if you modify it , chrono it at every step. It shoots ok with Gas Ram, as long as its not gripped when its shot. I bought it to experiment with, and its run alongside a HW95K (venom kitted) as a comparison. I could spend the cost of a HW95 on the BSA, and it still wouldn't be an equal. But I wish you every success with yours. Try BSA owners group,for idea's. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kent Posted December 16, 2013 Report Share Posted December 16, 2013 (edited) I bought the tactical xl last year in .177 and there more recoil and such a clunk than a .410 !! I'd love to be able to calm the recoil down and make it usable ....The .177 is the most jumpy of the three available, I think a barrel swap and possible port modification could be required (but you will have to check on the latter). Like I say decrease the spring remove the daft PVC sleeve and your over half way there replace the power lost if you must by polishing and fitting / lubing the parts better than the factory ever could. The .410 don't recoil half so much as "most" spring piston airguns IMO Edited December 16, 2013 by kent Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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