GTA
Airguns by Make and Model => Benjamin Airguns => Topic started by: 35 shooter on March 11, 2019, 02:17:07 AM
-
Picked up a new in box 397pa to go with my 392pa today.
I have a good friend that has an archery shop and had recently bought out the inventory of a local sporting goods store getting out of the game.
They had a 397 that had been in the box since 2005.
It is a pa series, but the stock sure looks like walnut and not beech. It has the pa trigger group.
I traded my friend a longbow with snake skin backing I can no longer shoot for it, and have spent the last 2 hours getting all the overspray paint out of the bore.
Did a little shooting before cleaning the paint out to hopefully loosen the paint up a bit and make it easier to get out.
Daisy flat nose, Crosman piranah’s, and Crosman hp’s were all I had on hand and all were trying to group, but had several flyers at 20 yds. “ hopefully “due to the paint in the bore.
Now that the bore is clean we’ll see what she can do. Hopefully it will shoot something I have on hand, if not, the hunt will be on for a pellet it likes. :D
-
Nice! I'm always thinking about adding a 397 to my collection.
Enjoy your new rifle,
Bob
-
Thanks Bob,
Shot it a few more times last night after the paint was out of the bore. It really seems to like the cheap Daisy flat nose and also Crosman piranah’s so far.
-
Thanks Bob,
Shot it a few more times last night after the paint was out of the bore. It really seems to like the cheap Daisy flat nose and also Crosman piranah’s so far.
Hey Buddy,
Nice to see you got a 397 ? Do you plan on using it as plinker or do you plan on making it a flatter shooting HOSP-Starling-Squirrel gun ?
Send some pics when you have a chance, love to see it ;- )
wll
-
Thanks Will,
Yeah, i’ll Be small game hunting with it for sure and paper punching.
Last night it was sticking pellets in a ragged hole at 20 yds. once I got the paint out.... but today it opened up the groups quite a bit.
Checking scope bases and cleaning the bbl. again right now.
I can’t seem to get pic’s downsized to load on the sight from my phone directly.... may have to learn to use photo bucket or something.
Computer went blitz on me... i’ll Figure it out eventually.
-
Okay, after further shooting with my new 397, two obvious problems showed up.
I’m shooting a non parallax adjust scope on it for now and the comb of the stock is too low for the inter mount scope bases I have on it now.
It’s causing parallax problems because I can’t get a good cheek weld for now.
The comb on my 392 is higher and works just fine with that same scope and base.
I need a lower base for the 397 to keep good eye alignment with the scope, or a parallax adj. scope, or a raised cheek piece on the stock.
The other thing I noticed is retained air in the valve after the shot. It builds with each shot and causes vertical disbursement after a few shots.
My 392 retains a very small amount of air after the shot, but never builds... just the same very small puff of air retained after each shot even if you shoot all day on 8 pumps.
The valve and hammer springs on my 392 are pretty evenly matched, but i’m going to have to put a lighter valve spring in the 397 to get it to dump the air, or maybe compress the spring.
Oh well, I wanted to take it apart anyway to make sure it has a brass air valve and not the aluminum valve they used a few years ago.
I may do the two spring and washer mod to the valve eventually, but for now I just want to get it dumping the air on 8 pumps.
I’m having to cock and shoot between pumping every 2 or 3 shots to keep it from retaining and building too much air for now.
Anybody know a spring size from Ace Hardware that would likely work?
-
Okay, after further shooting with my new 397, two obvious problems showed up.
I’m shooting a non parallax adjust scope on it for now and the comb of the stock is too low for the inter mount scope bases I have on it now.
It’s causing parallax problems because I can’t get a good cheek weld for now.
The comb on my 392 is higher and works just fine with that same scope and base.
I need a lower base for the 397 to keep good eye alignment with the scope, or a parallax adj. scope, or a raised cheek piece on the stock.
The other thing I noticed is retained air in the valve after the shot. It builds with each shot and causes vertical disbursement after a few shots.
My 392 retains a very small amount of air after the shot, but never builds... just the same very small puff of air retained after each shot even if you shoot all day on 8 pumps.
