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Moderator for Benjamin M357

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Arrowhead1951

Arrowhead1951

Member
May 10, 2020
182
23
CA, United States
I recently acquired a new Benjamin M357. I felt it needed a moderator to tone it down a bit. I looked at several and decided on the Pitbull Mega Moderator. I felt it seemed to blend in with the barrel shroud shape and had a lower pic rail I could mount a bipod on. I received the moderator and followed the installation video and the supplied mounting screws. It installed very easily and fit the shroud. It looked good, it blended in well with the different M357 barrel and shroud shape. Now if it would just tone down the report.
Glad I wear safety lens glasses, the moderator exploded, the whole right side blew out. After I calmed down I tried to figure out what happened. The 81 grain JSB pellet did not clip the moderator? I contacted Pitbull Air Guns and they said they would send me a new different design made out of better material. Not to worry they were not using me as a tester!
I did have a little trouble with emails to them, I am an old guy with no computer skills, so I chalked that up to me. I got the new moderator and installed it the same way as the first one. It fit and seemed ready to go. I did put on a full face shield this time. This moderator cracked and came apart internally, but at least there was no shrapnel flying around.
I emailed Pitbull and let them know I wanted a refund, I got a phone message telling me to check my spam folder as they tried to email me. I tried to call them back with no luck, several emails and no answers. I waited another day and sent them a final email apologizing for my lack of computer skill and that I was moving on. This pellet rifle stuff is my hobby, a fun retirement thing I do and I don't need any conflict with anyone.
I have a Donny fl Ronin I am going to try now, hope I have better results with this moderator.
Read a lot of posts about the Benjamin M357 but did see that anyone else has had any problems with moderators. Any comments would be greatly appreciated, I hope to learn some good advice from more experienced gunners.
 
@Arrowhead1951 Sucks to hear what happened to your other moderators. This may be the first I’ve heard of a moderator blowing apart and another cracking. I don’t like plastic parts, especially for big bores.

If you’re going the Donny FL route I suggest that you start with an Emperor. I haven’t used a moderator with the M357, but I’ve used a Donny FL Emperor on the original .357 Benjamin Bulldog. It took some of the ”pop” off of the shots. However, I think it is unreasonable to expect the M357 to become quiet enough to shoot in an urban or suburban backyard. What Would you like the ideal moderator to do for your M357?
 
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Ezana4CE said:
@Arrowhead1951 Sucks to hear what happened to your other moderators. This may be the first I’ve heard of a moderator blowing apart and another cracking. I don’t like plastic parts, especially for big bores.

If you’re going the Donny FL route I suggest that you start with an Emperor. I haven’t used a moderator with the M357, but I’ve used a Donny FL Emperor on the original .357 Benjamin Bulldog. It took some of the ”pop” off of the shots. However, I think it is unreasonable to expect the M357 to become quiet enough to shoot in an urban or suburban backyard. What Would you like the ideal moderator to do for your M357?
Click to expand...
Mr. Ezana4CE,
I don't need the M357 to be backyard friendly, I live where I can shoot and not bother anybody but myself. I was looking to tone it down for my own comfort level.
I now share your belief about plastic parts used as moderators for big bore air rifles.
I have enjoyed many of your posts, you do have many adventures in the field with your hunting trips.
I did not want to extend the length of the M357 as I do wonder around my property in the brush. The Emperor seemed a bit much in the length aspect, but that may be what I end up with.
Thanks for your reply and have good luck in your exploits.
Stay healthy and safe,
Arrowhead1951
 
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Arrowhead1951 said:
Mr. Ezana4CE,
I don't need the M357 to be backyard friendly, I live where I can shoot and not bother anybody but myself. I was looking to tone it down for my own comfort level.
I now share your belief about plastic parts used as moderators for big bore air rifles.
I have enjoyed many of your posts, you do have many adventures in the field with your hunting trips.
I did not want to extend the length of the M357 as I do wonder around my property in the brush. The Emperor seemed a bit much in the length aspect, but that may be what I end up with.
Thanks for your reply and have good luck in your exploits.
Stay healthy and safe,
Arrowhead1951
Click to expand...
@Arrowhead1951 I don’t know of a way to quiet these Bulldogs down without extending the length. I felt the same way about using the Emperor with the Donny FL extension That made the Bulldog ridiculously long. I haven‘t any experience using a Ronin on a Bulldog. Have you tried backing off the hammer spring tension? It should reduce the report some and the power level as well.
 
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Mr. Ezana4CE and Mr. cmatera,

I don't tinker, don't know what I am doing, and the resulting side effects may not be easily repairable.

Good to hear that you got some sound reduction to your .357 Bulldog.

I have only shot my M357 8 times and was very satisfied with it at my 50-yard target. 2 shots and the second hit inside the 2-inch bull. I really don't want to change anything other than reducing the report. The Mega Moderators took 2 more shots and I shot 2 more at 50 yards to see if the Bulldog survived the mod failures. I think it is OK, so I took 2 shots at a coyote target...heart lung hits. I know the Bulldog is for hunting and not a target rifle, just humor me.
I finished my chores and will test out the Ronin later this afternoon. I will report in with my test results.
Thanks for the replies, stay healthy and safe,
Arrowhead1951
 
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I used a Donny yokozuna on mine and it work great.. I could test shoot indoors without hearing protection at 265fpe .. i would not use any other of the old line of the Donny moderators on such a high power slug gun ,because the felt tends to roll up and disturbed the metal mesh enough that the the felt goes inside where the slug passed in destroyed the mod .. + it gives you the benefit of change the length if needed. My experience with 3d printed plastic moderators have been the same i don't think they are made for guns in the 120fpe+ had one it blow in pieces at the second shot .. for the Yokozuna use only the solid tread adapter.
 
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