Educate me on the best old pumpers

[Hare splittin]

Speaking of old pumpers, where does a 397PA with walnut stock, Bloomfield mftr and 297xxxxxx s/n fall out in the mix of vintage air rifles? Thought I saw comment where these good be desirable or 'roidable? 

Thanks for any input.

[bbv13]

I've not heard of anyone roiding a 397 and I don't think Tim reccomends it. I have a 1999 392 that's a great shooter but I don't consider it vintage. 1980 is the mark for the vintage gate but at some point that line will move. The gun your talking about is nearly 30 years old so I don't know? At some point I guess airguns are going to be divided into ages like comic books.

Bryan

[james]

I guess i need to get my 20 cal fixed.

[bbv13]

Your 1997 Benjamin 397 is one of the last made before Crosman started monkeying around a lot with the design. It should have the old style trigger and the push, pull safety so in my opinion it's collectablle vintage or not.

Bryan

[Hare splittin]

The walnut is pretty, but it takes about 15#'s force to cock the bolt and all of 7 #'s to pull the trigger. Wish it was a 392.

[bbv13]

The walnut is pretty, but it takes about 15#'s force to cock the bolt and all of 7 #'s to pull the trigger. Wish it was a 392.

I looked at the Crosmam site and it looks like 1997 is a transitional year. I have heard that the cocking force and trigger pull are related. Your numbers seem to be on the heavy side especially if the safety is the push pull type and not in the trigger guard. Where is your safety located?

Bryan

[jon.k]

The walnut is pretty, but it takes about 15#'s force to cock the bolt and all of 7 #'s to pull the trigger. Wish it was a 392.

I have a 392 from those transitional years that came to me like that. That stiff hammer spring is way overkill, when I got it I wondered if it was stock or the work of a bad home-tune. I found a suitable replacement for the hammer spring at my local hardware store, and it is much more reasonable to cock and shoot now. The trigger does compress the hammer spring a little bit so the two are in fact related. From the files of the guy who knows:
http://www.gatewaytoairguns.org/GTA/index.php?topic=37553.msg350613#msg350613

[longhunter]

Use a lighter trigger spirng, instead of a lighter hammer spring. Polish all contact points. The trigger on my 392P is about 1 1/2 - 2 lbs., after the mods.

[39M]

Use a lighter trigger spirng, instead of a lighter hammer spring. Polish all contact points. The trigger on my 392P is about 1 1/2 - 2 lbs., after the mods.

Or you can just shoot a few thousand rounds through it to smooth it up. And by the time you pump that thing up a few thousand times, you'll be so strong that a few extra ounces of trigger pull won't matter.

[Rob112o]

Yea I will second that on the cocking effort to be tough. I like to shoot rifles left handed and it's a pain to cock with the left hand. So I do switch hands so I can cock with the right. I haven't tried, but I feel like this rifle would take 12 pumps, at least, and do a full dump of air. The trigger is a bit heavy too, but smooth. I'll have to tinker with it.

[Hare splittin]

The walnut is pretty, but it takes about 15#'s force to cock the bolt and all of 7 #'s to pull the trigger. Wish it was a 392.

I looked at the Crosmam site and it looks like 1997 is a transitional year. I have heard that the cocking force and trigger pull are related. Your numbers seem to be on the heavy side especially if the safety is the push pull type and not in the trigger guard. Where is your safety located?

Bryan

Actually, I was looking at this rifle someone was selling.  I think it was the push/pull. What is the alternative, a cross bolt safety?

[avator]

On the Sheridans there are 3 options. The hold down, the rocker and (if I'm not mistaken) when they teamed with Benjamin, they did the push/pull. I actually and samples of all 3.

[north country gal]

Your 1997 Benjamin 397 is one of the last made before Crosman started monkeying around a lot with the design. It should have the old style trigger and the push, pull safety so in my opinion it's collectablle vintage or not.

Bryan

Couldn't agree, more. Simple fact is that you cannot buy that kind of construction quality, now, in a pumper. Fact is, walnut and metal 392/397s are NOT depreciating in value.

[anuthabubba]

These triggers are very simple units and can be reworked some but a bit of moly paste and an occasional softer set spring works for me.

[bbv13]

Couldn't agree, more. Simple fact is that you cannot buy that kind of construction quality, now, in a pumper. Fact is, walnut and metal 392/397s are NOT depreciating in value.

I buy every walnut stocked Benjamin or Sheridan I find at a decent price. The problem is that guns like the nickel 397 you recently bought are getting hard to find at $100 or less. I guess folks are catching on to the fact that these guns are valuable. Don't write off the The walnut guns with Crosman triggers. I have a 1999 Benjamin 392 that's a tack driver. I don't know if there's a difference in the trigger my rifle has and what Crosman is putting out now? I do know the rifle I have shoots really good and the trigger although very different breaks clean and isn't heavier than my Racine 397.

Nice find on that 397!

Bryan

[ezman604]

The Dan's are quite awesome MPP's. Especially after a TimmyMac massage. But don't overlook a S&W 77a.

Another very powerful, accurate and just plain fun to shoot pumper.
SAFE & Happy Shooting!!!!
Dave
 

[BowerR64]

This one should be on it's way to me today. '72-'78 Crosman 1400. Needs a reseal and a bit of TLC. I prefer the bolts with the knobs as opposed to the collar/sleeve type from the earlier ones.

I have one of those my dad got in the 70s or 80s and i must say it is a nice pumper. I never had an air rifle like that one till i got older and that one always seem top quality. Even now when i got into AGs i dug it out and was shocked to see it said Crosman on it.

[WECSOG]

I'm seriously considering getting a 347 or walnut-stocked 397. Not that I really need one, but it would be a good addition to my growing collection of AGs.