The valve and hammer springs on my 392 are pretty evenly matched, but i’m going to have to put a lighter valve spring in the 397 to get it to dump the air, or maybe compress the spring.
Oh well, I wanted to take it apart anyway to make sure it has a brass air valve and not the aluminum valve they used a few years ago.
I may do the two spring and washer mod to the valve eventually, but for now I just want to get it dumping the air on 8 pumps.
I’m having to cock and shoot between pumping every 2 or 3 shots to keep it from retaining and building too much air for now.
Anybody know a spring size from Ace Hardware that would likely work?
Always nice to hear the adventures when someone gets a new toy ;- ) What scope do you have on your gun, I have a NcStar Pistol scope 4x30 and not much of a parallax problem with me so far !
The spring I used in my valve is 2" long x.36od x .276 id and wire is .042. McMaster-Carr # 9657K386. Your hd store probably has something similar It is way softer than the factory, yet is strong enough so the bolt does not hang up. With 8 or 9 pumps it dumps ALL the air, there is nothing left !!. ..
BTW: the 1.75" version of this spring did no have enough poop to reset the hammer, so the bolt would not work ... not quite strong enough,
Thanks for sharing your adventure ;- )
wll
-
Will,
It’s a 3x9 Barska and at 6 power it’s clear enough for 20 yd. target shooting.
Your head is probably low enough on the 392 and the mounts you have to keep your eye lined up center of the scope.
The problem with the 397 and this scope base is i’m Using my chin more than my cheek for a weld on the stock... it’s got my head up too high.
I need a lower base for the 397.... something like the one you have on your 392 so I can get my head down where it should be.
Thanks for the info on the spring.
-
Will,
I know you recently picked up a mac1 scope base for your 392.
Can you tell me how high it is to the top of the scope rail from the bbl.?
I have a feeling that one may be a perfect match for the height of the comb on my 397.
-
Will,
I know you recently picked up a mac1 scope base for your 392.
Can you tell me how high it is to the top of the scope rail from the bbl.?
I have a feeling that one may be a perfect match for the height of the comb on my 397.
If I go to the office tomorrow I'll bring it home and measure it for you ;- )
wll
-
Will,
I know you recently picked up a mac1 scope base for your 392.
Can you tell me how high it is to the top of the scope rail from the bbl.?
I have a feeling that one may be a perfect match for the height of the comb on my 397.
Buddy!
The top of the rail to the mid line of the bore is.750.
wll
-
Thanks Will,
That’s much better than the intermounts over the reciever.
I may well try the mac1 base and maybe a 2x7 BSA or UTG pistol scope mounted scout style on this one.
-
Thanks Will,
That’s much better than the intermounts over the reciever.
I may well try the mac1 base and maybe a 2x7 BSA or UTG pistol scope mounted scout style on this one.
I use the over-barrel intermounts. My barska is so low that the bolt actually mars the scope finish.
After maybe 1200 pellets, mine is now quite accurate at 30 yards on 8 pumps.
-
Thanks Will,
That’s much better than the intermounts over the reciever.
I may well try the mac1 base and maybe a 2x7 BSA or UTG pistol scope mounted scout style on this one.
I use the over-barrel intermounts. My barska is so low that the bolt actually mars the scope finish.
After maybe 1200 pellets, mine is now quite accurate at 30 yards on 8 pumps.
Yeah, i’m considering the over bbl. intermounts also. I’m sure that will get the scope down where it needs to be. :D
It’s good to hear you like yours. I really like the Barska scopes, as the one I have is still going strong after tens of thousands of shots on my 392. It never loses it’s zero unless I intentionally make adjustments to it. It tracks great too.
-
Picked up a new in box 397pa to go with my 392pa today.
I have a good friend that has an archery shop and had recently bought out the inventory of a local sporting goods store getting out of the game.
They had a 397 that had been in the box since 2005.
It is a pa series, but the stock sure looks like walnut and not beech. It has the pa trigger group.
I traded my friend a longbow with snake skin backing I can no longer shoot for it, and have spent the last 2 hours getting all the overspray paint out of the bore.
Did a little shooting before cleaning the paint out to hopefully loosen the paint up a bit and make it easier to get out.
