Beeman P17 barrel issue and better accuracy fix

[sobdiver]

My first GTA post, here goes:

I took advantage of the recent Amazon special for the Beeman P17 and grabbed a few.   On the guns I received I removed the barrel and as a test I pushed a pellet through with a dowel.   On each barrel tested the pellet would get stuck/hang up as it was exiting the bore.  So, I made a little sandpaper cone and put it on the tip of a pencil and polished the opening until the pellet would push through smoothly without hanging up.  I tested accuracy on a rest with a scope.   Unimpressive accuracy before the fix and very sweet accuracy after.   That little speed bump exiting the barrel doesn’t seem to bode well for accuracy.  Favorite pellet so far is JSB  8.4’s. 

[Insanity]

Seems the crown was at fault there.

[nervoustrigger]

Well done!

I'm a new owner of a P17 myself and it had a similar defect.  Touched it up with the brass screw technique and it shoots much better now.

[sobdiver]

Well done!

I'm a new owner of a P17 myself and it had a similar defect.  Touched it up with the brass screw technique and it shoots much better now.

I initially tried to recrown the barrel with a #8 brass screw and valve grinding compound, but it became quickly apparent it was going to take a very long time and perhaps multiple screws to get deep enough to fix the issue.  So, that's when I tried the sandpaper cone on the pencil, which worked pretty quickly.    The pellet also sticks at the other end where it's inserted.  I'm wondering if it might help to polish out that end also.

[nervoustrigger]

Mine was the same way.  Even domed pellets were difficult to insert and wadcutters were borderline impossible.  And since wadcutters are the perfect diet for a little pistol like this, I had to do something about it.  I applied a very slight radius (probably not even 0.005") and polished the leade.  I was careful to simply polish it and not enlarge it...it needs to be snug so the pellet stays put during cocking.

[Matchstickshooter]

My first GTA post, here goes:

I took advantage of the recent Amazon special for the Beeman P17 and grabbed a few.   On the guns I received I removed the barrel and as a test I pushed a pellet through with a dowel.   On each barrel tested the pellet would get stuck/hang up as it was exiting the bore.  So, I made a little sandpaper cone and put it on the tip of a pencil and polished the opening until the pellet would push through smoothly without hanging up.  I tested accuracy on a rest with a scope.   Unimpressive accuracy before the fix and very sweet accuracy after.   That little speed bump exiting the barrel doesn’t seem to bode well for accuracy.  Favorite pellet so far is JSB  8.4’s.

Thanks for the tip, Rick!   I  followed your tip, worked great!

[Eddie_E]

If you can get used to loading wad cutters, they are the most accurate out of the P17. I would guess they stabilize in the short barrel faster than a dome. Brand doesn't seem to matter, I have shot both Daisy and Crosman wc interchangeably.

[Matchstickshooter]

If you can get used to loading wad cutters, they are the most accurate out of the P17. I would guess they stabilize in the short barrel faster than a dome. Brand doesn't seem to matter, I have shot both Daisy and Crosman wc interchangeably.

Good to know,I'll have to give them a try. Been using CPHP's.

[fwbsport]

Matchstick,

We both ended up with a P17!

I really like mine! It is a gift that I will cherish!  And it's so fun!

Now there is a thing all should know, the P17 has a strong piston!  Be sure your hands and fingers are SAFE to crunch that piston closed all the way in a swoop.  I have to admit I BARELY have the arm and hand strength to CLOSE the gun!  It IS a workout!

[Robert 5mm]

I close the action on my P17 by holding in shooting hand and placing a towel on my work bench.
The front end has a angled spot under the pivot - I load and close action most of the way - then I place the front end down on towel with the grip end in my hand, it is also down on towel. I push down with my free hand on the top of the receiver to close and push hammer release in if needed.

[Earl]

Matchstick,

We both ended up with a P17!

I really like mine! It is a gift that I will cherish!  And it's so fun!

Now there is a thing all should know, the P17 has a strong piston!  Be sure your hands and fingers are SAFE to crunch that piston closed all the way in a swoop.  I have to admit I BARELY have the arm and hand strength to CLOSE the gun!  It IS a workout!

Drilling a 3/8 inch hole 3/8 inch deep in the piston reduces the closing pressure from 31 pounds to 24 pounds.
It also reduces the muzzle velocity from 425 fps to 362 fps.
see this post:
https://www.gatewaytoairguns.org/GTA/index.php?topic=165567.msg155864968#msg155864968
Page 42 Reply #831 on Dec. 23, 2019 at 5:21 pm   by Captian Bravo
Started out checking it with a digital bathroom scale. Tested between 31 and 32 pounds. Chrono'd at 425 with spread of 5 on a 5 shot group of crosman pointed 7.4 grain. Started small thinking it would be a lot faster process to disassemble and drill more rather than fill it back in. After several tries, I ended up pretty much right where you suggested. 3/8" drill, and with my caliper I measured .380" deep right in the middle. Now it is right around 24 pounds to close, and my 5 shot group is 362 with a spread of 4.

I close the P17 by holding the pistol grip with my right hand and laying the bottom of the P17 across my left thigh and press the bottom of my left hand on the back sight to close.
It helps if you smooth the sharp edges of the back sight and the 11mm dovetail with an emery board finger nail file.

[Matchstickshooter]

Matchstick,

We both ended up with a P17!

I really like mine! It is a gift that I will cherish!  And it's so fun!

Now there is a thing all should know, the P17 has a strong piston!  Be sure your hands and fingers are SAFE to crunch that piston closed all the way in a swoop.  I have to admit I BARELY have the arm and hand strength to CLOSE the gun!  It IS a workout!

John,

You'll want to try a variety of pellets...Thought I was good with CPHP,... tried some Gamo Match wads and it's even better! Then some H&N FTT and those work the best yet.

[Stinger177]

For crowning less expensive barrels such as Crosman or Chinese Beemans, I've used this grinding bit, just twirling it in my fingers in the end of the bore with a bit of WD40. Takes off the sharp edges.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Dremel-1-4-in-Aluminum-Oxide-Pointed-Cone-Shaped-Grinding-Stone-2-Pack-953/203641152

They also have a green silicone carbide that is supposedly for ceramics and non-ferrous metals, and I believe this is actually the one I used. It's been a while.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Dremel-3-16-in-Cone-Silicon-Carbide-Grinding-Stone-for-Stone-Glass-Ceramic-Porcelain-Gemstone-Non-Ferrous-Metal-2-Pack-84922/203679935

You can also use them a bit more aggressively for opening the breech leade.

[fwbsport]

Matchstick,

We both ended up with a P17!

I really like mine! It is a gift that I will cherish!  And it's so fun!

Now there is a thing all should know, the P17 has a strong piston!  Be sure your hands and fingers are SAFE to crunch that piston closed all the way in a swoop.  I have to admit I BARELY have the arm and hand strength to CLOSE the gun!  It IS a workout!

John,

You'll want to try a variety of pellets...Thought I was good with CPHP,... tried some Gamo Match wads and it's even better! Then some H&N FTT and those work the best yet.

Yes I've been shooting only Crow Magnums (9 gr) and CPDs (10.5gr) but I also have a slew of Pistol Match Wadcutters in rifle and pistol weights to try as well!

I close the action with my two hands and no towels or brace like a bench but I understand the safety for your hands is better with the towel/bench/foremuzzle/grip base.

Yes it takes all my strength each time and this is the only faus paus on this design compared to a PCP!