Benji Trail XL's - What kind of accuracy is obtainable

[PA1911]

I also dont like the feel of the gun with my thumb through the thumbhole, feels too crammed.  I actually put my thumb on the back right corner of the end cap.

[uncle paulie]

Mine's a lot like Daves, it likes a real gentile touch. All of the possible combinations of gun, seal, lubes, stance, hold, rest, mood, home/work stress, heat/cold, etc.,etc. all play into this and it just takes time, practice, and patience to eliminate the variables. If any two of us, that both had tack-hammers, switched guns, I'm pretty sure that both would have a problem producing the same groups they had while shooting their own. Its a journey. Like going up a mountain. You can circle the mountain and eventually get to the top, or you can go straight up and try to get there faster but will encounter a number of obstacles which may send you back down. With practice, you will eventually develop the skills necessary to run straight up the mountain.

The one thing in your posts that I would try to change is your thumb position. placing your thumb on the side may be causing you to pull inconsistently straight back on the trigger. A small amount of variation on your trigger can cause a great deal of variation on your POI. Not to say that your hold can't be sucessfull, but it would help to eliminate a possible variable.

pv

[airiscool]

"............The one thing in your posts that I would try to change is your thumb position. placing your thumb on the side may be causing you to pull inconsistently straight back on the trigger. A small amount of variation on your trigger can cause a great deal of variation on your POI. Not to say that your hold can't be sucessfull, but it would help to eliminate a possible variable. ..."

What I was thinking too, Uncle Paulie.

On stright grip (English) or even "pistol grip" stocks the hand is still off to the side of the stock. I find that I have to really concentrate to pull and follow through straight back, because I have a tendancy to naturally pull toward the palm of my hand.

This being my first thumb-hole stock, I too had trouble at first adjusting to the differant feel.  But now, with the palm of my hand rotated more behind the trigger, I find I pull more in-line with the stock centerline.  Also easier to pull back on the stock to get the firm shoulder and cheekweld my gun does best with, and still maintaine a relaxed, but firm grip.

Paul.

[NickB79]

After 250 rds, my Trail NP is still smoking a bit and only doing 1" at 12 yd with CPHP's.  I can get 3-4 shots into one hole, and then throw a flier or two.  The trigger has been replaced, so I think I'm still learning hold techniques and follow through.

I never thought shooting an AG would be so much harder to do consistantly than shooting a PB!

[uncle paulie]

Nick...When you get it right, you'll see an improvement in your PB groups. Just a little bonus of the AG affliction! At 250 rounds, that NP is still pretty green. You'll see a lot of improvement at around twice that much, as long as your seal is OK.

pv

[PA1911]

Hello everyone,

I got a little time to head out and try some of your tips.  I tried my thumb through the thumbhole, it was a little uncomfortable at first but getting better.  I also tried a firmer hold.  I had been shooting with my stock on the sandbag.  Tonight I put the back of my hand on the bag and put a fairly firm grip on the stock at the checkering.  I think Im in the beginning stages of carpel tunnel and anything I do with my arm rolled over, palm up, really cramps up.  It just makes me take more time between shots to calm down and rest my arm.  I was able to get a seven shot group with Baracuda Match that were one ragged hole at 15 yards.

My groups were not consistent , some flyers, but I was tired, it was getting dark and I was in a bit of a hurry so my mind wasnt 100%.

I'll keep at it.  So far it seems to like a firmer hold.  If I try a real light hold my groups open up to around 2" at 15 yards.

Thanks again for the tips, keep em coming . 

Oh and Nick, my XL has about 550 rounds through it.. It finally quit smoking around 450.

Thanks again everyone
Shawn

[ezman604]

Good deal Shawn, seems more trigger time is paying off. You should have the gun dialed in and you to the gun soon now. I finally got some trigger time this afternoon. Took most of my guns out to put a few rounds through as many of them as I could. The XL1500 was still dead on and was able to smack lollipops and paintballs at 30 yards. The SS did the same. My XL1100 was a different story this time. Was all over the place. At 30 yards I was seeing a 2" spread. One or two on and one 2" off...
Noticed when I cocked it there was some side play in the barrel. I have the new washers made by Don.C I've got to take the time to lube and install. I think that and retightening the pivot bolt will get my nail driver back in shape. But there's serious accuracy available with these hammers.

[PA1911]

Thanks Dave,

I don't think I'll be hitting paintballs at 30 yards anytime soon  but I do think things are getting better.  At least I have a good idea of what I need to work on when I'm rested and have time to devote to serious practice.

I also wanted to ask, Are most of you shooting with your hand under the stock like the artillery hold even when bench shooting?  It seemed kinda awkward to me at first (mostly because of my carpel tunnel).  I would imagine though that if you dial it in shooting off of a bag, your point of impact would probably change when shooting offhand.  Is this true?

Thanks,
Shawn

[ezman604]

IMHO you need to practice what hold you will be using the majority of the time. I put a folded towel down on the deck rail, rest my left forearm against it and just lay the stock in my palm. Yep, basically the artillery hold. Nice and relaxed and concentrate on breathing, heart rate and follow through. Also check the trigger pull and make sure its as straight back as possible. I've caught myself pulling to one side....

[PA1911]

Hey folks,

I did a little quick shooting.  Put about 50 rounds through.  I got some pretty good groups with the CPUMs.  I had some groups with 4-5 shots touching but I always have flyers.  Still need to get some good, hard practice in.  My shooting sessions have been squeezed in between everything else so its kinda rushed.

So far shooting with my thumb through the thumbhole, though not the most comfortable for me, has been improving the group size.  Also, a slightly firmer grip and pulling it into my shoulder a little have proved better than a loose hold.

Practice, Practice

The Baracuda Match and CPUMs are still the best performers.  Sp far the Crowm Magnums and JSB Heavy are not shooting so well.

One day at a time

[Jay]

The flyer's Shawn will stop when you do a tune on her an get a non-nicked up seal in it. Well I should mine did at least, an my seal was really not in that bad of shape over-all.

[PA1911]

The flyer's Shawn will stop when you do a tune on her an get a non-nicked up seal in it. Well I should mine did at least, an my seal was really not in that bad of shape over-all.

Hey Jay,

Good to hear from ya.  Yeah, Im hoping the tune will help.  I dont know how soon I get all the stuff I need rounded up to tune it.  Slowly but surely

Will a nicked or bad seal cause flyers even if shot to shot velocity is pretty close? 

[Rocker1]

 Yes they will, a nick in the seal can cause  more than a frequent flyer. the trouble is you don't know when its coming.  thanks david

[Jay]

Yep like Bro.David said it just seem's to come at random time's an seem's to really show when a pellet is just a tiny bit looser or tighter in breech. Mine seemed worse after about 10 shot's at a fast pace(warmed up softer seal???) An like I mentioned my seal was not in real bad shape,nice enough that I kept it for an emergency one in my kit.Now the Beast will place 20rd's on target with no flyer's in the group(except the one's I know I done LOL).

[PA1911]

That makes me feel better.  Maybe the flyers arent all from my technique.  I hope I can pull off this tune correctly.  The more I talk to you guys the more excited I get to start tuning.

Thanks Guys
Shawn

[PA1911]

Went outside to do some shooting off the porch (raining here).  I put about 25 rounds through when I noticed one of the screws in the fore end of the stock was sticking out past the stock.  It was about 1 turn from falling out.

I had used blue loctite on them but I must not have used enough on that screw.

I'll blame some of those flyers on that 

Check your screws!