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Education / Training The Pump-Assist Benjamin 392 – Part 5

The Pump-Assist Benjamin 392 – Part 5

by B.B. Pelletier

Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4

First an announcement for all who have wondered if the GRT III trigger will fit the new Benjamin Super Streak. The answer is “yes.” The trigger pivot pin has circlips on both ends and the other internal trigger parts look rougher than the corresponding parts in a Gamo trigger – especially the sear – but the GRT III fit and worked properly.

We last looked at the Pump-Assist Benjamin 392 on December 26. After that, the maker made some important changes to the pump mechanism, so I laid off reporting about the rifle again until Pyramyd AIR had guns back in their inventory.

Today, I’m scoping the rifle and looking at accuracy at 21 yards. We looked at 10 yards with open sights, but with a scope the range extends considerably, because you’re able to see and hold on a much smaller aim point with precision.

Sniper scope
I selected a UTG Tactedge 4×40 scope with extra-long eye relief for this rifle. The four-power magnification doesn’t blow things up the way a more powerful scope would, but this is the brightest scope in my arsenal and I felt it complimented the 392 perfectly. The 392 isn’t a tackdriver, after all. It’s a fast little carbine and anything that enhances that adds to the enjoyment.

Air Venturi intermount
I’m using the Air Venturi intermount on this rifle, which positions the scope back over the receiver instead of far forward the way most intermounts do. I had to install this mount on the gun, which isn’t difficult, but it did demonstrate a few things you want to look for. First, the mount legs go on individually, then the top rail ties them together. Second, there’s a small amount of movement side to side until you snug down the mount. You can really put some torque on the Allen screws, because the mount legs attach to the thick receiver instead of the thinner barrel. You cannot crush anything by tightening this mount securely. Finally, you must level the mount before tightening it down, because you want the scope rings to be level with the barrel – not canted to one side.

01-11-08-04
 

UTG Tactedge sniper scope looks good and works great on this rifle.
The AV intermount raises any scope quite high, so be prepared to deal with it. An add-on cheekpiece would be a nice addition to the rifle if you’re going to scope it.

Sight-in
Sight-in was two shots at 15 feet and a confirmation shot at 21 yards. I was on target and shooting groups in five minutes.

Session
I decided to test the rifle with six pump strokes. After all the testing was done, I tried both eight and five pump strokes and confirmed that six was the right number for best accuracy indoors at 21 yards. Six pumps delivered a velocity of 574 f.p.s. with .22 caliber Crosman Premiers and 560 f.ps. with Gamo Hunters.

Premiers
The Premiers are a long-time favorite of mine for 392s, and they didn’t disappoint this time. Although the average groups were around 0.75″, the best was just under a half-inch. I took the extra time to center the shots because this particular Leapers scope is so easy to use.

01-11-08-01
 

I had centered the shots before shooting this 0.489″ group of five Crosman Premiers. After this, I never adjusted the scope again.
Gamo Hunters
I had high hopes for the Hunters. They just looked like they should shoot well in the 392, and as you can see, they did. This is a pure lead pellet that will deform more readily than a Premier when it hits flesh.

01-11-08-02
 

This group of Gamo Hunters looks tighter than the Premiers, but I was unable to measure a difference. It’s 0.489,” too.
Improvements to the mechanism
The pump assist mechanism remains as easy to operate as the first version, but the new one is quieter. Belleville washers have been added to tension the linkage and remove the slack. The method of attachment to the gun has changed just a little, and the anchor point of the mechanism seems stouter. The inletting of the forearm looks more finished now, as well.

01-11-08-03
 

New anchor for the pump assist looks stronger than the first one.
Throughout this test, I’ve probably pumped the rifle at least a thousand times and I must comment that it’s easy, even when holding it by the pistol grip. Remember, you don’t get more power from the Pump-Assist, it’s just three times less effort to pump. Many of our readers with disabilities have asked how well it works and I can tell you, with the Pump-Assist it’s very easy to pump this rifle.

author avatar
Tom Gaylord (B.B. Pelletier)
Tom Gaylord, also known as B.B. Pelletier, provides expert insights to airgunners all over the world on behalf of Pyramyd AIR. He has earned the title The Godfather of Airguns™ for his contributions to the industry, spending many years with AirForce Airguns and starting magazines dedicated to the sport such as Airgun Illustrated.

121 thoughts on “The Pump-Assist Benjamin 392 – Part 5”

  1. Thats sweet bb but the problem other than pumping the gun with the scope is the fact that the stock is like a pole and dose not bring your head up into alignment to look into the scope.

    -sumo

  2. BB – Your test of the RWS Panther indicated about the same accuracy (.46″), – but at 35 yards, not 20. The Panther put out about 15 ft lbs. in .177, which you could extrapolate to around 17 in .22 – vs. 10.5 ft lbs for the Benj – and it only takes one 31 lb. “stroke” to get this done, vs. 6 for the pumper. All this at about 1/2 the price. That said, what role do see pumpers playing today?

