Modern Benjamin 392 Build Quality

[BALLISTIC1]

i have not been posting alot lately because i am experiencing a network problem that prohibits me from typing most capitals, symbols, and punctuation.

i have two 392's and two streaks. one of the sheridans is a rocker 'c'. three out of the four guns are billet steroid modded by tim at mac1..

i have easily fired 10 to 20 THOUSAND rounds through these guns..

i think there are alot of people giving the crosman made guns an unfair bad rap, posting about what you hear instead of what you know.....

they did make defective guns back in the day..... i have the perfect bad example. i wanted a sheridan for more than 20 years when i finally got one a flat nickel plated rocker safety 'c'... the gun shot well but if only i had a clue then... the breech is soldered onto the pump tube crooked and it was not soldered on properly because there is a tiny hole where the breech pump tube and barrel meet. the gun is steroided and performs flawlessly but defective none the less...

the old style triggers are a stamped and cobby arrangement.
the new box triggers may require some work but they can be tuned to work very well and are many times safer..

i had been shooting the benjamin discovery hollowpoint pellets. i managed to string some shot together at 50 yards but the overall perfomance was dismal.

i contacted randy at r&l airgun supply in colorado.. he set me up with most of the pellets that have been recommended by shooters on the forums.. rws superdomes, h and n field target and kodiak match. jsb exact jumbo's, exact jumbo heavies and monsters. i also got a box of premiers...

my short range is 50 yards measured. i was shooting at a .550 inch flourescent bullseye. i have 2 foot long pink surveyor tape wind indicators every 10 yards... when this group was shot the indicator tapes were straight out...

this group is 40 shots at 50 yards. jsb exact jumbo's, 12 pumps... it is just over an inch tall and just over two inches wide shot in a stiff breeze.

with a little work the benjamin 392 can parallel perfomance of guns 10 times it's price...

i did not hear this from anyone else... i know this for myself.... i would match my benjamin against any shooter and any gun and let me tell you i will walk away proud....

greg

i tried to post the pic but had to link instead.

[DD789]

  You couldn't go the extra 2 pumps. glad to see you posting again Greg. by the way I agree with you about the 39X's and Dans.

here is my Silver Streak just after I got it back from Tim and before I mounted my handgun scope.

[D14Jeff]

"i think there are alot of people giving the crosman made guns an unfair bad rap, posting about what you hear instead of what you know..... "

i'm one of those people . i was parroting Mac1's comments about the new ones . i thought he was a reliable source of information on them . i apologize if i was wrong on that .


http://www.gatewaytoairguns.org/GTA/index.php?topic=48668.msg460346;topicseen#msg460346

is the gun you shot the group with a new one or older version ?

[bigfish123]

Maybe I've got a one in a thousand, but I have a Benjamin np xl 1100 with a conservative 3000 rds shot. No mechanical problems only changed the trigger to a GRT 111 and on the third and hopefully last scope. Wouldn't change anything else on it.

[BALLISTIC1]

jeff, tim is a friend of mine as well as having built my guns. i love them, his products and services are great. i hope that tim agrees that the quality of the new guns is not really that bad but it is much better to clean the paint out, give the crown a little love and experiment with quality pellets to make sure your gun is a good shooter before you send it to him for his magic....

something to consider is that these days almost everything is made on cnc machines and more parts are manufactured closer to 'perfect' than ever before...

the 392 i used to shoot the above group is a billet steroid and came with a brass valve. it is crosman manufactured in new york i am not really sure what year. i am waiting on a brass valve assembly for my new refurb. it blew the exhaust valve but i was going to replace it with the brass one anyway. i strung shots a 50yds before it took a dump...

i know the aluminum valves are a problem, i know paint in the barrel is a chronic problem. although i don't particularly think the crown jobs are terrible i do know that with some work you can achieve outstanding accuracy....

i will post some pics of my rifle tomorrow......

greg

[longdx]

I have a newer Benji 392 and have nothing but positive impressions of it. I have shot several hundred rounds through it with no problems. I did have to clean a little paint near the crown and did my typical bore clean prior, but the gun has been flawless.  That being said, I am a newby compared to the vast experience Tim Mac has with these guns and his opinion is a better barometer of the current state of these guns.  As an aside, I did add a Williams Peep sight and the gun is a atck driver at the 10 to 15 meter distances I typically shoot.  Crosman is also widely regarded as having very good customer service, so I would not hesitate buying another gun.

[cwlongshot]

I have a newer Benji 392 and have nothing but positive impressions of it. I have shot several hundred rounds through it with no problems. I did have to clean a little paint near the crown and did my typical bore clean prior, but the gun has been flawless.  That being said, I am a newby compared to the vast experience Tim Mac has with these guns and his opinion is a better barometer of the current state of these guns.  As an aside, I did add a Williams Peep sight and the gun is a atck driver at the 10 to 15 meter distances I typically shoot.  Crosman is also widely regarded as having very good customer service, so I would not hesitate buying another gun.

Same story here!

I bought it used from my neighbor over the summer. It didn't hold air. I purchased a new complete valve (brass) from Crosman. Quickly and easily installed it and gave it to my father. He has been shooting it almost daily he hits what he shoots at loves the gun.

Nail on the head about paint in the barrels. (All Crosmans same issue) poor crowns. (Again all Crosmans susceptible) and problem alum valves. Personally I think this is. More prejudice than real problem as we all seem to prefer brass and anything else is sub quality.

Most all of us where sorry to see Sheridan guns be discontinued earlier this year. Do you think this current tack of pupuing Benji 392 will do any good for it's being offered?  If sales drop, even after the sheridans demise, the Benji will not be far behind!

CW

[F7FTIGERCAT]

+1 What CW said, If it is not supported (selling) it will go away, the bean counters revenge
It is the way of things now days everything is controlled by the mighty dollar

Ed   

[UCChris]

If you want to pick one up cheap, there is a 397 on sale at AirgunsDaily today. It is .177, but I figure you can swap later if you really want .22.

http://www.airgunsdaily.com/