My Benji Kratos Chronicles

[Hoosier Daddy]

To each his own markjs that's what gives us so many great options today.
I have been actively searching for a bottle gun for over a year... Walther Rotek, and Kral Punch Pro 500 were on my "short list" until this new Benji came out.

Hiding it in the stock is a nice idea,  I believe a round cylinder holds higher pressures that a rectangle box, but could be wrong.

While I was swapping the scopes last night, I was surprised at how light the Kratos was compared to my Beeman AR-2078 that was the donor... and I never considered that "heavy".
 Maybe it was an illusion because the bottle being short has the mass more towards the CG of the gun instead of out front.

[bear air]

I agree Scott, when I turned my 22 marauder into a brod it changed the whole "feel" of the gun. Anxious to see how this rifle does for you. I'm thinking that power wheel is going to be a game changer for Benjamin/Crosman. I like the idea of having a rifle that can be adjusted around for different jobs. Surprised you didn't call into work and take the day to shoot and test your new rifle.

[Hoosier Daddy]

OH... Trust me, I thought about it!
 It is a beautiful calm, sunny, 82 degree day here.

Too much going on to really do that though. 

What's more, I will only have about an hour of play time after work. I gotta cook at the Lodge tonight. 

[Hoosier Daddy]

I still wanna know how many shots you can milk off the bottle at low power 👀

I’m curious to find out what kind of shot count you get 

Ready for this... Better sit down.
3000psi initial fill. Brought out the Caldwell chrono and a few tins of pellets.
 Not going for accuracy but shot count before POI dropped off. Just wanted lead... CPHP 14.3, some "beat up" JSB Jumbo Express 14.3, and H&N Sports...
 I set up a bull at 10 meters just for a consistent POA... And to tell when POI dropped.
 CPHP had it normal shot gun patter but the other two were one big hole.
 CPHP ..132 SHOTS BEFORE FALLING OFF AT 2100 psi. So I then switched back to H&N Sports at the end and got another 2 mags ONE HOLE SHOTS... I gave up at 156 shots down to 2000 psi.
On low setting I can milk out 156 !!!!

[bear air]

WOW Scott! That's a great shot count. I presume that was on the low power setting? Perfect for plinking around and shooting paper.

[mrbulk]

On low setting I can milk out 156 !!!!

 

[Wayne52]

That's a lot of shots on one fill Scott !!!

[Hangtown-Shooter]

Nice! Thanks for the update 

That’s a whole lotta plinking per fill indeed 👍🏻

[markjs]

My AT44's 20 shots (prolly could get 35, but I don't want to pump it that far back up every time), is really making me jealous. I suppose a regulator would largely solve my problem though? I've heard a regulator can make the AT44 much more efficient, with higher shot count with negligeable power loses? Even if true, I know it won't come anywhere near that kind of shot count. Realistically I'm hoping for four mags.

[Hoosier Daddy]

On low setting I can milk out 156 !!!!

 

Yes Sir!
Lowest setting.
First shot 550fps...Peaked at 588... last shot 541fps

That's a lot of shots on one fill Scott !!!

And a whole lotta pellets in one fill! 

[Hoosier Daddy]

So... the next test was just the opposite.
 Power cranked up to the max.
Let's see what kind of FPE we get?

12 shot magazine of each.....

CPHP 14.3g - AVG Speed 1055 = 35.37 foot-pounds
JSB 15.89g - AVG Speed 979 = 33.83 foot-pounds
JSB 18.13g - AVG Speed 957 = 36.88 foot-pounds
NOE Mag Hunter 23g - AVG Speed 852 = 37.08 foot-pounds
JSB Jumbo Monster 25.39g - AVG Speed 819 = 37.83 foot-pounds


Obviously Kratos likes the heavy weights in FPE...

BUT tomorrow comes the accuracy test with the pellets I have left.

[Hoosier Daddy]

And just in case any one is wondering...
Our old friend BARB approves! 

[KnifeMaker]

And That is Exactly Why Bottle Guns are BEAUTIFUL!!! 


Knife

[mrbulk]

So... the next test was just the opposite.
 Power cranked up to the max.
Let's see what kind of FPE we get?

12 shot magazine of each.....

CPHP 14.3g - AVG Speed 1055 = 35.37 foot-pounds
JSB 15.89g - AVG Speed 979 = 33.83 foot-pounds
JSB 18.13g - AVG Speed 957 = 36.88 foot-pounds
NOE Mag Hunter 23g - AVG Speed 852 = 37.08 foot-pounds
JSB Jumbo Monster 25.39g - AVG Speed 819 = 37.83 foot-pounds


Obviously Kratos likes the heavy weights in FPE...

BUT tomorrow comes the accuracy test with the pellets I have left.

Hey Scott, here's hoping the accuracy (with appropriate pellets of course) impresses whether paper punching in the 500's or taking medium game cranked all the way up.

[KnifeMaker]

Scott, I'm very  much looking forward to your accuracy test. It will tell the tail!


Mike

[Hoosier Daddy]

My (quality) pellet inventory is getting low in .22
I am completely out of the JSB 18g and running low on their 15.8g
The H&N Sports did very well out to 20 yards but when pushed to 35, while I can hit the penny size orange dot most of the time, results were not consistent.
 I do have a tin and a half of each H&N FTT in 5.53 and 5.55 head size to try still.
I see P/A has the FX in 15g and 18g in stock, I will probably be ordering 2 tins of each in the hear future.
 
 

[RunsOnAir]

Subscribing.
Also, do you guys know how long the "AGNATION" discount is supposed to last? Don't ask me what I'm thinking, I'm surrounded by enablers and I'm weaker minded than I expected 

[CraigH]

And That is Exactly Why Bottle Guns are BEAUTIFUL!!! 

Except when it has to be filled by hand pump from such a depleted point!   

[Wayne52]

Scott I'm curious as to how well the Magnum Hunters worked in the magazines, I'm thinking that will probably be what I'll be shooting from my Cayden most of the time.  The really neat thing too is I can turn it way down and shoot wad cutters from it if I want.  I'll adjust for a string at about 650fps for the wad cutters.  Pretty neat how all the adjustments for power are done changing the transfer port just by dialing that knob.  I'm also wondering how long it will be before Croman is going to release a EVP manual for these guns considering it's a 5 year warranty 

[mrbulk]

Subscribing.
Also, do you guys know how long the "AGNATION" discount is supposed to last? Don't ask me what I'm thinking, I'm surrounded by enablers and I'm weaker minded than I expected 

Ronan, well I certainly succumbed to the allure of the AGNATION code. Ordered an Akela from Crosman and it'll be here Monday (or hopefully maybe even before), but not sure how long it's good for though, but it provides a discount of slightly MORE than 25% (from $649.99 all the way down to $487.49) so if you're contemplating doing something, ya better be quick about it!