by Tom Gaylord
Writing as B.B. Pelletier
BSA’s Mark 2 repeater has a rubber-covered beechwood stock.
Part 1
Part 2
This report covers:
- Setup|
- The test
- Sight in
- H&N Baracuda Match with 4.50mm head
- The trigger
- H&N Sniper Magnum
- JSB Exact Heavy
- Crosman Premier Heavy
- Discussion
- Sound test
- Summary
Today we look at the accuracy of the .177-caliber BSA R10 MK2 precharged repeater. A lot of folks swear by these rifles, so I’m hoping for the best.
Setup
The R1 has no sights, so a scope is needed. To give it the best chance I could, I mounted a Meopta MeoPro Optika6 3-18X56 scope. It’s the best scope I own and will give the R10 its best chance to excel. The scope is mounted in Sportsmatch Fully Adjustable Scope Rings, so I can change it while it’s mounted to the rifle. That’s a big time-saver for me! The mounts are quite expensive, but for testing purposes they’re ideal!
The test
I will shoot from 25 yards today. And all groups will be 10-shot groups. I’m shooting off a sandbag rest to keep the rifle as stable as possible.
Sight in
The scope mounted quickly on the 11mm scope rail. I shot once at 12 feet and the pellet was in the bull, so I backed up to 25 yards and shot again. The pellet was now hitting high and slightly right, so I adjusted it down (a lot) and to the left. I didn’t want pellets striking the dot in the center of the bull, as that was my aim point, so I adjusted them to strike to the left of center and slightly high. This Meopta scope is so clear that I can see the dot at the center of the reticle which is about the same size as the 10-dot on the bull at 25 yards.
H&N Baracuda Match with 4.50mm head
First to be tested was the H&N Baracuda Match with a 4.50mm head. This was also the pellet I used to sight in. Ten pellets made a group measuring 0.346-inches between centers at 25 yards. The group is reasonably round and I’m satisfied with it.
The BSA R10 put 10 H&N Baracuda Match pellets into a nice round 0.346-inch group at 25 yards.
The trigger
Remember that I adjusted the trigger in Part 2? It’s holding pretty well, though once or twice as I shot I did feel a touch of creep in the stage-two pull. And, when you’re shooting for accuracy is when you notice the trigger the most. You can’t always tell until this stage of the testing, but here everything becomes crystal clear.
H&N Sniper Magnum
Next to be tested was the H&N Sniper Magnum pellet. In .177 this pellet is very heavy, at 15 grains, but the same pellet in .22 caliber is on the heavier side of medium, at 17.9 grains. I mention that only because I find it odd.
Eight of ten Sniper Magnum pellets went into 0.417-inches at 25 yards, but two shots went wide. There was no called pull, either. The 10-shot group measures 1.508-inches between centers.
Ten H&N Sniper Magnums went into 1.508-inches at 25 yards, but eight are in 0.417-inches. The two wide shots were not called pulls.
JSB Exact Heavy
The next pellet I shot was the 10.34-grain JSB Exact Heavy dome. Ten of them went into a 0.40-inch group at 25 yards. It’s not as round a group as I’d like, but it’s fairly tight.
Ten JSB Exact Heavys made a tight group measuring 0.40-inches at 25 yards.
Crosman Premier Heavy
The last pellet I tested in the R10 was the 10.5-grain Crosman Premier Heavy. Before I shot it I adjusted the scope three clicks to the right, only because I was tired of seeing them all go to the left.
I didn’t know what to expect from this hard pellet, but I was pleasantly surprised. Ten Premiers went into 0.395-inches at 25 yards.
Ten Crosman Premier Heavy pellets went into 0.395-inches at 25 yards.
Discussion
Three of the four pellets I tested today gave very good groups at 25 yards. I had hoped to see a trime or a gold dollar used for comparison with some of the groups, but I guess that wasn’t to be. I will say that the Meopta scope is so clear that I know beyond a doubt that each shot was as good as I could make it.
Sound test
Next, we try something for reader Henry_Texas, who asked to see the difference between the sound a heavy pellet makes in the silenced rifle and the sound a lightweight pellet makes. The difference will be the breaking of the sound barrier.
I’ll test both a heavy and a light pellet today, as the air pressure and humidity affect where the sound barrier is. So my numbers from Part 2 aren’t as accurate. Or at least that’s what I’m telling myself.
The rifle has the silencer installed. That makes a big difference.
The first shot was a 10.65-grain Baracuda Match pellet. It registered 82.5 dB on the C scale of the sound meter.
A heavy H&N Baracuda Match pellet registered 82.5 dB on the C scale of the sound meter.
