[Kharn]

[If this isnt the right forum for airgun questions, please kick it off to the right place.]

I'm looking at getting a Benjamin Sheridan 392 .22 air rifle (from www.pyramydair.com) along with the add-on peep sight (Crosman 64) for $150+shipping, and was wondering if anyone had any experience with this model and the peep sight.

I'm mainly looking to get an airgun so I can practice in my backyard while home from college this summer, as I can never get to the range often enough (and maybe some bird-feed-eating squirrel popping). Would this setup be good enough for my purposes?

Kharn

[JohnKSa]

I'm not familiar with that particular sight, but I do agree that you need some improvement over the factory rear sight. It's pretty bad, IMO.

I have the Williams 5DSH aperture on mine (actually a .20 caliber Sheridan, but basically the same rifle.)

It will definitely do a number on squirrels.

That's a decent price also, assuming the sight is ok. FSI (www.airgunsusa.com) sells the 392 with the Williams sight for just under $160.

A few things.

Don't overpump the gun. The valves can take it for awhile, but the pumping linkage will give up fairly quickly.

Don't plan to mount a scope on this gun. Most of the scope mounts for this gun clamp between the barrel and the pump tube. In some cases, the clamping force can separate the barrel from the tube, ruining the gun. Besides, the gun is difficult to pump with a scope mounted.

Remove the factory rear sight--you don't need it anyway. Carefully, using a punch, drive out the triangular cross-section spacers/rails and the sight will come off.

You don't need to clean the barrel nearly as often as you think (based on firearms experience), and when you do clean, DON'T use a brush, or any gun solvents. You must be very, VERY careful with the cleaning rod, as the barrel is brass. It will stand up to a lifetime (or two) of shooting, but very little cleaning rod abuse. A patch or two a year through the bore with a light coating of a non-solvent based oil is more than enough to keep the barrel clean.

Enjoy your Benjamin, but beware. Airgunitis is incurable... ;)

[Kharn]

Enjoy your Benjamin, but beware. Airgunitis is incurable...

I already have a Game PT-80 (sorta shaped like a Beretta Cougar) I picked up last year to practice with (I am really bad with pistols, much worse than I am with rifles), but I never got to use it much last summer, as I got Lyme disease from a tick bite and my mom wouldnt stop nagging at me to stay out of the woods. This time, the shooting bench is going 20 feet from the edge of the woods and my parents will just have to live with the neighbors shooting us odd looks. :)

Kharn

[JohnKSa]

Here's a picture of my Sheridan with the 5DSH sight.

My dad refinished it years ago while I was away at college.

[JohnKSa]

Here's a different view.

[PaladinX13]

Can't go wrong with at 392, might want to get it souped up at:

http://www.mac1airgun.com/

but by and large it's probably unecessary. I got mine there before they inflated prices, mostly for the scope grooves. I've got a Sheridan CB9 (392 in .20 cal) with the same peep sight as John, it works fine.

If you want to get serious into target shooting with an air rifle look into PCPs.

[Kharn]

Thanks for all the info guys. I'll probably be ordering my 392 in a few weeks; I'm buying a FAL reciever this week, so I need to wait a bit. I'll let you know how it shoots (and if my accuracy improves to a more respectable level).

Kharn

[Bonker]

150 bucis would buy an entry level RWS airgun which, in my opinion, if FAR superior to a Benjamin.

Add in 200 bucks more and get top of the line :)

[Maxi]

Just purchased a sheridan 20 cal. Enjoying it so far, but benjamin pellets dont seem to have knock down power on squirrels.:cuss:

[JohnKSa]

...benjamin pellets dont seem to have knock down power on squirrels.Yeah, airguns are that way. They make little holes where the pellet hits. If you don't hit in the right place nothing much happens.

Interesting that this thread popped up today. Last night I put a repair kit in my Sheridan--it stopped working a few years back but it's good to go again.

[BUTCHER45]

+1 on the Mac1 "Steroid" Benjamin. Get the .22 for sqwerls and such.

[TimboKhan]

Be advised that if you live in town, discharging an airgun has the potential to end up with a cop yelling at you.

Ask me how I know:neener:

[elmerfudd]

Yeah, airguns are that way. They make little holes where the pellet hits. If you don't hit in the right place nothing much happens.

+1. Airguns kill almost entirely by shot placement and penetration. Very few multi-pump or spring piston airguns put out more than 20 ft lbs and most PCP's deliver well under 40 ft lbs. That means the overwhelming majority of airguns put out considerably less power than a CB cap. If you're expecting to immobilize your prey or to see impressive knockdown power you better get good at making headshots.