Benjamin Air Rifles, from the Crosman Corporation, have been churning out some very nice air rifles of late. The Discovery was the first pre-charged pneumatic from Crosman, and then the multi-shot Marauder arrived on the scene.
For the break-barrel enthusiast, Crosman has now introduced the Benjamin Nitro Piston series of air rifles, powered by the nitrogen-filled gas ram licensed by Crosman. Placing this power-plant into some very fine rifles has given Crosman some wonderful new offerings for the air rifle shooter, and today we will look at the Benjamin Trail XL.
As you can see, this is a handsome rifle that comes with a thumbhole stock, a 3-9x40 AO scope with a mil-dot reticle, and a weaver-base mounting system that is secure and sturdy. White-line spacers between the buttpad and stock highlight the fit and finish of the rifle, and the barrel features a full-length shroud.
I mounted the scope in the provided rings, placed it all on the gun, and went outside for some shooting and pattern evaluation. I shot several kinds of pellets from the Trail XL and found each pellet performed well. This gun was not pellet fussy, though other rifles of the same make may prove fussy. It all depends on the barrel that each gun has, so I always steer new buyers towards trying out several different kinds of pellets just to be sure of what works the best in their gun.
This 3-shot pattern proves how well each pellet performed. All the pellets I tried gave a similar result, as the next photo shows.
I really like a gun that isn't pellet fussy, and this one is on my list of candidates for membership in my stable of airguns!
Now the Trail XL is a long gun, just slightly over four feet in length. That length helps in the cocking of the gun as you have a longer lever for compressing the gas ram that powers this machine. To aid in carrying the gun afield, Benjamin has located a sling swivel at the front, and a mounting stud installed into the butt of the gun.
The power of the Benjamin Trail XL is well into the high 20's in foot-pounds of energy (fpe). With a 15-16 grain pellet, I was getting just over 27 fpe, quite a punch for a break-barrel rifle. This is coupled with the lower recoil and smoother firing action of the nitro-piston rather than the traditional twang and torque of a coiled spring. The rifle feels different during the firing process, and it is quieter than the comparable spring piston rifle. And, you can leave it cocked for extended periods of time in the field with no damage or wear to the powerplant.
For a hunting rifle that is self-contained and powerful, you really need to consider this Benjamin Trail NP XL1122. (That is the designation for the .22 caliber version - the .177 version is XL1500). The chrony readings I got placed the afore-mentioned medium-weight pellets in the high 800's. Here's a pic of a chrony reading from the shooting session to confirm that for our readers.
Chrony reading from a 15-16 grain pellet from the Benjamin Trail XL.
Smack a squirrel or rabbit with that kind of power, and you have game in the bag! Want to knock over a nice metal silhouette? This one will do it!
Currently selling for $299.90, you will receive an air rifle, scope, mounts, and a sling all in one package. Add some pellets, and you are ready to go!
For the break-barrel enthusiast, Crosman has now introduced the Benjamin Nitro Piston series of air rifles, powered by the nitrogen-filled gas ram licensed by Crosman. Placing this power-plant into some very fine rifles has given Crosman some wonderful new offerings for the air rifle shooter, and today we will look at the Benjamin Trail XL.
As you can see, this is a handsome rifle that comes with a thumbhole stock, a 3-9x40 AO scope with a mil-dot reticle, and a weaver-base mounting system that is secure and sturdy. White-line spacers between the buttpad and stock highlight the fit and finish of the rifle, and the barrel features a full-length shroud.
I mounted the scope in the provided rings, placed it all on the gun, and went outside for some shooting and pattern evaluation. I shot several kinds of pellets from the Trail XL and found each pellet performed well. This gun was not pellet fussy, though other rifles of the same make may prove fussy. It all depends on the barrel that each gun has, so I always steer new buyers towards trying out several different kinds of pellets just to be sure of what works the best in their gun.
This 3-shot pattern proves how well each pellet performed. All the pellets I tried gave a similar result, as the next photo shows.
I really like a gun that isn't pellet fussy, and this one is on my list of candidates for membership in my stable of airguns!
Now the Trail XL is a long gun, just slightly over four feet in length. That length helps in the cocking of the gun as you have a longer lever for compressing the gas ram that powers this machine. To aid in carrying the gun afield, Benjamin has located a sling swivel at the front, and a mounting stud installed into the butt of the gun.
The power of the Benjamin Trail XL is well into the high 20's in foot-pounds of energy (fpe). With a 15-16 grain pellet, I was getting just over 27 fpe, quite a punch for a break-barrel rifle. This is coupled with the lower recoil and smoother firing action of the nitro-piston rather than the traditional twang and torque of a coiled spring. The rifle feels different during the firing process, and it is quieter than the comparable spring piston rifle. And, you can leave it cocked for extended periods of time in the field with no damage or wear to the powerplant.