  3. That’s cool that others who lack the strength needed to operate a standard benji can now enjoy one with this mod.

    I wonder if there is any way to apply this linkage to a single pump pnuematic? A single pump that gave an honest 450 fps with a good .22 pellet would sell well in my opinion. Of course it would have to be accurate 🙂

    Thank you for bringing this rifle to our attention BB. I’d love to get one for myself at some point for when I’m too old to enjoy my Sheridan.

    Al

  4. Steve- My Sheridan can adjust Ft. lbs. up to 10.5. Indoor shooting, 2-3 pumps. Hunting, 8. Can your Panther do that or do you have to shoot it full power all the time? My Sheridan can hold a charge all day without harm, every day if I choose.

  5. Anon brings up a good point that I think the springer crowd sometimes forgets about the benji/ sheridan air rifles in hunting situations. One of the big complaints about them is the fact that you have to pump them multiple times before you can use them. The fact that you can pump one up and leave it pumped during your hunt and then load it when at the appropriate time is a big bonus.

    Sure, you only get that one shot and if you miss you’ll be pumping it again, a timely process, but I like how the pump pnuematics are akin to muzzleloaders in that respect. I like the fact too that you have to get close. Builds up your stalking skill rather than just being a shooter.

    Just my 2 cents.

    AlinCT

  6. Hi!
    BB, I know you’ve already discussed about adjustable mounts, but since you’re doing a great job talking about scopes, can’t you write about adjustable mounts? Compare a few ones and show us how to adjust them to mount a scope zeroed at its optical center? I heard it’s really a pain to do it, specially on Air Force guns cause of the dovetail being so high!

    See ya!
    Mike

  7. Am I missing something? The Benjamin 392 IS a “pcp-type” multi-pump.

    Do you mean a better-quality gun? That’s simply a difference in cost – not technology. If it works for the 392 it can work for the Daystate Sportsman Mark II.

    B.B.

  8. B.B.

    I’ve been curious about the comparison between multi-pumps and springers, so this discussion is very interesting to me.

    I was also wondering if you could help me out with my Daisy 747 pistol which arrived yesterday. It’s an impressive looking gun. How does this compare with a genuine Olympic pistol?

    The manual, however, had some disturbing things. It sounds like I have to do a lot of cleaning: clean the bore to remove preservatives, clean frequently while new, clean every 50 shots for maximum accuracy…. Moreover, it looks like this gun has to be cleaned from the MUZZLE. What a great way to mess up the Lothar Walther barrel. I was sort of hoping that I wouldn’t have to clean it at all. Can I just shoot my way to cleanliness? I don’t care if the accuracy suffers for awhile.

    If I really do have to clean it, I’m guessing that I need an inflexible cleaning rod to run patches with bore solvent and then dry patches until they come clean. Is that right?

    The manual also recommends oiling the pump lever hinges and oil wiper every 1000 shots. Is that right too? I remember my IZH 61 manual said to oil every few hundred shots or so and you said about 5 years which would be several hundred thousand shots. So far so good with no oiling there, so I wanted to check with the 747. Is pellgunoil or ballistol okay for this oiling and for the external gun surfaces?

    Sorry for the length of this but this is the most expensive gun I own, and I don’t want to screw it up. I seem to be able to do that without trying too hard. Thanks.

    Matt61

  9. I used the Panther for comparison because the contrast is so stark; I don’t own one. As far as leaving the gun pumped being an advantage – I think Mr. Gaylord did some testing leaving springers cocked for days and weeks at a time. Outcome – minimal power loss. When a spring does eventually get weak, its $15 and twenty minutes. Consumable item. No big. Leaving one cocked for four hours should only disturb the most hyper-tense among us. Some guys (like me) choose bow and arrow over rifle for deer. I choose bow because there is a greater skill level involved and it evens the game. I suppose that, due to the inferior energy and accuracy, you could argue the same for the Benj; likewise, you could make a similar case for choosing the Panther over a PCP. I remember clack-clack-clacking with my old 760 when I was a kid, and wouldn’t care to go back. Ever. I just personally don’t get the attraction. But, hey, more power to anyone who wants one.

  10. Steve, I have a multi-pump instead of a springer for three reasons. First, my multi-pump cost less than a springer. Second, I get variable power. I can chase an animal away without killing it by stinging it at low power (like a cat fighting with our cats). And last, it doesn’t require the technique of a springer.

  11. I think the biggest one is technique and price. Multi pumps offer the “recoilless” attributes of pneumatics while costing very little in comparison to springers and precharged pneumatics.

    But I mean, after that it’s different strokes.

  12. Matt61,

    Forget cleaning the bore. JUST SHOOT THE GUN!

    Olympic competitors don’t clean the bore, why should you? I have a target pistol with 10K rounds on it that’s never been cleaned. Yes, you can shoot your way to a clean bore.

    Oil the wiper every thousand shots OR MORE. More, if accuracy drops off. But If you are a true competitor and shoot 5500 shots a week, oil it every month. The oil is to seal the O-ring on the pump head.

    As for the joints, oil them when they get dry.

