BSA Meteor
Birmingham Small Arms Company Ltd. · Rifle · In Production · 1959
Also known as: BSA Meteor Super, BSA Meteor Evo
Overview
The BSA Meteor is a break-barrel, spring-piston air rifle first produced by the Birmingham Small Arms Company in Birmingham, England, in 1959. Chambered for .177 (4.5mm) and .22 (5.5mm) pellets, it is cocked by breaking the barrel through roughly 125 degrees to compress the mainspring and piston before a single pellet is loaded directly into the breech. Built around a simple, robust action with a two-stage trigger, manual safety, adjustable open sights, and dovetail grooves for optional optics, the Meteor became one of Britain's best-selling and longest-running airguns, valued as an affordable, entry-level sporting and small-game rifle.
Specifications
| Weight (empty) | 3000 g (105.8 oz) |
| Overall Length | 1105 mm (43.50") |
| Barrel Length | 470 mm (18.50") |
| Action Type | Spring Piston |
| Trigger Type | Two Stage |
| Magazine Capacity | 1 rounds |
| Muzzle Velocity | 246 m/s (807 fps) |
| Muzzle Energy | 16 J (12 ft·lbf) |
| Effective Range | 30 m (33 yd) |
| Barrel Rifling | Right Hand |
| Frame Material | Steel |
| Barrel Material | Steel |
| Stock Material | Beech |
| Finish | Blued |
Calibers
- .177 Air (4.5mm) · primary — also known as .177 caliber, 4.5mm pellet, .177 pellet
- .22 Air (5.5mm) — also known as .22 pellet, 5.5mm, 5.6mm air
Features
- Firing modes: Repeating
- Feed systems: Single Shot Breech Loading
- Safety mechanisms: Manual Safety
- Features: Break Barrel Cocking, Two Stage Adjustable Trigger, Thumb Safety, Adjustable Open Sights, Scope Dovetails, Recoil Pad
Variants
- BSA Meteor Super - Improved
- BSA Meteor Evo - Synthetic Stock
Service history
Operators
- Civilian shooters
Production
Production years: 1959-present
One of BSA's best-selling air rifles; produced continuously since 1959 across seven marks plus the current Super and Evo models.
Origin
Country of origin: United Kingdom
Notes
The Meteor ran through seven principal marks (Mark I to Mark VII) over its long production life, with the later Mark VII tuned to comply with the UK's 12 ft-lbf legal limit for non-FAC air rifles. The current Meteor Super and Meteor Evo continue the line with a cold-hammer-forged, choked and crowned barrel, guided mainspring, and beech or synthetic stocks.
Background
Introduced in 1959, the Meteor became a rite-of-passage airgun for generations of British shooters, prized as an inexpensive, hard-wearing rifle ideal for plinking, pest control, and learning marksmanship before moving up to firearms.