GTA
Airguns by Make and Model => Benjamin Airguns => Topic started by: pelletpal on March 02, 2013, 07:59:30 PM
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I have a new Trail NP (.22 caliber) with the synthetic stock that I cannot get to group well. Have shot over a thousand rounds....tried cleaning the barrel and re-breaking in....tried 18 types of pellets and every variation of "hold"....tried 2 different scopes etc. etc. Obviously, from the number of posts in this forum pertaining to Trail not shooting well, my experience is far from unique.
But...at this point my problem seems simple. Do I try to exchange it (store or Crosman) for a new specimen, or do I cut my losses and look for a different gun? Not an easy decision, considering the amount of time, effort, pellets, etc. required to really check a gun out. I am looking for some rough guesstimate as to the liklihood that if I get a replacement rifle of the exact same model it will shoot well. There are lots of bad experiences posted in this forum, but I also realize that those who ended up with good guns are much less likely to post to a forum.
What do you think?
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Unless you like to tinker or are feeling lucky, return it and save up for a more expensive gun. That's my vote and i'm stickin' to it.
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in my opinion id say exchange for a new one if you can it will still be cheaper then buying a new one. after that id say take it from there. i just got an np .22 in hardwood seems as if i was one of the lucky ones its shooting fairly true.
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Send it back or return it for another one. My NP XL 1100 .22 always shot well right out of the box. Just tuned it and I expect it to shot even better now.
Good Luck
Oaks
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If you do return it and get yourself another one you may want to order The Charlie Da Tuna GRTlll Trigger. It made my groups even tighter but I would return that dare one you got. Sounds like she is crazy shooter out da box.
Oaks
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My .22 hardwood stocked is also one of the good ones, shot well out of the box (I cleaned the barrel first). I would send yours back.
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My opinion, return it and get the hardwood version. My reason... It seems like you hear more people having better luck with the hardwood version more often than you do with the synthetic stocked version.. That may just be my mind playing tricks on me but is what I can tell you for sure is mine is shooting pretty well at the moment. You can always order the synthetic stock at a later date if you truly want it. I doubt there is one difference between the two guns BUT it does seem to me like more people have better luck with the hardwood Trail Np. Just a thought... Hopefully someone else can co-sign on what I "feel" I've noticed,lol. It's also, quite a bit lighter if that's of any merit to you also.
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mine shoots well too but I must say the barrel of mine was very dirty when new. Took me a good amount of time cleaning it. I really had to work at it. Also are you sure it's not the scope? Also check all bolts for tightness.
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I thought my synthetic stock Trail NP .22 was a piece of junk until I read posts on the GTA. After cleaning the dirty barrel with Goo Gone using weedeater string, tightening all the bolts, and installing a CDT trigger I am quite satisfied. It has taken it's fair share of nutters, raccoons, opossum, and even a ruffed grouse. It took a little work and I had to perfect my hold when shooting offhand but it turned into a keeper for me.
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My all-weather NP was actually pretty good, right out of the box. I have installed a CDT trigger and now, it's really nice. Last Saturday, I shot a 10 round group at 20yds and had a 1/2" spread. At 30yds, had a 3/4" spread. I figure that's pretty good for an old fart :-).
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Hello PelletPal!
I'm new to airguns but after reading so much about the Benjamin Trail I feel that I should dare putting my $0.02 just to add to the mix. The Trail with the wood stock was my original choice at first but I had to return mine to PA due to an excessive barrel droop it came with it. Again after reading a lot I've decided to go with the Discovery instead. But... From what I've read I can tell you that the Trail is a hit or miss out of the box. Some of them will come fine some of them will come horrible. It appears that Crosman does not put the time they should in quality control out of some of their chinese products for some reason. I've noticed that first hand with my own rifle.