Next to be fired was an RWS Hobby pellet. It registered 92.3 dB on the C scale of the sound meter.
The R10 shot an RWS Hobby pellet out at 92.3 dB on the C scale of the sound meter.
That’s the difference between a pellet that’s below the sound barrier and one that’s above. The lighter one cannot be entirely silenced.
Summary
That’s it for today. This was a run-up for the 50-yard test that’s yet to come.
BB,
At this point can we assume an airgun moderator is mainstream and not the boogey man that you’ve made it out to be in the past?
Edw,
Until the ATF makes a definitive ruling, I believe airgun moderators will always be in the gray area.
Siraniko
Sure. But we’ve gone from blog posts about how you needed a tax stamp to reviewing rifles with screw on mods, to just using them now.
B.B.,
First, I never knew you could reload a rim fire cartridge. Maybe you couldn’t last time I looked, which was only decades ago.
Second, with the Origin I have a PCP in all three of the most used small calibers. It looks like a keeper, for me at least.
I have travelled to the dark side and will only look back when it is necessary. I do want a decent multipump, though.
Arlene is still in hospital, but there is hope so hopefully not much longer.
Have a blessed Christmas, all.
~ken
Ken,
First, we will pray for Arlene.
Second, three Origins?! I am jealous. I hope for the day when the air rifle will be sold without the pump. I have two now.
Third, get a Crosman 101. It is built top shelf, easily rebuildable and has a high cool factor.
Fourth, reloading rimfire cartridges. Only if you have to.
May you have a Blessed Christmas also.
RR,
If not mistaken, he got 2 M-rods awhile back. .177 and .25 but not sure. If the Origin is .22, then that gives him one (a PCP) in all 3 calibers. I will let Ken confirm, but I thought I might just jog your memory a bit. Mine went jogging years ago and has yet to return! 😉
Chris
Chris,
You memory is accurate.
~ken
Ken,
Good. There might? be some hope yet! 😉
Chris
Chris,
What’s a memory?
RR,
I am reminded of the movie Grumpy Old Men when they are having a go on the ice and then forget what they were fighting about,…… “Huh?,.. What?,.. Huh?,..What?,…….”
Chris 🙂
Chris,
I remember that.. LOL
–~ken
Ken,
I always catch it (them,… there is a #2) when on. The guys are a hoot,… but you also have fine, fine mature ladies too! Grandpa/Dad is good as well. No limits and it is all is on the menu! Some fine mature actresses and actors that can play the part to a T. 🙂
Chris
RidgeRunner,
Thank you for prayers.
Only one Origin, two Marauders, so three PCP total, 177, 22 and 25.
LOL
~ken
Ken,
If that .22 Origin would like to reside at RRHFWA, I am certain I can add another room for it. 😉
RR,
I think I will have to spend some time behind the scope before I can ask the Origin if it is happy here. LOL
~ken
Ken
I hope she gets better soon.
Glad you are liking the dark side. But don’t never forget about the other side of air guns. I like all the variety of power plants. Well for the most part anyway.
Gunfun1,
I only want another Springer when I can get one of the top of the line models, one of the under lever models. And I do want a multi pump. So, I am with you.
~ken
Ken
I’m thinking one day you will. 🙂
I traded a unused and under performing PCP 10m pistol for an air arms ProSport, and have never looked back.
It is my only springer at the moment, and loving it..
I still have pcp rifles,
Co2 pistols, &SMG’s
Single stroke pneumatics,
And a couple of multi pumps.
Just like firearms, no one gun does everything, you have to have choices..
I tell my wife guns are like her shoes, one does not fit every occasion or purpose.
Her response was “ my shoes don’t cost $300 a pair.”
But in 1995, she did buy me an Uzi 9mm carbine for a wedding gift,
She understands…..
Ian
Ian,
I like your thinking.
~ken
BB,
Fine shooting at 25. Looking forwards to the 50. Happy to see you did it with top end glass.
Chris
BB,
That ain’t too bad. Since it is yours, perhaps you should work in some more time with it when you can and try to find THE pellet for it. Maybe a RWS Super Dome or Super H-Point. Sometimes the “odd” pellet clicks.
My Gamo CFX liked H&N Field Target Trophy in 4.51mm head. It did not like them in 4.50mm or 4.52mm. You might try different head sizes with the Baracuda Match which seemed to be doing pretty good there.
I am afraid I just do not like that coated stock.
That Sam I am, that Sam I am!
I do not like green eggs and ham!
You can call it dog ugly, but it can shoot, and it didn’t seem too pellet picky with the ones you chose.
Ian.
