Any accuracy tricks or tips for a +/- 8 year old Benji 392?

[Don.M]

I'm buying a Benji 392 from a shooter who has no use for it anymore. It currently has a Williams Peep sight, but I do plan on scoping it. Other than experimenting with the brand/type of pellets to see which print tighter, and playing with the number of pumps to find the sweet-spot in the power band, does anyone know of any accuracy tricks tips they are willing to share?

[Habanero69er]

Don, first thing to do is check for paint over-spray in the muzzle. If there is, with the muzzle pointed downward, use a Q-Tip with acetone to remove paint. Second, make sure the front sight is not bent & is perpendicular to the barrel.
Also, before you scope the rifle, try out the Williams sight for a while. These rifles tend to be pretty accurate with a peep & keeps the rifle more slim lined & lighter than with a scope. If you decide to scope it, I recommend the Mac1 IA scope mount. Rock solid, will not promote barrel/air tube separation. Can be scout mounted or traditionally mounted over the breech.

http://www.mac1airgunshop.com/product-p/bjshia.htm

[19Sheridan57]

  You beat me to it, Dave.
  Three pumps are fine for 10 yard target shooting.

[Don.M]

  You beat me to it, Dave.
  Three pumps are fine for 10 yard target shooting.

I was thinking of sighting in w/4 pumps @ 15 yards and hunting chippies with 5 pumps.

[Don.M]

If you decide to scope it, I recommend the Mac1 IA scope mount. Rock solid, will not promote barrel/air tube separation. Can be scout mounted or traditionally mounted over the breech.


How does the Mac-1 mount compare to the one offered by Baker Airguns?

[Habanero69er]

That's one of the beauties of a multi-pump. You can adjust for distance/power/ammo with the number of pumps you use.

[Habanero69er]

If you decide to scope it, I recommend the Mac1 IA scope mount. Rock solid, will not promote barrel/air tube separation. Can be scout mounted or traditionally mounted over the breech.


How does the Mac-1 mount compare to the one offered by Baker Airguns?

For starters, the IA mount can be used for scout mounting a pistol or long eye relief scope. I don't believe the Baker mount can be used in multiple positions. Just breech mounted.                                                                                                                                                                   

[Hoosier Daddy]

Dave's advice is exactly what I was going to suggest.

However, I went with this mount and was quite happy with it. https://www.pyramydair.com/product/air-venturi-intermount-fits-benjamin-sheridan-multi-pump-rifles?a=2015
 It doesn't put pressure on the barrel.

[Habanero69er]

Scott, doesn't the AV mount only work breech mounted?

[Robert 5mm]

Second, make sure the front sight is not bent & is perpendicular to the barrel.

http://www.mac1airgunshop.com/product-p/bjshia.htm

I would use caution on trying to straighten the front sight - very easy to break off ( I tried to bend with bad results )

[Hoosier Daddy]

Scott, doesn't the AV mount only work breech mounted?

Yes, that is why it doesn't put stress on the barrel.
I never used it as a "scout" position.
BUT there is a lot of rail space forward if mounted that way. Using L1 and L7 position for the rings. 

[Van]

Second, make sure the front sight is not bent & is perpendicular to the barrel.

http://www.mac1airgunshop.com/product-p/bjshia.htm

I would use caution on trying to straighten the front sight - very easy to break off ( I tried to bend with bad results )

  I too thought to just tweak the front sight a little. Bad idea, they can break with the slightest effort.  Mine was lucky to break high up enough to file a dove tail in it with a three corner needle file for an insert with a orange dot.  A little filing the sides flat and JB weld to set it in and it has held for years.  I wanted it taller so it worked out better than stock for a peep sight.

[35 shooter]

Another vote for the Mac1 scope base. It won’t cause bbl. solder joint separation.
My 397 wears a utg 2x7 pistol scope mounted forward on the bbl. so it can be pumped in the normal fashion.

[crazyhorse1]

Scout mount with 1A from MAC1..

http://u.cubeupload.com/crazyhorse4/Squirrels002.jpg

[Habanero69er]

Scout mount on Steroided Racine 342, Silver Streak, & Steroided Blue Streak.

[north country gal]

I'll add that pump ups have tremendous accuracy potential, BUT it depends very much on the condition, meaning seals and valve. Just because the gun pumps and holds air is no guarantee of accuracy. In my experience, the gun needs to be in top operating condition to do its best.  Doing a trigger job via lighter springs is a big plus.

