BSA Scorpion TS

The Great British Shooting Show is an opportunity for manufacturers to show off their new models, and this year’s event, held at the NEC earlier in the year, was no exception. I still get genuinely excited, as you never know what may be waiting to be discovered.

Busy Beeza

Arriving at BSA’s impressive stand, there was plenty to see, with their full range being drooled over by crowds of admirers. However, once I caught the eye of the sales team, it was obvious that the new Scorpion TS was their big news. OK, I’ll admit that on the face of it, this gun isn’t exactly ground-breaking, and it looks fairly familiar BSA territory, but hold on just a minute, for there is more to this model than is immediately apparent.

Cost slashing exercise

Let’s face it, at a time when crazy world events have conspired to hit us all heavily in the pocket, any move to save us a few shekels along the way, should be acknowledged and applauded. Three cheers then to BSA, as the new Scorpion TS comes in at over £100 cheaper than the previous model! How have they done this? Well, speaking to Simon Moore, BSA’s MD, up at the show, the company decided to basically rationalize the entire production process behind this model, and by scrutinizing every element of the production, then either simplifying the process or simplifying the design of specific components, they have been able to make significant savings. The end result is a Scorpion PCP that still ticks all the right boxes, but is quite simply easier and cheaper to make.

That’s a clever move for sure, but when you consider that the Scorpion TS also gets an extended air cylinder, with more usable shots, it seems very much like a win-win situation!

Familiar profile

So, a familiar profile of course, and much of that is to do with the same synthetic sporter stock being utilized. That’s a great start, and for those unfamiliar with this piece of performance art, this brilliant moulded stock was actually the brainchild of the late Jon Sykes of Hydrographics fame. Super compact, yet with features that just feel right, this is an excellent design. The moulding is dense polymer, and with a slightly roughened feel to the surface and some clever shaping, it really is a ‘cut above’ in terms of handling. The compact, slimline forend ends with that neat tip that feels good in the aim. Rearwards, we have a prominent, yet unobtrusive cheekpiece, and the Gamo pad at the back. What really appeals though, is that full target, 90º, drop-down grip, complete with a satisfying palm swell and thumb shelf, too. The hand just sits in a natural grip, with the trigger finger perfectly positioned for relaxed control. All very clever when you consider that this stock is ambidextrous, and a testament to the original design that it continues to be utilized on the latest TS model.

Barrel configuration

At the time of writing this article, BSA’s website was showing this model with a barrel support band fitted, along the lines of the popular figure of 8 clamps, but I’m pleased to say that presumably, they have thought better of it, and my test gun came supplied with no clamp, leaving the barrel totally free-floating. What we mean by ‘free-floating’, is that there are no restrictions or clamps placed around the barrel, thus allowing the main air cylinder to fractionally flex as the residual pressure changes throughout the shot cycle. This is perfectly normal. Many PCPs follow the tried and tested path of having the barrel sitting inside a clamp from the cylinder, with a soft and flexible ‘O’ ring inside the clamp, which allows the cylinder to move, without moving the barrel. My favoured setup is to see the barrel totally free from any restrictions. All this fuss and fretting is, of course, to avoid any zero shift through the shot charge, and the ‘no clamp’ route does rely upon a sufficiently beefy barrel to effectively self-support, with no sag.

BSA are one of the few airgun manufacturers that actually manufacture their own barrels, via their traditional Cold Hammer Forged method, and the beefy specimen fitted to the Scorpion TS is just what the doctor ordered.

Features

So, we’ve established that we get a longer air cylinder with the new TS specification, and up at the muzzle end, we get a revolving valve cover to protect the valve from dirt, a manometer inset into the front of the cylinder, and also a protector for the 1/2” UNF muzzle thread. There’s also a 2-stage trigger, and with a little adjustment, the let-off point and feel of this unit are highly acceptable.

BSA fit this model with a manual safety catch, and this sits to the rear of the action, on the left side of the receiver. The popular Bolas bolt works the action, and the multi-shot system gets BSA’s colour-coded magazine, so blue for .177 calibre as per my test gun, and red anodized for .22. With the mag sitting quite low in the action, we get a continuous run of dovetail rail along the receiver, so mounting a scope is a very simple procedure, unlike a few rival designs, where an ultra-high magazine sits proud above the scope rails and can interfere with scope placement.

Charging & filling

And so to business. This Beeza utilizes the probe-style of filling adaptor, supplied with the gun, and with this all connected up to the chosen air source, it’s time to swivel the dust cover (metal for the record) to reveal the inlet. Insert the probe, checking it is properly and securely seated, and then the system can be slowly charged to the familiar pressure of 232bar. Next, bleed the line, remove the probe, and close the valve. That front-mounted gauge is always a worry, and it’s not a safe place, but that’s how it is.

Filling the magazine is similarly uncomplicated. Just drop a pellet head first into each chamber, twisting anti-clockwise after each one, until all ten shots are in place. Then, pull back the Bolas bolt, snap the mag into its slot from the left side, and push home the bolt.

Results sheet

I mentioned earlier that the muzzle was threaded, and when you hear the significant crack as standard, you’ll soon realize that a silencer is really a vital add-on accessory, as it will make life so much more civilized, for a small additional outlay. Once fitted, the report is just muted. Hunting will be so much more productive, and if you shoot in a garden, where neighbours are a consideration, then this Scorpion will become barely detectable.

One slight negative concerns the trigger, simply because I feel that the blade itself is just very basic. It’s probably time for a better, broader blade to become the standard item. As it stands, this unit is fully adjustable and can be set with a fairly light release point.

OK, to the results sheet. From the prescribed 232bar, cycling the action over the chronograph revealed a hefty shot count for sure. BSA’s claimed figures are 140 in both .177 and .22 calibre, and 136 in .25, so as near as damn it identical, or a rough guide at any rate. I clocked 100 shots with a total velocity spread of 25 fps, which is very impressive from an unregulated PCP. However, looking at the figures on my sheet showed that the first 70 shots were actually within 19 fps. These are great figures but bear in mind that I stopped recording shots with a residual 130bar onboard, so BSA’s claimed figures are well on the cards. I just recorded the most consistent shot band. That extended cylinder makes a big difference then.

As for accuracy, I initially used Rangemaster Sovereign pellets, and whilst I had some super tight groups, weirdly, I did get the odd flyer. These were known pellets of quality that had suited other guns, but clearly, the Scorpion took issue. Reasonable results, but it didn’t really make sense. Switching to BSA Goldstar ammo, and thereafter, no such problem, with tight clusters out to 40 yards and ragged holes a little over a 0.25” c-t-c at 35 yards. Satisfying results then, all in a compact format designed to enhance feel and performance in a hunting scenario. Just do your homework and compare results with a few different pellet brands.

Verdict

As mentioned at the start, this reincarnation of the Scorpion trims over £100 off the RRP of the original version, yet appears to concede little in terms of quality and performance. Indeed, we get more shots than before and all the familiar BSA features that have proved so successful along the way. In short, the new Scorpion TS is smart, highly functional, very accurate, and very affordable. So, well-done chaps, I heartily approve.