I found the box on the front porch when I got home from work today. Woo Hoo! Here's my initial thoughts of the gun I'll mount the scope up, clean the barrel and shoot it hopefully tonight or tomorrow. Sorry if it's long.
The rifle arrived today, and I could hardly wait to open the box up. Midway did a good job packaging it with some air filled “pillows†for cushioning. Based the condition of the outside box, I’d say UPS did not man handle it too much. The rifle box seems sturdy, is full color with a picture of the rifle, the Benjamin logo, the claims of 1100 fps and 30 ft/lbs. That box should grab you attention if you saw it on the shelf of your local sporting goods store. Inside, the rifle, scope, sling and manual were tucked in a 1 piece Styrofoam cut out that seems to keep everything in place. All the pieces are each wrapped in their own plastic bag, the instruction manual having the key for the trigger lock provided. The Centerpoint 3X9X40mm AO scope has a Mil-Dot and finger adjustable turrets. There was a lens cloth, instruction and allen wrench in the bag. The 2 piece rings are already mounted to the scope. I’m interested to see how close the got the cross hairs centered when they attached the rings. I’d say kudos to Crosman for the packaging of the rifle.
The rifle is large, heavy and long(48 ½ in), with a slight nose heavy balance. This is my first thumb hole stocked rifle so it feels somewhat strange. It’s not that I dislike it, I’m just not used to it yet. There is a large fairly long scope rail probably welded to the receiver that looks to accept only Weaver type mounts. The rifle looks real nice with some grain trying to poke through the finish. But they are some very visible flaws in the finish (looks bubbled) right at the white plastic but spacer, the pistol grip and a small impression in the stock near end cap. The stock seems well fitted to the action with the sling attachment points pre-installed, so drilling the stock is not needed. The rifle has a thick looking double-jointed cocking lever, so the cut out in the stock is not as long as most break barrel rifles. The Benjamin name is cut into the wood on the underside of the stock between the trigger guard and cocking lever cut out. The trigger guard and grooved blade are plastic, the safety tab is metal. The finish on the metal seems good, but it needs all the preservative wiped off to really see what it looks like. The stock is truly ambidextrous with a nice rubber recoil pad and there is (obviously) no iron sites. So far I really like it.
Nathan
