New here and initial Trail NP AW review

[SciGuy]

Thought I should a few minutes and introduce myself, as I fear I will be hanging out here way too much.  I have just returned to the airgun world after a near 8 year absence.  I was heavily involved in airguns back then and got a bit burned out and switched hobbies and sadly sold all my guns.  Of all the guns I sold, the only one I really miss is my JM tuned HW97K.  It had the best looking OEM stock stock of any I've ever seen, and would stack pellets at 30 yards.  Man that was a great rifles.

So flash forward and then back a little to Friday.  I happened upon a review of the Benni Trail NP AW and it peaked my dormant airgun interest.  Took my wife and daughter out for dinner and stopped by Bass Pro Shops.  They only had the Trail XL on display in .177 and I knew I want the .22 synthetic stock version.  Asked the guy at the gun counter if had the one I was looking for and he found one in back that had been returned.  The box had been opened, but the gun looked like it had never even been removed from the plastic sleeve.  The employee said they could sell it to me for $100 off the normal $229 price since it was a return and they wouldn't sell it as new.  I jumped on it.  Figured, even if there was something wrong with it, Crossman would make it right.

So after getting home I gave the gun a good going over, and as I suspected, it was brand new and never been fired.  The key for the Crossman trigger lock was still in the sealed pouch.  I did the normal partial tear down and cleaning (after finding most of my old airgun tools in the bottom of my closet) and mounted the scope.  Too dark to shoot any so put it up for the night.

So Saturday (yesterday) morning wife was off to some training for the day and it was time to really test out the Trail.  First 20 rounds, lots of smoke and rounds flying all over the place.  Then it started to calm down and I sighted the scope in, or at least tried too (lord this trigger is garbage).  After another 50 rounds I got things to the point that I can at least hit pine cones at 20 yards most of the time, but the groups are around 2 inches.  Knowing that my problem was this thing that they call a trigger (man I still remember that sweet Rekord trigger on my dearly departed HW97K).  So I end up finding this place and find out about the GRT III trigger (ordered it immediately). 

It is now Sunday and raining.  I'm considering tearing the Trail all the way down and checking the seal, but I no longer have, or at least can't find my spring compressor. 

Question, is the Trail NS AW nitrogen piston under much preload and does it require a spring compressor for tear down.

Well, my initial summary of the Trail NP AW, well made, very nice synthetic stock, the nitrogen piston is very nice.  Overall shooting characteristics are very smooth for an untuned gun.  I have great hope for this rifle, and will continue the review when I have a usable trigger.

SciGuy

[Jay]

Welcome "back" to our addiction SciGuy an to the GTA!!! I see year's can pass an still people can't kick the air habit(knew there was no HOPE for us). But to your question YES you will need a compressor to open up your Trail NP, if you had gotten the XL then no. The way they have a screw-in plug add's to the chance that you have a bad seal(fine thread's to get seal past). When you find up your old compressor read on here the trick ezman came up with to get your new seal past them thread's, work's great.

[SciGuy]

Would that trick happen to involve a soda can.  If so, nice to see some things never change.  And thanks for the welcome.  Yea, I fear this addiction is never truly kicked.

[Perry]

Since the end cap is not screwed on, there are no threads at the end of the tube so the soda can trick is not needed. A spring compressor is needed though. This is the aftermarket seal from J Maccari.
http://www.airrifleheadquarters.com/catalog/item/251485/2325552.htm

[gander]

Hi,  Just finished putting a seal in my Trail NP.  The pressure was off the nitrogen piston on mine after about 1/2" movement to the rear using the compressor.   After that, the compressor isn't needed until you reassemble.   

[SciGuy]

Just received my GRT III trigger (ordered late Friday night and received it today, fantastic service).  Installation was a snap but I have no 2nd stage.  I did not adjust anything, just installed as instructed.  

My instinct is to start adjusting the 1st stage screw as I think it is too far in.  Figure I need to back it out a 1/16 or 1/8 turn.

Well, I was loosing shooting light so went ahead and started adjusting the 1st stage screw.  After backing it out almost all the way I now have a short 1st stage and a very crisp 2nd stage.  I just hope the screw doesn't fall out. 

So after adjusting everything I ended up with a 1 inch 10 shot group at 25 yards.  All in all, I'm thrilled with this trigger and this gun.  It should only get better from hear since I only have about 100 rounds thru it.  Long 4-day weekend coming up and 4 tins of different pellets from PA should be here on Friday.  Figure I'll quickly hit the 500 and 1000 round mark by end of the holiday.

[Three Bears]

Sciguy...please keep us posted.  I am in the market for a NP Trail but have not bought one  - Yet   

[tpw]

you gotta great deal there

[ezman604]

Welcome to GTA Forums and welcome back to the addiction SciGuy. Glad you found us and joined up. Sounds like you got yourself a great deal on the Benji Trail AW. Good deal on getting a golden trigger but it's unusual to have to tweak it THAT much. You might check with Bob (CDT) on that. He might offer up some hints.
Again, welcome. We look forward to hearing and seeing your airgun adventures. Be sure to post often and include lots of pictures.
Happy Shooting!!!!
Dave
 

[tpw]

you could put some blue locktite on the adjustment screw so it doesnt work loose

[SciGuy]

Thanks Dave.  I just PM'd CDT.  I'm actually very happy with the trigger and it is set almost the way I like them and almost as at the level of the Rekord trigger on my dearly departed HW97K. 

I haven't even tuned this Trail NP yet or put it thru the pellet buffet,  but I already have hopes that it may actually shoot almost as nice as the HW did.  And at the price, I will be trilled if it gets just a little better than it is now.

Now I just got to resist the urge to by a 2240 to start modding.  But nutz I really need a fun pistol.  Maybe I can find a beater 2240 that I can slowly rebuild.

[SciGuy]

My urge to tinker has got the best of me.  Ordered a new seal and some moly from JM.  Will build a spring compressor this long weekend and tune up the Trail when the stuff from JM comes in.