BSA R12 Take Down

BSA’s longevity and long history within the industry make the guns they produce an easy choice for many enthusiasts worldwide. It’s incredible to think that during the war years, this famous old company occupied almost the entire stretch of the famous Armoury Road. However, whilst today’s factory is solely airguns, and covers a fraction of the original footprint, the Beeza brand has indeed stood the test of time. It’s a slick operation too, as new models are an intriguing mix of traditional gun-making skills and modern CNC production processes.

Show release
Knowing your customer base is vital, and with BSA proving extremely popular with pest controllers, it’s this association that has led to one of their latest product releases; the R12 Take Down. Showcased at the BSS, the idea is simple - to offer their respected R12 PCP in an easy take-down format that packs into a low-profile hard case. The working name for the project was ‘R12 Classified’, but this has now evolved, and ‘R12 Take Down’ perfectly spells out what this new option is all about.

Low profile
As shooters, we need to keep one eye on the antis, and occasionally, like it or not, it can be necessary to keep a low profile when arriving at a venue. Carrying a full-length rifle in a long case is difficult to disguise, and the contents can be obvious, instantly advertising our intentions to all and sundry. Attract the wrong sort of attention and an entire can of the wiggly things can unwittingly be opened. Turn up with this new BSA R12 Take Down, however, and you’ll have the perfect tool for the job, as it’s subtle, inconspicuous, and thoroughly effective.

Box of tricks
The hard case supplied is super compact, measuring 6.5 x 18.25 x 28.5”, and this means it’s more suitcase-sized than anything. The ABS-style case features four slide catches along the rim, and inside there is full padding, with recesses cut out to take the constituent parts of the gun. The silencer gets its own snug area, and there are separate recesses for two 12-shot magazines, the magnetic valve cover, custom stock bolt, and pellets, under which are also stowed the filling adaptor and spare seals in a bag. The stock gets its own area, and I’m pleased to see the cut-out for the action is generous around the kit’s BSA 3-9x50 optic, so any prospective owner can maybe switch scopes if deemed necessary, further down the line.
Now, at this juncture, I should point out that the case supplied by BSA for this test is technically still a prototype, so the specification could change slightly for the production version, but I’m assured that the main specification overall is as shown. Having spoken to BSA to clarify details regarding this model, I’ve also been told that the gun spec is as shown, and there are no plans to include other stocks or actions in the line-up. Consider it’s designed primarily as a hunting tool though, and that makes perfect sense, keeping production streamlined.

Gun specification
So, on that basis, the R12 featured is the R12 CLX bolt-action version. This caters for the high percentage of traditionalists who responded to BSA customer questionnaires, stating their preference for bolt-action rifles, as opposed to side-lever. Let’s face it, if you are going to have a bolt-action, BSA’s Bolas bolt is one of the best around. It’s comfortable in the hand and boasts a satisfying auto flip-down action as it closes. In keeping with the compact theme, the action is also the Super Carbine, with the main difference being the barrel is some 3.5” shorter than the full-length version. A fancy carbon fibre 480cc buddy bottle is fitted, along with the regulated action and all the other classy features of the standard BSA R12, so we should know what to expect in terms of performance. BSA’s cold hammer forged barrel, of course, forms part of that spec sheet, and these have a good name in the industry.

Soft touch
The R12 Sporter stock shows a soft touch finish, which is actually a black rubber membrane/coating applied to hardwood, and the end result is a superior-feeling gun stock that feels in a different league to synthetic alternatives. Laser-cut chequering covers the forend and pistol grip, and this also gets the rubber coating. The end result is a supremely practical non-glare matte finish that’s ideal for a hunting rifle, and very pleasant to the touch. The classic BSA swell across the forend sets this model off, and with a rear grip thumb shelf and the adjustable (for height) butt pad, practicality and subtlety are clearly part of the remit. Oh, and don’t forget the sling swivel studs fitted as standard.

Assembly
OK, assembling this R12 Take Down is very easy, and the clever bit is the quick connector stock bolt. This neat inclusion makes the whole job possible in the field, with not so much as an Allen key necessary.
First, drop the action into the stock. My test gun’s action proved a little snug around the forend, but it soon sank into position after a gentle squeeze. Next, screw in the quick-fit custom stock bolt, just twisting that top knurled cap hand tight, until resistance is felt. With the PCP action recoilless, it simply isn’t necessary to over-tighten any bolts, so just don’t overdo it. It is necessary to then snap the magnetic valve cover into its recess over the manometer. Finally, spin the silencer into position up front. Consider the entire operation can be completed in 30-40 seconds, and you get the idea!

Field test
Now, where performance is concerned, the BSA R12 CLX bolt-action is a known quantity, but I’ll just remind us of what to expect from this classy airgun. Remove the magnetic valve cover that sits under the forend, around the manometer, and fill the action to BSA’s favourite 230 bar by inserting the probe adaptor into the inlet valve. Once done, snap the cover back into its recess. Filling BSA’s 12-shot magazine is easy, with no pre-wind necessary. Simply drop a pellet into each aperture until a small number ‘12’ shows in the shot window. We’re now ready to go.
This model has a regulated power plant, and having tested several similar actions over the years, I reckoned this time round I would record the chronograph reading for just the first 50 shots. Here, using the BSA Blackstar hunting pellets supplied, the chrono returned a total velocity spread of 15 fps, which is very respectable indeed. Checking my records, on a previous test of the R12 CLX, I’ve clocked well over 100 shots, all with a total spread of 20 fps, so as mentioned, there’s little to prove in terms of performance.
As usual with high-grade airguns, take the time to conduct mini pellet trials, as a particular brand, batch, or tin, may well emerge as a clear favourite as the vagaries of a particular barrel make themselves known. Accuracy-wise, the R12 Take Down on test proved very tolerant of a variety of different ammo. The Blackstar pellets shot well, and BSA’s Goldstar ammo also tore ¼” c-t-c groups at 30 yards. Great stuff.
Negatives? Well, not much other than it pays to be positive with the cocking mechanism. A small red indicator appears on the right side of the receiver to signify that the action is cocked, but it is still possible to double load pellets, as it is with so many PCPs, to be fair. The handling is sublime, and whilst I’m not a huge fan of buddy bottle PCPs, mainly from the point of view of touching a cold bottle up front, that simply isn’t an issue here. The soft-touch woodwork is not only beautifully contoured but fully supportive where it needs to be, extending forward just where we need it.  Aesthetically pleasing and supremely functional all in one. Overall, this is a highly satisfying gun and super practical.

Verdict
The R12 Take Down is no radical new model, but it gives BSA fans and serious hunters a gun which is now highly portable and inconspicuous, for those occasions when that’s exactly what is called for. The beauty of the project is its very simplicity, and the quick fix stock bolt, whilst a small detail, is in my view, the key to its success. I suppose it begs the question of why BSA hasn’t dabbled in this area before, but this new R12 Take Down option is a winning formula for sure and should prove highly popular with BSA’s target audience.