    Use Pellgunoil, not Ballistol for the piston head. Pellgunoil or Ballistol for the joints.

    Hope this helps. In a year, you will be the expert.

    B.B.

  13. B.B.

    Yay, and thanks so much. This is just what I want to hear. Can’t wait to get back home and start shooting.

    One more question. What exactly is the “piston head”? I’ve seen you mention it before. Is that the same thing as what the manual calls the “oil wiper” in its Fig. 9 on maintenance? The only things indicated for oiling are three hinges for the pump and this “oil wiper.” I don’t want to miss the piston head if it’s something different. Thanks again.

    Matt61

  14. Hello all. I just want to add one comment about the different capabilities of springers and multi-pumps. One of the biggest attractions of the multi-pump for me is the variable velocity that allows you to shoot indoors–where the range is always open.

    But I think the wonderful, fabulous duct seal changes the playing field a bit. Someone mentioned that a TX200 pellet will only penetrate a half inch into duct seal at 10 yards. I can certainly believe it from what I’ve seen so far. So here is a good backstop which will prevent pellet fragmentation and dust at subsonic velocities. Please tell me if I’m wrong about this!!!

    The only other barrier to indoor shooting would then be noise, and if memory serves, an effective and legal silencer can be constructed out of a cardboard box with foam or some other soft lining on the inside into which you poke the muzzle when you shoot.

    Of course the lower velocities would be desirable when shooting indoors. My landlord will remain in the dark about all of this. And setting up the cardboard box is a pain. But it seems like a workable arrangement.

    Matt61

  15. BB

    I have owned my 392 for a little over one year. I have had no problems with it until this past week. Now the rifle leaks on each pump past the third pump. The pumping difficulty does not increase past the third pump.

    I ordered Pellgunoil to apply to the piston head in the hope that this will correct the problem but I have not received it yet. Do you have any suggestions?

    Thanks for the help.

  16. BB

    Please, please, please keep us posted on that single pump pnuematic!
    I’d say it’d be great on the Daisy 953 platform: up the cal. to .20 or .22 (.20 would be awesome!), it’s a single already, but I know that you aren’t supposed to leave them pumped for more than a few minutes. I just got one recently and have grown very fond of it 🙂

    That’d leave the benji/sheridan platform, which is fine as paint with me. No, they aren’t the most accurate air rifles around, but winchester 92’s and marlin 339’s aren’t the most accurate centerfires either. Just something about them though.

    Al

  17. I dunno about my sheridan not being accurate. I inherited it from my father. He bought it when we were kids, and the only mod he made to it was crowning (I think that is the term, anyway he made a bevel) the barrel. Now it needs a repair kit, but before it went down, it was nailing pop cans at 40 yards with iron sites. It shot straight, and needed to be held over about 6-7″. I love shooting it more than my springer.

  18. Hey Alfred,

    I apologize, I should have said that they are not as accurate as many of the other air rifles coming out these days. I have an older rocker safety sheridan and the furthest that I have gone after cans and hit with regularity is 30 yards offhand with the standard open sights, which is good for me. I’d love to tap and drill it for a peep, but I’m kinda torn on it. New or old, they are air rifles that make you proud to own them.

    Al
    (who keeps trying to sign in and can’t do it :-))

  19. Sorry, I didn’t mean to come of as a cranky kid.

    I really really REALLY love my old sheridan for a number of reasons. Top is that it was my Dads, next is that you just don’t get them like that any more, not even the new sheridans. I also have an old rocker safety all brass sheridan. I hope one day my son will own it too.

    They are really the greated american airgun ever imho.

  20. 392,

    You have a piece of dirt or metal on your valve seat. Pump and shoot the gun many times in an attempt to blow this piece off the seat. It may work. Leave the Pellgunoil out of the gun until you do this.

    If it doesn’t work you need to get the gun resealed. Even a new gun can have this happen. It’s why we always keep one pump of air in the gun, though sometimes not even that helps.

    B.B.

  21. BB,

    Thanks for the information on the dirt or metal on the 392’s valve seat. If I have to have the gun resealed, does Pyramyd do this, or do I need to have this done elsewhere?

    Again, thanks for your help.

    392

  22. BB. & Others,I like my 392 I got from P.A. not too long ago. But was a little frustrated at the groups I was getting,in par w/ some of my “clunk” springers. However, my 397 Ive had for about 10 yrs, is a REAL GEM!! I have 3 intermounts w/BSA pistol scope,(makes it easy to pump). This thing IS ACCURATE!! Shot to shot across Chrony is SUPER consistant! I can honestly say I have shot my best groups ever w/it,(at 50 feet) The Benny Shers. are truly American Classics! Thanks for a great report BB.! Tim.

  23. Can anyone give me info on a site I could sell my RWS 460 (177 cal.) It is new cond. Great gun, but I could justify my next couple of new guns w/ wife if I sold one!! I can part w/ this one cause there are SOOO many new ones I want!! Thanks in advance,Tim. P.S. REALLY good price!

