Today reader RidgeRunner, shows us the Benjamin 130 he got at the North Carolina airgun show. If you’d like to write a guest post for this blog, please email me at blogger@pyramydair.com.
Take it away, RidgeRunner.
North Carolina airgun show Benjamin Franklin 130
by RidgeRunner
Benjamin 130.
This report covers:
- Why is it called this?
- What is it?
- Ammo
- BBs
- At the range
- BB’s turn
Why is it called this?
Why is this called the Benjamin Franklin 130? It could possibly be because it has the name Benjamin Franklin engraved on it and that the model number 130 is also engraved on it.
See? It does have this name on it.
See? I told you this was on there also.
I am not sure, but I think the name Benjamin Franklin was sorta kinda a manufacturer joke. More than likely the unwashed kept referring to the various Benjamin airguns as Benjamin Franklins, so Benjamin started engraving that on them for a bit.
What is it?
What is the Benjamin Franklin 130 anyway? It is a pump-up smoothbore BB pistol. This particular one is what I had traded my Predom Lucznik pistol for at the North Carolina (NC) airgun show this year. I know some of you folks freaked out when I did this, but the truth is I did not really like the Predom and the dealer who had this 130 freaked out when I told him that I had brought mine on a whim.
Yes, I already have a 130 stashed away with my 132 and 137, but this one has wooden grips. I may not be correct, but I think this one is older. I would not be surprised if this one was to find a new home when I am done with it.
I do not know much about these old pump-up pistols, so we will likely be learning together as we go. I do know one thing; this sure does look like a fun little feral soda can popper to get to know.
Ammo
So, what do I feed this pistol? From what I have read I can feed it BBs, .177 pellets and darts. Since I have all of these, I just may have to see what this thing can do with each one of these things.
BBs
Since this is technically a BB gun, I reckon I will start with them. Since I am not a big fan of BB guns, my selection of BBs is not that great and I only have two types. I have some Daisys and I have some Crosman Copperheads. How I ended up with two types, I will never know.
At the range
Well, this morning I lugged my bags, the pistol, targets, et cetera to the range and set everything up. After I cocked and put one of the Copperheads in the chamber, I gave it six pumps, took aim and pulled the trigger. The BB landed on the ground somewhere between the muzzle and the target. With the next attempt I gave it ten pumps. This time I heard it hit the cardboard. After twelve pumps it hit the cardboard with some authority. With fourteen pumps the BB stuck in the cardboard a little over one foot low. With sixteen pumps the BB went through the cardboard.
The dealer said it was working perfectly. I, of course, did not believe him. Good thing. I guess this means I am going to have to rebuild this one also. I was expecting such, so I am not that upset. Now, where did I put that round tuit?
BB’s turn
First of all, the quotation marks around Benjamin Franklin mean the exact opposite of what the words say. In the English language quotes around words in certain contexts mean that. For example — Rolls Royce makes cars that are “adequate.”
The picture RidgeRunner showed doesn’t show the quotation marks around the words Benjamin Franklin, and since they make all the difference to the meaning, here is what they look like.
My Benjamin 700 has that pesky “Benjamin Franklin” that fools so many into thinking its the company name! The quotes around Benjamin Franklin mean it’s a tongue-in-cheek play on the company name.
No one I know knows why the quotes are there. It seems to be a play on the name of the company — the Benjamin Air Rifle Company. Owners didn’t refer to their guns that way; they just saw that Benjamin put those words on their airguns so they called them by that name. The company eventually stopped doing it, perhaps because of the confusion it caused. Remember the confusion caused by the Benjamin Sheridan Super Streak that was a breakbarrel spring-piston air rifle?
Next, I note that RidgeRunner did not tell us that he oiled the pump head before pumping. That pump head is leather and needs to be soaked with oil to seal and compress air well. If it is indeed dry now and if he oils it I’m guessing five pumps will accomplish what it took 16 to do in today’s report. For gosh sakes Ridge — don’t take the gun apart until you have tried oiling the pump head. To see how that’s done, read this report: Thank you.
I read the report I just linked to and understood it easily — because I wrote it. But I do see that this is a topic that could use a short video. I will get right on that and hope to show it to you soon.