For a hunting rifle that is self-contained and powerful, you really need to consider this Benjamin Trail NP XL1122. (That is the designation for the .22 caliber version - the .177 version is XL1500). The chrony readings I got placed the afore-mentioned medium-weight pellets in the high 800's. Here's a pic of a chrony reading from the shooting session to confirm that for our readers.
Chrony reading from a 15-16 grain pellet from the Benjamin Trail XL.
Smack a squirrel or rabbit with that kind of power, and you have game in the bag! Want to knock over a nice metal silhouette? This one will do it!
Currently selling for $299.90, you will receive an air rifle, scope, mounts, and a sling all in one package. Add some pellets, and you are ready to go!
June 30, 2010
My Favorite Crosman Products at Airgun Depot
This post is a purely subjective post, with no reason for the nominations I make other than.....I like them! That's it! That is the whole reasoning behind the following products I'm going to discuss briefly.
Let's start with Ammunition:
For pellets, I choose the Crosman Premier. Why? Of all the pellets I've tried over the years, I have found the Crosman Premier to be an excellent choice for almost every air gun I have. It isn't always the absolutely most accurate, but it always seems to come in among the top contenders on a very consistent basis. They are American-made, hard hitting, and come in the most common calibers available to please a majority of shooters.
The well-designed Crosman Premier in .177
Now. let's move on to Handguns:
Once again, the Crosman corporation has an almost universally-accepted contender for a favorite pistol. I am talking about the Crosman 2240, a work-horse of a CO2 gun for a lot of shooters. Widely available, with an enormous amount of modifications available from the aftermarket, this little pistol truly is a treasure. In stock form, it delivers accuracy and power. Want more? Dive into the world of modifying, and you'll find entire forums and websites devoted to just this one gun!
The Crosman 2240 CO2 pistol
Need a good rifle? Crosman can certainly deliver in that category. Here's my pick of the litter for this category:
Rifles
The Benjamin Marauder has won my heart for an extremely economical bolt-action repeater that delivers power and accuracy. I know that it is labeled a Benjamin, but it falls under the roof of the Crosman corporation, and has become a wonderful seller for airgun companies, and a great shooting piece for the air gun enthusiast. With all the features of the more pricey European air rifles, this wonderful rifle competes with the best of them in the field or at the target range. My first squirrel hunt with the .22 caliber version gave me conclusive evidence that this gun would be a winner for some time to come for Crosman, and I applaud them for their work on this model.
The Benjamin Marauder, a 10-shot bolt action repeater from Crosman
In Accessories, I have to choose the following item:
Crosman CO2 Powerlets
The Powerlet from Crosman powers CO2 airguns with a minimum of fuss, easy convenience, and the ability to carry extra power in the field with out the need for bulky tanks. Well made and able to fit most CO2 airguns designed for their use, this cartridge or powerlet is well designed and stable, and very simple to use. If you've ever wondered how these were made, watch this video for an explanation:
How CO2 Cartridges are Made
So, there you have it....my pick of the Crosman products featured here at Airgun Depot in the 4 categories of ammo, rifle, pistol, and accessories. Give us some feedback and let us know what item you like the best!
Let's start with Ammunition:
For pellets, I choose the Crosman Premier. Why? Of all the pellets I've tried over the years, I have found the Crosman Premier to be an excellent choice for almost every air gun I have. It isn't always the absolutely most accurate, but it always seems to come in among the top contenders on a very consistent basis. They are American-made, hard hitting, and come in the most common calibers available to please a majority of shooters.
The well-designed Crosman Premier in .177
Now. let's move on to Handguns:
Once again, the Crosman corporation has an almost universally-accepted contender for a favorite pistol. I am talking about the Crosman 2240, a work-horse of a CO2 gun for a lot of shooters. Widely available, with an enormous amount of modifications available from the aftermarket, this little pistol truly is a treasure. In stock form, it delivers accuracy and power. Want more? Dive into the world of modifying, and you'll find entire forums and websites devoted to just this one gun!
The Crosman 2240 CO2 pistol
Need a good rifle? Crosman can certainly deliver in that category. Here's my pick of the litter for this category:
Rifles
The Benjamin Marauder has won my heart for an extremely economical bolt-action repeater that delivers power and accuracy. I know that it is labeled a Benjamin, but it falls under the roof of the Crosman corporation, and has become a wonderful seller for airgun companies, and a great shooting piece for the air gun enthusiast. With all the features of the more pricey European air rifles, this wonderful rifle competes with the best of them in the field or at the target range. My first squirrel hunt with the .22 caliber version gave me conclusive evidence that this gun would be a winner for some time to come for Crosman, and I applaud them for their work on this model.
The Benjamin Marauder, a 10-shot bolt action repeater from Crosman
In Accessories, I have to choose the following item:
Crosman CO2 Powerlets
The Powerlet from Crosman powers CO2 airguns with a minimum of fuss, easy convenience, and the ability to carry extra power in the field with out the need for bulky tanks. Well made and able to fit most CO2 airguns designed for their use, this cartridge or powerlet is well designed and stable, and very simple to use. If you've ever wondered how these were made, watch this video for an explanation:
How CO2 Cartridges are Made
So, there you have it....my pick of the Crosman products featured here at Airgun Depot in the 4 categories of ammo, rifle, pistol, and accessories. Give us some feedback and let us know what item you like the best!
