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Mentolio · Veteran Member

Took a trip to Cabela's to see if I could at least handle the new Crosman NP2's, a Benji Trail NP, and maybe pick up a Benji 397 (which Cabela's lists for the same price as PYramyd). The NP2's are a lot lighter and more comfortable than I expected, there was no Benji Trail NP (at least, not one with the synthetic stock that I want, tho the wood was kinda nice). Then I bought my 397 and got outta dodge.

Very pretty wood, I think...

When I got home, I decided to clean the barrel and inspect it. Most of my collection consists of Crosman/Benjamin products, so I'm frankly used to having to fix stuff right out of the box. The finish (paint, coating, whatever) on the metal bits was nicely done, and the wood is really nice (prettiest wood stock I've gotten on a Crosman)! I went to remove the screws that hold on the (inspection/access) plate that covers the Allen head bolt that must be removed to allow the rifle's bolt to come out. First screw was stripped! I removed it, and the threads in the receiver came out with it...sigh.

Really Crosman, couldn't we be a little more careful? It's a brass receiver, for goodness sake!

So I tapped the hole for a 3mm screw (just slightly larger than the factory one), cleaned the barrel which was ABSOLUTELY FILTHY (and took almost 20 q-tips, a bit of bore polishing compound, quite a bit of simple green, and more than a little profanity), then installed it without further incident. With the barrel clean, I took a few (5) close range shots in the garage to see how much sight adjustment would be needed, then took it to the Chrony, where I was pleasantly surprised!

When Crosman says "1200FPS", they mean around 900 with any pellet that might be accurate. So I just assumed "800FPS" meant "on it's best day, with the lightest pellet ever, and not planning to hit anything...ever." That, or translate to "500FPS, give or take." I was cool with the 500FPS give or take, otherwise I wouldn't have bought the gun. To my surprise, however, this bugger darned near puts out the full 800FPS (at 8 pumps) with REAL LEAD! I only fired two 10 shot strings (total actual shots through the gun being 27, after the Chrony testing), using two pellets my Crosman "Vantom NP" typically likes: CP Premier 7.9gr (brown box), and JSB Exact 7.33 domes.

CP Premier 7.9gr domes, each fired from 8 pumps: Low: 722.1, High:736.0, Average: 728.5, ES: 13.88, SD: 4.35!?! In my mind, these are GREAT numbers from a gun that isn't broken in.

JSB Exact 7.3gr domes, each fired from 8 pumps: Low:764.8, High: 773.3, Average: 769.4, ES: 8.46, SD: 2.82!?! Also, great numbers.

As I test with more pellets, and do som accuracy testing as well, I'll post results. So far, I'd say this is a good gun, and may just get better. Hopes are high...

CENTURION · Member

Got a 397 a few years back, very good durable guns, never had an issue with it. I like the fact they are all metal, even the trigger guard and break down with one bolt, they also shoot really hard. I take the 2260 out with it for when I get tired of pumping it, also a nice gun. I may have to pick up a 392. Be careful with the front sight of the 397, that may be the only weak spot, they crack off if you bump them on something too hard Smile

Mentolio · Veteran Member

Niiiice! How do you like the 2260? I bought an old 160 for my wife and I (mostly her, as she has claimed it as "her gun") to enjoy a couple of years ago, and we love it.

CENTURION · Member

The 2260 is nice, does about 600FPS, hits pretty hard for the first 25 shots. It's light, you could shoot it all day, drop in one Co2 and you're off. Benjamine makes a steel breech version (2260 is plastic but works fine). Really like the looks and simplicity of it. Great Co2 rifle:)

Mentolio · Veteran Member

...and was pleasantly surprised. This gun actually seem to like RWS Superdomes, which is a first for me. I accuracy tested a few pellets, though I didn't shoot any further than 15 yards. Either my vision is getting bad, or I'm just spoiled and lazy from having other scoped rifles, but I had a very hard time focusing on the front sight, even at ten yards. I put a little white paint on the front blade, and that helped quite a bunch. At the end of my shooting session (only about 90 shots, think Pyramyd Air "Chores!" advertisement), I also added a bit of white paint to the top of either side of the rear blade, in an attempt to make it easier to line up the tops of the sights.

Anyway, no surprise that several pellets grouped fairly well (my ability to shoot unsupported is poor at best), but the Superdomes did just as well as the JSB 7.33 Domes. Oddly, the Superdomes are a very tight fit in the breach, and the JSB's are very loose, and these two "opposites" are my best grouping pellets so far. I'll see how they do out to 20 yards tomorrow, though with the trouble I'm having sighting at 10-15 yards, I don't know how I'm gonna hit anything at 20. I had to stop shooting at paper, and start shooting my "action target", which is basically a pellet catcher with 2 & 3 inch (originally said 1 & 1.5... Wishful thinking I guess) diameter round metal targets that swing on hinges. Took a bit of practice, but they started dancing pretty consistently.

