Possible to install a weaker gas ram in a Benjamin NP XL?

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hasenpfeffer

Member
Apr 2, 2015
231
11
Arizona
I bought a NP XL1100 a couple years ago with the intention of hunting small game. After putting a few hundred pellets through it, I still can't get any consistency even with a careful artillery hold in perfect conditions at the range. I'm talking 3-inch groups at 10 yards. I suppose it could be me, but I used to be a really good shot. In boot camp I was the second best shooter in my entire company.

I'm wondering if 30+ FPE is just too much power for a practical springer. Kind of like how you can fling an alloy pellet at 1100 FPS, but you really shouldn't because accuracy will go out the window. Is it possible to install a weaker piston, or adjust the one I have? I think 15 FPE would be plenty for my purposes.
 
It would be much less hassel to just sell it get a better spring gun. Gas rams are notorious for being harsh in the shot cycle and not as accurate generally as springs. A good spring gun like a HW95 or RWS 34 would be a great alternative at a similar price range.

But it may be possible to get a lighter gas spring. They do come in different spring rates from the manufacturers. But if Crosman has them made to their specs then who knows if there is a weaker one that will fit.
 
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hasenpfeffer, what do your groups look like with that XL? My experience with Crosman NPs has been that they typically either need a rebuild (due to poor manufacturing/assembly) or they shoot well (basically either crap or gold, not a lot of middle ground. One guess what most of mine have been?). I have also had three confirmed "bad" brand new barrels out of the box. Have you chrony'd your XL? If not, I would suggest doing so, it'll likely tell you a lot. I had a Vantage NP that wouldn't group no matter How I held it/shot it, and killed every scope I put on it. After buying a Chrony, I found my "1200FPS gun" was shooting low 700FPS, even with lighter pellets. One tear-down/clean-out/re-seal later, it was a whole new gun, and was slinging 7.9 CPs at over 950 FPS, like it should have from new. 
If your groups are experiencing vertical stringing (notably sloppier on the vertical than the horizontal) then you likely could use a new piston seal. If you check this link, you can watch Kenny take his XL apart and reseal it.
A barrel with a lot of side to side play (meaning ANY noticeable side play) will also adversely effect accuracy. Replacing the plastic barrel bushings with brass washers (that you have to sand down to fit) will often fix serious accuracy woes. I would lastly suggest checking the barrel. Push a pellet through it (gently) paying close attention to how much the pellet engages the rifling (you should feel some drag). My two "bad .22 Trail barrels engaged the rifling for the first third or so of the barrels length, then just dropped to the muzzle with no help from me. I install a known good barrel on my Trail, it's suddenly a tack driver. Just some stuff to try, if you haven't already. Best of luck with it. I'd like to know if you find anything.
 
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I'm with 30Cal. He knows his stuff and doesn't sugar coat stuff ..Ya GOTTA love that !!! I sold all 3 of my nitro piston guns after realizing that the market share they are targeted towards is fine and I'm sure profitable.... But not as refined or accurate as I was looking for . I sold all three locally on Craigslist and got about 2/3 of my money back so it wasn't a expensive lesson ... I bought a Beeman R7 and the difference literally has to be experienced to grasp...I truly hope you are able to get yours like you want it . If not look around for something a little less violent .
Chip from Crosmans posts here regularly and is really good guy . Shoot him a message and he will for sure hit you back ...Great guy and VERY knowledgeable
 
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"Mentolio"hasenpfeffer, what do your groups look like with that XL?
Click to expand...
I haven't noticed a pattern, just wide and random. I've since bought a used PCP and proved to myself that I can still shoot. But I still need to figure out what to do with the XL. I'll check the things you mentioned and see if I can get it shooting a little better. Thanks.
 
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hasenpfeffer its not you its the gun. 
All your time, money ,horses and men aint gonna change a thing. At least you realize
something is way bad wrong. What is disturbing is the number of people who don't. Move on
and remember, then someday maybe enough will so that the air gun company that made it wont be the biggest
in the world. Yeah in case you cant tell I have one too!!! LOL

 
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NPs aren't bad guns, they're certainly not "junk," and they can be smooth shooting and accurate. Unfortunately they are rarely smooth or accurate out of the box (though I can say I have seen it happen). If you're willing to do some work (often to your brand new gun) they can be very satisfying guns to own and shoot. Fix the trigger (plenty of info on that), clean and lube, new seals (usually about 10 bucks from Crosman for all seals), and some other easy to do odds and ends, and you can say you "tuned" your NP up to tack driver status. -OR- call customer service (which is usually VERY accommodating), make some noise, and send it back for a replacement (as long as you're within the one year warranty period). And what is "accurate?" Again, assuming you're doing everything right, one ragged hole at 10 yards and sub one inch groups at 30-40 yards when rested is what I consider "par" for accuracy. If you're getting 2", 3", or larger sloppy groups and you're doing everything right, there IS a problem with your gun that "further breaking in" just ain't gonna fix. Just don't sit on it too long. This "bunk" that you have to put "thousands of pellets through this new gun for it to break in" is just a cover for poor assembly/manufacturing. Rub two jagged rocks together long enough and they will eventually smooth out, but the end result will be sloppy fit. If your gun isn't settling down and getting more accurate within 500 hundred shots (this assuming you're doing everything right and have tried a bunch of pellets), you're likely to get frustrated and set it aside for a bit...DON'T. Before you know it, the one year warranty will be up. If you're someplace you can easily mail it back to Crosman, and you're unwilling to do the work yourself, just ship it back for replacement or refund. Lastly, when in doubt, Chrony your gun. Even if you don't have one, most paintball fields do (they're supposed to have a Chrony and MAKE EVERYONE use it before allowing them on the field for safety reasons). If you talk to your local paintball guru, he'll likely let you shoot a string over his Chrony, and that could be your "evidence" that something is internally wrong with your gun.

apologies, I didn't mean to rant, hijack, or preach.
 
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Mentolio

Kind sir, please excuse my earlier post. I am a new member and uninformed.
I was unaware that by changing parts it was possible to ( tune) to tack driving statues.
Your standard of 40 yard sub inch groups as par leave no doubt this is true.
Thank you for sharing your knowledge and expertise,the air gun community
needs more like you leading the way. I clearly see now any efforts to help
another member with MY uniformed, baseless, idiotic opinion only further confuses them.
Your honesty, integrity and boundless knowledge shine like a guiding beacon for all to see.
The shame I have brought on myself and family will no doubt haunt me for all my days.
Thank you and good day

P.S. TO ALL OTHERS
TOLD YA !!!
 
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I do love some good snark. I don't expect a spring gun to ever be as accurate as a good PCP.

Unfortunately, my XL sat in a closet for the first year of my son's life, so it's well out of warranty. On the plus side, I can hack on it without fear of ruining it because I already have something better. On the other hand, I'd rather spend my limited free time tuning and shooting my PCP. I should probably just be honest about how much the XL sucks in its current condition, and sell it cheap to someone who wants to put time into it.
 
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Mentolio Thank you for your gracious offer. I long ago lost all interest in discussing the Benji np's
My experience with them has been extensive and largely unproductive. The fixes you propose as a
cure to accuracy woes are u tube BS. The only way to achieve any real gains are too costly, and all involve
the barrel. Your standard for par of one inch groups at 30 and 40 yards would only be possible with an exceedingly
small shot count. I have no interest in swaying your love of the Benji np's . I will be the first to say there is a lot to like about em.
Sadly accuracy in my opinion is not one of their virtues. Lets agree to disagree and consider this matter resolved.

Happy trails and best regards
Fuznut
 
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