Author Topic: Benjamin Sterling HR 81 at 35/50 yards (Read 10486 times))

north country gal · « **on:** May 27, 2015, 05:22:07 PM »

For more details on the gun see my other post on the Benjamin Sterling HR 81.

The rain stopped and the sun came out, this morning, so removed the rear peep sight on the Sterling and added a Stoeger 3-9x air gun scope with AO for the sake of some accuracy testing out to 35 yards. I'd rate the scope as adequate as far as optics and about the same for the adjustments which tended to be sluggish and need some tapping to get them to move after adjustment. The scope did it's job, though I'll likely get something better down the road.

Did a little preliminary sight in work at 10 and 25 yards and also used the time to get to know the gun a bit. Found that the gun is mildly hold sensitive, but not bad. What worked best was resting the gun on the bag just forward of the trigger guard and shooting with no pressure against the buttstock, allowing the gun to come straight back as I pulled the trigger. When snugged up against my shoulder I got flyers. The Sterling appears to like a light touch.

Tried a variety of pellets, but the old standby HN FTTs did the best.

Pleased to say that accuracy was very good. Most groups at 35 yards were in the half to three quarter inch range when casually shooting or when my follow though wasn't quite up to snuff. The less than stellar trigger on the gun was also contributing factor, for sure. When I decided to get medieval about it, really knuckle down and work with the trigger, though, I was impressed.

Here's my sight in target with five shots in the bull after adjustment along with my best five shot group. No problem keeping things under half inch when I gave it my best, though I won't claim to be able to do this every time. The potential is there, however.

Overall, very pleased with this gun, given what I paid for it ($150) and its all walnut and steel construction, not to mention its rarity. It really is unique. Love the the loading port way up forward ahead of the scope. No bear trap or fumbling with pellets like our TX on this one. Loading pellets a breeze.

At this point I'd rate as a solid 35 yard shooter, though with a better scope and some trigger work, I may make it a 50 yard shooter. We'll see.

IguanaHunterReturns · « **Reply #1 on:** May 31, 2015, 12:11:31 PM »

You got a monster deal! A gun like that if it were reintroduced would cost about double, but if it shot that good it would be worth it

north country gal · « **Reply #2 on:** May 31, 2015, 02:22:45 PM »

Thanks. Didn't even know such a gun existed till I saw it at the gun show and thought the price was reasonable, given the all steel and wood construction, so just took a chance. Figured, if nothing else, I could add it to our growing Benjamin Sheridan collection as an unusual model. The fact that it shoots is a big plus, of course.

K.O. · « **Reply #3 on:** May 31, 2015, 05:18:47 PM »

I never have been one for the springers but I think you may have found the exception... Nice... And the Gal at the trigger can probably outshoot me from the looks of things...

K.O. · « **Reply #4 on:** June 02, 2015, 12:32:01 AM »

Did a search and on the pyramyd blog found it also has a L.W. barrel...

north country gal · « **Reply #5 on:** June 02, 2015, 11:51:27 AM »

Thanks for the info. That would explain how well it shoots.

K.O. · « **Reply #6 on:** June 02, 2015, 01:08:09 PM »

Well maybe but out at 35 yards I tend to give a good bit of credit to the talent of the person doing the work... consistency of hold etc...

I found it under HR-81 though not HR-31? His needed work but when done was about a 9fpe rifle...

https://www.pyramydair.com/blog/2012/01/sterling-hr-81-177-underlever-air-rifle-part-4/

north country gal · « **Reply #7 on:** June 02, 2015, 08:50:15 PM »

My goof, a typo in the title. It is an 81. Yes, I read that blog. Lots of good info on a rifle that isn't well known.

HunterOne · « **Reply #8 on:** June 02, 2015, 09:21:13 PM »

Very nice.

Hammarhead · « **Reply #9 on:** June 02, 2015, 09:34:42 PM »

I bought a couple of these NIB a few years ago, one in .22 and one in .177. Still own the .177 version which i use with a willliams peep sight. Very well made airgun with second to none bluing and nice wood. Had Benjamin been able to produce the HR 81 a little more effectively and economicaly they may have had a real challenger for the TX 200 or the HW77. Was a little behind them as the trigger goes, both the TX and the HW have a nicer trigger. You picked yours up for a very good price.

north country gal · « **Reply #10 on:** June 03, 2015, 12:53:32 AM »

Thanks. As I read in the blog, the Crosman buy out of Benjamin sealed the fate of the Sterling. Not sure the HR81,83 would have been a big seller, anyway, given the price or where the market was headed in those days. Neat little part of Benjamin history to have one, though.

uglymike · « **Reply #11 on:** June 04, 2015, 02:19:05 PM »

Vey nice shooting @35yrds. considering the thick reticle and only 9X. Don't you love the whole process of getting to know a "new" air rifle? I do!

north country gal · « **Reply #12 on:** June 06, 2015, 12:41:58 PM »

Very much so. Really amazes me how the various models and types of air rifles can be so different and unique. I really enjoy the variety.

north country gal · « **Reply #13 on:** July 04, 2015, 05:52:23 PM »

Took the HR 81 out to 50, this week, and I can get under an inch with it on a good day. It's no TRX 200, but, then, I didn't pay a TX price, either.

K.O. · « **Reply #14 on:** July 04, 2015, 05:59:30 PM »

that is some very good shooting...

I bet you could shoot Joe Palones toupee off his head without leaving a mark...

Oh wait maybe you already did.

north country gal · « **Reply #15 on:** July 04, 2015, 08:43:36 PM »

You're cracking me up. That was great.

oconeedan · « **Reply #16 on:** July 05, 2015, 10:24:52 AM »

Oooh, nice gun, and nice shooting!

Hare splittin · « **Reply #17 on:** July 06, 2015, 11:33:22 PM »

Thanks for the write up and to all the insights and comments everyone made, nice air gun!

Nice shooting also.

north country gal · « **Reply #18 on:** July 25, 2015, 12:43:22 PM »

I really enjoy shooting this gun. It's easy to cock and load and not at all hold sensitive. Best of all, with H&N FTTs, flyers are not a problem, even on a day with a little bit of a breeze, as I had on this day. This is a group I shot at 50 yards, just this past week, without much effort as to group size. Pretty much cock, load and fire, gun resting on the bag.

Of course, the HR still, shoots under an inch when I plush things a bit as I did shortly after shooting the group, above. Not my best group with this gun, but still pleased.

Now that I know the gun can shoot and know what the gun likes, I'll be switching back to the peep sight that came with the gun for some more 50 yard work. Will try for an inch group.

north country gal · « **Reply #19 on:** August 08, 2015, 09:57:44 PM »

Since the HR81 came with the peep sight (it was a factory option on the HR81) and because I MUCH prefer shooting peep sights to shooting with a scope (even with our powder burners), I took the scope off the HR and back to the peep, as above.

First try at 50, this afternoon, didn't quite break an inch, but I will get there, soon. Did I mention I like shooting with a peep sight?

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Benjamin Sterling HR 81 at 35/50 yards

Author Topic: Benjamin Sterling HR 81 at 35/50 yards (Read 10486 times))