Best Scopes for BSA Air Rifles

Start with the power plant. On a break-barrel springer, the spring and piston slam forward and then rebound, and that double recoil is what destroys unsuited scopes. Cross-hairs shift, internals loosen and the zero wanders. Look for a scope sold as springer-rated or air rifle rated, ideally from a maker that states it in the specification. A firearm scope that is only rated for rearward recoil may not last. A PCP like the R10, R12 or Ultra CLX has a short, light recoil impulse, so any good air rifle scope will cope and you are free to choose on optical quality.

Check the parallax range. Air rifle pellets are slow and quarry is close, so the scope must focus sharply at 10 to 30 yards. A firearm scope that focuses from 50 or 100 yards will show a blurry target at the distances you actually shoot and cause parallax error. Look for adjustable parallax, either a side-focus wheel or an adjustable objective (AO), that goes down to about 10 yards. Side focus is easier to use from the shooting position, while AO is common on lower-priced scopes and works just as well once you are used to it.

Choose magnification for the job. A 3-9x or 3-12x covers most rabbit, pigeon and rat work out to 40 yards, and the lower end of the range is forgiving when you are tracking a moving target or shooting in poor light. A 4-16x is useful on a PCP for target work and for precise shots at known distances, but at the top of its range it narrows the field of view and exaggerates your wobble. Our guide to air rifle scope magnification explains the trade-off in more detail.

Sort out the mounting. Most BSA air rifles carry an 11 mm dovetail along the top of the receiver, so you need rings that match it, usually a two-piece set in the correct height for your objective lens. Springers need rings with a good grip, and a scope stop pin or recoil stop is a sensible precaution: it stops the scope creeping backwards under recoil. Check the exact rail on your model before buying, because some newer rifles use Weaver or Picatinny style rails, and the mounts for those are not interchangeable with 11 mm rings. Our guide to scope mounts, rings and rails for air rifles covers the sizes.

Match the scope to the rifle. A compact PCP such as the Ultra CLX looks and handles best with a short scope that does not overhang the action, while a full-size R10 or R12 can carry a longer 4-16x with a side-focus wheel. On a Meteor, keep the set-up simple and light: a heavy scope on a break-barrel can make the rifle muzzle-light and slow to point. Make sure the objective lens clears the barrel and, on break-barrels, that the scope does not foul the cocking arc.

Zero it properly. Once the scope is fitted, bore-sight, then shoot a group at 20 to 25 yards and adjust. After the first 100 or so shots, re-check the rings and the zero because new mounts can settle. Our guide to zeroing an air rifle scope walks through the process step by step. Shoot only with permission and a safe backstop; in Scotland an Air Weapon Certificate is required for an air rifle, and a sub-12 ft-lb rifle needs no licence in England or Wales.