But anyway... If you have done everything correctly like cleaning it properly, adjusting the screws to make sure they're tight, holding it properly (the Trails seems to be quite sensitive to the way you hold them), breaking in the rifle and etc and still the groups are all over the place the problem might be the scope. I've read about people who discovered that after doing everything correctly the problem only got solved after changing their scopes. I don't know if the Center Points are just not strong enough for this rifle or if it's also a hit or miss thing out of the box as well. But again, evidence shows that the scopes were to blame in several different cases. If you like your rifle try to change your scope for a decent airgun rated one and see what happens. Some people even went with the cheaper Center Point ones but with fixed magnification instead and found out that the rifle was then shooting accurately.
Now... Bear in mind I don't know how good you are with airgun shooting so I dare to say the following: If you do everything correctly and still having poor groups out of your rifle then is one of the two things: A - You need to improve your technique as a shooter or B - You have a "lemon" in your hands and you should return it.
Hope it helps a bit. Not from me though. I'm just repeating what I learned around here and other places reading about the Trail. Good luck bro! Peace. ;)
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Coin flip Chinese product. There's been plenty of threads on them here, if you look thru them you'll see both sides of the coin.
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I've had one and my friend still has his. Both shot very accurate. Mine was tuned and my friends is stock. Both shot CPHP's accurately. I would send it back and try another one.
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Rico hit the nail on the head.
OAKS
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My .22 Trail is one of the good ones as well. It was/is a wood stock. It had the wooden thumbhole stock that I just couldn't get accustomed to it so I switched it out for a different style. At that point in my pellet shooting life, I didn't care for the the synthetic stocks....wanted wood only. It hasn't had many rounds fired through it but it sure is smooth and accurate.
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I would get my money back and pick up a RWS Panther 34 in 22. Pretty much the same money and a better built gun with more consistent quality control. With just a lube tune and a new red seal it's a tack driver and it was before I blew out the original seal(my fault)
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I have to say I agree with sanford12! Great point!
oaks
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If you want a decent Chinese rifle, look up "Flying Dragon Air Rifles", on the GTA Vendor gate. He provides the same Chinese models that are well gone thru for mistakes, corrected, lubed properly and shot to his satisfaction, before he ships it to you. His prices are VERY good on these rifles.
Much better chance of getting a good one... He's a good Vendor.
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I returned mine and later bought a Discovery. I'm now glad I got one of the bad Trail NPs. ;)
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...I would...pick up a RWS Panther 34 in 22. Pretty much the same money and a better built gun...
Ok, i'm confused. PA has several RWS 34P models (but none say "Panther") AND a Beeman Panther. Which gun are you guys talking about?
john
(who hopes pelletpal doesn't mind me asking)
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Lot's of great advice on here and good points.
Oaks
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One thing I have noticed is ive seen very few complaints from folks who have bought refurbished Titans. Seems they are for the most part descent to good shooters and folks are satisfied with them. I wonder if refurbished Trails have the same track record. Is there more attention paid to these guns when they are "refurbished"? I gambled and ordered a refurbished Trail a couple days ago based on this theory. Ive got my fingers crossed and will post its performance. Any of you Trail owners have suggestions before I shoot it, other than cleaning the bore?
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I have a new Trail NP (.22 caliber) with the synthetic stock that I cannot get to group well. Have shot over a thousand rounds....tried cleaning the barrel and re-breaking in....tried 18 types of pellets and every variation of "hold"....tried 2 different scopes etc. etc. Obviously, from the number of posts in this forum pertaining to Trail not shooting well, my experience is far from unique.
But...at this point my problem seems simple. Do I try to exchange it (store or Crosman) for a new specimen, or do I cut my losses and look for a different gun? Not an easy decision, considering the amount of time, effort, pellets, etc. required to really check a gun out. I am looking for some rough guesstimate as to the liklihood that if I get a replacement rifle of the exact same model it will shoot well. There are lots of bad experiences posted in this forum, but I also realize that those who ended up with good guns are much less likely to post to a forum.
What do you think?
Personally, I'd put your odds at 60-40 for and against if returning the rifle.
