Air Gun Home :: View topic - New to modern airguns, Benjamin NP XL 177 terrible accuracy

mmdeveloper · New Member

I haven't messed with pneumatic guns since I was a little kid. I'm not a novice shooter, been shooting all my life but I am no professional.

Trying to get my wife into shooting, so I figured I'd start small and get her on a good pellet rifle that I'd also enjoy shooting around the yard. I spent the cash for the Benjamin Trail NP XL in .177 caliber.

I have heard so many bad things about this rifle post-purchase and I come to you wondering if my thus-far experience is normal for this rifle or if I received a defective one. I've only had it 3 days and have only put ~50 pellets through it (varying brands, trying to find one the gun likes).

The accuracy is terrible, even at ~25 feet. When I first started shooting it, it was hitting about 2' to the left and 1' low. I adjusted the scope several clicks and saw no improvement. I then adjusted the scope all the way to the right and all the way up and it still had no improvement. A few shots later it was now several feet to the right and a foot high.

20 pellets later I switch to a different brand of pellets. The accuracy improved but I was lucky to keep it in a 12" diameter circle at 20 feet. Now after roughly 50 pellets, the windage is pretty good (with a little variance) but the elevation is all over the place.

It will shoot two pellets right on the money and within 1/4" of each other and then one will be 6 inches high, next will be way to the left and high, next will be on the money, next will be several inches low. The gun is not being held, it's resting on the armrest of a bench and I'm merely pulling the trigger.

I know the OEM break-in period is 100 pellets but the collective internet says it's more like 1000 pellets before it gets real accurate but at this point, I believe I can throw a rock more accurately than this thing can shoot.

Do I have a defective rifle/scope or is this terrible accuracy normal for this gun? I've checked all exterior screws to ensure they were tight. I've put pencil marks on the scope and rings to ensure the scope isn't moving. The rifle doesn't rattle if I shake it or anything.

SMP · Silver Status Member

Take your scope off and point aim the rifle ...as if it were a shotgun.

If your groups improve, and I suspect they will, have the scope replaced on warranty

Rageous · New Member

I have this rifle in .22 Cal, and I cannot get it to group. Like you said; you can get 2 touching then the next 3-4 may be off the target. I have about 11 different tins of pellets, all the same accuracy regardless of pellet weight. I am very disappointed in this gun. I have a cheap air pistols that shoot much tighter groups. And I have tried several scope combinations.
someone
HELP

AirGunEric · Site Admin

Look up "artillery hold" on Google if you have already eliminated the scope as being the issue- which it sounds like you have.

And it will take 500+ pellets to break it in- but that doesn't explain 2' at 25 feet shooting distance.

toadmyster223 · Senior Member

I have a regular Titan GP, and have spoke with an owner of a Titan GP XL, both .22s. We are both extremely satisfied with our rifles. Mine is extremely accurate and consistent. There is more than likely something wrong with your scope or mounts. Give the artillery hold a try, but my money is on the scope.