I recently acquired a Benjamin Trail .22 NP All Weather and I'm really quite satisfied. I knew almost immediately that it would require some work so I did some research and quickly learned a little about 'tuning' - the only problem is that the bulk of the information out there currently about 'tuning' is regarding 'springers' - there just isn't much to be found in the way of tuning NPs. So I've disassembled it, cleaned it, did a 'trigger job' on it, file all of the rough contact points, smoothed the burrs, covered everything in a generous coat of dry lube spray on graphite, and reassembled it. The performance change was immediately noticeable - especially in the trigger pull & break. It now operates smoothly, like a well oiled machine.
I should also take this opportunity to mention that the only place I currently have to shoot is inside my house, down a 30 ft. hallway, so my target is rather close but the stock scope that comes with it has a 30 ft setting, so it should be manageable. As smoothly as I've gotten this thing to perform, the accuracy is still horrible - which is oh so aggravating.
So after more reading and research, I disassembled it again and flattened and reshaped the crown on the end of the barrel (using the brass screw and lapping compound method), I also drilled 4 more holes (1 between each of the pre-existing ones) in the barrel end cap to allow more gas to vent out to the shroud. The diagram of the gun I found called it an end cap, but it feels like it should be referred to as a 'shrouded muzzle break'. Again, even smoother and more of a performance gain. I can put 3 pellets in 1 hole then the shot moves on me. As soon as I think I'm good and zeroed in, the next shot is off by 3 or 4 inches - then the next one is off by 3 or 4 inches in another direction. It's hella frustrating! It's even more frustrating that I've got all this time wrapped up in this thing and can't put 5 pellets in the same hole at 30 ft - no more than 3, ever.
I'm going to take it apart again, go through it again with the file, round out the crown again, I'm contemplating adding some holes to the front face of the barrel end cap, and this time I'm planning on coating everything in some spray on white lithium grease, let that dry, then spray it again with the graphite - then put it can together and see what happens. While the graphite works great, it stinks like hell when the weapon is fired because it comes flying out of the barrel as a micro dust, and the compression piston rubs the tube after 2 days of use, so I'm guessing that means graphite doesn't stay between the metal contact points very well. I'm hoping the white lithium grease will fix both issues.
Edit: I also wanted to add that I drilled the extra holes in the 'shrouded muzzle break' after doing some silencer research - I was hoping to reduce recoil and report. I even tried packing the barrel shroud with steel wool, also drawing on basic silencer design - don't do that, it only makes it louder. Currently I'm curious as to whether drilling holes in the front face of the 'shrouded muzzle break', allowing gas to exhaust around (vented up and away, obviously) the pellet upon exit would have any further impact on recoil and/or report reduction.
So the things I've perplexed about:
1. Does white lithium grease diesel?
2. Has anyone tried the combination of white lithium grease and graphite? Does it work? Does it 'gum up'?
3. Is there anything I can do to this rifle to fix the accuracy issues I'm experiencing?
4. Is there a 'top sights' kit I can buy and install for this rifle?
5. Does anyone have any tried and true methods for reducing report and/or recoil through barrel shroud and/or muzzle break alteration?
If I don't get the accuracy issue sorted out, this thing will be up for sale - SOON!
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I'm new to air rifles but not to gunsmithing.
I should also take this opportunity to mention that the only place I currently have to shoot is inside my house, down a 30 ft. hallway, so my target is rather close but the stock scope that comes with it has a 30 ft setting, so it should be manageable. As smoothly as I've gotten this thing to perform, the accuracy is still horrible - which is oh so aggravating.
So after more reading and research, I disassembled it again and flattened and reshaped the crown on the end of the barrel (using the brass screw and lapping compound method), I also drilled 4 more holes (1 between each of the pre-existing ones) in the barrel end cap to allow more gas to vent out to the shroud. The diagram of the gun I found called it an end cap, but it feels like it should be referred to as a 'shrouded muzzle break'. Again, even smoother and more of a performance gain. I can put 3 pellets in 1 hole then the shot moves on me. As soon as I think I'm good and zeroed in, the next shot is off by 3 or 4 inches - then the next one is off by 3 or 4 inches in another direction. It's hella frustrating! It's even more frustrating that I've got all this time wrapped up in this thing and can't put 5 pellets in the same hole at 30 ft - no more than 3, ever.
I'm going to take it apart again, go through it again with the file, round out the crown again, I'm contemplating adding some holes to the front face of the barrel end cap, and this time I'm planning on coating everything in some spray on white lithium grease, let that dry, then spray it again with the graphite - then put it can together and see what happens. While the graphite works great, it stinks like hell when the weapon is fired because it comes flying out of the barrel as a micro dust, and the compression piston rubs the tube after 2 days of use, so I'm guessing that means graphite doesn't stay between the metal contact points very well. I'm hoping the white lithium grease will fix both issues.
Edit: I also wanted to add that I drilled the extra holes in the 'shrouded muzzle break' after doing some silencer research - I was hoping to reduce recoil and report. I even tried packing the barrel shroud with steel wool, also drawing on basic silencer design - don't do that, it only makes it louder. Currently I'm curious as to whether drilling holes in the front face of the 'shrouded muzzle break', allowing gas to exhaust around (vented up and away, obviously) the pellet upon exit would have any further impact on recoil and/or report reduction.
So the things I've perplexed about:
1. Does white lithium grease diesel?
2. Has anyone tried the combination of white lithium grease and graphite? Does it work? Does it 'gum up'?
3. Is there anything I can do to this rifle to fix the accuracy issues I'm experiencing?
4. Is there a 'top sights' kit I can buy and install for this rifle?
5. Does anyone have any tried and true methods for reducing report and/or recoil through barrel shroud and/or muzzle break alteration?
If I don't get the accuracy issue sorted out, this thing will be up for sale - SOON!
--------------------------------------------------------------
I'm new to air rifles but not to gunsmithing.