Those rifles really need the CDT trigger even if you do nothing else. Out of the box, they just have too much that can be wrong.
The crown could likely need attention as well as the barrel pivot.
Could even have a bad seal, but no way to know without the gun having at least been chrony'd to see if the power is down or inconsistent.
You basically have three options.
Do a complete tear down and tune, with new seal, barrel pivot bushings, barrel recrown, and CDT trigger...
Return for another and hope for the best...
Or buy something else.
Personally, I'd either tune the rifle, have someone else tune it, or buy something else and have it tuned. None of those rifles out of the box can compete with a properly tuned version.
Flying Dragon has some good alternatives, but only the XS46U can be ordered with a gas piston.
I THINK Mike will also tune the Benjamins, so sending it to him is an alternative, but will mean spending more cash.
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Agree with Paul if u do nothin else put in a Tuna Trigger.
Oakey
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i just bought a trail np hardwood, i new to air gun shooting but not new to shooting. well i guess i got a good one, i only shot it around 5 or 6 time now, and i am very impressed with it, i got it shooting nickle size groups at 22 yards, last time out i shot the first 3 pellet in the same hole, and the next 5 were all touching, this was all off bench rest, and i still messing with it, the only thing i need for it is a better scope but that cause my eyes are bad i have trouble with the magnification of a 3x9 think i need at least 3x12 or maybe a 4 x16,
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I shoot flies at 25 yards with my 22 Titan from Walmart and a old 3xx9 Weaver scope, 50 yrd gun no problem, cphp's 14.3gr 730 fps.
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One thing I have noticed is ive seen very few complaints from folks who have bought refurbished Titans. Seems they are for the most part descent to good shooters and folks are satisfied with them. I wonder if refurbished Trails have the same track record. Is there more attention paid to these guns when they are "refurbished"? I gambled and ordered a refurbished Trail a couple days ago based on this theory. Ive got my fingers crossed and will post its performance. Any of you Trail owners have suggestions before I shoot it, other than cleaning the bore?
Ed that's one of the advantages to a refurb. And this happens with many products that we buy everyday! I've been in many factories,,,and if a unit fails a test,,,it gets personal attention. Think that Sears makes their own appliances? They're just a badge that's slapped on a major mfr unit. Most of them include failed units that have been gone thru a second time. Good chance you get a better buy with a refurb. I buy 'em and like 'em.
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I hear refurb springers are a great buy. I have been looking to buy good refurbs but have yet to run into a brand I want AGD or Pyramyd pick them up and they are out of stock in no time. Just go to any of the big Airgun sellers read the reviews the refurbs get they are sparkling reviews.
Oakey
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It seems like you hear more people having better luck with the hardwood version more often than you do with the synthetic stocked version..
May be the much improved geometry of hand to trigger. I bought the synthetic stock version and hated it. I do know trigger control, and the angle the stock forced you to use was all wrong. Put in one of Charlie's triggers but the angle still sucked. I was starting to grip the stock above the thumbhole to try and get a good trigger angle. That was just wrong. Dunno what idiot designed that stock, should have been a duplicate of the wood.
Bought the hardwood stock and it is far better, much easier to control the trigger. Crosman only wanted $35 for the stock and parts to convert along with shipping. Everything else on the rifles is identical, so if the hardwood seems to shoot better, it is due to being more amenable to good marksmanship.
Combine a crappy stock design with the wretched stock trigger and it is a disaster.
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robtmac...
Bashing the company engineers, or the company is something I wonder if you are truly qualified to do? If you can detail what mistakes they made, please come forward in detail so we can learn from, or validate your claims to make them better. Otherwise,,,
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robtmac...
Bashing the company engineers, or the company is something I wonder if you are truly qualified to do? If you can detail what mistakes they made, please come forward in detail so we can learn from, or validate your claims to make them better. Otherwise,,,
I think it's pretty obvious that he is not qualified. If the vertical grip on the AW is such an idiotic design then why do all Olympic target rifles have vertical grips? Must be to make it more difficult to shoot?
