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BSA Scorpion Tactical SE

BSA Scorpion Tactical SE

Of the four stock options - Walnut, Beech, Woodland (now re-placed by Realtree Xtra) and Black Tactical, my first ‘introduction’ to the BSA Scorpion SE was while testing the discontinued Woodland version. My opinion being the rifle beneath its ‘camo’ livery was a fast handling, lightweight and top performing hunter. However, most stock options are of a very similar design, except the Black Tactical synthetic, which is radically different from the others. As many seasoned shooters realise, the ‘handle’ you hold can transform any rifle in terms of handling, balance and practical usage. So with that in mind, I now take the ‘Black Tactical’ designated model out for a spin and come to fully appreciate the rifle in its ‘all-weather’ livery.

Back in Black

The black synthetic stock is ambidextrous and in my opinion is one of the most stylish and ’ practical of its type. The cheekpiece is distinctive having a dog ear appearance towards the rear and is well defined yet quite low. In fact, the top of the comb appears to run straight back horizontally to the thick ventilated black rubber butt pad, from where the inset for the rear of the action begins. In contrast, curvaceous lines create quite a slim neck with a thumb rest, while the steep, drop-down pistol grip has a fist filling, chunky palm swell.

The forend is slim and just forward of the integral trigger guard both sides are recessed for much of its length, until it ends in a semi-Schnabel tip. The stock has an almost ‘grit’ like rough feel finish and, to further help you keep a firm hold in inclement weather, very fine stippling is seen in three raised panels along the forend and a large full ‘wrap around’ panel at that wholesome grip. As an added bonus, the rifle comes with sling swivel studs already fitted for attaching a sling and/ or bipod.

The rifle uses the company’s now familiar, safety-damped fill probe, which is pushed into the inlet valve access ‘hole’ hidden under the air reservoir’s screw-off front cover cap. A recommended fill of 232bar 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. A neat, button-sized 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 PCPs, the Scorpion SE uses the now up-graded 10-shot removable magazine, which also now has a colour coded, high impact, polymer inner rotor, which is also numbered. The ‘rotor’ is coloured blue in .177 calibre, red in .22 and black in .25. The mechanics that secure the magazine, cock and load the rifle are all tried and trusted systems, again, as used throughout the company’s PCP range.

To remove the magazine, open the action; then slide the serrated edged magazine retaining catch (positioned on the left at the very front of the breech block) 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 (back plate) which makes it easy to ‘grip’ with cold or gloved fingers. The new look magazine operates far smoother than previous designs, but for filling, the ‘mechanics’ are the same. This requires you manually rotate the inner exposed ‘rotor’, 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’s now ready to go, so it’s wise at this point to pull back the well sized, rocker-style safety catch sited on the left of the action just rear and above the curved metal trigger blade.

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For the test, I fitted an MTC Optics 3 – 12 X 44 Mamba-lite in medium mounts onto the lengthy and uninterrupted railed action block that makes fitting any size and type of optic trouble free. I also spun a BSA ’VC’ (Variable Choke) silencer onto the ½” UNF screw cut, free-floating 15.2”, cold, hammer-forged barrel and set a 25 yard zero. The rifle comes with a stylish ported muzzle break, rather than just a plain screw-on thread protector. Though it looks the part, virtually all hunters will fit a silencer of choice. During testing, the ‘VC’, as I’ve come to expect, once again proved to be one of the most efficient airgun moddies around! Reducing the muzzle signature to a level that the hammer striking the release valve was the most audible sound heard on discharge.

 

Trigger Treat

Once again, I applaud the 2-stage, fully adjustable trigger unit, as it’s a fine mechanism for a hunting PCP. Set within the stock’s integral trigger guard, the nicely curved metal blade also has a rounded outer edge, which some prefer over a stark, flat-fronted design. But that’s ‘horses for courses’ as they say! The manually-operated trigger safety lever is also a solid and positive operating mechanism; pull back to engage and push forward to put the rifle into FIRE mode – the letters ‘S’ and ‘F’ being clearly seen etched in white on the action block directly above the lever’s finger friendly, pronounced dome shaped head.

First time users will be amazed at the accuracy potential and shot-to-shot consistency of this rifle. I say this as it is not fitted with an air regulator, instead uses a self-regulating valve system. Shooting from a rested position, tight ½” clusters out to 30 yds quickly became the norm.

 

Conclusions

To sum up, the BSA Scorpion Tactical SE is a very well balanced, lightweight, highly accurate, easy to use and practically featured multi-shot PCP. In its synthetic, all-weather livery it certainly stands out from the rest, not only due to its handling characteristics but it’s also very stylish to boot. It teams up wonderfully well with almost any size and type of optic on-board, and for the hunters who aren’t scared to let their rifles get subjected to a bit of rough and tumble in the field; I can’t recommend it highly enough.

Thanks to T & J. J McAvoy Ltd for supplying rifle on test Contact: 01257 426129

PRICES:
Black Tactical SRP £589, Walnut £689,
Beech £649 and Realtree Xtra £629
Spare Magazines £46.20
BSA ‘VC’ Silencer £46.20

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

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

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

    click on image to enlarge

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

    click on image to enlarge

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

    click on image to enlarge

gun
features

  • Name: BSA Scorpion Tactical SE
  • Type: PCP multi-shot bolt action
  • Stock: Ambidextrous black synthetic sporter
  • Length: 35.5” not incl 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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