Remington VTR 725 .25 cal magnum, anyone?

[3crows]

What pellets does it like ??

Beats me. That is why I said I only had a handful of pellets. I have some JSB on order. I was given a dozen or so .25 dome Crosman pellets. That is all I have now. I sighted in with five pellets and have seven left to shoot starlings until the JSBs come in. The stores around here do not have .25 pellets and even in .22/.177 the selection is limited.

The GRT (CDT Trigger Works) triggers, the gentleman that started the little company has passed away sadly and his wife is very genteel but does not know what trigger this 725 VTR might take and she suggested I ask here, any help there appreciated?

James

[jlp920]

You can research using a longer adjustment screw or the RC bearing mod if it's a standard Crosman trigger. Work at your own risk. How bad is the factory trigger? Does it seem like the typical Crosman variety with the blade safety and adjustment screw? The RC bearing mod is AWEsome IF and that's a big IF, it's safe in the gun. Switching to a longer adjustment screw can also help, also very dangerous if you screw it in too far. I have very nearly injured myself grievously on a couple of occasions messing with triggers this way. Be VERY VERY careful. If you change out the adjustment screw, it can sometimes work its way in as you shoot, eventually resulting in an unsafe gun. I use loctite blue to address this.

[3crows]

You can research the switched-out adjustment screw mod or the RC bearing mod if it's a standard Crosman trigger. Work at your own risk. How bad is the factory trigger? Does it seem like the typical Crosman variety with the blade safety and adjustment screw? The RC bearing mod is AWEsome IF and that's a big IF, it's safe in the gun. Switching to a longer adjustment screw can also help, also very dangerous if you screwit in too far. I have very nearly injured myself grievously on a couple of occasions messing with triggers this way. Be VERY VERY careful.

I did not say the trigger was bad. I have the GRT trigger in my Stoeger so I want one for this rifle because I like them. Do not read into my question that there is anything wrong with the trigger as is, it seems rather typical. Sorry to confuse you.

[jlp920]

No sweat...that was my assumption based on past experience with inexpensive break barrels. I have one coming too, I'm interested in the trigger pull for selfish reasons. I do like a good trigger, really helps with accuracy.

[3crows]

Just for curiosity, I weighed the beast with the supplied scope. It is 10 pounds and 3 ounces and nearly 48 inches of length!

[jlp920]

Yeah, that’s a beast alright. About the same dimensions and weight as a Hatsan 135. I ordered a tin of Benjamin 27.? gr. pellets for my incoming Remington. Pretty inexpensive online.

[3crows]

Has anyone learned what the thread (size) on the barrel end is? I may need to make a hand grip of larger diameter from a Delrin rod. I have a left hand injury from long ago and the existing shroud that threads on is really too small for my grip.

[3crows]

Still trying to learn the barrel muzzle thread size but what purpose does this plastic shroud serve anyways? I assume it might reduce some twang from the rifle and act to assist the grip while cocking? But anything else? Because I am probably going to do away with it and make a more conventional looking and non-shrouded grip of Delrin or aluminum bar.

A  close up of the action.



This rifle was spotless clean. Metal work is clean and finished well enough. Nothing especially unusual looking. I plan to do the bearing/bushing mod for the trigger and fool around with it some now that it is apart. I have some of the 5X8X2.5 Traxxis part number 4115 bearings. If this works I might not need the GTA trigger though I may choose to buy one just to support the little company.

[jlp920]

My VTR is still being packed at Pyramyd. No hurry, I know it's a tough time for retail outlets.
I plan to cast up a few of the NOE 27 gr. hunters and see how they fly, along with the Benjy domes on their way.
My only other .25 is a Hatsan Striker that has been my most challenging break-barrel thus far, in terms of accuracy.
Very oversized bore (bore diameter is about .256". a standard .25 pellet can be pushed the length of the barrel with no resistance). I have kept it partly because it is a nice-looking gun with a lot of power, and partly because I'm a masochist .
-jp

[3crows]

I am excited for you to get your VTR so we can compare. I should have pellets Wednesday, I am completely out of the few I had now.

I did the RC bearing modification to the trigger. I first installed the bicycle chain bearing mod and this is fine. It is absolutely not any different in function than the RC #4115 bearing mod other than as a life long cyclist, I had plenty of chains to use to borrow a roller for free. The rollers are 5.35 ID and 7.67 OD. You really do not need a ball bearing here as it really seems to act only as a spacer. There is very little relative movement between the trigger, bearing/bushing and transfer bar. But since I had ordered the bearings and they arrived today I went ahead and used one of them, I had already paid for it so might as well. I did not remove the trigger return spring as it seems most do. I did squeeze it some and then stuck it back in. I do not especially care for "light" target triggers. That BS might be okay for a bench only rifle but it is dangerous IMO for a walking field gun. Whether the trigger was bad or not so bad before it is better now, bad and good is relative to purpose.

[Ronno6]

I have cans full of the un-needed chain links trimmed from new chains.........I've been contemplating stringing
all those Shimano,Sram, Wipperman and other 6 and 8 link segments together to make a hodge-podge drive train...
Now maybe i have another use for the rollers.......of course I could just rob one from any of a number of used chains.....

