Finally got the Benji Trail NP to shoot! It was all in the trigger finger

[NickB79]

I'd been getting more and more frustrated with my Trail NP since I bought it in July.  I got the GRT III trigger in it and ran 500 pellets through it just pounding cans and rotten tomatoes to break it in.  Dieseling had stopped, so time for serious testing.  It SEEMED to like CPHP's alright, but would throw fliers like every 4-5th shot, often 1" or more outside the group @ 12 yd.  The chrono said they were flying at 730 fps with a spread of 35, which seemed ok to me.  I tried Benjamin brand pellets, which turned out to be the CPHP's with a bit more QC (almost every pellet was SNUG in the chamber), and still the same thing.  20 yd groups were 1.5-2", yuck.

I tried a different scope, thinking the CenterPoint that came with it was junk, but that didn't change anything.  On a Ruger 10/22 rifle it would print 1/2" groups at 25 yd, and no zero shift through the magnification range.  Nice scope.

Thinking it was my technique, I began trying whatever I could think of.  Modified artillery hold seemed to work the best (stock snug into the shoulder, resting on my free hand, moderate grip on the pistol grip).  Still nothing, it kept throwing fliers.  At this point I'm ready to call Crosman and let them know how I really feel about their product!

Then, as I was shooting today, I noticed that I was shooting with the trigger almost into the first joint of my finger.  I thought "lets try it with the tip of my finger instead."  The next 5-shot group @ 10 yd cut a ragged hole.  I moved the targets out to 20 yd.  7 shots into a 3/4" group.  Hallelujah!

I'm thinking that pulling the trigger with my fingertip gives more consistancy and less chance of pulling the rifle off-target.  Has anyone else noticed this with their Trails?

[Jay]

To much finger on the trigger will do that on any gun made, air or powder.

[Backyardsniper1]

Gotta love when those "ah ha" moments hit and it's a simple adjustment.
I actually shoot all of my rifles that way. I usually only need to mess with my hold a bit when the weight or length of the rifles is a bit odd. My XL likes me to stretch my forend hand out a bit farther.

[longislandhunter]

It's nice when gun and shooter finally become one isn't it 

Glad to hear you found the secret    Now just shoot and have fun.

Jeff

[Joshua A.]

that is actually the "proper" way to squeeze a trigger, so im told from a few long experienced gun enthusiasts. actually I think that charlie da tuna trigger man even told me this once when he was explaining to me how to feel out the stages in a GRTIII trigger and how to adjust it to my liking.