  24. B.B.

    Ah yes, I’ll need a very good backstop for the high power indoor range. I’m thinking of an old futon propped up against the wall covered by a bedspread as well as a large, thick piece of plywood behind the trap as well as under the trap in case I shoot low. This can’t really be broken down after every shooting session, and it will look weird to the management. But I’ll just make it into a diorama for my action figures when not shooting, and she’ll be totally fooled. 🙂

    Matt61

  25. BB. Thanks again for DUCT SEAL!! (I now call it Balistic Putty!!) Boy you were right about hollow pnts.! Even at under 800 fps. they EXPAND! CPHP,s are good, but Crow Magnums RULE!!Shot from my latest “clunker”, Cros. g-1 they appear to double in size! (very uniform too!) Crow Mags recoverd from sqs. dont expand as much, but that is cause of density, Im shure. My G-1 has now been promoted from “clunk” to, well, a viable airgun!Cant believe I keep talking so much about my G-1 “clunk” But,I got one from China that really works GREAT!! Thanks BB.! Tim.

  26. Dragonslayer,

    The money from the 460 wouldn’t be for a Benjamin Discovery would it, LOL? I thought about selling some of mine so I can (get a Discovery that is)! I decided I will try to sell my old laptop instead.

    .22 multi-shot

  27. 22MULTI-SHOT, You got me! Kinda, Will just hide 460 in storage shed if I have to! As to Ben. Disc., THAT is DONE!!(That is what overdraft is for!!)LOL.! Lets see on Monday!! Already sold Harley,next up,vintage Yamaha!!LOL.! Lap top,, uhm, I could stay on blog at work,,wanta trade for 460?LLOOLL!! Good shooting my friend,Tim in S.C.!

  28. BB
    Two questions for you. I bought the IZH Baikal and love the gun. However a pellet became lodged in the rifle, and I fired more shots through it, before I discovered what had occurred. PA, says that is normal for the gun. What? Anyway, can I purchase a new barrel for the rifle?

    Question #2. The new Walther mag.Hunter in 25. cal. advertised in the new magazine is really raising a lot of interest.! Can you give us just a basic insight to this rifle. Where is it made, etc?
    Thanks

  29. A little off topic……
    Does the GRT III trigger end up with the trigger shoe in the same place relative to the rifle that the original trigger was in??

    The reason that I ask is that my Storm XT shoots best if I slide my trigger hand as far back as possible while still reaching the trigger. This has a very unnatural feel to it. I think it would feel about right if the trigger shoe was between 3/8 to 1/2 inch farther to the rear of it’s present location.

    2t

  30. I really like multi-pumps. I have an old Power Line that looks and feels like a toy but it was my first air rifle and is still my favorite. It’s excellent at taking down sparrows at 25 yards with 10 pumps. It’s also fun to target practice at the same range with only 4 or 5 pumps. You can lob the pellets in and actually watch them in flight.

    I’ve wanted a 392 for a while, but have been put off by the difficulty in mounting a scope and how hard it is to pump, especially with optics.

    I’m excited about this new pump assist but it’s so expensive. I understand the reasons for the price but I could buy a good springer with more power for the same amount of money. I wish this mod was installed directly from Crosman during manufacturing to cut costs and lower the retail price.

    mech

  31. twotalon,

    You don’t mean the trigger “shoe,” you mean the trigger blade. A trigger shoe is a separate part that attaches to the trigger blade to make it wider.

    The GRT III trigger blade is in the same position as the Gamo blade, but the shape is different. It isn’t swept back at the bottom as much as the Gamo. I think it feels better.

    B.B.

  32. BB,
    In this blog you said that the Crosman premiers and the Gamo hunters both had .489″ as their smallest group size, but you didn’t mention which one had the smallest average group. Do you know which one it was?

    mech

  33. JW,

    First of all, why do you think you need a new barrel for your IZH unspecified model? Just push the pellets out and it will be fine again. Use a solid cleaning rod or a close-fitting welding rid to push the pellets out.

    Next, The new Walther Falcon Hunter has received a lot of attention. First, for using the name of another airgun maker and second for coming in .25 caliber.

    The rifle isn’t in-country yet, as far as I know, and from the picture in the catalog I can’t tell where it is made. But how it shoots is more important, don’t you think?

    I hope to test one soon.

    B.B.

  34. Scott298–Hello-B.B.-haven’t been around lately but now I’m back–hope you and your wife are well. Ist multi pump I owned was a crossman 760 -tthis is the gun I bagged my 1st rabbitt with. It was a snowey day and after about an hour of tracking fresh tracks in the we found him thru a small clearing in a briar patch. Took aim on the head reagion-pulled the trigger and let loose with a .177 cal pellet with 10 pumps propelling it to the target. Upon impact the target went about 5 feet straight up and I started pumping like crazy for a follow up shot -wasn’t needede. upon skinning the animal-I was a little confused because I could not find a point of entry-I discovered that the shot had gone thru the ear canal into the brain. I guess even with a low velocity multi pump using a light pellett anything is possible as long as the shot placement is good. On another note I had recently sent bac my 3x12x4 leapers accushot scpope to the factory as I was having problems with the illumination-I am happy to report that the customer service at leapers was flawless -with a short e-mail to them regarding the problem they told me to send it back. I did and in no time I had recieved a brand new scope in a very short time. Bottom line-anyone considering buying a leapers scope you don’t have to worry if a problem develops down the road-there customer service is great!!! Wish I could say that about every company I’ve delt with on line-P.S.—even though I,ve read your book cover to cover about 4 times now there isn’t a day that goes buy that I don’t pick it up to go thru it ! Thanks -Scott298

  35. im planning a long hike, and i want to shoot most of the food and im wondering what would be a good gun to bring. it has to be at least powerful enough to kill raccoons and rabbits, and i cant carry air refills. any suggestions?