[unionrdr]

I have one I found when they first went out for sale to the public. I also did some videos about camo dipping the stock while I modded the rifle for sling swivels and a logo sling from a small gun shop in Dayton, Ohio on Amazon. Hits hard and has an authoritive recoil to it. So far as I got testing it, it likes H&N hornets and JSB King .25's. But, as usual, I think most domed pellets will fare well. Here's the couple videos I did...
  Part 1;

  Part 2;

  Part3;

  This rifle is basically the Benjamin NPXL725 barreled action set into a modded Remington 783 stock. But it fires & recoils differently, so I think the swept volume is different in the 725VTR?

[3crows]

Yes sir, I read though your thread on the VTR. Nice rifle and I was encouraged by your report to exchange the first rifle for another rather than refund. Glad I did because the first one must have been abused or used for digging post holes or something unknown. My second one is spotless.

The RC #4115 bearing compared to a bicycle chain roller and a .22 pellet and something else for scale:



My JSB Kings should be here tomorrow and I have some Benji .25 on the way also. It does not matter today, the wind is expected to be sustained over 40 MPH with gusts to 60. The only thing I have that can buck wind like that and even then only at shorter range would take down a buffalo or even an elephant or if there were any still around, a Trex.

This Tack Driver target came from a thread on the High Road forum. I think they meant it for public use (and for .22 RF @ 50/100 yards) so here, let's see them tack drivers air rifles I keep hearing about at 25 yards:



Some folks use Krylon Camo and Ultra Flat rattle can paints and then over shoot with SprayMax 2K clear for doing their stocks at home. The 2K is a two part urethane in a rattle can, can in a can. The stuff is completely solvent resistant even to MEK once dry and very tough, pot life about 24 hours. I learned about it when I needed to do a fairing on my Triumph ST and was super impressed with the stuff.

[3crows]

Darn edit function is timed! I wanted to add, in your video you mentioned that only one of the three screws were patched (blue locking agent). This rifle has a large blue patch on all three screws. The breech seal appears to be sufficiently fitted and tight.

When you installed that forward sling did you need a longer pin? I must not understand that installation?

[unionrdr]

No longer pin. I used the Dremel and a file to cut down the end of the anti-beartrap/cocking lever evenly on both sides to make room for the front swivel yolk. That is what the video shows me doing. The Benji is similarly done. And mine missing some blue Loctite & not having enough shims under the breech seal made me wonder?

[jlp920]

Mine came in. Looks good. First shot out of the box was a Benji 27.9 grainer, chronoed at 789 (dieseled) that is, lessee....38.6 fpe.

Second shot was 761. Still way over 30 fpe.
4th shot was 692 fps. That’s an even 30 fpe, and I don’t believe it dieseled.
Hopefully the scope mount stays put 

[Ronno6]

Mine arrived today from PA.
Quite an impressive weapon.
Reminiscent of my Cro Mag of Beeman Kodiak .25...

First observations........
1.Heft. As others have reported, it is a man sized gun. Has some real heft to it.
2. Cocking effort is appreciable. I had to get my nest door neighbor AND his 14yo. son to accomplish the task.
3. Recoil......very much akin to my Mosin Nagant firing a 7.62 x 54R cartridge, and those are KNOWN for their kick.
    I'm gonna need a recoil pad or my Shoulder Saver in order to do any serious shooting.
4. Noise...again, significant. LOUD,even.........
5. Scope...I can't believe it will last long.......I wonder if Crosman will warranty it should it fail??

But, it IS a healthy hunk of iron and plastic for the price.

[3crows]

My first real session with it shooting from my Stinger BR. Okay, it kicks and there is noticeable forward recoil. I would not say it is loud but it has a definite THUMP! My scope was moving so I got down on it and it seems to be holding place now. I have witness marks and they have not moved. I have about 50 shots through it now. I have the JSB Exact King domed pellets. Well, it is a pretty strong rifle and zips through 1/2 inch ply with ease.

Here are two 25 yards groups:





The 725VTR is a challenging rifle to shoot due to the significant double recoil. I was sighting in (and still am) and the rifle is bedding in (and still is) so most groups had a flyer or two out of five. It is going to take a while to get good with the VTR. So far I am encouraged!

Before shooting I swabbed the barrel with Ballistol and it was rather dirty. I pulled my snake through to remove excess oil after swabbing.

James

[3crows]

Another set of targets at 25 yards, gusting wind from the left. Shot from my Stinger. From the left, the top first and top third, I was adjusting the scope mount screws trying to bed them in. The middle row, far right was shot off hand:



A word to the wise, check the tiny little screws that hold the scope turret finger grips on. One of mine fell out but I was able to locate it. All four were loose. So I snugged them all down good.

[jlp920]

Trigger is...abysmal out of the box...I can remedy that with my last RC bearing. Will try adjusting a bit first, then out it comes for the modification. Shroud doesn’t bother me as long as it stays put. Will shoot for groups soon, need to cast. Your groups look good, 3crows. Some groups very good. Thanks for heads up re screws.