Daisy flat nose, Crosman piranah’s, and Crosman hp’s were all I had on hand and all were trying to group, but had several flyers at 20 yds. “ hopefully “due to the paint in the bore.
Now that the bore is clean we’ll see what she can do. Hopefully it will shoot something I have on hand, if not, the hunt will be on for a pellet it likes. :D
Give the Crosman 10.5g domes a try. They were one holer's in my old 397pa.
-
Scott,
Thanks for the tip on the 10.5 gr. Domes...i’ll give them a try.
I found out last night it will put 7.4 gr. Crosman pointed into very tight holes.
It’s the only rifle i’ve had so far that would shoot them that well.
Gamo Red Fire we’re second best so far.
-
Very Good Trade Buddy ! You have an excellent pumper now.
I got my Benjamin Trail NP XL 1100 on a trade for a spotting scope & tripod.
Trading is a "win - win" for both individuals involved.
Best Wishes - Tom
-
Very Good Trade Buddy ! You have an excellent pumper now.
I got my Benjamin Trail NP XL 1100 on a trade for a spotting scope & tripod.
Trading is a "win - win" for both individuals involved.
Best Wishes - Tom
Thanks Tom,
Yeah, it was a good trade and looks like it’s going to be a very accurate rifle... just a little pellet picky lol.
I can’t wait for squirrel season to come around again lol. We do have a 2 week or so season in June I believe.
Sounds like you made an excellent trade on that trail rifle also :D
-
So last night I put a padded leather wrap around shell holder with a zippered pouch on my 397 butt stock.
It raised my comb height almost perfect for the intermounts over the breech. I can get centered with my eye behind the scope now and knew the parallax problem I was having was pretty well solved, plus just a lot more comfortable to be able to get my cheek instead of my chin in the right place on the stock.
I started shooting through the pellets I had been using in it ( Crosman hp’s, piranhas, Daisy wadcutters gamo tomahawks) and still was’nt shooting as I thought it should... too many unexplained flyers at 20 yds.
I searched around the house and found a tin of gamo red fires which shot 5 shot groups around a half inch outside to outside... not bad, but wanted better lol.
I looked around again and found what was left of a tin of Crosman premier pointed that had never grouped well in any rifle i’ve tried them in.
First shot hit half an inch right of the red fires.
The next shot was a half inch left of the first and that’s all it took to season the bore with them..... the next 6 went into a hole not much bigger than a 1/4” :o
Couple hours later on a cold bore, it
put 2 more through the same hole.... this evening I put 4 more in the same spot , and wound up with 12 shots in about 3/8” outside to outside.... winner winner chicken dinner ;D
I shot the red fires into a 1” pine board at 20 yds. and the tip bent sideways and it still penetrated just past the skirt.
The Crosman pointed went a bit over 1/2” deep to the point. The hollow in the skirt was 3/8” deep with straight line penetration.
I was beginning to think something was wrong with my chamber or crown before trying those last two pellets.
Lol, nothing wrong at all.... just a bit pellet picky.
Oh, and the valve and hammer springs have broken on a bit too. Only a very small puff of air left after 8 pumps now, and still the same after 30 or so shots.
Groups are stable with the pellets it likes, so no need to do anything with valve springs or the like for now, except to get every ounce of air and power out of it that i’m Not at all concerned with at this time.
I doubt if it would make 5 FPS. difference at this point, unless I did some check and valve work on it too.
What’s the old saying? “ if it ain’t broke don’t fix it”?
Think i’ll leave well enough alone and look for a couple more pellets it likes just for fun.
-
So last night I put a padded leather wrap around shell holder with a zippered pouch on my 397 butt stock.
It raised my comb height almost perfect for the intermounts over the breech. I can get centered with my eye behind the scope now and knew the parallax problem I was having was pretty well solved, plus just a lot more comfortable to be able to get my cheek instead of my chin in the right place on the stock.
I started shooting through the pellets I had been using in it ( Crosman hp’s, piranhas, Daisy wadcutters gamo tomahawks) and still was’nt shooting as I thought it should... too many unexplained flyers at 20 yds.
