Benjamin Trail NP2 Accuracy

[onefastt997]

Hi,

I'm new to the site and fairly new to air guns although I did have an RWS Diana around 20 years ago in high school. Anyway, I have a rat problem and I purchase a Crosman 2100 B air rifle which broke pretty much immediately, a Titan NP which I shot 14 rats with but which I couldn't find a scope rail that would stay tight, and most recently a Trail NP2 which has been great. I have a UTG 3-9x40 AO scope on it and the combo has been great and has taken care of 3 rats.

That said, I read Tom Gaylord's review of the gun and although I have only had a chance to shoot it 10 and 15 yards I'm not sure I agree with his assessment on how to hold it for accuracy and I'm wondering what others have had success with. I know I'm not testing the accuracy of the weapon at 10 yards but what I have seen is that if I put the front stock on a sandbag (actually a bag of lead pellets for diving weights) and only hold the pistol grip and press lightly against my shoulder my groups are much better. For example from 10 yards this is 5 shots on the right target and one on the left for fun. If I hold the front stock lightly while still resting it as opposed to not touching it at all I am guaranteed to see some vertical difference in each shot.

Has anyone else found any way of holding this particular rifle that lends itself to a higher degree of accuracy?

[Roadworthy]

Hi, Mike.  Welcome to the GTA!!  You appear to be doing fine in the accuracy department.  One of the biggest tricks is finding what works for YOU and YOUR GUN and do it EXACTLY the same every time.  Consistency here is paramount.  There are suggestions and instructions for how to hold but each gun is a little different and each person is a little different.

Once you have your hold perfected try some different pellets.  Your selection of pellet can make a fantastic difference as well.

[onefastt997]

Thanks Thomas. Makes sense. I never realized how sensitive these guns were to the hold. Much less forgiving than real guns which is the exact opposite of what I would have expected. I guess eventually I will have to get used to it through lots of repetition or get a PCP gun.

[redtrucker610]

Hi Mike,I have 2 NP2"s. A trail in .177 and a steel eagle in .22. I shoot both tight to the shoulder and just resting on the palm of my left hand. The .177 seems less pellet sensitive than the .22. The .22 shoots the best with H&N 14.66g field target trophy's.

[onefastt997]

Good to hear that I'm not the only one who needs it just resting on that hand. Seems to work for me at short distance. Now I need to find a place I can shoot it further which will be hard here in Miami. I might have to take it to the gun range and just dial it in there.

[voldar]

I found that the NP2 shoots best (for me) when resting the stock on my Primos tripod and having a good grip but not tight on the trigger with a good shoulder support.
These are some groups I obtained at 25 yards when I was first shooting it off sticks. The different placements  on the target are related to where I rested the stock on the V of the stick. The group of 3 pellets on the left had the POA as indicated on the target by the red arrow and after I dialed in my scope. The coin is a 10 cents - Canadian (0.7 " diameter). The group of 4 is in fact 5 with the flyer.

[DanD]

Thanks Thomas. Makes sense. I never realized how sensitive these guns were to the hold. Much less forgiving than real guns which is the exact opposite of what I would have expected. I guess eventually I will have to get used to it through lots of repetition or get a PCP gun.

Hey! Airguns are real!
It's accepted wisdom that it can take several thousand shots for a piston gun to fully break in before it shoots to its potential. I think it's just as much the shooter that gets broken in.

[DOKF]

Nice groups Mike!  Welcome to the GTA.