Vantage (Quest) NP vs Trail NP AW
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Vantage (Quest) NP vs Trail NP AW
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Topic: Vantage (Quest) NP vs Trail NP AW (Read 2277 times))
harleyflhxi
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Plinker
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Real Name: Dave
Vantage (Quest) NP vs Trail NP AW
«
on:
June 21, 2013, 02:13:10 AM »
As some of you may know, I briefly had a Trail NP AW. I ended up returning it because, at this point in my airgunning avocation, I found that I must have open sights, and the Trail does not have them. I had trouble with the scope, and with droop. The trigger was rougher and had longer pull than any of my other airguns. It was a very difficult gun to shoot accurately on a consistent basis. When the scope started becoming unpredictable, the gun was effectively disabled until the scope was replaced. The droop problem was more fundamental because droop compensating scope mounts are largely unavailable for Weaver rails. I'd read how some people were machining the breech for a more "square" lockup and less droop, but I ultimately felt that it is not what I wanted to have to do.
I thought that the Trail was a very good looking rifle, and I still do.
The Vantage NP came to my attention as Crosman's least expensive Nitro Piston rifle. From the photos I could see that it looks like my Quest, and I really like how my Quest's stock feels and fits me. I saw that Walmart has them for $124, so I ordered one for delivery at my local Walmart, thus no shipping charge.
It arrived on Monday, but I didn't have time to shoot it until last night. I brought out my Quest for comparison - the Vantage NP doesn't just LOOK like my Quest, it IS my Quest, just with darker stain on the stock. And a different barrel lock-up method, which I don't know if it is worse, or just different. Oh, and the trigger is different, too - instead of curved, stamped steel, like the Quest, the Vantage NP trigger looks like a regular trigger. I'm not sure what it's made of, but it seems sturdy, and completely acceptable. Incidentally, the Vantage NP trigger is far better than the Trail's trigger, but not as good as my fully broken-in Quest's trigger. The Vantage NP trigger is consistent, and dare I say, predictable! I'm sure that with time it will smooth out, like my Quest.
The finish on the Vantage NP's breech is much better than my Trail's, was. Yes, we're talking about different caliber rifles, but the Vantage NP is much easier to load and seat pellets. It's also not picky about which pellets fit easily. All the pellets I tried loaded and seated easily and properly.
One of the things I really like about my Quest is that it is very accurate - always one hole groups, unless I screw up. I was very interested to see how the Vantage NP compared in this regard to my Quest. I put about 150 pellets through it last night, and at this point I can say that it is accurate, and consistently so. The barrel bore is in line with the barrel itself, and thus, I barely had to adjust the rear sight for windage, and then only for heavy and light pellets, which have different points of impact.
It appears to me that the powerplants for the Vantage NP and the Trail NP are the same. They take about the same amount of force to cock. The Vantage NP vibrates less and the stock screws come loose with less frequency. The Vantage NP may be very slightly louder. The Vantage NP is not only far more accurate (out of the box) than the Trail NP, but it is easier to shoot accurately. I just pulled it out of the box, cleaned the barrel, made sure the stock screws were tight, and began shooting. And hitting what I was aiming at. Over and over again. No drama.
I know that for some it is politically incorrect to say nice things about Quests, but I've had great luck with mine for five years, and I really like it. I can see that, unless something dramatic happens, I'm going to like my Vantage NP, too. Just as I really like my .22 cal Phantom. I guess I am a base-model B19 fan.
Two thumbs up for the Vantage NP! It's the Nitro Piston Crosman/Benjamin of choice for me.
Now if I could just get one in .22 cal...
«
Last Edit: June 22, 2013, 11:42:14 PM by harleyflhxi
»
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harleyflhxi
If you want to burn our flag, please wrap yourself in it, first!
Plinker
Posts: 255
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Real Name: Dave
Re: Vantage (Quest) NP vs Trail NP AW
«
Reply #1 on:
June 22, 2013, 07:03:10 PM »
I suppose that most of you think it is preposterous to compare a Vantage NP with a Trail NP. Huge price difference, .177 cal vs .22 cal, styling, etc.
From what I can tell, a Trail NP is just a decked-out version of the same platform that also includes the Vantage NP.
