Beeman P17 bought by my wife

[Tater]

My wife likes shooting our PB (Ruger SR9) but I haven't been able to get her interested in AG. She does shoot my 1377 with me at times but can't pump it herself. I've been eyeballing the P17 and Rolando's recent post motivated me. We went to Cabelas tonight and as I hoped they had P17's, they had red dots already on them. Luckily, she went for it. It's similar to our Ruger in shape and weight. We had enough Cabelas points that we didn't pay anything for it and got some pellets too using points. All free.

http://reviews.cabelas.com/8815/228507/beeman-2006-pistol-with-red-dot-sight-reviews/reviews.htm?page=5&sort=rating

Not good reviews here.

Anyhow, we got home and for accuracy we both took a few 5 shot groups at 20' (resting on a chair). 4 of 5 holes were touching for each of us so I love the accuracy and the trigger is really nice as is. I do plan to smooth it out though.
The problem is, there's no way she could cock that thing. With the red dot on it it's even hard for me to cock while avoiding moving the open sights and red dot. There's barely only room to use to fingers to close it up. Do these things get easier to cock or is there a trick to it? I know there are tons of posts and videos about these and I plan on going though a bunch of them tomorrow, but I don't remember reading anything about making them easier to cock.

[45Man]

...The problem is, there's no way she could cock that thing. With the red dot on it it's even hard for me to cock while avoiding moving the open sights and red dot. There's barely only room to use to fingers to close it up. Do these things get easier to cock or is there a trick to it? I know there are tons of posts and videos about these and I plan on going though a bunch of them tomorrow, but I don't remember reading anything about making them easier to cock.

If you're right handed, hold the grip in your left hand with the muzzle pointing to the right.
Release the hammer catch with your left index finger.
Open it up all the way.
Load the pellet (or not, if you want to test fire).
With your left hand still on the grip, put the bottom of the bottom of the frame in front of the trigger guard on your right thigh.
Place your right palm on top of the red dot.
Make sure no skin or clothing will get caught.
Push down until it closes & latches.

My red dot doesn't move when pushed, the rear sight will.


Are you saying that this red dot will move if you press down on it?

To me, it seems mounted too far forward for easy closing.  I would move it rearwards as far as possible.

[Tad]

When I read that she could not pump the 1377, I immediately thought "there's no way she can cock the P17".  I've got at least 1000 shots through mine.  Sad to say, the cocking effort remains the same.  I've got a red dot on mine. moved as far front as possible.  I haven't had problems with the red dot moving, but I do press down on the rear sight.  I'm not concerned with movement there, since I'm using the red dot.

I'm more accurate with the red dot than with the open sights, but as accurate as the gun is, I'd like to try a scope for bench rest shooting, but I don't see how I could mount a scope, and still be able to cock it.

The trigger does have an adjustment, but it just seems to adjust the "first stage" length.  Although it breaks predictably, I still find the second stage to have some creep.

My first one failed after 20 shots, and was returned (I wasn't that surprised).  My second one is still going strong without anything being done to it.  This seems a bit unusual, as most folks seem to do some work to smooth things out, replacing seals etc.

I love mine.  For $36, a true bargain.

[lillysdad621]

p17... best bargain in airgunning... mine is still going strong after 5 tins of hobbies...

[Tater]

The trigger seems fine to both of us, but would you guys recommend lubing everything and deburring the intake hole as most seem to end up needing to do or just shoot it as is until there is an issue?

@45man - I'd be afraid to push down that hard on the red dot. Not only because it would move but it looks like it would break very easily.

[lillysdad621]

the adjustment on the trigger on mine was enough. i opened mine and mostly cleaned and lubed... no deburring. as per pushing on the back of your red dot... the open screen one you show on the picture has the adjustment on the rear... so its only the screw that would be taking the load of closing the pistol... i woulndn't do it. get a tube red dot like the 30 mm shown... it will be better. or slide your as far forward as possible and close it by pressing on the rear sight (max leverage). this guns are silly accurate... will give a daisy 717 or even a 747 a run for its money...

[45Man]

The trigger seems fine to both of us, but would you guys recommend lubing everything and deburring the intake hole as most seem to end up needing to do or just shoot it as is until there is an issue?

@45man - I'd be afraid to push down that hard on the red dot. Not only because it would move but it looks like it would break very easily.

Just shoot until an issue.  My o-rings (seals) didn't last that long; they weren't torn or nicked.  When I closed it, there would be a small hiss, but would still fire the pellet.  When you replace them, then you can see if it needs deburring (mine did not).  I only lubed the o-rings & cylinder, not the "action" (parts inside the handle).  Everything has to come out to replace the o-rings.  I just did it last week.  See this thread:  http://www.gatewaytoairguns.org/GTA/index.php?topic=31037.0

the adjustment on the trigger on mine was enough. i opened mine and mostly cleaned and lubed... no deburring. as per pushing on the back of your red dot... the open screen one you show on the picture has the adjustment on the rear... so its only the screw that would be taking the load of closing the pistol... i woulndn't do it. get a tube red dot like the 30 mm shown... it will be better. or slide your as far forward as possible and close it by pressing on the rear sight (max leverage). this guns are silly accurate... will give a daisy 717 or even a 747 a run for its money...

Agree with everything said, i.e. super accurate, slide your red dot all the way forward.  BTW, if it gets easier to cock, then something is wrong.  Mine didn't start leaking until it was all the way closed & latched.

