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BSA Scorpion SE Woodland

BSA Scorpion SE Woodland

Since the original Scorpion multi-shot PCP was launched, BSA Guns (UK) Ltd has continually up-graded and progressed using various design modifications. I mention this as it’s easy to forget the original Scorpion was BSA’s first PCP air rifle to have a conventionally designed rear mounted cocking bolt. Also, though modified, the action and to some extent the stock design are very much based on other BSA PCP air rifles.

Cosmetic Procedures

When I tested the R-10 MkII in the ‘Woodland’ stock option, I commented briefly on the ‘immersion coated’ camo pattern that fully enshrouds the woodwork beneath. Interestingly since then I’ve discovered the designers of this pattern are a US based company called ‘Next Camouflage LLC,’ who like Advantage/Realtree and Mossy Oak don’t actually manufacture any products but design camo patterns - period. These are made available on cloth (obviously for clothing) and as a ‘film substrate’ which is the material used when an item of any kind is dipped using the ‘immersion coating’ process that ‘magically’ covers the object with any pattern of choice. Our very own ‘dipping’ experts Hydrographics (see article elsewhere in this issue) first made the process popular here in the UK by licensing ‘substrates’ from the previously mentioned original pioneers of photo-realistic camo. Therefore BSA must have decided to use (under license) the ‘G1’ pattern as it’s designated by Next Camo™. Some will find the nextcamo.co website quite interesting because Stateside there are many products available in ‘Next Camo™’ patterns including Hides, Outdoor Clothing and many products that have been ‘dipped’ in their patterns.

Without wanting to overly harp on about it – I must mention the pattern is quite reminiscent of Advantage Hardwoods 20/200 as it uses a light grey colour base over-laid with mostly brown, ochre and a few black leaves, There are occasional sections of tree bark but the only hint of green is seen amongst the leaves.

Back In Stock

I’m sure others will have noticed that the overall stock design of the Scorpion SE - be that in beech, walnut, black tactical or woodland model all share traits common to the R-10 MkII and now discontinued T-10. You could say a blend of the best features that the other two designs boasted. In any of the four ‘options’ the stock has quite a high fully ambidextrous cheeckpiece with a full generously sized black rubber butt pad. The slim neck has a small thumb shelf, quite a shallow rake and a steep yet not overly long drop down pistol grip. All these combine to give a very nice and secure hand hold. Initially the forend just seems to taper quite sharply to the quite non-descript tip. However, although the camo on the woodland model on test deceives the eye, the relatively short, almost ‘stumpy’ looking forend retains the flared ridge (seen on the other stock options) that extends up wards diagonally from the well rounded underside to aid grip. Talking of which, although there’s no chequering on the woodland or black tactical as there is on the wood stock options - the material is inherently ‘grippy’ having a ‘non-slip’ texture that works a treat.

The rifle uses their now familiar safety damped fill probe, which is pushed into the fill point hidden under the screw on cover cap. A recommended fill of 232-bar gives approximately 65-full power shots in .177 calibre a very impressive 100 in .22 (as per rifle on test) and the same in .25 calibre. A neat button size air gauge is deeply recessed (for protection) in the underside of the stock so you can keep a check on the status of your air reserves.

Action Stations

Like other BSA PCP’s the Scorpion SE uses the now up-graded 10-shot removable magazine familiar to all their multi-shot PCP’s. They also now use a colour coded high impact polymer inner rotor (exposed part of the rotary drum), which is also numbered and indexes around much more smoothly and positively than previous versions. This magazine ‘rotor’ is coloured blue in .177 calibre, red in .22 and black in .25 calibre. The mechanics that secure the magazine, cock and load the rifle are all tried and trusted systems as used throughout the company’s multi-shot PCP range. These include the large serrated edge magazine retaining catch positioned just forward of the action block on the left and rear mounted cocking bolt.