BB, that’s a real nice $300. airgun. That’s about what I paid for my ‘refurb’ Mrod 10 years ago. Thanks Stephen Archer! The thing about an unsupported shroud is you need some way to align the bore with the silencer/moderator. They usually put a plastic part on the end of the barrel with an oring on it to insure that it is aligned, but the barrel is not free floated now, and the oring needs to lubed so it always returns to it’s neutral position inside the shroud. I got rid of that plastic piece on the end of the barrel, and tapped and threaded little allen screws into the barrel band, whichs allows me to keep my free floated barrel, but makes a rigid and adjustable shroud. It’s more of a pain in the butt, I can lean the gun against the wall, and I know it wont affect my barrel. Your mileage may vary. Nice shooting Sir.
Rob
Thanks BB for the ‘speed-sound’ test. It confirms what many of us have heard when testing lighter pellets in powerful rifles. Now we have figures to quantify it, and those 10 dB of difference are quite significant.
Another interesting, if not totally surprising, result is that the average sound is lower with the supersonic pellet by a smaller but noticeable 3 dB. That suggests that the supersonic pellet makes more of a sharp and loud ‘crack’ compared to a longer and milder ‘boom’ of the slower pellet. The amount of acoustic energy is probably similar, just the slow and long one reaches a lower peak.
By the way, both values are below the ear damage threshold. That said, ear protection is a good thing when in doubt.
Rgds.
Henry
Henry,
That reading on the left is what the meter is recordiong in my office at all times while I’m testing the pellet. It has nothing to do with the shot. The shot number is the one on the right. If I rustle some papers near the sound meter while I’m getting the shot recorded, 52 dB becomes 67 dB!
BB
Thanks for the clarification BB, I stand corrected.
On the subject of hearing risks, I found a nice article about airguns published by the National Institute of Health. I do not know how to include links but a search of “Auditory Risk of Air Rifles” should take you there.
Henry
Henry,
Thanks for bringing this up. Interesting read. I found the free version of the report at the link below. – Don
https://www.researchgate.net/profile/William_Murphy4/publication/292978164_Auditory_Risk_of_Air_Rifles/links/56f1c94b08aed354e56fc37c/Auditory-Risk-of-Air-Rifles.pdf
Kenholmz,
Good luck with Arlene. I know what you are going through. My wife Sylva has been in hospital for ten days and will be most likely for maybe two more weeks and then rehab. I’m lucky that my three sons live in the Austin, Texas area and I can stay with them so I can see her everyday.
As far as I am concerned, 2020 stinks. Virus and now hospital.
I found something out today. And maybe he might not want me to post but I see it no other way but to.
And I don’t even know if he still reads the blog.
Dave with the RAI componants broke his back at work a while back.
He tells me he is making it. I’m not sure of details other than he is suppose to be starting therapy. But if anything I figured we can pray for him.
BB maybe you can give him a holler and see if he is ok. Hope I’m not going in a place I shouldn’t of on the blog.
Yesterday I posted a picture that showed a .25 caliber rimfire round. I am pretty sure it is a .25 Steven’s round. I vaguely remember my dad telling me he had a .25 Stevens rifle that he liked. Wonder what happened to it.
Don
Benji-Don,
Have you checked the attic <(￣︶￣)↗
shootski
That would be great. He had a few guns in odd places, but none I did not know about. As soon as i was old enough I got the job of cleaning and oiling the all the guns every few months even if they were not shot. I still have all of my mother’s and father’s guns, a couple are worn out but I will pass them down the line.
I see the .25 Stevens Favorite was $5.00 in the 1903 Sears catalog.
BB,
I shot the Origin at 10 yards just to get shots on a target. I took the scope off of a Marauder a while back. I read amazed at how far off it was laterally.
I shot at 30 yards and refined my aim.
In all I shot 40 Benjamin 22 call up pellets.
Today, I shot 10 at 40 yrs. The photo tells the story. I take credit for every shot; there were no fliers. My shooting was somewhat unstable. All 10 shots were done on lowest magnification.
It looks promising
~ken
BB,
I had not shot for five months. I don’t know why. I love both Marauders. I think I can tighten the group if I put in time and effort behind the scope.
–~ken
Ken,
“I don’t know why.” For me, I have to be in the mood to shoot. Of course you can do better. Time behind the trigger makes all the difference. And,… it does sound as if you have been a bit preoccupied lately with more important matters. You will get there. It will get better.
Chris
Chris,
Thank you.
~ken
Ken,
I agree with Chris, hang in there it will get better.
Wishing you all the best in the new year.
Don
Thank you, Don.
~ken