  36. I would not shoot a raccoon with a 1377. I would not even bother with a 20fp gun. About 8 years ago i watched cop shoot a raccoon with a 38, much more powerful than any small bore airgun, and he shot it again before it got away and SEVERAL more times to finish it.

    Now that i think of it, maybe he didn’t use hollow-points, or even bullets, but rubber bullets.LOL. They were bullets for sure. He had rabies but they must be tough to take that.

    i find 12 gage slugs to be the best coon gun.

    just my experience.

    -sumo

  37. SUMO: I also would not shoot racoon w/ my 1377– unless it was REALLY close, like 10-15 ft. BB. did say REAL close! My 1322 w/14″ brl. might stretch that to 20-25ft. In his defense, BB. did say,CLOSE,& SHOT PLACEMENT!!! Ive taken a few coons w/my RWS 54 to 30 yrds. NO PROBLEM! Last season I harvested a BIG game animal w/ my 54 @ 30ft. from my back porch! (20 ft.lbs.) (22 cal. 810 fps.) WELL placed head shot! Ill not do it again, but it worked! I also balked at BB.,s advice,But, if a racoon is on my porch, I think BB. can take him w/ a 1377 !!! Please no offence my friend,,, YOUR one of my FAVORITES on this blog!! You want to talk tuff to kill,try turkeys! W/body shot w/20 ft.lbs. THEY will laughf at you! A well placed head shot put 2 down last spring!! One was close, one was 30 yrds.,,,HONEST!! CANT wait to move into my new house,MUST have a new 17 cal. powder burner!!!Keep shootin my friend! Tim.

  38. Drag. Slay.

    your 54 is more than 3 times as powerful than a 1377 and I guess you can kill anything with a head shot. I wont argue with bb about this, he knows best. I had a 54 but I (and I mean I) broke it. What a great gun.

    I set a new personal record in distance today. 116 yards and i am not kidding one bit, you (well i do) need a rangefinder to shoot past 50 so I’m sure. It was a grey squirrel, neck shot, but I admit i was aiming for the head. It made contact with his brain stem/spine. I DONT THINK ILL EVER TRUMP THAT ONE! I really want to try the predator ammo for larger game at 35 yards and in, but at 116 yards the 21 grain kodiak just has to touch squirrel (directly in the face). At 116 i am adjusting for about 4 feet of drop fro my 50 yard site in. This was with the mk2.

    This is how i reason a 116 yard squirrel.
    1. it still blow through them so the power is there (more than the uk guns have at the muzzle at 116)!
    2. I am still maintaining head shot groups!
    3. AND THATS ALL THAT COUNTS!

    Like you, i don’t think ill try it again. i now know its posable.

    This 40 foot pound gun is great for squirrel at pretty much as far as i want to shoot them. With coons, i would not shoot past 30 yards. So that should tell you something! I have always wanted to shoot a turkey with a pellet gun but i don’t live in California (it only legal there, but I’m not sure). I WONT CROSS THE COUNTRY TO DO IT! Maybe if i get good enough i can shoot them from CT. LOL How do you get 10 feet from a coon? LOL IM just full of funny aren’t i (that was a joke, too)!

    I have heard bb is world class with a pistol so he can get that jugular shot (no joke bbs world class).

    -sumo

  39. Sumo,

    I agree that if you are not sure of your target, a 1377 isn’t the gun for coons. But there is a club in Louisiana that hunts coons with Diana 48s and they do take a lot of them. They use the same .177 rifles that use to shoot field target.

    B.B.

  40. thanks all, my grandfathers got the 1377, and i cant hit much with it, but he said he was chasing gray squirrels from a feeder, and accidentaly killed one at approx. 25 yards. i was realy surprised cause he treats his airguns like firearms, and they arent in good condition. it seems lke a new 1 would be the way to go.
    btw, sumo, i have the predators in .22 cal. and i think you shouldnt waste ur time and money. i was shooting them, and COULD NOT HIT A BOARD APPROX. 3’X4′ AT 12YRDS. i found some that hit a tree, and that explained it. THEY HIT THE TREE SKIRT FORWARD!!! they were turning around midflight!!
    theyre expensive too. $11.75 @ pyramyd.

