The Benjamin Disco Double made by Lloyd Sikes.
This report covers:
- Scope
- Sight in
- The test
- Benjamin Single Die
- H&N Baracuda 15
- Air Arms 16-grain dome
- My idea
- Summary
Today we begin looking at the accuracy of the Benjamin Disco Double precharged pneumatic (PCP) rifle built by Lloyd Sikes.
Scope
The rifle had to be scoped so I took an obsolete UTG 10X44 SWAT scope off my .25 caliber Benjamin Marauder and shifted it to the Disco Double. It looks great, though the scope rings are a bit too high.
The rifle is scoped with the UTG 10X44 SWAT scope.
Sight in
The rifle seemed to be on at 12 feet so I went back to 25 yards to complete the sight in. That took another 6 shots. Then I was ready to test.
The test
I shot the Disco Double from 25 yards with the rifle resting on a sandbag. I shot 10-shot groups with each of three pellets. Let’s see how it did.
Benjamin Single Die
I first tried ten Benjamin Single Die pellets that I call Bullseyes. They usually are very accurate in PCPs, but not in this one! Ten pellets went into a scattered group at 25 yards that measures 1.257-inches between centers. And this pellet did not settle down as I shot. Several of the pellet holes on the right side of the group were shot toward the end of the 10 shots.
The Disco Double put 10 Benjamin Bullseyes into a 1.257-inch group at 25 yards.
H&N Baracuda 15
The second pellet I tried was the H&N Baracuda 15. Ten went into 0.559-inches between centers at 25 yards. This is much better and I will have more to say about it in a little bit.
The Disco Double put 10 H&N Baracuda 15s into a 0.559-inch group at 25 yards.
Air Arms 16-grain dome
The last pellet I tested today was the Air Arms 16-grain dome. Ten of them made a 0.579-inch group at 25 yards. It’s slightly larger than the Baracuda 15 group but I saw the last pellets go to the same place in the group. That gave me an idea to test something special.
Ten Air Arms 16-grain domes made a 0.579-inch group at 25 yards.
My idea
I want to clean the bore of the rifle before testing again. I also want to test conditioning the bore of the Disco Double with each of the last two pellets and then see what it does to the group size, if anything.
Summary
The Benjamin Disco Double is a fine PCP that Crosman could have made and probably should have. Thanks to Lloyd Sikes we now see what is possible. This will be an interesting series.
BB,
That’s one beauty of a rifle, and she’s got some good accuracy potential to boot.
It will be interesting to see what cleaning and conditioning the bore do for accuracy.
I pray all goes well for you tomorrow…wait, tomorrow [Monday] is already here. 🙂
Blessings to you,
dave
Brother Dave,
Good morning. I’m preparing to go to the hospital now.
BB
“LORD God, please bring BB safely through this and back to us…in Jesus’ name…Amen!”
Tom,
I pray the your surgery be successful and uneventful.
I don’t think I’d mind a little more clearance due to the relatively high rings because it will allow better access in inserting a pellet into the trough. Or is it going to be too much of a clearance? I can understand using a clip allows a lower mounting of the scope but this rifle doesn’t have one and the pellets have to be loaded manually into the trough for the bolt to push into the breech.
Siraniko
Siraniko,
There isn’t much clearance to load the pellet. I will think about that. Thanks,
BB
Siraniko,
With or without the scope, there is just not much room for fingers to load a pellet in this air rifle. You can ask FM about that. I did have a magazine to use with my Maximus but was not really personally impressed with it.
If my rememberer is working correctly, there are a few minor modifications that may help with the loading, but I did not perform those modifications on the one I had and do not know that they will work. It is my hope and dream that TCFKAC/Daisy/Gamo will bring out the 3677 (3622 in .177) soon and I will be able to upgrade it to a metal breech and perform those modifications. If not, I will continue to hope and dream of finding a Discovery/Maximus somewhere.
FM’s fortunately – for FM – has small fingers, so single-loading pellets into the Max Brothers is not particularly difficult. There are advantages to being undersized. 🙂
Praying for a good outcome and a permanent fix for your troubles, Tom.
FM,
I used to have one of those. I wish I still did. Both of them. 😉
FM barely enjoyed “his” ’67 – purchased by his father – for four months until it was t-boned and destroyed by a ’65 Chevy Impala on Christmas Eve ’67; young FM made sure he went to Midnight Mass that day to thank God for his survival. Have fared better with the 181 “Thing,” going on 52 years.
I have always wanted a feldgrau “Thing”.
Well, considering Crosman is going to be having most of their gun production in China, maybe they can make this! Or maybe a 2×3622?