We have a collection of Sheridans, varying from the 60s to the 80s in vintage and three Benjamin 397Ps. Two of the 397Ps are Racine guns and one is an East Bloomfield mid 90s 397P transition gun with a tang safety and walnut stock, made just prior to the PA and trigger guard safety.

As much as I dearly love the Sheridans and will never be without one, two of the Benjamins out shoot them for group size at all distances. One 397P, a nickel Racine gun, needed help holding air when I got it. After lubing, it's getting better, but it still has a ways to go to catch up with the other two 397Ps.

By the way, I use 4 pumps on all of my guns for 30 yard and under shooting, but will go 6 for longer distances.

My best 397P is actually the transition 397P. At 30 yards, it will give my PCPs a run for the money and it will do so on a consistent basis. The gun was as new when I found it a pawn shop and I suspect it had seen very little use. That may be why it shoots so well. It also wears that AV mount and the scope is a Nikon Prostaff 3-9 EFR because the gun is accurate enough to make use of it.


Note that I use a screwdriver as a cocking aid to work the bolt with this scope setup, but it's well worth the hassle. Groups at 30 yards are consistently under half inch with this rifle. This group is not a fluke. It's what I expect when I'm at my best and shooting conditions are good. This is with Crosman Heavy Premier domed.


My other 397P is a Racine gun, also in mint condition in terms of finish and operating, but I shoot it with a Williams peep.


I don't shoot much at 50 anymore, but this is a sample of what it has done. I shoot it at 30 these days, and groups are constantly under an inch.


Again, it could just be a coincidence that these two guns just happen to be in the best operating conditions of all my pumpers or maybe it's the better selection of pellets in 177 or maybe just pure luck of the draw. Whatever the reason, whenever I'm on the German springer gate or PCP gate and people look down their noses at the lowly classic pump ups, I pull these two out and have some fun with them.



 

[DanD]

If you have unsatisfactory accuracy, try shooting a pellet into soft material at low power, 1/2 pump or so, and recover it. If the rifling is engraved unevenly or you see an extra groove or flat area around the nose of the pellet, you can gently chamfer the loading and transfer port area to improve the situation.  Makes a huge difference on guns that need it.
Have fun!

[Don.M]

I went ahead and bought the Baker Scope Mount, and I'm using a Discovery VT-Z 4-16X44 scope - a change from the Thompson/Center muzzle loader scope I was using. Following another person's suggestion, I sighted the rifle @ 10 yards with 5 pumps.

The rifle is now more accurate than I am, 3/8" groups are now the norm and I'm still getting full pass-throughs using .22 Gamo Redfire and Crow Magnum hollow points. I have yet to find a pellet this rifle does not like.

I think the biggest obstacle to accuracy is the trigger (at least in shooting groups, but I don't notice it when I'm actually pesting). The trigger pull has some weight to it, but that, I don't mind. The issue is that it's a LONG pull and I'm used to the two-stage trigger pull on my Glock 19 PB. That has less than 1/4" travel, a hard spot and then bang. The 392 just has a long pull with no indication when it's going to go off. But like I said, it's MUCH more noticeable when target shooting, not so much with chipmunks, but that's easily explained. The thrill of shooting vermin is much higher than punching paper, so I guess I just don't notice the pull.

I don't know if there is a "fix" for the trigger pull, but I do know that I DO NOT have the confidence in doing it myself.

[Hoosier Daddy]

Discovery scopes are very nice aren't they. 

[Hack21]

I don't know if there is a "fix" for the trigger pull, but I do know that I DO NOT have the confidence in doing it myself.

Don.M,

There is a "drop in" sear replacement that has an improved sear angle and adds a first stage. Unfortunately it is no longer as pictured in the link and is now an aluminum part with a pressed in roll pin to act as the sear surface. I believe the reviews for the aluminum version are mixed.
 https://www.airgunsofarizona.com/parts/benjamin-supersear/

Polishing and lubing are relatively simple and will help. You also can replace the trigger coil spring with a lighter one or clip a coil. You can tweak the torsion spring to lighten it. Measure the distance from one "leg" to the other prior to yielding it so that you can return it to OEM if you wish and see how much change has been made. Tim McMurray recommends stoning the hammer edge and this does help and is easy. I use Crock Sticks for this task.

I decided to go a bit deeper on mine and it was a rather big improvement...  https://www.gatewaytoairguns.org/GTA/index.php?topic=166326.msg155860888