Running review of the Benjamin Trail NP2 .22 cal Synthetic

[Nomadic Pirate]

So, someone put a bug in my ear that since I don't Hunt PCPs anylonger I should look into Hog hunting with Springers.

I was considering Hatsan, but I than decided to go for a Benjamin Nitro piston.

I had several Benjamin/Crosman Nitro Piston in the past and like them all






Been shooting this gun for the past 2 days, man, my finger hurts from seating the pellets 

I wanted to get a bunch of shooting done before I scope her, she's still smoking quite a bit but I'll scope her today and start some target shooting.

Eventually I'll hope she likes the Baracuda and that will be my Hunting pellet ( Wish Crosman made a .22 in the 20-22gr range, the .25 is such a good pellet they should really use that formula to make a heavier .22 and even expand on the heavy .25 in the 35gr range, a .30 and a .357,....they are missing out with the market developing as it is )


Anyway, going off track here 


What do I think so far ?

The stock seems made with a good grade plastic,
feels solid and the ergonomics are really good also I like the stippling on the forearm, it gives me a repeatable hold.

The gun feels pretty light.

The shooting cycle is nice and sharp, a solid thunk, I like it a lot.

The barrel locking seems positive.

The trigger,.....The 1st stage is heavy and gritty however the second stage breaks nice and sharp.
.......I don't know if the 1st stage can be lighten ( I'll look into that ) but even if it don't I'll be happy with this trigger.

So Far so good, next is accuracy testing, first with the Crosman than with the Baracuda, once I find the right pellet I'll do Chrono and penetration testing.

Hopefully all pans out and I'll be able to take the gun Hog hunting soon.

[Privateer]

Gotta say I like mine!

[Nomadic Pirate]

Have you been able to lighten that 1st stage ?

do you have some real world FPE on this gun ?

[Berky]

So, someone put a bug in my ear that since I don't Hunt PCPs anylonger

Not to go off topic for long but, what made you get away from hunting with PCPS? Are you done with them all together?

[Privateer]

Have you been able to lighten that 1st stage ?

It came from Gene with the CDT Trigger installed.
 

do you have some real world FPE on this gun ?

I was getting 820+ FPS with CPHP's. It like's the JSB 15+ grains better.

[39M]

Is it really 70% quieter than a regular springer?

[Privateer]

Is it really 70% quieter than a regular springer?

Given an untuned Springer will have a lot of twang right in your ear?
Yes. It's a very quite AG.
The Hatsan 125 with Nitro Piston was a bit louder in my ear also.
From standing aside say 20 feet away? The NP2 is a tad harder to hear then the 125 Nitro Piston setup.
That's just my take on things from hearing the Wife ask if I'm shooting or tells me she hears me.

[Nomadic Pirate]

Is it really 70% quieter than a regular springer?

Right now ? ...I don't think so, will see once it's broken in

[Nomadic Pirate]

Have you been able to lighten that 1st stage ?

It came from Gene with the CDT Trigger installed.
 

do you have some real world FPE on this gun ?

I was getting 820+ FPS with CPHP's. It like's the JSB 15+ grains better.

Didn't know those gun took aftermarket triggers.

So you getting just over 21 FPE with the 14.3gr wander what the FPE will be with the 21gr Baracuda

[Privateer]

Try the 16 grain Penetrators from Crosman.
I never tried them until the other day in a Hatsan Mod 95 I tuned.
I was a bit impressed that at 20 yards they sunk a 1/2 inch into a seasoned Pine board and were pretty dead on at what I aimed at.

[aceflier]

My XL1100 likes JSB Heavies,benjamin hp and Polymags. Does not like JSB Exacts or CpHp both fit loose in the breach.

[Bryan Heimann]

Interesting choice Manny.  I didn't think you'd go for a 22-ish fpe rifle. 

[mobilehomer]

Manny, I have over 10,000 through mine with the Bushnell in my signature. Still going strong, clear, bright, side focus snaps in well and not too heavy.
I have not gotten one yet, (I installed a lighter trigger spring) but here is the trigger you need.

http://charliedatuna.com/NPSS%20non%20PP.htm

[Nomadic Pirate]

Interesting choice Manny.  I didn't think you'd go for a 22-ish fpe rifle. 

If she is accurate with the Baracuda 21gr and she can push them at 730 fps than I get 25 FPE,....the smaller .22 I think will be a better penetration pellet even with the los of 4-5 FPE compared to the .25

Chrono testing soon so I'll know for sure.

