Is The Benjamin 397S A Red-Headed Stepchild??

[Ronno6]

Many posts about the 392S, but nuttin' on the 397S
Whassup wit' that

[wll2506]

I think that maybe many folks use the 22 cal for hunting and in general heavy pellets in pumpers are a good combo.

The 397s will send out pellets faster and if your on a farm situation and going after Starling sized pest, your 397s I'm sure will shine.

I think it all depends on what your doing and your situation. If I bought a Benji for more shooting and plinking, hands down I'd go with the 497S --- If I was going after squirrel size stuff and maybe bigger, I would go with the 392S.

IMHO, one is not better than the other. It depends on application.

JMHO,

wll

[avator]

To be honest.... .22 pellets are easier for me to handle.
That's not the only reason but it's a good one.

[Ronno6]

It does fling a pellet.

At 5 pumps it hits a 10m target before I pull the trigger......or so it seems.
I'll hafta run some lead thru the chrony.......

[avator]

I put 8 pumps in mine yesterday... it shot with some real authority. Man that 8th pump was tight. The specs say 3 - 10.
I'll be back out there later this morning with it. I was shooting some JSB Jumbo Monster 25.39. Gonna be fun to see what the chrono says about those.
I got a thread going on it.... feel free to jump in.

[35 shooter]

I’m interested in the chrony results for your 397s.
My 397 pa shoots a bit over 800 FPS. With 7.9 gr. pellets and 768 FPS. with Beeman 8.5 gr.
Both of those are at 10 pumps.
I love the 392, but I also love the flatter trajectory out to 40 yds. from the 397 from the faster speeds.

[Ronno6]

Just a few quick shots
397S

Crosman Premier .177 domed 10.5gr


5 pumps    587fps
6 pumps    607fps
7 pumps    624fps

I'm not man enough to go to 10 pumps..........

But, it is not broken in.

[Chris USA]

https://www.pyramydair.com/blog/2021/06/benjamin-397-part-8/

Note this is part 8. Links to the other 7 are at the the top the page.

[35 shooter]

Thanks Ron,

Nice FPS. no’s. for the no. of pumps.

[Ronno6]

Sure thing, Buddy.
The 397s is about as hard to pump as my Dragonfly............

Got a 392S w/Williams peep sight comin'.............
I really DO need to seek professional help....

[35 shooter]

Well, don’t feel lonely Ron! All this attention the synthetic stock 39x guns are getting here lately has pushed me over the edge too lol  .

Already have 2 392’s( one is a steroid) and a 397... all wood stocks.
Now it looks like i’ll be ordering a 392s for my birthday next month.
That all weather synthetic stock finally got me!

[avator]

It's got a nice rubber butt stock on it too.... no slipping around on your shoulder.

[plumberroy]

I have both in wood stocked gun . Both wear Williams aperture sights both are sighted in at 20 yards both are game getters

[35 shooter]

It's got a nice rubber butt stock on it too.... no slipping around on your shoulder.

Thanks for that....that was the last nail in the coffin for me!
Can’t wait for my birthday now.... then again, I really need a new chrony, some parts for my Diana 350 mag, a couple of new scopes.....
Airgunning is a cruel joke on my wallet!

[lillysdad621]

just to add to the conversation. The 397 is by far my favorite .177 pumper, and i own pretty much at least one of everything available besides a Innova or a sharp (had one though...). It is plenty powerful for hunting anything that i would hunt with my 12 fpe springers or pcp. Its silly accurate, and yes its a bit of a bear to pump PASS 6 PUMPS. I shoot 8.44 jsb on mine at 5 pumps at 655 fps, but i can get 762 at 8 pumps (by the way, the dragonfly was harder to pump in my opinion). With a scope it can do 3/4 inch groups at 35 yards all day long (rested). The true shine on this carbine is the fact that i can pump it 2 times and shoot 10M indoor and no one would be the wiser (422 fps) with another pellet that does great, the RWS R10s 8.2 gr, and even at 2 to 3 pumps, pest birds are easily dispatched out to 50 ft, so walking around and plinking is not a chore at all. it balances well, and it feels much nicer in the hand. I generally modify mine by sliding the rear sight as far as it will go to make it easier to aim (longer sighting radius helps a ton). And pocketing a handful of .177 in my shirt pocket makes it for a nice " walk about gun", always ready for chipmunks, pine cones, starlings and dirt clods that may be giving me the side eye.

I also have a 392 that i have set up with a pistol scope a la scout rifle... that one is able to anchor a raccoon, or a opossum with a head shot. but that one is strictly a hunter. (squirrels can be "untreed" on 5 pumps, 550 fps with 14.3 gr HPs). but i prefer shooting the 397, or the 347 or the 317 i have too. easier on the arms. If i want a walk around 22, it will be my 1400. unless i find a daisy 22sg...