Author Topic: Photos of my re-contoured and shaped Benjamin 392PA stock. Finished 6/24 (Read 4756 times))

Tallbald · « **on:** June 21, 2015, 05:00:16 PM »

I love how my one year old Benji 392PA shoots. With five pumps and Williams aperture sights, it will handily place five shots into 3/4 of an inch at over 20 yards. The only feature I never really warmed up to is the stock shape, which was to me sort of bulbous at the forearm, butt stock and grip. In my hands it felt oversized beyond what is needed, and in my arthritic grabbers felt a little clumsy.
I've been a woodworker for many years, and have a modest assemblage of power and hand tools. I decided that because the rifle is mine alone and didn't suit me from an aesthetics point of view, I'd do something about it. I removed the stock of course and began carefully contouring it on my stationary belt sander to make the forearm thinner (but still beefy where necessary) and sleeker. I removed the chubby lower portion of the forearm that reminded me of a pregnant big mouth bass on the cover of Outdoor Life, and thinned the sides of the butt stock equally. I gave the grip a little more rake at the end cap, thinned the grip and left a small palm swell bilaterally.
Right now the hardware is just placed down into the stock while I debate about any further shaping and either staining the stock lightly or leaving it blonde. I will give it the same multiple coat rubbed in Minwax Antique Oil finish either way, which I used on my Father's Day gift vintage walnut Benji 347 (shown in another thread on this forum section).
The new contour fits my hands much better than it did in the factory conformation, and my rifle is now very swift to my shoulder. I'll share photos when I have completely finished and have my rifle assembled. Thanks for looking. Don

dcorvino · « **Reply #1 on:** June 21, 2015, 05:11:03 PM »

Great work Don!!
You are an amazing craftsman.
I cannot wait to see the finished rifle.
Thank you for posting and the pictures.
Please keep us informed on your progress

Dave

BenjiHunter · « **Reply #2 on:** June 21, 2015, 05:15:43 PM »

Very nice work!

Tallbald · « **Reply #3 on:** June 21, 2015, 05:20:59 PM »

Thank you Dcovino for the kind words. I learned woodworking out of desperation for a hobby I could afford right out of school. I've made many many mistakes for certain. I just keep on keeping on where I think I can. DOn.

LeadBreakfast · « **Reply #4 on:** June 21, 2015, 05:43:26 PM »

Will be following this, have thought of doing to same to mine to get rid of that muddy finish, interested to see how it turns out!

dcorvino · « **Reply #5 on:** June 21, 2015, 05:50:26 PM »

Your welcome Don.
It looks like woodworking and you are a perfect match.
Keep up the great work.

Dave

kelvinator · « **Reply #6 on:** June 21, 2015, 06:38:07 PM »

Very nice work.

bgmcgee · « **Reply #7 on:** June 21, 2015, 07:01:35 PM »

Nice work Don. That's a huge improvement in looks for sure.

Tallbald · « **Reply #8 on:** June 21, 2015, 08:15:48 PM »

Thank you all again. I decided not to remove any more wood, and chose a light cherry stain to blend the grain shades due to porosity of the wood between growth rings. It will be several days before the four to five coats of rubbed oil are done. I'll share a photo when the rifle is complete. I really do like the more slender feel as the gun comes to my shoulder. I have used rottenstone before to rub out the gloss on furniture and gun stocks to a lessened sheen, but I believe the gloss of the finish on this will be attractive. Thanks again. Don.

Airhunter177 · « **Reply #9 on:** June 22, 2015, 12:37:33 PM »

Outstanding work on that stock. Can't wait to see it after you stain it!

Tallbald · « **Reply #10 on:** June 24, 2015, 03:30:28 PM »

It took several days, but the five hand rubbed Minwax Antique Oil coats are dry and hard. I re-installed the stock on my wonderful 392PA and am really pleased with the finished appearance. A deep gloss that's easy to maintain, over a very light "antique cherry" solvent based stain. I like the lighter wood tone, having never been an advocate of trying to make a wood appear to be what it's not. No it isn't walnut, but it's a sound, close grained hardwood that serves a purpose nicely.
The changed contour makes this rifle's stock quick to my shoulder and slim in my hands. Thank you for looking. Don.

N6CRV · « **Reply #11 on:** June 24, 2015, 03:47:24 PM »

Came out looking really good!

oconeedan · « **Reply #12 on:** June 24, 2015, 06:20:54 PM »

That looks great!

White Eagle · « **Reply #13 on:** June 24, 2015, 10:41:50 PM »

Very nice Don!

Boley · « **Reply #14 on:** June 24, 2015, 11:33:41 PM »

Nice work and keen sense of proportion. The wood and metal parts look like they belong together. A very handsome 392!

Tallbald · « **Reply #15 on:** June 24, 2015, 11:58:38 PM »

Thanks each of you for the kind words. It's often a bit scary to take a tool to a proven design, since there's no going back. But in this case I think it did work out for the better. The deep gloss of the Minwax Antique Oil finish doesn't show as well on lighter woods as it does on walnut, but the appearance of depth is there. Now to get back to shooting. Don.

DWSmith · « **Reply #16 on:** June 25, 2015, 12:54:00 PM »

(Never mind about my previous question. The PA on 392PA threw me. I thought that might be a different/vintage model instead of just a 392 like I'm getting.)

Marvelous work on the stock. It looks very nice.

Rob112o · « **Reply #17 on:** June 25, 2015, 01:49:42 PM »

Quote from: DWSmith on June 25, 2015, 12:54:00 PM

I'm new at learning about airguns so this may be a dumb question but when you say, "I love how my one year old Benji 392PA shoots." do you really mean it's a gun you bought brand new a year ago?

I have a new 392 on order and wanted to know what to expect from it as far as accuracy.

Marvelous work on the stock. It looks very nice.

Yes referring to the age of his rifle. I have a 1 year old 392pa 3/14 too. I cant call my 49 year old Ben my 1 year old rifle, its older than me!
How well can you shoot will be the main factor in accuracy. My 392 shot well from factory, cleaning out the over spray at the muzzle made it 1 ragged hole accurate. Mine shoots 9 out of 11 types of pellets i have, well. So order one and if its not a good one send it back until you get a good one.

Beautiful stock work you did! I just refinished mine a couple months back. Same exact coloring as yours. I love the light wood against the dark metal parts. Only thing i wished when it was all said and done "i shoulda taken more off the wood".

cwlongshot · « **Reply #18 on:** June 25, 2015, 02:06:38 PM »

Good job!

It came out great! I've done a few myself it's always fun and rewarding!!

My problem is I wanna do ALLOF THEM! LOL

CW

Tallbald · « **Reply #19 on:** June 25, 2015, 05:26:48 PM »

Thank you all for the kind comments. My 392 is to me, very accurate. With five pumps from a rest and using round nose pellets, mine will shoot 5 rounds into a 3/4 inch or a little less at 20-22 yards. Oddly, 7 pumps opens the groups up to about 2 inches. Five pumps seems to be its sweet spot. Love this rifle and it really thwacks the targets. Only thing I will add from here is a trigger over travel stop inside the trigger guard. The stock shape conversion makes it feel lighter and more like an extension of my arms. Don.

Thank you to our advertisers!

Photos of my re-contoured and shaped Benjamin 392PA stock. Finished 6/24

Author Topic: Photos of my re-contoured and shaped Benjamin 392PA stock. Finished 6/24 (Read 4756 times))