BSA Lightning XL
Birmingham Small Arms Company Ltd. · Rifle · In Production · 2007
Also known as: BSA Lightning XL SE, Lightning XL Tactical
Overview
The BSA Lightning XL is a break-barrel, spring-piston air rifle produced by the Birmingham Small Arms Company in England. Chambered for .177 (4.5mm) pellets, it is a lightweight carbine-length sporter built around a cold hammer-forged barrel fully sleeved by a slim-line silencer. The ambidextrous chequered beech stock, recoil-absorbing butt pad and adjustable two-stage trigger make it a popular hunting and pest-control air rifle in the United Kingdom.
Specifications
| Weight (empty) | 3000 g (105.8 oz) |
| Overall Length | 950 mm (37.40") |
| Barrel Length | 370 mm (14.57") |
| Action Type | Spring Piston |
| Firing Mechanism | Fixed Firing Pin |
| Trigger Type | Two Stage |
| Magazine Capacity | 1 rounds |
| Muzzle Velocity | 239 m/s (784 fps) |
| Muzzle Energy | 16 J (12 ft·lbf) |
| Effective Range | 35 m (38 yd) |
| Barrel Rifling | Right Hand |
| Frame Material | Steel |
| Barrel Material | Steel |
| Stock Material | Wood |
| Finish | Blued |
Calibers
- .177 Air (4.5mm) · primary — also known as .177 caliber, 4.5mm, .177 pellet
Features
- Firing modes: Manual
- Feed systems: Single Shot Breech
- Safety mechanisms: Automatic Safety
- Features: Break Barrel Cocking, Full Barrel Silencer, Ambidextrous Beech Stock, Checkered Grip, Recoil Absorbing Butt Pad, Adjustable Two Stage Trigger, Cold Hammer Forged Barrel
Variants
- BSA Lightning XL SE - Special Edition
- BSA GRT Lightning XL SE - Gas Ram
Production
Production years: 2007-present
Civilian sporting air rifle; manufactured in Birmingham, England
Origin
Country of origin: United Kingdom
Notes
Sold in several configurations including the Lightning XL SE (Special Edition) and a Gas Ram Technology (GRT) version that replaces the coil spring with a gas-ram piston. Available in .177 and .22; export and high-power versions are tuned to higher muzzle energies than the 12 ft-lb UK legal limit.
Background
The Lightning name has been carried by BSA spring-piston air rifles for decades; the carbine-length Lightning XL refreshed the line with a fully sleeved silenced barrel and modern ambidextrous stock for the hunting market.