Benjamin Trail NP replacement

[fnash]

Received my replacement Trail NP yesterday. On the first one the scope rail was not straight but angled to the left at the front.
Yesterday and today I spent zeroing the scope. The process was a bit strange, unlike any I zeroed before. I have eight different .22  pellets. The first round was to find which pellet grouped the best. The three that grouped the best were RWS Super HP 14.2, RWS Super Point 14.6, and JSB Exact 15.9. With these three pellets the hits were very tight.  Now for the strange part. The other five were all low about two or more inches with an open pattern. I adjusted the scope for the three best and shot all eight again. The three best landed in the bull area and again all the rest were low the same distance about two inches, in the same general area of the target. I was shooting fifteen yards. Just seems odd to me this behavior.... Frank

[Perry50]

I've tested 10 different pellets and found the Beeman FTS and CPHP and Benji HP pellets to shoot the best in my Trail NP. Crow magnum are also pretty good. The others shot groups about and inch apart  at 20 yards. I don't know why yours grouped 2+ inches at 15 yards.

One thing for sure is that the Trail NP likes a pellet that fits tight in the breach. Loose fiting pellets are flyers.

[tenmilegambler]

My NP Hardwood didn't settle down until at least 500 shots, almost sent it back. In the beginning my groups were everywhere, very frustrating , now it likes RWS superdomes the best especially for distant shots. But it shoots CPHP and Discovery HP's well, along with the Crow magnums. Be patient it will get better when the barrel gets leaded in. I REALLY like this airgun.

[airiscool]

What Perry said.

My XL loves snug fitting pellets. The looser they are, the more they spray.

Paul.

[fnash]

Thanks for info. This rifle is really different at breaking in compared to my others. I will have to pay attention to the loose pellets. I am using good pellets, RWS, JSB, AA, and Crosman. Although windy today I will shoot it some more to settle it down and not concern to much about being accurate.  After awhile I hope that I too can say I really like it...Frank

[fnash]

A report after just about a whole day shooting the Trail NP.  It settled on several different pellets but the one that did the best was the RWS HP 14.2,,  It stacks them, much to my surprise.
Sure it will change after time and more shooting.  I will be able to keep this one it seems and it should improve.

[wahoowad]

fnash,

I am attempting to dial in my new Trail XL too. How many rounds have you put through it and when did your dieseling (smoking) stop? I'm at ~ 60 rounds and it is still doing it and getting 1"+ groups at only 10 yards.

[fnash]

Mine is the Trail NP not the XL. I probably have 200 pellets through it. It never did diesel or smoke. Although it did have oil on the exterior, especially in the cocking slot. It was a bit windy so I shot at fifteen yards instead of twenty. As I mentioned with the RWS HP pellets they stacked and I adjusted those for the bull.  It is strange to me that these are consistent dead on and the other pellets don't come close but are mostly low with an open pattern. I hope to shoot it today to break in more, but again is windy. Frank

[airiscool]

What would seem to be a strange change of point of impact when switching pellets is not uncommon. Both my guns shoot some faster pellets to a much lower POI than they do with some heavier pellets. And, most of the change is in a vertical plane - very little change in a horizontal plane.

Paul.

[Perry50]

Frank, what other pellets did you try that did not group well?

Like I said, tight fitting pellets shoot the most accurate with the highest velocity too in my Trail NP. Out of all the pellets I tested, the Beeman FTS, CPHP, Benjamin Discovery HP and Crow Magnum pellets have larger diameter heads and skirts and shoot well.

Did you try any of these pellets?

[fnash]

The others I tried that did group fairly well but  "off target" were, RWS Super Dome, JSB Exact 15.9, AA Falcon Dome, and Crosman Premier Dome. I do need to place a pellet order and may include some that you mentioned. I know I have had good results with the Beeman FTS in the past.
I just finished shooting over the Chroney and I average  654 with a high of 710 and low of 590 with the JSB Exact 15.9. Shot six each of seven different pellets... Frank

[Perry50]

Frank, I also had similar results with the JSB Exact 15.8 pellets. That's less than 15 FPE. The other pellets I mentioned shot over 775 FPS for close to 20 FPE and were also very accurate.

[fnash]

The JSB's also tended to shoot to the left a bit. I have noticed that with other rifles.  Then again in some rifles they do OK.... Pellets are crazy things...Frank

[Checco]

My NP took about 300 shots to calm down now I am stacking pellets @ 30 yards, it also took that long for the smoke to clear
I am using JSB 18.1 gr.LOVE THIS RIFFLE.