Suggestions please for excellent load with my 392? Time to buy more pellets here

[Tallbald]

A returning member from years ago here, I thank you all for accepting me back after such an absence.
  I reviewed some of my old posts from as far back as 2013. After furrowing my brow and thinking to myself "where have the years gone...?", I realize that I've forgotten the best performing pellets in my beautiful, re-contoured stock Benji 392. SO pleased with this rifle and pleased that I took the wise advice of experienced members and installed Williams aperture sights early on.
 I recall that years ago, with 5 pumps (the sweet spot I remember) and using RWS Superdome 14.5 grain pellets, I could shoot 3/4 inch groups from a rest at 20 to 22 yards. I'm ready to buy more pellets and hope for some advise here on any other style I should look to try in my rifle  for best precision groups.
 Another new expectation is that I'll be working seriously to begin harvesting squirrels for the pot, and thinning garden-destroying rabbits that abound here in our area. I find myself wondering about performance of the Superdomes on small game compared to hollow point pellets, given equally good shot placement. A poor shot on game animals has since childhood brought me to tears. I'm one of those guys that says a prayer over a harvested animal wild or domesticated, and I'm not ashamed to say so.
Thanks for thoughts. Don

[Gertrude]

JSB's are always a solid choice as well as H&N FTT's.
Welcome back to the GTA.

[Tallbald]

Thank you for the fast reply. After chores this evening I'll begin pricing and such. I see several styles of the JSB make. Any style a best starting point in your experiences please? Don

[Gertrude]

The domed Diabolo style generally  shoot with the most consistency.
For your 392 Id say anything  from the 13gr to the 18gr would be a good choice to try.

[TerryM]

  Very nice job on that stock.  I've never been a fan of the "stepped" forearm of the later Benjamins and Sheridans.  The JSBs are my pellet of choice.  A 16 or 18 grain should serve you well.  At 392 velocities, a hollow point pellet will not perform as intended, you're just as well off with domes.

[Gertrude]

Another thing to be aware of on the 392, is they have been commonly known to have some paint in the muzzle end of the barrel .

This can have very negative effects on your group sizes. It doesn't  take very much.

Once it is cleaned out (with a few strokes of a brass bore brush and some solvent), many members report greatly improved grouping.

While  you are there, you might as well clean up the crown with a slotted brass screw and a drill motor. (LOTS of how-to info here and on YT videos).

3/4" groups at 20-22 yds is not all that great.
With a proper ammo, a clean crown and rifling, and a steady rest, It should at least be doing cloverleafs at that distance .

[Tallbald]

 Friends thank you all again for the replies. More shopping study today for some of the recommended pellets. It appears that Amazon is higher than many online airgun supply dealers, so I'll need to dig. And be ready to pay for postage. I'm spoiled by Amazon prime free delivery and returns for the last decade or so.
 I'm also embarrassed to admit here that years ago when I purchased my 392 I never checked for paint in the muzzle. This morning I spent 15 minutes with q-tips,  acetone and finally carb cleaner soaked q-tips removing paint from the muzzle at the 6 o'clock position to about 3/8 inch back. Maybe that will help accuracy. I know that cloverleafs at 20 yards is a wonderful goal for me. I'm limited somewhat though with aperture sights and 62 year old eye peepers. So wish me the best please.
 Thank you for the kind comments about the re-contouring of the stock on my 392. It feels wonderful in my hands, snaps to my shoulder and acts like an extension of my fingers. The trigger over travel stop helps me a lot too I believe. A simple brass rod filed to the correct length after affixing to the inside of the trigger guard.
 Thanks again. Don

[RBQChicken]

I wouldn't recommend using a brass brush on a brass barrel.  I may be wrong, but I think there'd be a risk of scratching it up.
Very nice job on that forestock.  Much improved, I think.

[TerryM]

 I consider 3/4" groups at 20 yards with a peep sight pretty darn good for old folks like us.  Now, with a scope....

[Gertrude]

I consider 3/4" groups at 20 yards with a peep sight pretty darn good for old folks like us.  Now, with a scope....

Ok, Fair enough   
I will admit that my old eyes DO rely heavily on my scopes ! LOL !

But either way,  I do tend to favor getting the gun tweaked and tuned to a state better than I am able to shoot.
 That way ,
    Everything  left  is on me to do my part, and if I miss, then I cant make any excuses for my "bad day".

Some days I can call headshots on a fly at 50 yds, (yes, we have paper targets printed with life sized  houseflys),
And other days I cant hit water if I was shooting from a boat ! LOL  !

[Tater]

Hey Don, I'd be happy to send a few types of .22 pellets for you to test out.

[Tallbald]

Well hello again Jerry! Hope you all are doing great. Let me PM you later today some time if that's OK. I need to head across town to Aldis grocery store for a few things. Thanks for your offer. Don.

[Longbob]

I know that cloverleafs at 20 yards is a wonderful goal for me. I'm limited somewhat though with aperture sights and 62 year old eye peepers.

I use the Williams 5D-SH w/ the aperture removed w/ my Benji 392. The ghost ring sight works great for my old eyes. I usually use CP 14.3 domes. 3/4th's inch groups using 5 pumps are fine for head shots at 20 yards on the squirrels and bunnies you want to harvest.

They won't notice the difference between cloverleaf groups and 0.75 inch groups.

[Longbob]

I consider 3/4" groups at 20 yards with a peep sight pretty darn good for old folks like us.  Now, with a scope....

+1 on the 3/4" groups at 20 yards with a peep sight for us old folks.

[Tallbald]

Just a follow up and repeat offer of my thanks to folks here for suggestions about new pellets for my rifles. Tickled that the nationwide fixed ammo shortage has not yet hit pellets---as far as I can tell.
 Several years back I wanted to experiment with pellets heavier than Superdomes 8.3 and 14.5 grains, in .177 and .22 respectively.  Yesterday I chose H&N's, and perhaps I'll find JSB's to try next go around also. With your all's guidance noted I began searching. Found and ordered these:

H&N Baracuda Match Domed Airgun Pellets .177 Caliber / 10.65 Grains (400 Count)

H&N Baracuda Match Domed Airgun Pellets, .22 Caliber, 21.14 Grains (200 Count)

Up to now the Superdomes and some .22 BSA Elite pellets are all I've used for testing. The BSA'a don't even have a weight listed on the tin. Bought those with my British Webley Stingray back in 1996(?) from Airguns of Arizona.
 Thank you all again for all the advise.
Don