I searched around the house and found a tin of gamo red fires which shot 5 shot groups around a half inch outside to outside... not bad, but wanted better lol.
I looked around again and found what was left of a tin of Crosman premier pointed that had never grouped well in any rifle i’ve tried them in.
First shot hit half an inch right of the red fires.
The next shot was a half inch left of the first and that’s all it took to season the bore with them..... the next 6 went into a hole not much bigger than a 1/4” :o
Couple hours later on a cold bore, it
put 2 more through the same hole.... this evening I put 4 more in the same spot , and wound up with 12 shots in about 3/8” outside to outside.... winner winner chicken dinner ;D
I shot the red fires into a 1” pine board at 20 yds. and the tip bent sideways and it still penetrated just past the skirt.
The Crosman pointed went a bit over 1/2” deep to the point. The hollow in the skirt was 3/8” deep with straight line penetration.
I was beginning to think something was wrong with my chamber or crown before trying those last two pellets.
Lol, nothing wrong at all.... just a bit pellet picky.
Oh, and the valve and hammer springs have broken on a bit too. Only a very small puff of air left after 8 pumps now, and still the same after 30 or so shots.
Groups are stable with the pellets it likes, so no need to do anything with valve springs or the like for now, except to get every ounce of air and power out of it that i’m Not at all concerned with at this time.
I doubt if it would make 5 FPS. difference at this point, unless I did some check and valve work on it too.
What’s the old saying? “ if it ain’t broke don’t fix it”?
Think i’ll leave well enough alone and look for a couple more pellets it likes just for fun.
Buddy.....My 2100 rifle and my 1377 pistols will shoot those Crosman pointed pellets really well too !
That is exactly what I use in them too. ;D
My Umarex NXG APX and Chinese B-3 Under Lever, also like them !
Best Wishes - Tom
-
Tom,
Great to hear those pointed pellets are working well for you. Gives me even more confidence in them now.
They shoot well in my 1377 too, just never had a rifle do well with them till now.... I was glad to see it happen.
With the penetration they showed in wood, they should be skull crackers for sure.
They went at least as deep in pine as my 392 with gamo magnums.
Hope this little rifle keeps up that kind of performance as it keeps breaking in.
-
This rifle keeps making a liar out of me lol.
Right when I thought everything was going to be allright, it started shooting random again and retaining air and building each shot... almost locked the valve once, but luckily it dumped after l pulled the bolt back and tried again. >:(
Spent the afternoon looking for a lighter spring
and tearing it down.
Good news is it has a brass valve and not the aluminum they used for awhile... that’s about the end of the good news.
The bad news was everything on this 2005 model did’nt go smoothly.
The first thing was the valve screw... I had to remove it all the way with a wrench... it was full of some kind of thread locker.
The ones i’ve Worked on before you loosened it with a wrench, then unscrewed by hand.
Same when I put it back in after replacing the valve spring... I turned by hand about 2 turns, then had to use a wrench the rest of the way, even after cleaning the threads grrrrr!
Supposed to turn by hand till tight, then give a quarter turn with the wrench to tighten down.
The way I had to do it, I had to guess not to overtighten and damage the valve.
I kind of went by the trigger group being able to just slip under the nut when putting it back together.
I had a few pumps in the valve and it blew out the back easily when I gave it another quick pump after removing the valve screw but, going back in after valve work, I had to tap it pretty hard with a wood dowel all the way back in... very tight air chamber.
I’m surprised it blew out so easily after trying to get it back in. There was no slack at all to get it lined back up with the screw.
Wound up finally tapping it a bit too far and had to remove the roll pins from the pump arm and tap it back with a dowel from that end.
Lol, had to do all this twice as I tried to compress the original spring first and put it back in. It was still retaining too much air, so did it all again with the lighter spring I found.
It was on that spring that I wound up taking the roll pins out.
It does retain a very light “puff” of air on 8 pumps, but it’s not building on subsequent shots.
I got lucky on the only spring I could find that looked like it had the right tension.
If it starts building again i’ll Order one I know will work.
I think it’s going to work fine the way it is though, although this particular 397 keeps fooling me lol.
