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Airguns by Make and Model => Benjamin Airguns => Topic started by: benji397 on June 25, 2022, 01:32:35 PM

Title: What years of Benjamin 392 to avoid?
Post by: benji397 on June 25, 2022, 01:32:35 PM
Looking hard for a wood stocked 392. What I don't want is the canted front sight issue, I returned two 392's in years past because of that. So, what years if any, should I look for that have the cartridge valve and no sight issue? I believe the cartridge valve came in or after 1995?
Title: Re: What years of Benjamin 392 to avoid?
Post by: Robert 5mm on June 25, 2022, 01:44:43 PM
Just had to go look because at first I thought all of mine have the front sight problem.
My two 392's and 397 have left leaning front sights, but my C9A .20 cal front sight is straight.
Title: Re: What years of Benjamin 392 to avoid?
Post by: benji397 on June 25, 2022, 01:51:06 PM
Just had to go look because at first I thought all of mine have the front sight problem.
My two 392's and 397 have left leaning front sights, but my C9A .20 cal front sight is straight.

Yeah, I think that problem is pretty widespread unfortunately.
Title: Re: What years of Benjamin 392 to avoid?
Post by: DanD on June 25, 2022, 02:34:06 PM
What years are your guns with the canted sights?
Title: Re: What years of Benjamin 392 to avoid?
Post by: Robert 5mm on June 25, 2022, 03:31:12 PM
Here are my SNs

397s 719N00166 - canted
392s 320N00399 - canted
392w 017N00181 - canted
C9A 208700883 - straight

If I remember correctly I have three made in November and one in July
Title: Re: What years of Benjamin 392 to avoid?
Post by: Robert 5mm on June 25, 2022, 04:38:20 PM
Had to go pull out my Blue and Silver Streaks

1967 Blue and 1991 Silver both lean slightly to the left - not as much as the 39X
Title: Re: What years of Benjamin 392 to avoid?
Post by: DanD on June 25, 2022, 06:25:43 PM
Had to go pull out my Blue and Silver Streaks

1967 Blue and 1991 Silver both lean slightly to the left - not as much as the 39X

I stick to the '03 and older walnut models and I've never had one that seemed like it has an obvious defect . A few I think might have slight cants but I don't know if they've been bumped over the years or if they're really straight and I'm crooked.
I did have one hardwood 397 that I've since sold but I don't think it had a problem.
 
Title: Re: What years of Benjamin 392 to avoid?
Post by: Robert 5mm on June 25, 2022, 06:52:36 PM

'03 and older walnut models

You have older than "03" which is good - my Sheridan BS 1967 has a slight cant and so does my Sheridan SS 1991 but my Benji C9A is straight
Title: Re: What years of Benjamin 392 to avoid?
Post by: benji397 on June 25, 2022, 07:25:47 PM
I had to go look at my '67 BS. As best I can tell, sight appears to be straight.
Title: Re: What years of Benjamin 392 to avoid?
Post by: DanD on June 25, 2022, 10:50:33 PM
OK I checked my 15 Streaks and 39Xs...

I found 3 that are not vertical:
'97 transition C9A canted very slightly left but not enough to notice with the factory rear sight.
'99 C9A canted or bent left enough to notice looking through the peep, so I straightened it just now.... see below...
'78 C Series canted right but it's not real apparent through the factory rear sight.

The ones that look straight are:
.177 cal: '91?, '98
.20 cal : '56, '60, '69, '73, '74, '81, '91?, '98
.22 cal : '93, '97*
*The '97 392PA was pictured as near mint when I bought it but seller packed it poorly and it arrived damage including a bent front sight.I called Tim @Mac1 about replacing the sight and he mentioned they can be straightened by careful tapping but they'll break if you bend them with pliers or hit them too hard, so I tried tapping it with a rubber mallet against a wood block and it worked.

I also previously owned and sold a '98-ish 392PA, a 2002 397PA, and a hardwood laser engraved 397PA, and I don't recall any having an obvious cant.

Have fun and good luck finding a nice 392!
Title: Re: What years of Benjamin 392 to avoid?
Post by: benji397 on June 26, 2022, 12:01:15 AM
DanD - Thanks for putting that together!
Title: Re: What years of Benjamin 392 to avoid?
Post by: 19Sheridan57 on July 16, 2022, 08:10:06 AM
  I have straightened several front sights on older Sheridans & never had a problem. These can be bent out of alignment over the years.
Title: Re: What years of Benjamin 392 to avoid?
Post by: benji397 on July 16, 2022, 12:23:01 PM
  I have straightened several front sights on older Sheridans & never had a problem. These can be bent out of alignment over the years.

Yes, initially I had heard too many horror stories of broken front blades from people trying to straighten them. A week or so ago I braved up and tried it myself, expecting it to break....but it didn't. I heated it up good and hot with a hair dryer and used a wide bladed adjustable wrench set snuggly on the blade and gently bent it where I needed it. I was very, very surprised at the ease in which I was able to bend it. It was a breeze. I now have no fear of attempting to do it again in the future
Title: Re: What years of Benjamin 392 to avoid?
Post by: Robert 5mm on July 16, 2022, 01:02:00 PM
I wish I had tried heat - I broke off my 397 front sight - rounded it - then removed and replaced with a 1/2 x 20 adapter.