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I've had plenty of other crosman breakbarrels and mine out of the box was nothing short of what I could expect I think you need lots of practice to get it down I think its problems are the shooter most of the time crosman definitely still knows how to make a break barrel
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robtmac...
Bashing the company engineers, or the company is something I wonder if you are truly qualified to do? If you can detail what mistakes they made, please come forward in detail so we can learn from, or validate your claims to make them better. Otherwise,,,
Not bashing anyone. Happy with the rifle, just think the stock was designed by marketing, not shooters.
Specifically, for anyone with large hands, the grip is too close to the trigger. The exaggerated vertical angle would work if it was moved back a touch. As it is, with the proximity to the trigger and the severe angle, the natural trigger squeeze has too much downward motion where it should be straight to the rear. The comb is also too low, placing the eye well below the scope axis, requiring an unnatural head posture for a clear sight picture. The hardwood is much higher. A relaxed and repeatable cheekweld is one of the fundamentals of rifle shooting. I could not get this with the synth stock. Considered buying lower rings but realized that was the wrong approach.
Go to some place like Midway or Amazon where they have good side photos of both stock styles. The difference in proportions is very plain to see.
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Specifically, for anyone with large hands, the grip is too close to the trigger.
I agree. The trigger on my AW felt like it was in my palm. Very hard for me to control. I made a trigger shoe that effectively pushed out the pad about 1/4 in. Better.
(http://i553.photobucket.com/albums/jj369/microscale/1Shoe_zps5be03ac8.jpg)
Otherwise, mine was very hold and pellet choice sensitive. I ended up packing the space between the shroud and inner barrel behind the muzzle with GB Duct Seal to quell vibration, and also counterweighted the hollow stock against the scope's weight so get the axial C.G. closer to the bore line. No problems since. No other tuning needed done.
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I need to make one I've done the mods u mentioned tho and that's not at all tuning but yet made your gun better for you cool but back to the trigger is it aluminum it has sum brass look to it on the side very nice if you would not mind too much if u already have that somewhere on here but a decent start would be good
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Scotty, It appears to be a gold anodizing on the aluminum trigger.
It's a Charlie Da Tuna trigger.
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i honed mine and a new seal ----- cdt trigger ---- good stuff
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I have a .22 NP AW with factory scope shooting 744fps with CP Domed 14.3g and I hit paintballs at 30 yards with it. Don't know about longer distances because my yard is only 30 yards. When I got it I cleaned the barrel, tightened the screws and put a CDT trigger in it, that's it. I heard some people had to adjust the shroud to finally get good groups. The only thing I don't like is the plastic stock and the weight. I got a wood stock for it but ended up re-finishing it and putting it on my daughters Fury. The Fury seems to shoot better with the wood stock with it, gonna get another one for the NP.
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Where'd you get a wood stock for it? Crosman have them?
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Where'd you get a wood stock for it? Crosman have them?
Yes, Crosman has the hardwood in stock. Check the parts diagram and list. It shows what is unique to the hardwood version. You need the stock, trigger guard, and front trigger guard screw. All else is identical. Cost me about $35 with shipping to Hawaii.
I can go find the invoice and scribble down the numbers if you need them.
Edit, thought that question was to me, sorry.
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Keep shooting. Keep tinkering and testing.
Oakey
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Where'd you get a wood stock for it? Crosman have them?
Yes, Crosman has the hardwood in stock. Check the parts diagram and list. It shows what is unique to the hardwood version. You need the stock, trigger guard, and front trigger guard screw. All else is identical. Cost me about $35 with shipping to Hawaii.
I can go find the invoice and scribble down the numbers if you need them.
Edit, thought that question was to me, sorry.
Thank for the info! That's a good deal.
No need to look up the invoice, but thanks for offering. If I decide to do it, I'll just call them.
(sorry to hijack)