June 29, 2010
Nitro Piston Air Rifles
For many years, the spring piston power plant has been the main force behind the performance of the break barrel, side lever, and underlever air guns. It is a tried and true power plant that has performed for many, many decades. Variations of the spring-powered air rifle have refined and brought the firing behavior of the spring piston to unbelievable levels of performance, as can be observed in so many of the beautifully designed 10-meter competition air rifles.
Not too many years ago, the Theoben company brought out a new twist in the power plant design of the piston rifle. Rather than a spring, they used a gas-filled strut, and it has been nicknamed the gasram, a term commonly used for this type of powerplant. Instead of having a spring that is subject to kinking, metal fatigue, and some twang (when not properly fitted), Theoben substituted the gasram and pretty much made history. The results were a definite difference in firing behavior, one that was quite enjoyable straight from the box. I've owned several rifles over the years that were equipped with Theoben's gasram, and found them to be exceptional performers and wonderful guns to shoot.
Now Crosman has introduced the Nitro Piston series of air rifles that use the same idea. Filled with nitrogen, the gas piston technology is now offered in nearly a dozen different configurations in the Crosman line of rifles. Here's a link to the page containing those selections:
Nitro Piston Rifles
Recently, Jim Chapman of the American Airgun Hunter website performed some tests on the Nitro Piston rifles from Crosman. Jim is the airgun editor and columnist for Predator Extreme Magazine, as well as some other outdoor magazines and venues. Click on the links below to access his initial reports of his testing section. You will find some very useful information in regards to the performance and accuracy of the Nitro Piston design.
Jim Champan's Nitro Trail Report
Squirrel Hunting with the Nitro Piston Air Rifle
Jim and I have had the pleasure of hunting together over the years, and enjoy getting together for small and big game hunts. I have found Jim's insight into the many different air guns that he gets to test both useful and accurate when making purchases of my own, or offering advice to others who are in the market for a new air gun.
As Jim notes in his articles, two of the main advantages of using a Nitro Piston air rifle are that you can leave the gun cocked for extended periods without damaging the power plant, and you will realize a decreased effect of the bi-directional recoil that is a proven scope killer. The firing behavior of a Nitro Pistol air rifle versus the traditional spring piston is noticeable, and if you get the chance, I urge you to test them side by side in order to readily notice the differences.
On Airgun Depot's website you will find several configurations of Nitro Piston powered guns. Synthetic stocks, wood stocks, and wood laminates offer a nice range of options for the shooting enthusiast. Be sure to drop by and take a look at all they have to offer the air gun shooter!
Not too many years ago, the Theoben company brought out a new twist in the power plant design of the piston rifle. Rather than a spring, they used a gas-filled strut, and it has been nicknamed the gasram, a term commonly used for this type of powerplant. Instead of having a spring that is subject to kinking, metal fatigue, and some twang (when not properly fitted), Theoben substituted the gasram and pretty much made history. The results were a definite difference in firing behavior, one that was quite enjoyable straight from the box. I've owned several rifles over the years that were equipped with Theoben's gasram, and found them to be exceptional performers and wonderful guns to shoot.
Now Crosman has introduced the Nitro Piston series of air rifles that use the same idea. Filled with nitrogen, the gas piston technology is now offered in nearly a dozen different configurations in the Crosman line of rifles. Here's a link to the page containing those selections:
Nitro Piston Rifles
Recently, Jim Chapman of the American Airgun Hunter website performed some tests on the Nitro Piston rifles from Crosman. Jim is the airgun editor and columnist for Predator Extreme Magazine, as well as some other outdoor magazines and venues. Click on the links below to access his initial reports of his testing section. You will find some very useful information in regards to the performance and accuracy of the Nitro Piston design.
Jim Champan's Nitro Trail Report
Squirrel Hunting with the Nitro Piston Air Rifle
Jim and I have had the pleasure of hunting together over the years, and enjoy getting together for small and big game hunts. I have found Jim's insight into the many different air guns that he gets to test both useful and accurate when making purchases of my own, or offering advice to others who are in the market for a new air gun.
As Jim notes in his articles, two of the main advantages of using a Nitro Piston air rifle are that you can leave the gun cocked for extended periods without damaging the power plant, and you will realize a decreased effect of the bi-directional recoil that is a proven scope killer. The firing behavior of a Nitro Pistol air rifle versus the traditional spring piston is noticeable, and if you get the chance, I urge you to test them side by side in order to readily notice the differences.
On Airgun Depot's website you will find several configurations of Nitro Piston powered guns. Synthetic stocks, wood stocks, and wood laminates offer a nice range of options for the shooting enthusiast. Be sure to drop by and take a look at all they have to offer the air gun shooter!
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