[Tater]

the adjustment on the trigger on mine was enough. i opened mine and mostly cleaned and lubed... no deburring. as per pushing on the back of your red dot... the open screen one you show on the picture has the adjustment on the rear... so its only the screw that would be taking the load of closing the pistol... i woulndn't do it. get a tube red dot like the 30 mm shown... it will be better. or slide your as far forward as possible and close it by pressing on the rear sight (max leverage). this guns are silly accurate... will give a daisy 717 or even a 747 a run for its money...

Do you think it's safe to press down that hard on the rear sight? I'd rather just use those anyways, but my wife likes the red dot.
If I just removed the rear sight, that would leave more room to grip and close it up when cocking. Is it the one screw on the top that holds it on?

[45Man]

Do you think it's safe to press down that hard on the rear sight? I'd rather just use those anyways, but my wife likes the red dot.
If I just removed the rear sight, that would leave more room to grip and close it up when cocking. Is it the one screw on the top that holds it on?

Yes, it's OK.  Sometimes I do it by mistake.  The screw on top is for elevation adjustment.  There is an issue with the rear sight.  The nut on the underside comes loose very easily which will raise the POI.  I used blue loctite or you can get a longer screw & locknut.  M4 x 0.7mm should do it.

See here:  http://anotherairgunblog.blogspot.com/2009/02/derricks-short-list-for-beeman-p17.html

I decided mine didn't need any of the setscrew mods.

[Tater]

Just shoot until an issue.  My o-rings (seals) didn't last that long; they weren't torn or nicked.  When I closed it, there would be a small hiss, but would still fire the pellet.  When you replace them, then you can see if it needs deburring (mine did not).  I only lubed the o-rings & cylinder, not the "action" (parts inside the handle).  Everything has to come out to replace the o-rings.  I just did it last week.  See this thread:  http://www.gatewaytoairguns.org/GTA/index.php?topic=31037.0

Agree with everything said, i.e. super accurate, slide your red dot all the way forward.  BTW, if it gets easier to cock, then something is wrong.  Mine didn't start leaking until it was all the way closed & latched.

Was the hissing cause by lack of lube since the seals were OK?

[Tater]

Do you think it's safe to press down that hard on the rear sight? I'd rather just use those anyways, but my wife likes the red dot.
If I just removed the rear sight, that would leave more room to grip and close it up when cocking. Is it the one screw on the top that holds it on?

Yes, it's OK.  Sometimes I do it by mistake.  The screw on top is for elevation adjustment.  There is an issue with the rear sight.  The nut on the underside comes loose very easily which will raise the POI.  I used blue loctite or you can get a longer screw & locknut.  M4 x 0.7mm should do it.

See here:  http://anotherairgunblog.blogspot.com/2009/02/derricks-short-list-for-beeman-p17.html

I decided mine didn't need any of the setscrew mods.

Thanks, I just bookmarked that link.

[45Man]

Since I had it all apart, I replaced the 2 small seals on the chamber valve.  Also replaced the breech seal because it's the same size as one of the chamber seals.  I have a Harbor Freight kit of O-rings so I used what I had.

Here's the 2 links with the instructions.  I downloaded all the pics (50-60) & my computer is next to the work table.
http://anotherairgunblog.blogspot.com/2009/02/derricks-on-beeman-p17-overhaul-part-1.html
http://anotherairgunblog.blogspot.com/2009/02/derricks-beeman-p17-overhaul-finale.html

[Tater]

Thanks 45Man.

[lillysdad621]

if you want to be amazed... mount a rifle scope with like 9x and put a target at like 50 yards or near that. get comfy behind some pillows to adjust to the short eye relief and get a group out there... 5 shots later you'll look at the p17 in a whole new light....

[Tater]

if you want to be amazed... mount a rifle scope with like 9x and put a target at like 50 yards or near that. get comfy behind some pillows to adjust to the short eye relief and get a group out there... 5 shots later you'll look at the p17 in a whole new light....

I was I had that much space to try it. I can only shoot indoors up to 13 yards.

[lillysdad621]

at 13 you should be able to stack lead pellets in top of each other... great pistol...

[Tater]

at 13 you should be able to stack lead pellets in top of each other... great pistol...

Haha, I wish. My eyes are not good at all and bifocals only let me focus on either the sights or the target. It's an awkward balancing act.
I was just watching a video about opening it up and removing the barrel. Did you guys clean the barrel right off the bat?

[rangerfredbob]

I got mine for $40 on craigslist with a 1377 ($40 for both...), it's the older Marksman 2004 model (same gun), haven't touched a thing other than finding a screw, nut and spring to work in the rear sight as those were all missing, I've left it cocked for a month (forgot I did that, shot it yesterday and it was still loaded and cocked ) and it seems to hold that fine! super fun and accurate gun. At 50 yards it would be shooting like 6" low but I imagine it would group pretty well

[althawk]

Hmm... I'm interested in where you got a spring for the rear sight. I tried looking for one in hardware stores, after one of mine went flying, but I could never find one that was comparable.

I didn't really see the need to wash the barrel(s) on any of mine. 

It is remarkable how precise this pistol can be (once you realize the red-dot sight it comes with is junk). At about 15m, using a scope (wallyworld $7 short version of the crosman 4x15) I'm able to get really small/tight groups, so it is highly likely you could stack pellets @ 13m.   

setscrew mods?

I'd lube the piston with a lite amount of white lithium grease, remove the hand grip, inspect the trigger mechanism (get familiar with its parts), re-attach the hand grip, then shot till there is/was a problem.  Then upgrade the seals when you have to take it apart & troubleshoot the problem(s).

[lillysdad621]

no necessity to remove barrel... (in fact, dont unless you have to.) open it and run patches of goo gone through so they fall out of the back. that is it. plus it is going so slow that lead deposits will take forever to build up. i cleaned mine when i got it and havent since...