BSA resumes spring gun production in Birmingham

I've just got off the phone with Martin Lowe, the MD of the Birmingham Small Arms Company, aka BSA Guns - with fantastic, breaking news.


He tells me that, from next month, production of BSA spring guns will be returning to their historic Birmingham factory from Spain, starting with the BSA Lightning XL... and he's even invited me up there to take one of the very first guns off the UK production line to test it for myself in Airgun Shooter magazine.


I can't wait - and I'm sure I speak on behalf of all UK airgunners when I say: "Welcome back to Britain, BSA!"

BSA Lightning XL - soon to be made back at BSA's Armoury Road, Birmingham factory 

First Look - Diana P1000 PCP

Well, it's taken them over 25 years... but the great airgunmaking name of Diana has finally joined the ranks and delivered us a precharged pneumatic air rifle! And the great thing is, their new P1000 14-shot PCP is anything but behind the times!


It's supplied with both a 14-shot, rotary magazine and a single-shot loading system, and it looks quite radical, with a two-piece stock design that's available in either sporter or thumbhole guises. Supplied in either .177 (4.5mm) or .22 (5.5mm), Diana are producing the P1000 in three power formats to suit various markets, from 7.5J to a full-fat version that can kick out around 1,150fps in .177, or 950fps in .22. You can also buy the P1000 with or without a silencer to screw on the 1/2in UNF threaded muzzle.


It's cocked via a sidelever action and has a screw-off cylinder as its powerplant, which is filled to 300BAR for a return of up to 280 shots (.22; 240 in .177) from the specially regulated action - each of them recoilless.


Although I'm currently testing the rifle for a detailed test report in Airgun Shooter magazine, you can get a brief insight into what I think is a very nice rifle indeed on AirgunTV.