Accuracy is still on and off with it.. it will jam with gamo red fires and Crosman pointed for awhile and then start throwing a flyer or two, then go back to jamming?
Quality control on those tins of pellets or a bedding or crown problem?
Maybe I just have’nt found the pellet it really likes yet.
Got the air problem licked for now... on to the accuracy problem.
Never seen a 392 or 397 as hard to work on and get to shoot as this one.... oh well... bit of patience and we’ll see.
May try a parallax adj. scope on it, but really don’t think that’s what the problem is.
-
Okay, after running about 100 or so pellets through after working on the valve spring.... no retained air at all on 8 pumps.
It broke in very nicely. Have’nt tried more pumps so far just to see.
The best news is it’s back to literally driving nails with the Crosman premier pointed pellets.
I did back off the stock screw a quarter turn from jam tight for best results.
All is right with the world for now. :D ;) 8)
-
Okay, after running about 100 or so pellets through after working on the valve spring.... no retained air at all on 8 pumps.
It broke in very nicely. Have’nt tried more pumps so far just to see.
The best news is it’s back to literally driving nails with the Crosman premier pointed pellets.
I did back off the stock screw a quarter turn from jam tight for best results.
All is right with the world for now. :D ;) 8)
I know exactly how you feel ... I'm taking my 392 valve out of my gun again, to cut off a couple of threads on the end of the valve and shorten the check valve. I very much hope this will give me a solid 545fps with ten pumps using Monsters .... I think It really should !!,
I'm hoping the little bit of extra volume while keeping the pressure the same with the added two pumps gives me what I'm after. I then with 6 to 8 pumps will see what speed I get with JSB Jumbo Heavies at 18.1gr. The use of the heavies are for smaller game where I really don't need a whole lot of energy, I'm getting about 575fps (13.3fpe) now, but should get around 625fps (15.7fpe) and that would be awesome !! These pellets still should put a serious wack on stuff in my hunting zone of 25-40ish yards!!
I very well may extend the adjustable piston about another 1/32 as I'm getting close to the oil opening and another 1/32 would put the cup almost halfway in the air hole !!
I will also see if a very thin washer will fit in the on either side of the lever link to minimize movement.
wll
-
Will,
I think with what your about to do to the valve and check should get you where you want to be.
Think the spring you have in the valve now will still work with those changes?
-
Will,
I think with what your about to do to the valve and check should get you where you want to be.
Think the spring you have in the valve now will still work with those changes?
Buddy, that spring is a good one, at 9 pumps, the most my strength could muster, I got no air held in the valve, I was very happy with that. looking forward to ripping into this gun again. I will see if I will cut off two threads or three (~1/8 or 3/16). The only thing I'm worried about cutting 3/16 is the loss of structural integrity to plow the valve ? Remember with 10 pumps I'll probably have close to 1000-1100psi in the brass valve ... Most 8 pump Benji's are in the 800psi I believe ... I could be wrong ? I'm defiantly not in the mood to blow a valve ;- )
wll
-
Will,
I think with what your about to do to the valve and check should get you where you want to be.
Think the spring you have in the valve now will still work with those changes?
Buddy, that spring is a good one, at 9 pumps, the most my strength could muster, I got no air held in the valve, I was very happy with that. looking forward to ripping into this gun again. I will see if I will cut off two threads or three (~1/8 or 3/16). The only thing I'm worried about cutting 3/16 is the loss of structural integrity to plow the valve ? Remember with 10 pumps I'll probably have close to 1000-1100psi in the brass valve ... Most 8 pump Benji's are in the 800psi I believe ... I could be wrong ? I'm defiantly not in the mood to blow a valve ;- )
wll
I’ve considered doing that kind of valve work to my 392 for a couple of years now and just never got around to it.
I was going to angle the hole in the valve for better air flow to the port also.
Saw a video of a guy using a small round file instead of a dremel tool to do that very thing.
In stock form my 392 will bury a 14 to 16 gr. pellet past the skirt in a pine or poplar board at 50 yds., so I still have’nt bothered doing anything else to it.
However, now that I have this 397 running right, I may very well have the 392 steroided lol. :o
I’ve been thinking about that for quite a while now. A magnum 22 pumper would be right up my alley, though I would probably rarely pump it to full capacity.