  41. BB and pa gunner,

    The 1377 is accurate, no question here. This is because Crosman makes decent barrels. It is also recoilless and powerful (IN CONTEXT) BUT ITS NO RIFLE! I don’t question the rws 54/48, but as a minimum.

    pa gunner, to late! already waisted my money.

    BB, remember a coon can weigh in at up to 45 pounds!

    -sumo

  42. BB-
    Off topic as usual, but I am having a problem with my leapers 4-12 scope. I have the vertical elevation maxed out and it is still shooting 6″ below bullseye. I noticed when I change the magnification, the reticle is turning inside the scope. I think the reticle is loose- can I fix this?

    -stabbs

    ps. I just got a gamo cf-x with the gas spring. This gun is amazing. Like firing a rimfire 22.

  43. Hi BB,

    I’m sorry if I’m behind the times again, I don’t get to read the blog every day.

    I’m sure you heard about the new Crosman PCP. Will you be testing one?

    There’s a countdown on the Crosman web page:

    https://www.crosman.com/pcp/

    As of this moment there are 18 hours, 8 minutes, and 23 seconds to go until it’s listed on the site.

    I feel like I’m experiencing PCP history.

    Marc

  44. stabbs,

    Your problem isn’t with the scope but with the mount not having sufficient droop. Now you have shot the gun with the erector tube return spring completely relaxed.

    You need an adjustable mount with considerable droop dialed in to get that scope into the adjustment range (somewhere in the middle of the vertical elevation range).

    It’s difficult to say whether the erector tube is broken in any way until you put some tension back on it.

    B.B.

  45. BB-
    I put some tension back into the erector tubes and its seem to adjust fine. I am getting tight groupings, although they are still way low. Is this sufficient to determine if any damage has been done?

    I also tried the scope gamo provided. It shoot fine, with no droop. Does the droop have to do with the scope itself?

    -stabbs

  46. stabbs,

    The Leapers scope sounds like it’s working fine.

    I don’t know why the Gamo scope is shooting differently than the Leapers, but scopes are not the cause of droop. Perhaps the Gamo’s op[ticvs are aligned differently. Use it.

    B.B.

  47. SUMO: You have created a MONSTER!! To me in S.C., 50 yrds. is out west long (varmint range!) Today my son & I shot at 50 yrds. He was hitting beer can every time. After they left, I buckled down for some 50 yrd. groups. WOW! W/my 54 (from bench) I shot an honest 1/2″ group! POI. down about 1″ and some vertical stringing. I put 10 shots into a group that would have hit a nickel !! (son was shooting Big Cat) (beer can accuracy) These are some of my best groups yet,but I am inspired!!I know this rivals pcp. guns shot by experts, but I swear Im telling the truth! Based on today, I think on a good day I can hold 1″ groups at 50 yrds. w/ my 54!!SUMO, Thanks for your input! Ill try 50 yrds. again tom. (gives me a better perspective on sight inrange). P.S. here in the South we grow coons big 45 lbs? NO PROB.!One head shot, one kill!! Keep shootin my friend! Tim, in S.C.

  48. SUMO: I just took the long walk out to 50 yrds. to get my last target.I will probably never top this! I know you guys mes. ctc. But I measure outside dia. Vertical,1/1/16″ (stringing) Windage, (side to side)Less than 3/8″!! More like 1/4″! (5/16″) I will learn how to post pics.! All one hole other than first 2 shots 1/2″ high!!! Boy you got me going!! Thanks for insperation Sumo! Tim.

  49. Drag. slay.,

    Nice shooting! The 54 is one of the finest. I use 50 yards as a standard for accuracy in pcps and 30 for springers. I hope people believe my groups!

    The 54 IS LIKE a pcp in some respects.

    What pellets are you using?

    Im not sure a 1377 would kill a 45 pounder with a head shot. It would move around a while before dyeing, I’m almost sure. Raccoons have large+thick sculls, hard for a slow pellet to penetrate. The rws on the other hand, he is TOAST!

    So what is the best group exactly? 3/8 or 1/4 or 3/8 with two flyers above?

    keep it up (i will)!

  50. BB. Do you think you can put off Mon. am. blog.? I need a little more time to save up $. I dont think others will mind!!(lol!!) Ill take mine in 22 please SIR!!Thanks Crossman (I mean BB.)!! Thanks BB.!! (T.G.) Tim, hint of red around collar! ( Drag. Slay.)

  51. SUMO: Thanks for your kind words about RWS. Diana 54!! Even BB. seems to be reluctant to to give this ( sledge recoil gun any praise)!! SHE IS A SWEETY PIE!! Yes I know his rec. on TX 200& Imshure its GREAT springer! I think if BB. spent some time w/a 54 HE MIGHT CHANGE his op. NEVER meant to imply 1377 is viable Coon gun!! I dont think it is!!—— Pels. ,,,I ran out of Cros. prem. & was using local 22. cal. regs. 22 brown box prem. shoot better!! Crow mags. give me ,good groups, but not at extended range!! JSB,s are good but supply is lim. In all honesty, I guess 1/ 1/16 group at 50 yrds.,But verticle stringing, ruined it!Out of 10 shots,ONE hole w/ some vert. Dev. SWEAR!! Ill NEVER doubht you my friend! Your 116 yrd. sq. CONGRATS!! (you pcp. shootin lucky sob.!) (I meant You have a pcp) Ill try 50 yrds. again monyana!! Good shootin my friend, Tim.