OhioPlinker,
Then again maybe not. https://hardairmagazine.com/news/hot-news-crosman-sold-to-daisy/
Considering Gamo now controls BSA, Daisy and Crosman (along with Benjamin) things just might get interesting or it might just be a phase as things get consolidated.
Siraniko
Siraniko,
Don’t forget Sheridan!
RidgeRunner,
I think that brand has been relegated to history already as there is no current production to my knowledge bearing that brand name. Sheridan was bought out by Benjamin which was bought out by Crosman which has been bought out by Gamo. Where will Gamo go with the airgun properties of Crosman? I doubt if it will be to breakbarrels since they have those covered. Multi Stroke Pneumatics, CO2 and PCP airguns would be the likely direction. Hopefully Mr. Schultz will be employed by them.
Siraniko
Siraniko,
Until very recently you could buy a Sheridan brand CO2 air rifle. It was the same as the Crosman 160 I do believe.
Siraniko,
Just in April 2024: “We believe Crosman’s sale to a recognized industry veteran in the air gun space positions it well for future success.” And by December 2024 most all of the folks in the Crosman plant in New York had their termination notices.
Yup, the future sucks sess for the loyal Crosman workers.
But from what i gather the Peoples Republic of China is very close to a Demographic, Economic, and Social implosion with implications for much of the rest of the world’s supply chain…cheap production airguns and accessories will take a big hit. Just my opinion.
The impending collapse could also result in far worse outcomes as well.
shootski
Knew a family years ago who had fled castro-communism; they were Christian and religious. The daughter said to FM in a conversation, “nations who go communist become cursed lands.” The record supports that. We must be prepared to trust the Lord but pass the ammunition, if necessary.
Only if we are lucky.
The truth is it will be rough for a bit, but after the smoke clears, we will be better off.
RidgeRunner,
I pray you are correct.
shootski
We will.
B.B.
I have always wondered how many pellets it takes to “season the bore” after a cleaning. I guess we are about to find out?
-Yogi
Yogi,
I sure hope we are! I hope it’s not that many
BB
If the definition of seasoning the bore refers to dismissing the first few shots after changing pellet types, there is little doubt it often shrinks group sizes in my humble opinion. But it doesn’t always happen.
Regarding long term seasoning after bore scrubbing, I don’t know whether it is measurably effective. But most competition shooters probably swear by it. Could be an enlightening series if BB has the time it may take to reach a conclusion.
Deck
Deck,
These are the things I am pondering.
BB
BB,
I do hope and pray all goes well for you today.
Over the years I have watched the Discovery start with a walnut stock, devolve into a Discovery with a beech stock, devolve into the Maximus, devolve into the Fortitude, finally go away and come back cheapened even more as the 3622.
Will TCFKAC, now owned by Gamo bring the Discovery back? They could as they still use most of the same parts in other PCPs, but I seriously doubt it. What will likely need to happen is we airgunners will need to build our own Discos from available parts. IF Gamo sees there is a big enough profit available, they just might bring it back, but do not hold your breath. We will be lucky if Gamo still imports the parts for the 3622.
B.B. a little detail on how to clean the bore of a Discovery would be great. Will you use a pull through bore cleaner or remove the barrel? Inquiring minds want to know. Thanks.
RG,
Being relatively simple, I personally would remove the barrel. I had a problem with the barrel breech and the gas port on my Max. I should have removed the barrel and worked on those some.
Most would use the pull through method with the gas port pointed upward (air rifle upside down).
BB,
You and Batman have the coolest toys!
Praying for an excellent process and result in surgery today BB!
Will
B.B.,
Best wishes and prayers for your procedure today.
May Jesus protect and hold you. Amen
If you have a borescope with photo capability for before and after bore imaging it might be instructive.
I have one of the first production Discovery’s and the bore was excellent from the first gentle out of the box cleaning and remains so to this day… as i reported a few months ago it stopped the slow partial leak down and continues to not need the spare parts i ordered for the rebuild. The silicon chamber oil worked…or was it just coming out and getting some attention after the years of my neglectful ownership.
It looks great with the TATSU on the business end and is now urban/suburban backyard friendly to boot.
Be Well,
shootski
Hi guys,
I”m home from the hospital. Everything went well and the doctor doesn’t;’t think there is a problem.
Thanks for the well wishes.
BB
B.B.,
Great news!
Thank you for the update.
Happy Three Kings Day!
Those three were Wise Men.
shootski
BB
That is mighty fine news!
Deck
Tom,
What great news to start my day! Happy Three Kings!
May you be healed of your infirmities.
Siraniko
Cool, so we get to have you around for another 30 years.
Mike
Great! Those news make a fine Epiphany Day gift for those of us who honor it.