GTA
All Springer/NP/PCP Air Gun Discussion General => American/U.S. Air Gun Gates => Topic started by: north country gal on May 27, 2015, 05:22:07 PM
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For more details on the gun see my other post on the Benjamin Sterling HR 81.
The rain stopped and the sun came out, this morning, so removed the rear peep sight on the Sterling and added a Stoeger 3-9x air gun scope with AO for the sake of some accuracy testing out to 35 yards. I'd rate the scope as adequate as far as optics and about the same for the adjustments which tended to be sluggish and need some tapping to get them to move after adjustment. The scope did it's job, though I'll likely get something better down the road.
(http://i59.tinypic.com/m8zh8j.jpg)
Did a little preliminary sight in work at 10 and 25 yards and also used the time to get to know the gun a bit. Found that the gun is mildly hold sensitive, but not bad. What worked best was resting the gun on the bag just forward of the trigger guard and shooting with no pressure against the buttstock, allowing the gun to come straight back as I pulled the trigger. When snugged up against my shoulder I got flyers. The Sterling appears to like a light touch.
Tried a variety of pellets, but the old standby HN FTTs did the best.
Pleased to say that accuracy was very good. Most groups at 35 yards were in the half to three quarter inch range when casually shooting or when my follow though wasn't quite up to snuff. The less than stellar trigger on the gun was also contributing factor, for sure. When I decided to get medieval about it, really knuckle down and work with the trigger, though, I was impressed.
Here's my sight in target with five shots in the bull after adjustment along with my best five shot group. No problem keeping things under half inch when I gave it my best, though I won't claim to be able to do this every time. The potential is there, however.
(http://i58.tinypic.com/2q9c0w7.jpg)
Overall, very pleased with this gun, given what I paid for it ($150) and its all walnut and steel construction, not to mention its rarity. It really is unique. Love the the loading port way up forward ahead of the scope. No bear trap or fumbling with pellets like our TX on this one. Loading pellets a breeze.
(http://i57.tinypic.com/2ez7oyr.jpg)
At this point I'd rate as a solid 35 yard shooter, though with a better scope and some trigger work, I may make it a 50 yard shooter. We'll see.
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You got a monster deal! A gun like that if it were reintroduced would cost about double, but if it shot that good it would be worth it ;D
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Thanks. Didn't even know such a gun existed till I saw it at the gun show and thought the price was reasonable, given the all steel and wood construction, so just took a chance. Figured, if nothing else, I could add it to our growing Benjamin Sheridan collection as an unusual model. The fact that it shoots is a big plus, of course.
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I never have been one for the springers but I think you may have found the exception... Nice... And the Gal at the trigger can probably outshoot me from the looks of things...
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Did a search and on the pyramyd blog found it also has a L.W. barrel...
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Thanks for the info. That would explain how well it shoots.
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Well maybe but out at 35 yards I tend to give a good bit of credit to the talent of the person doing the work... consistency of hold etc...
I found it under HR-81 though not HR-31? His needed work but when done was about a 9fpe rifle...
https://www.pyramydair.com/blog/2012/01/sterling-hr-81-177-underlever-air-rifle-part-4/ (https://www.pyramydair.com/blog/2012/01/sterling-hr-81-177-underlever-air-rifle-part-4/)
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My goof, a typo in the title. It is an 81. Yes, I read that blog. Lots of good info on a rifle that isn't well known.
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Very nice.
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I bought a couple of these NIB a few years ago, one in .22 and one in .177. Still own the .177 version which i use with a willliams peep sight. Very well made airgun with second to none bluing and nice wood. Had Benjamin been able to produce the HR 81 a little more effectively and economicaly they may have had a real challenger for the TX 200 or the HW77. Was a little behind them as the trigger goes, both the TX and the HW have a nicer trigger. You picked yours up for a very good price.
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Thanks. As I read in the blog, the Crosman buy out of Benjamin sealed the fate of the Sterling. Not sure the HR81,83 would have been a big seller, anyway, given the price or where the market was headed in those days. Neat little part of Benjamin history to have one, though.
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Vey nice shooting @35yrds. considering the thick reticle and only 9X. Don't you love the whole process of getting to know a "new" air rifle? I do!
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Very much so. Really amazes me how the various models and types of air rifles can be so different and unique. I really enjoy the variety.
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Took the HR 81 out to 50, this week, and I can get under an inch with it on a good day. It's no TRX 200, but, then, I didn't pay a TX price, either. :)
(http://i57.tinypic.com/4gpu8m.jpg)
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:o :o :o that is some very good shooting...