  52. Dray. Slay.,

    I think bb has given the 54 some praise and even said that its accuracy is up there with the TX200. That was a while back.

    When i said your 54 IS LIKE a pcp i was speaking in terms of the quality of the barrel and its lack of recoil. So is the TX200, but at this time, No springer can match a pcp.

    Let me know how the rest of your long range shooting goes!

    BB, i bet you killed a coon with a 1377. Just a guess! LOL GOOD for you if you did!

    Im going to get 9 inches of snow throughout tonight and tomorrow. So ill break out the Arctic camo. LOL I don’t own any.

    -sumo

  53. DragonSlayer,

    I don’t think you have read my 3-part report on the RWS Diana 54. Here is the final sentence from the last posting in that report:

    It’s in the same class as the TX200, which is the highest praise I can give.

    /blog/2006/11/rws-diana-54-part-3/

    B.B.

  54. BB. I missed that report on 54. I just recall some where you seemed less than pleased w/ sledge anti recoil system, I too dont care for that part of the gun,but it works! I know how you feel about the TX 200, for you to put my 54 in the company of a TX, says it ALL! Please accept my apology! Tim.

  55. Just a quick note on the after market trigger. I would buy the trigger from the original designer of the trigger and not the GRT III. The design was basically ripped off. Let s support the honest vendors out there.

  56. Brent: Not shure what your saying, but I recently purchased 2 GRT111 triggers from “Charlie Da Tuna”, service,ie: shipping was FAST!. The triggers are the best thing to happen to my Gamo&Cros. spring guns! I WILL buy more GRT trigs. & plan on doing other bus. as well w/ “Mr. Charlie”! (he dosnt know it yet) But he is going to tune my RWS 460!!. Wife told me, dont touch this one, but I had to.Untill I feel differant “Charlie” will be on my list for a go to guy for my airgun “addiction”!

  57. Hi BB,

    I’m looking for an air rifle to improve my shooting skills. I want to be ready for that trophy antelope next fall! Much of my practice shooting will be in the backyard or basement, around 20 yards.

    I’d like to find something for around $200 or so. What can you suggest?

  58. cheapskate,

    Nothing is more difficult to shoot well than a breakbarrel spring piston rifle, so that’s what I recommend. For under $200 my picks are the RWS Diana 34 Panther and the Mendoza RM 200 (not the 2000). Too bad you can’t stretch a bit, because the Gamo Whisper is a sweetie.

    B.B.

  59. Thanks BB. I was guessing you might suggest the Panther.

    $200 isn’t a precise limit — I’ll look back at your Whisper review and think about it. Actually, I see a used Whisper in stock at PA for $202.50. Might have to snap that up.

    Where would you rank the Beeman RS2 1000-H?

  60. Thanks for the advice BB. I decided to spring for a new Gamo Whisper. It arrived today, and I am having a blast.

    I also ordered a Dewey .177 ball bearing rod, brass bore brush and some J-B bore cleaning compound. After tightening screws and cleaning the bore (which was pretty cool, I could feel it smoothing out just like you said!), I took it down to my makeshift basement range (really it’s an unusually tall crawl space). I used the iron sights for the first 20 or so rounds, with Gamo Match wadcutters. Somehow I had a difficult time with the sight picture on this gun; maybe I’m just not used to it, but I found the front sight hard to see. It would probably be better if I improved the lighting of my crawl space. I do like the windage and elevation adjustments, and appreciate that no tools are needed.

    Next, I mounted the scope. [Earlier in the day, I had bench tested the scope and found that the parallax is set to around 30 yards.] I find that my scope is clear even at 10m if I crank the zoom down to 3x. There is a huge parallax error at that distance, but I found it easy enough to land five pellets on a dime, making one ragged hole. I was sitting indian-style and resting the gun on my hand, which was supported by an old rickety 50’s style kitchen chair (the kind made of tubular steel, springy and not very stable!). So, not bad for my first session shooting a springer.

    Cocking is smooth and pretty easy. It has a nice feel. My other air rifle is a multi-pump, so to me the breakbarrel is like instant gratification — cock the rifle, compress the spring and open the breech in one single motion.

    Being true to my “cheapskate” handle, I print targets on the cheapest white copier paper rather than buying good targets on target paper. One thing I didn’t anticipate is that the high velocity of this rifle makes for cleaner holes in the target. Wadcutters were punching round holes almost every time.

    The Whisper is bigger but lighter than my hunting rifle, and it fits me pretty well. Being a lefty, I appreciate the symmetry of the stock.

    I can’t compare the loudness with any other spring powered rifle, but I thought the Whisper was quiet. My wife heard nothing, so I’m not worried about waking our daughter.