[Nomadic Pirate]

Manny, I have over 10,000 through mine with the Bushnell in my signature. Still going strong, clear, bright, side focus snaps in well and not too heavy.
I have not gotten one yet, (I installed a lighter trigger spring) but here is the trigger you need.

http://charliedatuna.com/NPSS%20non%20PP.htm

Thanks, maybe down the line,....so did you manage to lighten that 1st stage ?

[Buldawg76]

I have own/owned both NP and a NP2 and IMHO they really dropped the ball with the NP2 as compared to the NP since my NP2 was much harsher of a shot cycle and very inaccurate as well.

There was only 50 fps difference between the NP to the NP2 and the accuracy and shot cycle was lust horrible with the NP2 compared to my two NPs and the addition of one more plain plate ( washer ) behind the NPs gas ram increased the fps to the same as the NP2 without the added harshness of the shot cycle and still maintained the accuracy.

You could not give me a NP2 for whats is worth.

Mike

[Bryan Heimann]

Interesting choice Manny.  I didn't think you'd go for a 22-ish fpe rifle. 

If she is accurate with the Baracuda 21gr and she can push them at 730 fps than I get 25 FPE,....the smaller .22 I think will be a better penetration pellet even with the los of 4-5 FPE compared to the .25

Chrono testing soon so I'll know for sure.

I'm sure you'll wring her out properly before you put her to work.  If it were anybody else, I'd be nay-saying!  But taking into consideration your experience, you obviously know better than me.  This is one of the most interesting topics I've seen in a while.

[Bryan Heimann]

I have own/owned both NP and a NP2 and IMHO they really dropped the ball with the NP2 as compared to the NP since my NP2 was much harsher of a shot cycle and very inaccurate as well.

There was only 50 fps difference between the NP to the NP2 and the accuracy and shot cycle was lust horrible with the NP2 compared to my two NPs and the addition of one more plain plate ( washer ) behind the NPs gas ram increased the fps to the same as the NP2 without the added harshness of the shot cycle and still maintained the accuracy.

You could not give me a NP2 for whats is worth.

Mike

I am sure experieces may vary.  I got a Trail NP from someone on trade, and ended up buying my trade back to satisfy him.  He was so burned over airgun that he gave up on them.  I swapped the piston seal and did a little polishing and added some moly in the right places, after break in I was drilling spinners at over 70 yards with that same rifle.  I traded it for a feinwerkbau 65 match pistol tbat I sold for something like $400, lol.  So you never know, until you know.  Especially with air rifles- sometimes you just gotta find out for yourself.

[Buldawg76]

I am sure experieces may vary.  I got a Trail NP from someone on trade, and ended up buying my trade back to satisfy him.  He was so burned over airgun that he gave up on them.  I swapped the piston seal and did a little polishing and added some moly in the right places, after break in I was drilling spinners at over 70 yards with that same rifle.  I traded it for a feinwerkbau 65 match pistol tbat I sold for something like $400, lol.  So you never know, until you know.  Especially with air rifles- sometimes you just gotta find out for yourself.
[/quote]

Bryan

I will have to also say that I have three NPs with two Titan 22s and a venom 177 and love all three of them. About a year and a half ago I decided to buy a Trail NP2 since the NPs were so good IMO, but when I got the NP2 and shot it about 50 times it was just so much harsher and unrefined feeling compared to my NPs and I was not able to shoot the 3/4" groups at 35 yards my NPs would do with ease.

So I myself was very disappointed in it and realize that it may have been a bad one but with already having three great shooting guns and the NP2 being touted as heads and toes above the NP I was not willing to play the musical gun routine till I got a good one and with the addition of an extra plain plate behind the gas ram my NPs shoot just as fast as the NP2 did at 760 fps with 15.89s in the 22s and 850 fps with 10.34s in the 177. 

So not saying they are not a good gun but just my experience with the one I had was not a good one.

I do love my two FWB 300's for all day one hole plinking out to 50 yards.

Mike

[mobilehomer]

Manny, I got an assortment box of springs from Tractor Supply, found one that is softer than stock, cut it to length and it is way lighter.
Mine, with JSB Exact Jumbo 18.1, does 735 fps, 21.5 fpe. Around 1/2" at forty yards, when the moon, sun and stars align, and I do my part. Now for the real world, I had two squirrels align their heads perfectly at forty yards and dropped them both with one shot!! Completely through both skulls.