GTA
Airguns by Make and Model => Benjamin Airguns => Topic started by: SLJ2137694 on March 15, 2012, 04:46:26 PM
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I just got this rifle and I am confused about what items I may want to consider to improve performance and longevity. I was on Air Gun Toyz site and find the description vague to my limited knowledge of air guns. They have bushings, washers, etc but no description of where the bushings go. I am experienced with modern guns and muzzleloaders and used to own "The Powder Keg" but I need help with my air gun. There also doesn't seem to be any contact info on the AGT website. Input from all of you is appreciated! I have a new trigger that I will soon be installing but I will wait until I have any additional goodies in hand to install. I have a 6X18X50 scope installed but not yet sighted in. I think the gun will be very impressive. Shame on the manufacturer for having such a lousy Attorney approved trigger! Steven L Jones
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Welcome Steven, nice to have you with us on GTA. You picked a nice rifle to start off with. I have one and it's served me well as a small game hunter. I've even taken some woodchucks with it. I love my XL.
I'm sure some of the other members will chime in ad give you some ideas as to what can be done to the rifle but for right now my advice would be to clean the barrel and just shoot the rifle and have some fun with it. There's a break in period, usually around a few hundred pellets, for a new rifle so get yourself some pellets and just start having some fun getting to know your rifle.
You probably already know this but be sure not to use any powder burner solvents when cleaning your barrel. All you need is some "Goo-Gone" (a citrus based cleaner) , some patches and a length of weed whacker line to use as a pull through.
Also, if you use the "search" function you'll be able to find a ton of info in prior posts regarding the XL :)
Jeff
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Welcome Steve. You've found a good website in GTA. Good people with good advice. Of course, take my advice with a grain of salt ;-)
This video shows how to use the weed wacker pull through on a Trail (learned from American Airgunner TV)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BFv6uNaFNVE#ws (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BFv6uNaFNVE#ws)
Most people recommend replacing the trigger. After around 1200 shots through mine, I agreed and replaced it with the GRT-III - much smoother action. The scope it comes with is good enough for me. I recommend you spend your money on different pellets from JSB, H&N, RWS or Beeman. Each gun is different. Mine likes the JSB Jumbo 14g so far, and I just ordered five new I can't wait to try.
There will be a break-in period of 100-200 shots, and accuracy may vary until then. See this link for "What is the most accurate pellet you have found in your benjamin trail nitro piston in .22 caliber?"
http://www.gatewaytoairguns.org/GTA/index.php/topic,25294.0/viewresults.html (http://www.gatewaytoairguns.org/GTA/index.php/topic,25294.0/viewresults.html)
Have fun and be safe!
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Some of the XL's don't settle in before 4-500 rounds. Some of the things you could be looking for in the future would be the kits from AGT, a couple of seals and some moly(small one) from Jim maccarri, and a brake hone from harbor freight( or Auto Zone, etc.). These to do your first tune, which is fairly common early on with some of the NP's and springers. And of course, a GRTIII from CDT. None of this is scary to do, but the thought of tearing down your baby can be. Rest assured, there's plenty of info in the library and plenty of folks to help you through it. I'm sure you've read these are quite hold sensitive, and the learning curve can be frustrating. In time, it will all come together.
Good Luck! And welcome to the GTA!
pv
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Thanks for the response and the welcome! This is a very good site! I will keep my eyes open for more responses. Steven L Jones
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welcome.steve.id shoot er about a tin full of pellets before doin much except for the trigger mine took 600 rounds to settle in
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Welcome Steven to the GTA!!! The bushings/washers you asked about are to replace the plastic one's in the pivot/break point of the barrel, you can find a diagram/exploded view of the gun on Crosmans site(or drop me a PM with your e-mail an I'll send it to you). You are lucky in that the XL does not need a compressor to open it up for working on(use the search feature an you will find a ton of info on tuning).
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Welcome Steven to the GTA!!! The bushings/washers you asked about are to replace the plastic one's in the pivot/break point of the barrel, you can find a diagram/exploded view of the gun on Crosmans site(or drop me a PM with your e-mail an I'll send it to you). You are lucky in that the XL does not need a compressor to open it up for working on(use the search feature an you will find a ton of info on tuning).
I thought that you had to use a press on both the regular NP and the NP XL to get inside the gun(s).Everything I've read so far says you need it.Have you taken either one apart without the press? I'm new to this stuff,but really want to get inside my NP to install the bushing.I did the barrel washer modification already.Thanks for any help/advice.
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Welcome Steve. You've found a good website in GTA. Good people with good advice. Of course, take my advice with a grain of salt ;-)
This video shows how to use the weed wacker pull through on a Trail (learned from American Airgunner TV)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BFv6uNaFNVE#ws (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BFv6uNaFNVE#ws)
Most people recommend replacing the trigger. After around 1200 shots through mine, I agreed and replaced it with the GRT-III - much smoother action. The scope it comes with is good enough for me. I recommend you spend your money on different pellets from JSB, H&N, RWS or Beeman. Each gun is different. Mine likes the JSB Jumbo 14g so far, and I just ordered five new I can't wait to try.
There will be a break-in period of 100-200 shots, and accuracy may vary until then. See this link for "What is the most accurate pellet you have found in your benjamin trail nitro piston in .22 caliber?"
http://www.gatewaytoairguns.org/GTA/index.php/topic,25294.0/viewresults.html (http://www.gatewaytoairguns.org/GTA/index.php/topic,25294.0/viewresults.html)
Have fun and be safe!
