New here.... just picked up the Benjamin Trail NP

[duotone]

First let me say, I'm 43 and haven't touched a air rifle for 25 years, and I can't believe I'm on a forum about air guns, and excited to be here.

30 years ago, air guns were very different, and I merely got a gun, put a pellet in, and shot. No break in, no worries about anything but shooting things. Man! Things are very different today. I was going to get a 22 long rifle, but figured I'd enjoy this much more, and get my son shooting also.

1: Here's the thing. I didn't realize dry firing is a no-no, and I did it, ONCE. Will this be an issue? I just got the gun today.

2: After realizing that this isn't the pellet gun I grew up with, and now knowing it's really a precision weapon, I'm wanting to do the right things. What suggestions do you have for me as a newbie?

I'm looking forward to getting my 12 yr old son shooting, but he's not strong enough to use this yet.

Thanks,

Tony

[amb5500c]

Welcome to the GTA. Do what you're doing now. READ. Theres tons of information here. Do searches, dig into our library, visit the chat room, and ask questions in the forums before you learn things the hard way. But most of all have fun.
Richard

[Airik]

Welcome!

I wouldn't worry about dry firing just that one time.

Break the gun in with 500 cheap Crosman Premier Hollowpoints, then start trying other pellets. Clean the barrel with nylon weed wacker line and Goo Gone and gun patches.  I also like to wash my pellets.  You might want to consider a GRT-III trigger. Happy shooting!

[Bullit]

Greetings and Welcome Duotone!
As Richard says, the GTA Library is a good source for answers on maintenance, as well as other good reference material.  Cleaning your barrel is also a good idea.  Any Citrus Based cleaner will work.  Avoid petroleum based, on airgun barrels and compression chambers.  Keeping the stock mounting screws tight is very important.  Re-installing them with BLUE Loctite will help there.  Even fingernail polish will do in a pinch.  But Don't use RED Loctite, as you can't get them back out.
Learn about the "Artillery Hold" for air rifles, and you'll be happy with your results.  Practice,Practice, Enjoy, Enjoy!!!  Mike

[Kailua]

Charliedatuna trigger is recommended by all.  Also check a vendor called Airgun Toys in the GTA mall.  He has brass barrel pivot washer that replace the stock plastic ones.

[mtbdrew]

Yep there are loads of posts regarding, Trails and Titan nitro piston guns so if you start having issues with accuracy or POI, the answer is likely already been posted many times 

Don't be surprised if the scope that came with it bites the dust. Crosman will replace it pretty quickly or you can get a different brand that is rated for springer air rifles.

As mentioned before the artillery hold is a must with these guns. I've found that the stock with it's pistol like grip tends to accentuate the issue even more. Be mindful not to use too tight a grip on the trigger hand as this causes the hand to be the recoil impact point instead of your shoulder. This can cause some really erratic flyers if your not paying attention.   

The guns can be very accurate and fun to shoot as well as very silent so they are back yard friendly. However they do have some power so make sure of a clear back ground when shooting. These are most definitely not toys we grew up with as kids.

[Airik]

^ @mtbdrew said it well -- These bigger springer & nitro piston guns HAVE TO have a really loose grip.  There's a lot of double-recoil stuff going on inside these entry-level break-barrels.  The better the springer/NP "floats," the better the accuracy.

[HeadOfPoland]

^ @mtbdrew said it well -- These bigger springer & nitro piston guns HAVE TO have a really loose grip.  There's a lot of double-recoil stuff going on inside these entry-level break-barrels.  The better the springer/NP "floats," the better the accuracy.

Goes against anything you every learn about firing a rifle but it's 100000000% true. I could not fo the life of me hit the BS from farther than 8 yards. once i knew that the key is a loose grip, it was all uphill from there! Good luck and welcome to the GTA. Its the true gateway drug to airguns!

[makenzie71]

Which is amusing because I have to hold the &^^& out of my GP to hit consistent lol

As others have said...one dry fire probably won't hurt anything.  I wouldn't worry about modifications just now.  Might look at a scope but I wouldn't go overboard right away.  The $70 Wal-Mart CenterPoint 40mm model is pretty good, but the gun suffers from barrel droop and a lot of the bigger AO scopes just don't have enough adjustment to make it work.  I simply wouldn't worry about it right away.

This is too much gun for a 12 year old...and I don't mean in power (my 10/22 had earned me trophies by 12).  It's just too big.  Plus, there's something about owning your own gun.  It'll be better to get him a smaller frame gun to let him learn to shoot, and then you two can sit side-by-side knocking over targets.