( I wish I would have just left it alone - 1/2 x 20 adapter on front is OK but not OK )
Title: Re: What years of Benjamin 392 to avoid?
Post by: 19Sheridan57 on July 16, 2022, 07:41:07 PM
I have never used heat , but whatever works for you.
Title: Re: What years of Benjamin 392 to avoid?
Post by: benji397 on July 16, 2022, 08:42:24 PM
I have never used heat , but whatever works for you.

Hot metal bends easier than cold metal.
Title: Re: What years of Benjamin 392 to avoid?
Post by: RBQChicken on July 16, 2022, 08:51:10 PM
I have never used heat , but whatever works for you.

Steve, did you use an adjustable wrench like Mark?  I have a 397P that shoots too far to the left for the open sights but it doesn't look off-kilter to me.
Title: Re: What years of Benjamin 392 to avoid?
Post by: longhunter on July 16, 2022, 09:13:13 PM
I have never used heat , but whatever works for you.

Steve, did you use an adjustable wrench like Mark?  I have a 397P that shoots too far to the left for the open sights but it doesn't look off-kilter to me.

Check your crown, very carefully. I had one that had a " pimple " of brass, just inside the crown.
Title: Re: What years of Benjamin 392 to avoid?
Post by: 19Sheridan57 on July 17, 2022, 05:28:38 PM
I have never used heat , but whatever works for you.

Steve, did you use an adjustable wrench like Mark?  I have a 397P that shoots too far to the left for the open sights but it doesn't look off-kilter to me.
[/quote

I put a piece of tape over the sight to keep from scratching it. I have used a pair of lineman’s pliers, a small c clamp, & an adjustable wrench . You want to mat sure that you are bending the sight at the bottom of the blade, rather than stressing the entire sight. It is super easy to to.
Title: Re: What years of Benjamin 392 to avoid?
Post by: 3crows on August 31, 2022, 11:58:03 PM
I have two last of the line wooden 392s. Both are straight as can be. This one which I have modded a bit and hope to do some more work on if I could quit dumping money into non-OE Marauder platforms ;) is a great shooter:

(https://i.postimg.cc/zXS66WG9/IMG-5748.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)

The other was Steroided. I got them, actually three of them, for $50 on closeout at Academy. I gifted one to a deserving neighbor kid and it was straight also. I would really like to have one of the newer synthetic stock models since I usually install a scope and could use that high comb they have.

James
Title: Re: What years of Benjamin 392 to avoid?
Post by: tennx on September 03, 2022, 07:01:19 PM
I have two last of the line wooden 392s. Both are straight as can be. This one which I have modded a bit and hope to do some more work on if I could quit dumping money into non-OE Marauder platforms ;) is a great shooter:

(https://i.postimg.cc/zXS66WG9/IMG-5748.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)

The other was Steroided. I got them, actually three of them, for $50 on closeout at Academy. I gifted one to a deserving neighbor kid and it was straight also. I would really like to have one of the newer synthetic stock models since I usually install a scope and could use that high comb they have.

James

I have a 2014  setup similar to your picture…(2x20 center point) waiting on a BSA  2x7x28…..front sight is straight….I also have a 2020 392S with Baker mount…tall rings and a UTG 4x32……with TKO moderator …..nice shooter…good luck
Title: Re: What years of Benjamin 392 to avoid?
Post by: Lucius Mojo on September 16, 2022, 02:37:09 PM
I have a 392 that I fitted a Center Point scope to and it really is accurate!
Title: Re: What years of Benjamin 392 to avoid?
Post by: tennx on September 16, 2022, 03:20:17 PM
This is a 2014 392 sight is straight…..I didnt want to suppress  it….but I got neighbors….shorter LDC on order….as far as Im concerned the BSA Edge 2x7x28 variable is the way to go with scout mount….goodluck
Title: Re: What years of Benjamin 392 to avoid?
Post by: Lucius Mojo on September 16, 2022, 03:52:12 PM
I used Weaver dovetail Shotgun mounts ,one attached to the rear sight and one mounted to the receiver via a bent piece of steel screwed to the receiver Worked well.
Title: Re: What years of Benjamin 392 to avoid?
Post by: Van on September 20, 2022, 10:37:13 AM
   I bought my first 392 in 2010.  It had the canted to the left front sight which snapped off with the slightest pressure when I tried to straighten it with no heat applied.  I filed the top of it off level then used a 3-corner file and small hacksaw to dovetail the base for a Marbles white dot front insert.  I had to thin the Marbles insert base to the width size of the broken sight, used some JB Weld to set it in the dovetail and touched up with black paint.  It now shoots to point of aim with the rear sight centered horizontally.     (http://)
Title: Re: What years of Benjamin 392 to avoid?
Post by: fit4him on October 30, 2022, 07:02:26 PM
That's a nice setup right there.  Always found BSA sights to be great glass for the money!