As with many other airguns, quality-control with Crosman breakbarrels appears to be hit-and-miss. One of my points, not mentioned succinctly in my OP, is that the Vantage NP I just received is, in many ways, made better than my Trail NP was.
My other point was that when a poorly-made gun has no open sights (open sights on a breakbarrel make up for many sins of poor construction), it is extremely frustrating to get any
shooting
enjoyment out of the gun.
Believe it or not, the Vantage NP really does have most, if not all, of the positives of the shooting experience of the Trail NP - no spring torque, no twang, minimal vibration and quick lock. Maybe it's the stock or a less-powerful Nitro Piston (I don't know if this is so, or not, but I do know the cocking effort is virtually the same), but the recoil is dramatically lower for the Vantage NP, compared to the Trail NP. Thus, all the bolts don't loosen up as quickly with the Vantage NP. I'll still Loctite them, but it doesn't take eight shots to loosen them all, either, as it did with the Trail NP.
So, take it for what you will - and just look at the number of posts you see here with Trail NP accuracy problems - the Vantage NP really is a viable alternative IF you want a Nitro Piston rifle, and having a .22 cal is not critical.
Heck, with all of the modifications GTA members are making to their Trail NP's to get them to shoot accurately, a Phantom .22 cal barrel & breech could just as easily (or more so) be put on a Vantage NP.
Hmmm... maybe I'll give that a try - after all, I
do
have both guns and could swap them straight across.
«
Last Edit: June 22, 2013, 11:47:32 PM by harleyflhxi
»
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DonH
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Re: Vantage (Quest) NP vs Trail NP AW
«
Reply #2 on:
June 22, 2013, 08:25:51 PM »
Hi, Dave
I've had my Vantage for a year now. I took of the spring for the fist stage of the trigger and it shoots better. Then i replaced it with the GrIII trigger and I get one ragged hole with it. It's a great gun with plenty power.
If you switch to a .22 barrel will it kick more from the heavier pellet? Let us know how it works out. I've thought of getting a .22 barrel for mine as well.
Don
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harleyflhxi
If you want to burn our flag, please wrap yourself in it, first!
Plinker
Posts: 255
yes
Real Name: Dave
Re: Vantage (Quest) NP vs Trail NP AW
«
Reply #3 on:
June 22, 2013, 11:50:06 PM »
Don, is your Vantage an NP? Does it have the bar-type barrel lock-up?
I'm seriously thinking about the barrel/breech swap. I'll keep you posted.
Dave
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DonH
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Re: Vantage (Quest) NP vs Trail NP AW
«
Reply #4 on:
June 23, 2013, 09:35:18 PM »
Yes it has the Np and it has the bar-type barrel lock-up.
It was my first springer. Then later Cosman had the low power titan np for $70 bucks so I bought one. The recoil is a little softer, but I find that when I putting my thumb in the thumb hole it afects the recoil of the gun so i put my thumb on the side with my figgers just like i did with the Vantage and i get one ragged hole. I always have to shoot a little while to do it.
Don
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Bryan Heimann
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Posts: 6043
Re: Vantage (Quest) NP vs Trail NP AW
«
Reply #5 on:
June 23, 2013, 10:41:18 PM »
Something I figured out about the trail- i shoot better groups with it if i just raise it up, quickly acquire my target, and snap the shot off. I don't jerk the trigger but I don't take my time like I do with a gun that has a nice one. I get 3-4 partail pulls on the trigger taking my time and pull them about half the time, but if i quickly acquire my target and pull the trigger i drill my spinner every time and group about half an inch at ten yards no problem, and that is with cphp's. Should work out well for hunting. The trick is to zero it this way, it must me zeroed with the same technique you use to shoot it because it is hold sensitive. Also, installing a JM piston seal in it makes it less hold sensitive. Don't resize it, install it with a very tight fit. It will still hit 16-17fpe even with the heavy eunjin domes it will hit 16.5 fpe. The heaviest eunjins, the pointed ones, don't group well because the skirt protrudes too far and gets damage. I'd love to drop in a GRTIII and see how good she can shoot but have to wait till payday. Luckily I had an old JMseal laying around. Always order piston seals 2 at a time in case I screw one up!
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Vantage (Quest) NP vs Trail NP AW