frustration!

Shoot 3 shot groups?

might be pellets, does it do this with different pellets?

otherwise, scope is likely candidate

Get rid of it! I tried like you to get my NP to shoot. At times I would be on and then suddenly shots were all over the place. We got my son a .22 marauder and we were hitting nickel sized groups at 40 yards. I will be listing my Trail on Craigslist. On this forum someone is giving their NP away. PCP rifles are amazingly accurate and once you switch you will never go back!

I find it's better to ask for forgiveness than for permission. You can get a Marauder package deal at Airgun Depot for under $700 (gun, scope, pump). The discovery is even less. Gamo sells the Coyote PCP for about $450. There really is no comparison between the NP trail and a Marauder; kinda like horse and buggy vs a new Mustang. It's that big of a difference! 

Well from what I have learned from my trail is that it can be a huge PITA. That being said it is one if the smoothest and most accurate springers I personally have shot. There is a lot of hate towards the trigger, but I have had no problems with it. My quest for accuracy started the same as you, but I came across a few threads in forums noting the crown of the barrel. Apparently there was some manufacturing defect and not all barrels were cut perfectly square, which means air wasnt escaping exactly the same after every shot. So I proceeded to file the barrel, VERY carefully as to not remove very much material but to ensure a perfectly square end. Once put back together I applied lock tight to the pivot and stock bolts. The hardest part I found was maintaining my artillery hold in the same position, the cheek weld didn't seem to matter much, but it does. After some practice and a hundred rounds I was shooting 1/2" groups at 50yds and sub 2" @ 100 yds. Best part, NO random flyers. None. They had me steaming mad but after the crown adjustment and practicing my hold they just disappeared. Havent had a flyer since, unless it was shooter error. Thats my experience so far, hope it helps. It will never shoot exactly like a pcp, but that's what I love about it, plus it adds way more to the satisfaction factor imo.

Let me add this was with my trail .25 with the centerpoint scope (definitely get a new scope). I'm not sure if the same is true with the .177 or .22, especially since they operate at much higher velocities.

I feel your pain, brother! I too have the NP in .22 and suffered through many of the same issues until learning the ''sweet spot" of the gun. I finally gave up on the factory trigger, which was the absolute worst of any that I experienced in my life! In desperation, I obtained the GTX trigger and followed the pretty good instructions for installation and adjustment. What a difference! I no longer watched my beard grow while waiting for the triger to break. Instead, I got a very predictable and repeatable trigger that I could live with. I use the CPHP only in this gun and have it zeroed for twenty yards as this is my nighttime assasination weapon of choice. The laser and light with red plastic film makes for a deadly combo. The gun still develops 18 fpe with the CPHPs and groups them into a ragged hole at twenty yards. Your observation about repeatable holds on the gun are right on the mark.

Pulled my son's .22 Marauder out this morning (he slept in), fighting a little wind but still able to have 1/2 to 3/4in groups. If I wasn't fighting the wind, I was easily hitting the bullseye at 40 yards. Had to play the wind which was constantly changing. If the winds ever stops and I figure how to post I will put up some groups of our Marauder. Although many of the other forum members are discussing more expensive guns, the move up to an entry level PCP really makes a huge difference in accuracy and distance. I was on the Pyramyd Air site yesterday and there are some refurbished models for under $400. Not trying to sell you on the Marauder per say, it's just I am having SO MUCH FUN since I have switched to PCP's! Although I went with a tank many others began with a Hill pump, $200. If you know you like shooting, I am certain it will be worth the investment. My son and I are having a "blast" shooting together.

There is another option which is Nitrogen gas. The price can be economical and all you need to purchase is the fittings and gauges. I believe Airhog sells theses and the tank usually is a very large cylinder at somewhere around 6000 psi that you rent. I believe Travels4fun has done this before or just give airhog a call. I was slightly intimidated by this getting startedwith airguns but now it might be a better option than buying a compressor. If you search U-tube there are a few other options that might be of interest. 

Supposed to work just like air but you do not want to mix the twne or the other

As NMShooter mentioned, I leased a 6000 psi nitrogen cylinder from my local gas supplier back in Virginia. I paid about $65/month for the nitrogen and cylinder which included a fresh cylinder every month. I bought my fill assembly form Airhog for around $200 or so. Filling up was simple. All you do is connect your tank's hose to the fill assembly's male foster fitting, open the valve on your carbon fiber tank, and slowly open the valve on the nitrogen fill assembly. The fill assembly has built in flow control so there is minimal risk of filling to quickly. If anyone wants more info, let me know.

Scott

FYI - mixing air and nitrogen is harmless.

I stand corrected, assumed you could'nt

You might look into the possibility of just buying a nitrogen tank from the local supplier. I bought my own cylinder for welding gas and just swap it out with the supplier. It might take a couple of years but buying is cheaper in the long run. Don't overlook the fire dept. for hpa supply. The SCBA tanks they use take 4500 psi and their air is clean and filtered. About the springer, using a consistent and loose hold will help greatly with shot to shot consistency. I have to remember that when I pull out my trusty RWS 34.

It did happen to me as just as Rocky in tx and the others. Just do as he says. First if you rest it on something make sure when you hold the grip by no reason squeeze it at all, just put your hand around and the only pressure will be the trigger finger and the thumb around the grip. Then do not press the butt hard against your shoulder just let it be there. When the shot goes off let the rifle move as it pleases. The trigger is not bad at all with practice you will learn to find that you can squeeze it to certain point just before it goes off, release it then control breathing, sight picture, cheek weld and press the last part of the travel and you will exprience in a short time what I have. I can hit targets 3 inch wide at 120 yards. By the way I bought and have a Marauder .22 synthetic stock and I seldom use it since the Benji is so predictable. One last thing you can use Crossman premier 14.3 gr domed or hollow points. The domed will yield higher speed and will change the zero so you will need to move crosshairs a bit higher. Even the 3-9x40 scope is good the only issue is it will take several shots after adjustment to move the crosshairs since they do not move easily just by moving the turrets.
Take care and have fun.