I really like the Crosman Raven and the Ruger Explorer for youth guns.

[BmaS]

Welcome to the GTA!
Crosman NP rifles can be hold sensitive, but are not necessarily so.  I do encourage you to learn the Artillery Hold, but you may find that yours prefers a tighter grip.  I have a Titan that I must barely float in my forward hand in order to maintain accuracy, while my Trail is more accurate if I keep it jammed tight to my shoulder, and my NPSS doesn't seem to care either way.
You are fortunate that there are aftermarket upgrades that can have a profound effect on the over all operation of your new purchase. I see a trigger upgrade from CharlieDaTuna (Bob Werner) as one of the most important, followed closely by a GRS kit & brass pivot washers from AirGunToyz (Gene Curtis).  The standard scope that comes with the Trail is fairly decent for distances of 30 yards or less.

As to cleaning, I agree with all of the advice previously listed in this thread.  Clean the barrel by running dry patches through it until they come out dry if you use any chemical in the bore.  500 cheap pellets will just begin to break-in this gun, so expect POI to vary during that period.  It may start to settle in after 150 to 200 pellets.  Most consider it necessary to "lead in" a barrel when new or after cleaning.  This simply means shooting enough pellets through it to coat the bore with some lead.  Results will vary.
After a couple of thousand pellets, you may find it necessary to remove the shroud and empty the lead dust that collects in that chamber near the muzzle.

Good on ya for wanting to introduce your 12 year old to this sport.  However, unless he is 5'+ and rather muscular, the Trail is quite likely too much for him to reasonable control and enjoy.  The models listed are good ones to start with, and you may wish to consider an Air Venturi Bronco.  I don't own one, but I have read good reviews of it.

Feel free to ask LOTS of questions! There are a lot of experts here who are more than willing to offer priceless advice.

[pipestone]

A stiff hold on mine works as well. Took me a while to find that out. I don't do artillery hold cause I always have my bipod. Mine was filthy inside though once I got to it which wasn't very long. The Gold trigger..Gene's brass bushings..and a fluff and buff If your so inclined...Oh..and like they said keep the take down screws tight!

Good choice for getting back into it. I'm fairly new at these myself..but I'm telling you Its a kick.
I've got a 50 pellet/day habit going now..be forewarned!

Enjoy my Friend.

[duotone]

Guys.... sorry for my lack of reply... been on a business trip.

So, update.....

I've been able to find the groove, and have been grouping shots pretty tight at 25 yards. The scope that came with my Trail is actually very nice (will get the details posted soon).

I also bought my son a Crosman Phantom, which is louder than my Trail, but it's light enough for the boy to comfortably use the gun.

Tomorrow we're heading out to the woods to shoot things, should be a great Thanksgiving!

Thanks again for all your feedback, it's VERY helpful.

Happy Thanksgiving all!

Tony

[Airik]

Wear shooting glasses.  I had a very bad close call while pesting a chipmunk in a lilac bush.  I hit a knot in a branch, and that pellet flung very quickly back, right by my ear.

[PaperPunch1]

My NP was not shooting well for me until I finally added weight to the muzzle of the barrel. (I strapped a sandwich bag full of #8 shot underneath the end of the barrel, and put camo tape over it.)
Now it shoots very well (.22cal) 730fps with 14.6gr H&N FTT pellet is the ONLY one it shoots well.
PaperPunch1

[duotone]

My NP was not shooting well for me until I finally added weight to the muzzle of the barrel. (I strapped a sandwich bag full of #8 shot underneath the end of the barrel, and put camo tape over it.)
Now it shoots very well (.22cal) 730fps with 14.6gr H&N FTT pellet is the ONLY one it shoots well.
PaperPunch1

I'd love to see a pic...

[duotone]

Wear shooting glasses.  I had a very bad close call while pesting a chipmunk in a lilac bush.  I hit a knot in a branch, and that pellet flung very quickly back, right by my ear.

I really, really appreciate this advise. I need a pair.

[Yurko]

Wear shooting glasses.  I had a very bad close call while pesting a chipmunk in a lilac bush.  I hit a knot in a branch, and that pellet flung very quickly back, right by my ear.

seconded.  Always.

[eatsShootsAndSleeps]

As mentioned, the scope that came with the gun may bite the dust fairly quickly. Main symptoms will be an inability to hold a zero, and small adjustments to the scope giving wild fluctuations in point of impact.. When you replace the scope, consider replacing the stock mounts with a one piece mount.