To remove a magazine you first need to pull the generously sized balled ended cocking bolt fully rearward then slide the magazine retaining catch forward. You can then lift the magazine out from the left of the action. A thoughtful inclusion is the finger groove in the forward section of the outer casing (backplate) which makes it easy to ‘grip’ with cold or gloved fingers. The new look magazine operates far better than previous designs, but for filling the ‘mechanics are the same. This requires you to manually rotate the inner exposed ‘drum’ so you can thumb a pellet into each chamber as it appears. Once all 10-chambers are filled (8 if it’s a .25 calibre model), you then simply slip it back into its housing, slide back the retaining catch and push in the cocking bolt. The rifle is now ready to go, so it’s wise at this point to pull back the nicely sized rocker style safety catch sited on the left of the action just rear and above the curved metal trigger blade. More on this unit later.

For test I fitted an MTC Optics 3 – 12 X 44 Mamba-lite in medium mounts onto the lengthy ‘uninterrupted’ railed action block that makes fitting any size of optic trouble free. During test it also proved to be a sensible pairing for handling and balance.

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As I didn’t have one of BSA’s ’VC’ (Variable Choke) silencers on hand, I spun a Milbro Hugget Moderator onto the ½” UNF screw cut free floating 18.5” barrel and soon set a 30-yd zero. The rifle comes with a stylish vented muzzle weight rather than just a screw on thread protector cap – though it looks the part, I’m sure virtually all hunters will fit a silencer. During testing the Hugget proved to be so efficient, only the hammer strike could be heard on discharge.

A Trigger Treat

In my opinion, the 2-stage fully adjustable trigger unit is certainly a far better mechanism than many give it credit.

Set within a metal trigger guard, the nicely curved metal blade also has a rounded outer edge which many hunters prefer over a stark ‘flat’ fronted design. The manually operated trigger safety mentioned earlier is a solid dependable unit operated by a well-designed but simple to operate lever. Pull this back to put on Safe and push forward to put the rifle into live fire mode – the letters ‘S’ and ‘F’ being clearly seen etched and picked out in white on the action block directly above the finger friendly dome-headed lever.

First time Scorpion SE users will be amazed at the accuracy potential and shot to shot consistency, I mention this as the rifle isn’t fitted with an air regulator, rather it uses what is termed a self-regulating valve system. Shooting from a rested position, ragged ½” clusters at my chosen zero quickly became the norm using Daystate Li ammo.

Conclusions

In my opinion, the BSA Scorpion was always a good quality PCP, but over the years and now with the SE designation it has without doubt progressed to become even more of a high quality carbine sized multi-shot PCP. All the main attributes the hunter requires are more than met by the rifle. It’s accurate, practical, user friendly, balances extremely well with a sensibly sized scope on-board and even with a standard length silencer up-front is still very easy to handle. 

It’s good to see the words ‘Made in Birmingham, England’ etched in white adorning both the front sides of the action block as the BSA Scorpion SE like many other rifles the company produce prove we still have the ability to manufacture top quality air rifles to be proud of.

STOCK:
Hardwood ambidextrous sporter design with camo covered rubber over-mould option on test. Also available in beech, walnut

PRICES:
Woodland RRP£629, Black Tactical £589, Walnut £689 and Beech £649, Spare Magazines £45

CONTACT:
BSA Guns Ltd www.bsaguns.co.uk

  • BSA Scorpion SE Woodland - image {image:count}

    click on image to enlarge

  • BSA Scorpion SE Woodland - image {image:count}

    click on image to enlarge

  • BSA Scorpion SE Woodland - image {image:count}

    click on image to enlarge

  • BSA Scorpion SE Woodland - image {image:count}

    click on image to enlarge

gun
features

  • Model: BSA Scorpion SE ‘Woodland’
  • Type : PCP multi-shot bolt action
  • Length : 35.5” not including silencer
  • Barrel : 15.2”
  • Weight : 6.8lbs un-scoped
  • Calibre: .22 on test, 177 and .25 available
  • Trigger: 2-stage, fully adjustable
  • Safety: Manual
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