I don’t have an old 130 laying around, so I will ask RidgeRunner to comment after he has oiled his pistol. But please wait to see my video, Ridge.
Everyone,
WordPress did it again! They changed the publication time of this report. When this happens all I can do is publish it manually.
BB
When an old Daisy No. 25 showed up at our house a while back, and the velocity was low, BB suggested oiling it. That worked wonders for that gun and it now has good velocity and is pretty accurate (for a BB gun). Looking forward to seeing more reports on your “Benjamin Franklin” 130 RR!
Well, I do have two of them now, so you will likely be forced to follow along on another misadventure of mine. 😉
As a matter of fact, I have oiled the pump seal. I guess it will take some time for the oil to soak in. This “old gal” will likely make a trip out to the range again before I tear into her.
Just so you know, I did find a manual for this pistol on line and it does speak of oiling the pump seal. I just may have not given it enough time. We shall see.
RR,
Okay, that is good. I keyed in on that because you didn’t mention it in your report, and I know how essential it is.
BB
I just pulled the “old gal” out again and gave her a try. I cocked her, loaded a bb in her and pumped her up six times and stuck her out my bathroom window. When I pulled the trigger, nothing. I then cocked her, pumped her up twelve times, stuck here out the bathroom window and pulled the trigger. After a slight pause I heard the bb strike something.
Hmmmm. Maybe this “old gal” does need rebuilding.
RR,
Now that I know she’s been oiled, I think you are right. As long as that pump head is swimming in oil she should work.
BB
BB,
I guess that I have been dancing with these “old gals” for such a long time, I do that automatically without even thinking about it. Over the years, like me, these “old gals” need a little lubrication on their old joints every once in a while. 😉
RR,
Yes, but we are always getting new readers who don’t know what you do. They need to be told, too.
BB
BB,
You are correct. Being and old, fat, baldheaded geezer, I sometimes do not remember that. I do thank you for the reminder of such.
Once again, I’ve been a bad boy.
Nice pistol I grew up on Benjamins.
But talk about a low shot count!!
Ian.
Ian,
Low shot count?! You cannot hit what you are shooting at with the first shot?! Shame on you! No wonder you think it has a low shot count.
That is unless you are referring to the lack of power this thing seems to have. The truth is I myself am disappointed a bit. I was kind of hoping it would do a little better than it did.
No by low shot count I mean instead of 10 pumps per shot.
You’re taking 16 pumps per shot
that’s what I meant by low shot count
Ian,
You have no idea. I shot this pistol a little later and after ten pumps the bb would not even travel ten feet, much less ten yards.
RidgeRunner,
It may just need a compression tube cleaning depending on what the previous user did or did not do/use for lubrication. I remember Tim from Mac1 Airguns telling me to use a wooden dowel wrapped with an old nylon stocking would clean out the crud that can mess up the headspace. He recommended only using his Secret Sauce…Lol! You may also want to run an oiled patch through the bore to check for corrosion. The bolt seal may need a leak check with a tissue as well.
shootski
shootski,
On those occasions that I do go inside one of these “old gals”, I do like to look them over pretty good. I may never be this way again. Now with this “old gal” I have a “newer” 130, 132 and 137 that I will need to have a look see at, so I will not only be looking them over pretty good, but will also see if there have been any changes over the years.
RR
Should you oil it again on the time honored theory, more is better?
What is the maximum number of pumps that manual you found recommend?
This one will be fun.
Deck
Deck,
The funny thing is the manual does not tell you how many pumps to use. It does tell you not to over pump these pistols though. Duh.
RidgeRunner,
After the oiling does it’s job or you clean and rebuild IF needed don’t be surprised if this happens: You pump the BF130 too much and will know!
You will get Valve Lock.
You can avoid that by working your way up one plus pump per shot. This is the important part of this Drill after the bb is gone cock the gun and pull the trigger as soon as you get a second puff you are approaching valve lock.
Of course you can also use a CHRONOGRAPH if you want to document the power.
One caution is do you really want MAXIMUM out of her or just what you need? Right now she was probably safely pumpable for however long you wanted to pump…once she is healthier you may not want to put here through that. As i recall the MV (Muzzle Velocity) increase with more pumps got progressively smaller and smaller until the seal or headspace volume caused the pressure/MV to plateau. I remember modified (flat) piston heads and having adjustable length push rods to set the headspace.