HA! that my video lol. Starring my Benjamin Trail Pre-mod ;D glad to see people know of my vidoes out there :)
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HA! that my video lol. Starring my Benjamin Trail Pre-mod ;D glad to see people know of my vidoes out there :)
Thanks for the video, Nate. A question on the video...my weed wacker pull through gets caught on the crown. How did you get yours to be smooth? Roll it on a hard surface while the plastic is hot and soft?
BTW, Honda has a 60% moly grease paste, part number 08734-0001 is a 3 oz tube. It costs around $10 or less online.
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HA! that my video lol. Starring my Benjamin Trail Pre-mod ;D glad to see people know of my vidoes out there :)
Thanks for the video, Nate. A question on the video...my weed wacker pull through gets caught on the crown. How did you get yours to be smooth? Roll it on a hard surface while the plastic is hot and soft?
BTW, Honda has a 60% moly grease paste, part number 08734-0001 is a 3 oz tube. It costs around $10 or less online.
I just keep trying until it doesnt stick, or yo can remove the crown.
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Hey Steve, Welcome to GTA, I installed the GRT-III IN my XL1100, it is well worth the money. The biggest improvement for me was switching to JSM EXACT JUMBO HEAVY 18.13GR. pellets, I started off shooting with CPHP 14.3gr. and the Discovery 14.3 gr pellets. My shooting range is from 30yds. to 60yds. I was very unhappy with my XL while I was shooting these pellets. The first day of shooting the JSB's my groups tightened up. I also shoot some JSB Monster 25 gr. and these shoot one hole groups at 35yds. I think they are a little heavy for reaching out to 60yds.
That would be my advice the XL seems to like a heaver pellet.
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I thought that you had to use a press on both the regular NP and the NP XL to get inside the gun(s).Everything I've read so far says you need it.Have you taken either one apart without the press? I'm new to this stuff,but really want to get inside my NP to install the bushing.I did the barrel washer modification already.Thanks for any help/advice.
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No you don't have to press on the XL.
Once you take the stock screw out you can use a couple of tight fitting screw driver bits or some such in the rear two holes of the end cap to unscrew the cap. After you have undone it a couple of turns it isn't under pressure anymore and screws out.
Before you start, mark the cap and tube with a tiny scratch on the underside so that you can align them again when you put it back together again.
ON ASSEMBLY:
The "sear" lever, that hooks into the piston, on the trigger assembly goes on the outside of the tube. Because it is spring loaded it tends to fit itself inside the tube.
After you have put the trigger assembly back on and as you tighten up the rear cap the alignment of the hole for the stock screw will go out of true and you will go nuts trying to get it aligned. I again used a screw driver bit pushed down into the hole to keep it aligned and by feel could feel that the cap wasnt too tight or too loose. You have to sort of go past the alignment point and then back up again.
At that point the alignment marks you initially made will align again.
Watch out that you don't cross thread the stock screw when you put it back in place.
On some XL's there are some washers/spacers inside at the back so watch for them when you disassemble.
Once you have the stock screw started in, apply some blue Loctite to the threads and tighten it all the way.
There is a tendency for that screw to loosen up after shooting for a while .
Jim
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I thought that you had to use a press on both the regular NP and the NP XL to get inside the gun(s).Everything I've read so far says you need it.Have you taken either one apart without the press? I'm new to this stuff,but really want to get inside my NP to install the bushing.I did the barrel washer modification already.Thanks for any help/advice.
[/quote]
No you don't have to press on the XL.
Once you take the stock screw out you can use a couple of tight fitting screw driver bits or some such in the rear two holes of the end cap to unscrew the cap. After you have undone it a couple of turns it isn't under pressure anymore and screws out.
Before you start, mark the cap and tube with a tiny scratch on the underside so that you can align them again when you put it back together again.
ON ASSEMBLY:
The "sear" lever, that hooks into the piston, on the trigger assembly goes on the outside of the tube. Because it is spring loaded it tends to fit itself inside the tube.
After you have put the trigger assembly back on and as you tighten up the rear cap the alignment of the hole for the stock screw will go out of true and you will go nuts trying to get it aligned. I again used a screw driver bit pushed down into the hole to keep it aligned and by feel could feel that the cap wasnt too tight or too loose. You have to sort of go past the alignment point and then back up again.
At that point the alignment marks you initially made will align again.
Watch out that you don't cross thread the stock screw when you put it back in place.
On some XL's there are some washers/spacers inside at the back so watch for them when you disassemble.
Once you have the stock screw started in, apply some blue Loctite to the threads and tighten it all the way.
There is a tendency for that screw to loosen up after shooting for a while .
Jim
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Sorry guys for the double post
Jim
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Does the regular NP break down the same way,or is a press needed?
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Does the regular NP break down the same way,or is a press needed?
I'm almost positive a spring compressor is needed for the Trail NP
Nathan
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There is still a little tension, but not much. I've heard that the XL has like 1/4" preload, but with a gas ram that's a much bigger deal than with a spring. I've heard of guys taking the end-cap off with a pillow case over the end, though, so the pressure can't be too bad. Still, you can get a bar clamp for $30 and it beats nothing. You spent the money for an XL, spending an extra $30 for safe removal/re-installation of the ram is not a bad deal...
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There is NO need for a spring compressor for the XL, save your money and get the GRTIII for it instead, but make note of the caution that comes with it regarding the XL's. Why it is unsuitable on some XL's(not many) is a mystery, but attention to this warning is advised. Also, you will likely need a vise or a large friend to hold the gun while you take the cap off the first time, no need to wrench it back on, snug will hold it on just fine.
pv