I have 2 NP trails, one synthetic, one with wood stock. I like them both, but the accuracy is not what I would like. Until now I was addicted to trying new pellets, especially heavies. That stopped me in the past from singling out the best pellet for these guns. I've tried slugs, tsunamis, JSB Ultra Shocks, New Boy Hollow Points, H&N Silver Points. (As you can tell again, I've been trying to shoot the heaviest pellets possible in these guns as I do in my PCP's, getting about 650 fps.I love the "thump" when a heavy pellet hits flesh. I'm getting 2.5 inch groups at 20 yards. As far as my my PCP's are concerned, I nailed down the best pellets long ago. Any Benjamin Trail NP owners out there, I would greatly appreciate your experience on what pellet to go with
NP Trail Question
- Thread starter dark1961
- Start date
My Benjamin Trail NP2 is synthetic stock. It likes 14.66 grain H&N Field Target Trophy in the larger of the three sizes 5.55 mm. The JSB .22 caliber round nose pellets should shoot identically through it. The Air Rifle is broken in, with over 600 shots through it. It shoots those at about 750 feet per second. Below is a target, which was 25 meters away, ten shots which are all covered by a nickel (I didn't have a dime handy). The green seen is due to the target tearing from not having it on a solid backplate, all of the holes are covered. Shot off a TV dinner tray with a bag, hand rested on top of bag, stock resting on an open hand on bag. It will reliably hit a penny at 25 meters. One of the keys to accuracy is not gripping the gun by anything but the pistol grip, everything else is just resting (stock resting lightly on shoulder, forward stock is resting on an open palm. Scope is an inexpensive UTG side parallax scope 3-12X44 30mm tube SWAT true strength.
Upvote 0
Dark1961,
We have a lot of air gunners in Virginia. If you let them know you want someone in your area to spin you up on springer shooting techniques, I am certain someone will be happy to shoot with you.
We have a lot of air gunners in Virginia. If you let them know you want someone in your area to spin you up on springer shooting techniques, I am certain someone will be happy to shoot with you.
Upvote 0
My Benjamin Trail NP2 is synthetic stock. It likes 14.66 grain H&N Field Target Trophy in the larger of the three sizes 5.55 mm. The JSB .22 caliber round nose pellets should identically through it. The Air Rifle is broken in, with over 600 shots through it. It shoots those at about 750 feet per second. Below is a target, which was 25 meters away, ten shots which are all covered by a nickel (I didn't have a dime handy). The green seen is due to the target tearing from not having it on a solid backplate, all of the holes are covered. Shot off a TV dinner tray with a bag, hand rested on top of bag, stock resting on an open hand on bag. It will reliably hit a penny at 25 meters. One of the keys to accuracy is not gripping the gun by anything but the pistol grip, everything else is just resting (stock resting lightly on shoulder, forward stock is resting on an open palm. Scope is an inexpensive UTG side parallax scope 3-12X44 30mm tube SWAT true strength.
I just received a tin of these pellets per your recommendation. I will try them tomorrow and shoot exactly how you describe with an open palm on a bag bench rest. My groups are about 2.5" at 25 meters using Crossman & Predator Polymag in 16 gr. Air rifle is Benjamin Trail NP with synthetic stock with a Hawke Airmax AO scope. Thanks for the input and advice.
Upvote 0
Deerstalker,
Good call, and also play with how forward/rearward you lead hand is, and figure out which position give you the tightest groups. I find there is a sweet spot to rest your hand where the recoil is the most neutral. But that magic position will vary from air rifle to air rifle (even same make and model).
Good call, and also play with how forward/rearward you lead hand is, and figure out which position give you the tightest groups. I find there is a sweet spot to rest your hand where the recoil is the most neutral. But that magic position will vary from air rifle to air rifle (even same make and model).
Upvote 0
G
Guest
Guest
I've got the Trail NPXL725, .25cal magnum. Mine likes the H&N hornets @ 24,38gr. But also gets good numbers with the H&N FTT @ 19.91. I just got a tin of the FTT 20.06gr, so I'll have to wait till I get the chrono working in my lighting situation again to compare the two. But it also likes the JSB King .25's @ 25.39gr. But the Benjamin domed 27.8gr gets around 649FPS and FPE comparable to the King .25's. So the extra weight just slows it down and doesn't give any more FPE than the lighter King .25 does.
As far as holds are concerned, I don't use the artillery hold. I grip it normally, BUT- I don't pull it into my shoulder very hard at all, or grip the forestock tightly. I just let it rest in my hand so it can recoil normally. Works fine for me. And putting your forearm hand just in front of the trigger guard seems to work well in my case.
As far as holds are concerned, I don't use the artillery hold. I grip it normally, BUT- I don't pull it into my shoulder very hard at all, or grip the forestock tightly. I just let it rest in my hand so it can recoil normally. Works fine for me. And putting your forearm hand just in front of the trigger guard seems to work well in my case.
Upvote 0
Take a piece of sandpaper and remove the sharp mold flashing from the break area of the stock. Put a sling on it. Hold the sling in your hand with the rifle sitting on top of your closed hand. You will be shocked at how much difference that in itself will make. Pull your thumb out of the ill fitting thumbhole stocks and place it straight up the side instead of through the hole. Take your thumb and place it in the thumbhole on the back of the stock right directly behind the trigger and then your trigger finger directly on the trigger. Squeeze straight between them with no pressure against the side of the stock.
Mine will produce decent hunting accuracy with Pirahnas and the Crosman HP's, but when you put the Umarex "Ruger" Superpoints in it, all of a sudden you can shoot small groups at 30 meters. The Gamo Monsters will shoot okay through it also, but they hit so low that the scope would need shimming. The Superpoints say 1.1 gram on the label, and that makes them on the heavy side, but they will work just fine without shimming the scope. Shooting them, you notice a much heavier thump on the target at thirty yards.
Mine has an aftermarket trigger and I have crowned the loading port. Took me a long time before I found a pellet it really liked, but the Superpoints are it. If you took a tin of Pirahnas and sized them, only shooting the same size, you might do as well but you would only get a few pellets out of each tin. The Superpoints are clean, well formed, and each feels the same as you load them. .
Mine will produce decent hunting accuracy with Pirahnas and the Crosman HP's, but when you put the Umarex "Ruger" Superpoints in it, all of a sudden you can shoot small groups at 30 meters. The Gamo Monsters will shoot okay through it also, but they hit so low that the scope would need shimming. The Superpoints say 1.1 gram on the label, and that makes them on the heavy side, but they will work just fine without shimming the scope. Shooting them, you notice a much heavier thump on the target at thirty yards.
Mine has an aftermarket trigger and I have crowned the loading port. Took me a long time before I found a pellet it really liked, but the Superpoints are it. If you took a tin of Pirahnas and sized them, only shooting the same size, you might do as well but you would only get a few pellets out of each tin. The Superpoints are clean, well formed, and each feels the same as you load them. .
Upvote 0