I bet you could shoot Joe Palones toupee off his head without leaving a mark... ;)
Oh wait maybe you already did. ;)
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:) :) :) You're cracking me up. That was great.
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Oooh, nice gun, and nice shooting!
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Thanks for the write up and to all the insights and comments everyone made, nice air gun!
Nice shooting also.
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I really enjoy shooting this gun. It's easy to cock and load and not at all hold sensitive. Best of all, with H&N FTTs, flyers are not a problem, even on a day with a little bit of a breeze, as I had on this day. This is a group I shot at 50 yards, just this past week, without much effort as to group size. Pretty much cock, load and fire, gun resting on the bag.
(http://i58.tinypic.com/wjdrua.jpg)
Of course, the HR still, shoots under an inch when I plush things a bit as I did shortly after shooting the group, above. Not my best group with this gun, but still pleased.
(http://i61.tinypic.com/2j4cy6v.jpg)
Now that I know the gun can shoot and know what the gun likes, I'll be switching back to the peep sight that came with the gun for some more 50 yard work. Will try for an inch group.
(http://i59.tinypic.com/51zxc0.jpg)
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Since the HR81 came with the peep sight (it was a factory option on the HR81) and because I MUCH prefer shooting peep sights to shooting with a scope (even with our powder burners), I took the scope off the HR and back to the peep, as above.
First try at 50, this afternoon, didn't quite break an inch, but I will get there, soon. Did I mention I like shooting with a peep sight? :)
(http://i57.tinypic.com/1089115.jpg)
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You go, Deadeye!
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Found some info that suggest the twist rate on the .20 version is 1:14 .. :o
http://www.network54.com/Forum/79537/thread/1073885019/Somebody+was+asking+about+.20+LW+barrels (http://www.network54.com/Forum/79537/thread/1073885019/Somebody+was+asking+about+.20+LW+barrels)
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Nope not so sorry; did some further looking and found a very informative thread and it is 17.7 in all calibers...
http://www.network54.com/Forum/405945/thread/1330113534/Sterling+HR81+versus+Sterling+HR83 (http://www.network54.com/Forum/405945/thread/1330113534/Sterling+HR81+versus+Sterling+HR83)
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Very cool gun, and very good shooting!
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Thank-you. Actually had it out, last week, for a session. Very user friendly rifle to cock and load. Real pleasure to shoot.
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You proved out the advertising claims very well and at five yards further.. 8) they only claimed accuracy to be less than 2" /~4 moa at 45 yards...
consistently below 2 moa @ 50 yards looks very more like it.. ;) in good conditions and the right trigger artist...
Could not get me near a barrel cocker and I have never really been much for springers but for some reason the Sterling strikes me right and just seems like an under lever I could enjoy 30 yard sniping with.
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Very good shooting NC Gal !!
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Very good shooting NC Gal !!
Thank you.
Kirby, finding a Benjamin Sterling HR81/83 is going to be the hard part. They were only made for a short time by Benjamin, just prior to Benjamin being bought out by Crosman and Crosman wasted no time in dumping the HR, as it didn't really fit into their product line at the time. As a result, not many of these guns, around. In fact, a lot of Benjamin fans have never even seen one. I hadn't, until I found this one at a gun show.
If it's just a shooter you want, you could do better with an AA, HW, Diana or Walther under lever. All of these have better triggers than the HR, for one thing. The HR has value to me precisely because I am a big Benjamin fan and, of course, it is still a very nice gun.
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Nah it is not just a shooter that I want... it is partially it's uniqueness and that it is a Bolt action Benji Springer... The only other springer I have wanted for a while was the Hakim Trainer another lever cocker... why well just because the Heart wants what it wants...
that an I am a bit of an oddball... I saw a Rem 141 barrel for sale and thought that is the barrel I want for a .30 Disco.. :o ;) with cast sized .32 pistol rounds...
Me as long as it has a decent smooth predictable trigger I am fine 953/13xx/2100 etc...
Most 2100s have a very long pull but are predictable so I actually use it as a faux 2 stage... gritty draggy and vague are the trigger traits that bother me...
Never have been a competitive shooter but have done a good bit of shooting over the years...Tried my 953's at 50 yards and was closer to 4 moa than 2 :( but have not tried all the different pellets yet...
But any ways back yard friendly power and unique... for a challenge stre_-~-_tch the range... May not ever get one but will still be watching...
yep once ya see it the heart wants what it wants.. ;)
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Understand. Oh, yeah, if you are a Benji lover, too, no way could you pass up one of these. Really is a very unique gun with a charm all its own.
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Believe it or not, I found another HR81 at a gun show, today. Beautiful gun. Took my breath, away. So did the price at $675. Paid under $200 for mine. Did not buy it :)