Boy those multi pumps sure could get complex!
LOL ;^)
shootski
RR,
Seems you just love them and leave them, the old gals that is.
Cheaper than a divorce?
-Y
Yogi,
It can be. I am less likely to leave this “old gal” as I have not yet been inside her to see if I can bring her back. It is the young’uns that I usually give up on.
just reminded me of the lyrics from The Music Man where the lead, Harold Hill, tells or sings why he prefers the “sadder but wiser girl”. A two minute video with Robert Preston and Buddy Hackett. https://youtu.be/eUJhOBIH6kk
Fred formerly of the Demokratik Peeples Republic of NJ now happily in GA
Fred,
You should have come to the airgun show rather than watching those old musicals.
RidgeRunner of the Demokratik Peeples Republic of VA
RR
I’m sure your Mrs will be glad to hear that.
Ed
Ed,
She has threatened to run me off on occasion. I can’t really blame her as I can be a real pain sometimes.
Well RR, hope you acquired that “Benjamin Franklin” for less than a Benjamin. Which is dependent on how many Bens there are in a Predom.
FM,
Much less. 😉
RidgeRunner,
Is it a smoothbore or is it rifled? Probably smoothbore since it is supposed to be able to use darts and BBs.
Siraniko
Siraniko,
Under the paragraph What is it? He wrote, “It is a pump-up smoothbore BB pistol.”
BB
Been a while since I mentioned this, but it seems appropriate to bring it up here again.
I found using ‘penetrating’ oil on a shriveled-up leather seal or cup really speeds up the process of rejuvenating it.
I used it on my Harley carburetor accelerator pump cup. It was almost crunchy. Gasoline will eventually displace it, and it remains fully operational.
I would try to squeeze it out of the airgun seal and replace it with Pellgun oil once it swells up again.
A leather seal operating in oil may not present such a dramatic change as one operating in gasoline that has dried out, but I believe the effect should be similar. Can’t hurt to try.
Bob M,
I could see where that might work short term. The penetrating oil is real thin. I use either light machine oil or silicone oil. Leather seems to like them.
I never have much Pellgun oil about, but if it is the same as AT fluid, I can get a quart of that pretty easy. I do have a lifetime supply of TIAT.
RR,
I would guess the pistol grips were replaced at some point?
Bob M,
I am not sure, but I think these were the original grips used on these old Benjis. I am thinking that later on Bemjamin switched over to the plastic grips. I am thinking this is one of the earlier versions of this pistol.
Found this link on the Highroad.org forum- may be of some help as to date of mfg.
https://www.jgairguns.biz/benjamin-dates-ezp-57.html
Remarq,
According to that link, my 130 was made in 1967, my 132 was made in 1971 and my 137 was made in 1970. Now the 130 I traded for with the wood grips is of the older type and does not have a serial number on it.
Speaking of oiling our airguns – this may be more interesting to RR than to the rest of you – finally got the Round Tooit to take out RR’s former Ben Max for some exercise this PM. The pressure gauge was in the red, probably registering under 500 PSI. Dropped about seven drops of silicone chamber oil into the fill port and pumped ‘er up to 2000 PSI.
Put twenty pells through the .22 rifle – Crosman 14.3 gr, H&N 9.57 gr and H&N 18.13 “grainers.” This rifle is not pellet-picky and with the Gamo scope “liberated” from the Whisper Fusion, FM even managed half-inch groups at 25 yards with the Crosmans and the H&N 9.57s. By the end of the session, the pressure had dropped to about 800 PSI so filled ‘er up to 1000 PSI before putting Ben Max to sleep. FM will monitor the pressure the next few days to see if it is holding and the “oil cure” works/is working.
Sorry to take this fun shooter away RR, but you were willing to give this lady up for adoption. She is a sweet one. FM has not changed any of your settings because, if it ain’t broke, he won’t fix it.
RidgeRunner,
I am particularly interested in how this pistol would do with darts. The longer smooth bore barrel might be just the ticket for accuracy (with very few pumps).
Looking forward to your future review(s).
Bill
billj,
You may rest assured that once I get this “old gal” to work halfway right, I will see how she does with the darts. I might even have a shoot off with my Webley Junior.