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LDH® · Member

Hey guys I think most of you know me by now and having said that you most likely also know that I'm just a recreational shooter with a penchant for ground squirrel genocide. You most likely also know that I shoot a Gamo BC 1200 with a Leapers 4X32 AO Mil-Dot Scope and have been more than happy with it even though it is largely considered an inferior rifle.

Well I have been looking at a new rifles and I am very interested in the Benjamin Trail NP All Weather .177 Cal Nitro and I have found a 6X42 RWS scope for it as well. My main question is mostly of ignorance in that I don't quite understand what the Nitro Piston is and want to know if it is a benefit over the springer I have currently or if there are any drawbacks etc?

I am also not familiar with the RWS brand of scopes and I would like some feedback on them as well. The Leapers I have only cost about $50 shipped and it is as perfect as I could ever hope for. I zeroed it in at 105 feet and as long as I adjust the objective properly it is always dead on even after thousands of pellets. Can I expect the same from a slightly more expensive RWS scope?

SMP · Silver Status Member

A nitro piston is a nitrogen filled gas strut which is very similar to what you would see on a car to lift the rear door of a minivan or a hatchback.

I installed a nitro piston in a springer (a phantom) just to see what the difference would be between a full power spring and a nitro piston.

Over all I was very happy with the conversion. The rifle definitely lost all the gyration from spring harmonics. Because of that and the very fast lock time the accuracy improved dramatically.

Here is the full write up
http://www.airgunhome.com/agforum/viewtopic.php?t=6630&highlight=

Unfortunately I cant comment on the RWS scope

LDH® · Member

Thank you for that detailed explanation!

How is the recoil action on the NP? Is the Artillery Hold still an effective way of shooting a rifle with an NP or does the hold become more conventional on the rifle to maintain accuracy?

SMP · Silver Status Member

the recoil is very brisk, in fact it can give your cheek a little jarr.

I found it was less hold sensitive and in fact after experimenting for months I found that, for bench testing accuracy, pulling the rifle into my shoulder very very tightly gave the best groups. And they were very good groups.

I did another thread thread on the accuracy but the photos are gone.

oddtodd · Silver Status Member

I have a titanGP which is the walmart version of the Nitro that is .22 cal. It is easier to shoot in my opinion because you don't have that spring bounce all over the place. It is louder to my ears though. It also has a shorter lock time, at least that's how it seems to me. It definitely feels like the shot cycle is shorter than a regular springer. I like it though. It is a very accurate rifle for my needs. I got the best luck out of crosman hollowpoints accuracy wise. At least out of the ones I could buy locally. I can't afford to mail-order my pellets as I am on a very tight budget. Wal mart and Meijers is local to me so that's where I buy my pellets from and Wal mart is definitely cheaper. Very Happy

LDH® · Member

Excellent, I just pulled the trigger on one (no pun intended Smile

) so hopefully it will arrive next week and I can get it sighted in and see if I want to keep the scope it comes with or not etc.

Jr. Squirreler · Veteran Member

The Trail is 10 Lbs! If you do want a smaller Rifle, you could look at the Crosman Nitro Venom Dusk. Its the same thing, only it is Lighter, and the stock is designed for the Artillery Hold. I have it on .177, I hit a 1/2" Group at 24 yards, and a 1" Group at 45 Yards.

LDH® · Member

LDH® · Member

Lots of pros and cons on this Benji NP

In spite of the Nitro Piston technology it is still very sensitive to the way you hold it although some of that seems to be in relation to the scope as well. IMO you really don't need a variable zoom scope on an air rifle and on top of that I think the Center Point is well, crap... The optics generate a lot of glare and the eye relief could definitely be better. I think I will give that 6X32 RWS scope a try and see what happens as I have been absolutely thrilled with the Leapers 4X32 on my Big Cat and considering I use Leupold on all my powder burners that is a pretty big compliment to the little scope that could Smile

It does not like cheap pellets. If the pellet has a visible seam forget about it. You can bet your wad that it is going anywhere other than the intended target, but put a precision pellet in it like a Polymag Predator and it's the tack driver we all lust for as long as my aim is true.

The weight is unreal! It's heavy, it knows it and it doesn't try to hide that fact. After letting about 50 pellets fly from a standing position my back was killing me. I'm hoping I will get used to the weight as I get some more trigger time. I know why they give you pre-installed sling swivels and a free sling now for sure...

On the positive side of things is the #1 fact that it packs a helluva wallop! It's not even broke in yet and is hitting way harder than my BC 1200 ever thought of and judging from the depth of the pellets I am embedding in the back stop it is getting stronger.

Most importantly to me though is the sound or lack thereof. It's literally like shooting a silenced gun. Very quiet and for shooting around the horse stables like I do this is a very important trait for me.

Ultimately I am having to learn how to shoot it as it seems to have its own little nuances and for me at least it seems to like to be quickly peek sighted and fired. If I try to focus too long the shot goes errant. Might just be my inexperience or possibly the weight of the rifle or the scope or a maybe a combination of all the above, but I am enjoying it so far Smile

LDH® · Member

Ended up pulling the Leapers 4X32 scope off one of my Big Cat 1200's and put it on the NP. A few shots to zero it in and instant day and night difference in the groupings! Bench shooting I am putting Polymag Predators inside a dime at 105 feet, free hand is about the size of a quarter with the occasional errant shot one inch or the other, but that's me not the gun...

Knowing how good this Leapers scope truly is I went ahead and ordered another one exactly the same instead of the RWS 6X32 I had been wanting. I guess I just like to stick with what I know works.

If anyone wants the Big Cat 1200 that I took the scope off of make me a reasonable offer and I will throw in the Center Point 3-9X40 scope just to see if you have better luck with it than I did Smile

You will need some taller rings than I have installed on the rifle to make the scope fit properly...

oddtodd · Silver Status Member

I've been having some good luck with my Titan, but I didn't get a variable power scope. It is a 4-32. It's got a wood stock, and it's heavy too. I think they are just built that way. Personally, I like a heavy rifle for me, because it dampens some of the shakes, and I have shakes as a side effect of one of my meds. I also have blurry vision at times, so a good clear scope is nice too. I want to replace the scope, but I haven't had the money to order one. Personally, I like a 6 power scope on my .22 air rifles just because it's what I am used to, and I can judge distances more accurately. I still like my 2400 better. It's a little slow, but I am dead accurate with it.