BEST BUYS

BSA GRT Lightning XL SE

BSA’s famous Lightning has stood the test of time, and Mat Manning reckons the latest incarnation strikes the balance of value and performance

Too many of us make the mistake of getting seduced into thinking that we are going to need to spend a small fortune on gear in order to get the most from our airgun shooting.

I’m as guilty as anyone, but while specialist equipment can make a big difference in some scenarios, you can still enjoy the full airgun experience with more affordable hardware—and you may even find you enjoy it more. The GRT (Gas Ram Technology) version of the BSA Lightning XL SE is a classic example of just that.

It retails for £349, and for that modest outlay you get an accurate and reliable air rifle built to withstand the rigours of heavy use while remaining free from the hassles and additional cost of refilling, which those of us who opt to shoot expensive PCPs will be all too familiar with.

In the shoulder, it felt just right to me. BSA has a real talent for building what I would describe as proper shooters’ airguns, and this is certainly an example of this.

Features and function

BSA also has a reputation for delivering very solid build quality, and the company has certainly done that with the Lightning.

Open sights may be absent, but the Lightning’s accuracy justifies the precision of a scope. The cylinder has been machined with dovetail rails, and these incorporate BSA’s Maxi-Grip Scope Rail, which has integral shock absorbers to help cushion any recoil generated by the gun’s fast gas-ram action, and stop any shaking or creep of the scope.

Caesar Guerini Maxum Gold Ltd 20-bore

An upgrade on the already premium Maxum, this game gun looks and performs beautifully, says Matt Hunt

I have to confess that I have been a critic of these guns in the past; never for their quality, price or finish but for the inherent design of the action. This model, though identical mechanically, felt different and much improved in operation.

You have to remember that the guns we test are nearly always unfired and as such can feel stiff and awkward. This gun did not. I would like to say this is down to a man on a bench with a file, tirelessly carrying out the final regulation. Though it felt like this was the case, I would actually credit its ease of operation to the accuracy in machining.

You can feel the improvements in the trigger system. It has little initial take-up and a crisp and fast lock time, without being too light.

The gun balanced just forward of the hinge, and its solid top rib gave a good, hefty feel when swinging. So many 20-bores are whippy and difficult to control. I would put this gun in the middle weight class when it comes to other 20-bores on the market.

Breaking driven clay targets was effortless and, using a 28g cartridge, felt recoil was negligible. When we approached a long crossing target, I found myself missing over the top. In my experience, many Italian guns feel like they shoot low but actually shoot very high. It was easy to adjust to this characteristic, but fitting could also be an option to others.

Overall, the gun could not be faulted mechanically. Even when hot, extraction of cartridges was superb. The primary extraction was modest and made unloading unfired cartridges slightly trickier than on other Italian guns. But in general, the Maxum Gold looks and performs beautifully.

Mossberg Patriot Predator .308 Win

Bruce Potts reviews the Mossberg Patriot Predator .308 Win, a rifle for the working man

Sometimes you just want a rifle to get the job done, be that for keepering, forestry or occasional stalking. Or perhaps you are someone who is not interested in the niceties that a more seasoned rifle shooter might look for. In both cases, price, reliability and accuracy are the primary concerns.

Mossberg is an American firearms manufacturer that dates back to 1919 and has always had the ethos of producing guns for working people—no airs and graces, just well-built rifles. Simple is often better, especially when the price is so appealingly low that even with the addition of a moderator and scope/mounts, it is an affordable set-up.

The Patriot rifle range, introduced in 2015, offers budget-priced rifles, and this Predator model costs £555. Features include a dark-earth coloured, moulded synthetic stock, a one-piece Picatinny rail, an overall matt blued durable finish, a fluted barrel and bolt. Also, a detachable magazine and the Lightning Bolt Action (LBA) trigger combine to make a practical 6.5lb stalking rifle. You can also order a walnut-stocked version, the Revere, for £925 or a Cerakoted camo model for £620.

Yildiz SPZ .410

This best-selling Turkish small-bore is an excellent tool for introducing young Shots to our sport, but its appeal doesn’t end there, as Mike Yardley explains

I enlisted two helpers for this test, the sons of my friend Stuart Anderson-Wheeler. Tristan, nine, and Charlie, seven. With young Shots you must create a safe situation where success and big smiles are inevitable. Happily, it was. We began with a safety briefing, then how to stand—back straight, nose over toes—and how to hold the gun and position the head on the stock. Tristan, unusually for a boy of his age, was able to shoot with both eyes open after careful testing. Static targets were engaged first, then a slow rising bird at modest range. The gun performed flawlessly—no malfunctions and a trigger that was not excessively heavy. The recoil with the light loads was minimal. Tristan shot his first bird. Overall, the Yildiz .410 is an excellent tool for instruction, but it would suit any who have use for a good workhorse .410.

The Patriot may be aimed at a budget-conscious audience, but with a cheaper gun, you are not worrying about scratching it or failing to crawl through the muddy ditch with it, so you actually become a better stalker by default. The red hinds prove the point as to its accuracy, and its reliability and weather resistance are not in question.