While the trigger ain't typical "Crosman crap-o-la," I'm considering doing some tinkering around in there to see if I can't either lighten it up, or at least shorten the pull a smidge. Is it strange that I can smack a 2 inch steel washer fairly consistently, but I can't seem to group very well on paper? Do I need therapy? I'm trying really hard not to scope this thing...anyone try/like/hate the Williams rear peep sight available for these guns?

Robw · Veteran Member

Believe it or not the barrel is actually brass too!

Mentolio · Veteran Member

Believed, my old 80's Crosman Model 1 also had a brass barrel. It had a larger diameter steel jacket around it, with a "muzzle plug" on the end to make it look like a steel barrel. Always shot well, and never seemed very "pellet particular," I wonder if it was the brass barrel, the "better" quality of manufacture, or the somewhat lower velocity that caused that? The old Mod 1 was accurate enough with every pellet I put through it.

N6CRV · Member

There are a couple good trigger mods on the "tube" for the 392/397. I tried the one where you are really just smoothing everything up. Made a big difference. So far after a week really enjoying the 397. But I can't see those darn sights. Have been trying the small hole in a piece of tape that covers your glasses and makes you look thru the hole. It seems to help. There are places that make a suction cup with a part that swings with the small hole to stick on your shooting glasses.
Don

Mentolio · Veteran Member

Hey Don,
I had the same problem with seeing the sights. I put a small dab of white paint on the front ramp, then another light dab on the top of each side of the rear notch. While less than ideal, it helped a lot. I've started considering mounting a scope. I also did the "sear smoothing and re shaping," and helped a bit. Still really long travel, and kinda heavy. Haven't replaced the coil spring behind the trigger, but am looking into it.

Bob La Londe · Veteran Member

"Most of my collection consists of Crosman/Benjamin products, so I'm frankly used to having to fix stuff right out of the box."

ROFL

Mentolio · Veteran Member

Hah! Me too, glad I'm not alone. Just had a friend take advantage of Crosman's blow-out price on a Benjamin Trail NP All Weather ($120.00!), and am already ordering a new seal for it for when I rebuild it. Planning on doing that as soon as it comes... Smile

Mentolio · Veteran Member

So I've had my 397 for a little over a year. Sadly, it has spent more time sitting than being shot. I want to love this gun, but the time I spend with it ends in frustration. I have, in the last month or so, re crowned the barrel, used J&B bore paste to clean the bore, removed paint from within the muzzle and breach, did a complete tear down and inspection, shaved about 3/8" from the check valve, and even tried a few scopes...I just can't catch a break! This gun functions great (good Chrony numbers, holds air, leaks nowhere), but groups terribly. I've tried the Williams peep, and three different scopes, but can't get it to group tightly or consistently. Shooting from a seated position, using my knee as a rest, and keeping the range within 20 yards, I can't get consistent sub 1 inch groups (last try was more like 3 inch groups). I've tried every pellet in my inventory, and some that seem ok at first end up shooting poorly. Am I being unrealistic in expecting this gun to shoot sub 1 inch groups at 20 yards...with a scope!?!

I checked in with Crosman this morning, and checked for price and availability of a new barrel/air tube assembly: $75.00! Is anyone else having accuracy problems with their 397/392? What's the solution? Returning to Crosman is never an option for me, as I can't mail direct to them or receive from them due to local law, and it's out of warranty anyway. Any suggestions/things I might have missed? Thanks in advance.

Mentolio · Veteran Member

Yep, definitely a bad barrel. I was lucky enough to score a used barrel and air tube assembly on eBay for 25 bucks. According to the serial number, it was manufactured in '98. A brief assembly session and a little secret sauce, and this gun went from total crap groups to tack driver! I thought that at least some of the bad groups were due to my eyesight, totally wrong. At twenty yards, I now have groups that can be covered with a quarter, which is really good for me (5 shot group, 6 pumps, 20 yards, Williams peep sight, seated, using my knees for support). I have gone from hating this gun to absolutely loving it, and it now rarely sits longer than a day or two. It is currently my back yard starling smasher.

AirGunEric · Site Admin

I missed this earlier- and as it turns out is not applicable to your situation as you had a bad barrel- but the mention of "scope" seems to cause people some confusion when they have issues;

The number of people who say "my rifle is bad" or "my scope is bad" without separating the two (i.e. trying the rifle with no scope and trying the scope on another, known good rifle) seems quite high, so I thought I should mention this as it seemed an opportunity to do so (sort of)...

-and I'm glad to hear you got this issue sorted out!