    Next time I’ll back up to about 20 yards, the full extent of my indoor “range”. The parallax will be closer to right at that distance, though still not perfect. But hey, I should learn to put my eye in the same place every time, right?!

    Well, I didn’t intend to write this much, but I guess I had fun tonight.

    Thanks again BB. By the way, this is the second air gun I’ve bought on your advice. The first was a Crosman 3576, which my daughter and I used last summer to decimate the world’s supply of Shatterblast disks.

  61. Does anyone have any idea how many ft/lbs muzzle energy the Beeman RS2 dual caliber air gun puts out? I’m using the .22 caliber barrel.
    Thanks,

    Alphakilla

  62. Thanks a lot, BB

    It’s not just me, then
    She is very sensitive so discipline is critical. I squirrel hunt with mine but, I also enjoy target shooting. The squirrel hunting is great but as far as targets go, I’m not gonna win any tournaments.

  63. i am an experienced airgunner at 14 and our club loves this . our airgun club is so suprised . i supply the guns and pellets and love to see the kids faces. i am shooting squirrels, coon, sparrows , grackels, black birds, fox and anything that needs taken out.i am shooting 3/4 inch groups at 50 yrds and sometimes half inch. at 75 i am getting 2 inch groups and it shoots only a few inches low. i killed squirrels at 35 yrds this week and in the two weeks i have been very impressed but i am experienced and my clubs parents have seen me take squirrels at 100 yrds open sight . love it

  64. I've had my 392 for around 5 years now, and I love it. A few months ago, the gun would not "pump-up", so I disassembled, cleaned and oiled the seals. My 392 works now, but it will not hold pressure for very long. I typically use 6 pumps. If left for 30 minutes, the pressure in the gun drops to an unusable level. So this leaves me with a few questions:

    How long should a 392 hold pressure?

    I've heard that I should be storing my gun with a pump or two in it. I have not been doing that in the past. Could my seals be damaged?

    The manual only covers oiling the pivot points. How do I keep my seals lubricated?

    Thanks,

    Curt

  65. Curt,

    My 392 holds one pump of air for years at a time. I always store it with one pump in it, to keep the seals closed against dust in the air. If dust gets on them it could ruin tham as the gun is operated.

    Oil the pump piston head with Crosman Pellgunoil or if you can't find that, with 20-weight non-detergent motor oil. Do that twice a year.

    Read this report to see where and how to oil the gun properly:

    /blog/2008/09/what-to-oil-part-1-a-guide-to-sealing-pneumatics-and-co2-guns/

    B.B.

  66. Thanks, B.B.

    The link you provided was very helpful. I oiled the pump head liberally with Pellgunoil. After several test shots, I pumped the gun 6 times and then set it aside for 30 minutes. After 30 minutes the gun does not have enough pressure to move the pellet out of the barrel.

    I'm thinking I may have to replace the seals.

    Curt

  67. B.B.,

    Thank you for your help. I rebuilt my 392 yesterday and now its working great. I'll be sure to store it with one pump in it and keep it well lubricated.

    Thanks again,

    Curt

    • Roberto,

      Do you own a 397 Pump Assist rifle? They are very rare. Fewer than 20 were ever made.

      No, the Discovery trigger will not work on the 397. The 397 trigger has to be gunsmithed to work better. There is no other trigger than will drop in.

      B.B.

    • Mitch,
      I feel ya brutha! My 392 had a P A after the the 392.I’m not really sure what it designates but one pump will tell you if it’s a pump assist because there would be a lot of linkage moving.Google Benjamin pump assist and watch a video and you’ll see what I mean

      • that dont explain how Benjamin airguns got stamped with “Model 397PA” and “392PA” from factory. you are just talking about the mods done before factory started them as this blog also talks about. there should be a parts break down at least, someplace.

  68. they are perfect for kids to learn with plus older adults of handicapped that cant pump the standard models and suold be made always to that advantage. did the PA models cost more than standard models? this is a insider secret seems as nobody knows about them. I only searched the model number as I saw one for sale and never saw the PA on end of number before. found this and a couple other sites plus a short youtube of pumping it.

  69. I recently purchased a new Benjamin 392 and the Williams peep sight. The sight picture would be considerably improved if I could remove the original open sight, but I don’t want to mark up a new gun by just crudely prying on what appears to be a spring clip mounting arrangement. Is there some trick to removing the open sitght without messing up the finish on the barrel?

    • That rear sight can be tricky.
      There’s wedges on both sides to fit the seam of the barrel/pump tube.
      A rubber mallet or block of wood , tap on the back of the leaf to drive it forward
      The wedges will fall once the sight is no longer clamping them in place.
      That rear sight is a spring and the really tricky part comes when it’s time to ‘re install. 🙂
      Good Luck!

  70. Also, I was somewhat surprised when I pumped it the first couple times. I seemed gritty and stiff. Inspection indicated that the pump tube and linkage looked pretty dry (from the factory!). I lubed it with some Crosman Pellgun oil and it sounds and feels much better. Surprised that it wasn’t better lubed from the factory. Not the worst thing that could happen and easy to remedy, but still….

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