It would still be nice to have that capability for days I feel like a workout lol. ;)
-
Just a follow up on my new 397 after having it for a couple of weeks now.
I wound up taking the strap on padded shell holder off the butt stock as I did’nt like the extra width it was adding.... just did’nt feel right.
Gave the barska scope back to my 392 and put a Winchester set 4 power with adj. parallax on the 397.
A member here( they know who they are and can chime in if they want to) sent me some Beeman pointed 8.4 gr. pellets to try.
They turned out to be absolute nail drivers in this rifle. I, shot several 5 shot 20 yd. groups from the bench that thehole would just get a bit blacker each shot with them.
The first time that happened, I actually got up from the bench and walked down to the target after the third shot to make sure I was still hitting the target lol. :o
Not bad at all for less than a penny a pellet on the 3 tin and get one free deals!
1/4” round holes are common 5 shot groups at 20 yds. when this old man can do his part lol.
Thanks so very much for sending the Beemans for me to try out. Got to give them a try in my 880’s now
Can’t wait for the June squirrel season to try this 397 out on them.
It will be hot enough here by then that i’ll Need to skin them before they hit the ground and the mosquito’s will be thick. :o
Oh well, you know how it is when you have a new air rifle to try out lol. ;)
-
Buddy,
If ever do pull your valve out,hopefully has delrin(?) exhaust valve. I just ordered a spare for my 392
and it came with one.Glad to see that change. Must have torn mine apart a half dozen times for leaking
“rubber” seal.A real pain. Thought about a 397 but hard to feed my 392 for all the pellets I want to try.
LOL.
-
Just a follow up on my new 397 after having it for a couple of weeks now.
Can’t wait for the June squirrel season to try this 397 out on them.
It will be hot enough here by then that i’ll Need to skin them before they hit the ground and the mosquito’s will be thick. :o
Oh well, you know how it is when you have a new air rifle to try out lol. ;)
Buddy.....I'll be looking forward to your future posts in the Hunting Gate....with your 397 !
Best Wishes - Tom
-
Buddy,
If ever do pull your valve out,hopefully has delrin(?) exhaust valve. I just ordered a spare for my 392
and it came with one.Glad to see that change. Must have torn mine apart a half dozen times for leaking
“rubber” seal.A real pain. Thought about a 397 but hard to feed my 392 for all the pellets I want to try.
LOL.
Thanks for the tip Ray,
As far as the 392, i’ve found Gamo Magnum pointed hard to beat in mine.
I really like the 397 too and it was too good of a trade to turn down.... he and I both walked away happy!
It “seems” a tad more accurate than my 392 with the Beeman pellets, but it would be hard to prove on any given day.... both have turned out to be nail drivers. :D
-
Just a follow up on my new 397 after having it for a couple of weeks now.
Can’t wait for the June squirrel season to try this 397 out on them.
It will be hot enough here by then that i’ll Need to skin them before they hit the ground and the mosquito’s will be thick. :o
Oh well, you know how it is when you have a new air rifle to try out lol. ;)
Buddy.....I'll be looking forward to your future posts in the Hunting Gate....with your 397 !
Best Wishes - Tom
Thanks Tom,
I’m looking forward to getting this one in the woods for sure.
-
Further shooting with the new Winchester scope has revealed the 2 best pellets tried so far.
Crosman pointed and the Beeman pointed pellets are consistently shooting super tight 20 yd. groups... can’t wait to test these two out at 50 yds.
The Crosman pointed shoot the tightest groups from this rifle, but the beemans are right there with them.
I really like the moly coating on the beemans and they have a nice wadcutter like flat behind the longish pointed tip... should provide quite a shock on impact!
The Crosman pointed penetrate a bit deeper in a 1” pine board at 20 yds....1/2” to 5/8” to the tip of the point into it compared to about 3/8” for the beemans.
The beemans are expanding a bit though, so they would probably impart more shock?
Either will work for my purposes!
Kind of strange that both my 392 and now the new 397 like pointed pellets best so far.
Oh well... i’ll Feed them what they like.