Benjamin Bulldog 357: What do I need to know

[Snowdog]

I recently got back into the air rifle scene after being away... since my teens.

I was in Greenville, SC recently to stop by the Palmetto State Armory and really didn't find the deals I was hoping for (but not really expecting during these times).
I then stopped by a nearby Academy Sports and found they had some sales on air rifles, including a Benjamin Durango which I purchased.

It features an integral suppressor, beautiful wood stock and came with a scope, even if it is a basic 4x32.
I also purchase an air rifle steel trap for this rifle. It appears this rifle is a bit too much for that trap as it is denting the holy hell out of it. I suppose the trap wasn't designed for .22 caliber 14.4gr pellets at 900 FPS. My old .177 multi-pump Powerline 880 this rifle is not.

I figured now I'm back into air rifles, I looked around at the pre-charged pneumatics and found all sorts of options. Though the .45 and .50 caliber options were intriguing, I settled on something in .35/9mm as I have several molds for my .38/.357s, .380acp and 9mm, as well plenty of pure lead.
I do have molds in .452 too, but lead is getting expensive.

I then settled on one of the weirdest looking PCP air rifles, the Benjamin Bulldog 357. It looks like a futuristic railgun and the reviews were impressive. I wasn't particularly impressed with the price but following the "buy once, cry once" adage, I figured I wouldn't complain too much about it.

I did also order Nosler/Benjamin 145gr polymer tip slugs that the Bulldog was supposedly designed around as well as H&N Grizzly hollow points. I will likely purchase some traditionally shaped 82gr pellets in the future, but hope to use my own dead-soft lead cast hollow-base 148gr wadcutters for paper and 90gr flatpoints (for .380acp) for popping cans, apples and such.

I also purchased a 6000psi hand pump and was blown away to learn charging the Bulldog from 0 to 3000 psi takes an average of 90 minutes, so I have some cardio in my future. The other options such as 4500psi scba tanks or plug-in high psi compressors aren't something I'm ready to invest in yet... just in case I decide I don't care much for PCP air rifles.

What things should a person, who has zero experience with PCP air guns such as myself, know about such air guns? Also, are there any moisture issues when compressing this volume of air? If so, are there any suggestions on how to mitigate this or does Crossman/Benjamin "have it covered"?

 

[LoonWulf]

I recently got back into the air rifle scene after being away... since my teens.

I was in Greenville, SC recently to stop by the Palmetto State Armory and really didn't find the deals I was hoping for (but not really expecting during these times).
I then stopped by a nearby Academy Sports and found they had some sales on air rifles, including a Benjamin Durango which I purchased.

It features an integral suppressor, beautiful wood stock and came with a scope, even if it is a basic 4x32.
I also purchase an air rifle steel trap for this rifle. It appears this rifle is a bit too much for that trap as it is denting the holy hell out of it. I suppose the trap wasn't designed for .22 caliber 14.4gr pellets at 900 FPS. My old .177 multi-pump Powerline 880 this rifle is not.

I figured now I'm back into air rifles, I looked around at the pre-charged pneumatics and found all sorts of options. Though the .45 and .50 caliber options were intriguing, I settled on something in .35/9mm as I have several molds for my .38/.357s, .380acp and 9mm, as well plenty of pure lead.
I do have molds in .452 too, but lead is getting expensive.

I then settled on one of the weirdest looking PCP air rifles, the Benjamin Bulldog 357. It looks like a futuristic railgun and the reviews were impressive. I wasn't particularly impressed with the price but following the "buy once, cry once" adage, I figured I wouldn't complain too much about it.

I did also order Nosler/Benjamin 145gr polymer tip slugs that the Bulldog was supposedly designed around as well as H&N Grizzly hollow points. I will likely purchase some traditionally shaped 82gr pellets in the future, but hope to use my own dead-soft lead cast hollow-base 148gr wadcutters for paper and 90gr flatpoints (for .380acp) for popping cans, apples and such.

I also purchased a 6000psi hand pump and was blown away to learn charging the Bulldog from 0 to 3000 psi takes an average of 90 minutes, so I have some cardio in my future. The other options such as 4500psi scba tanks or plug-in high psi compressors aren't something I'm ready to invest in yet... just in case I decide I don't care much for PCP air rifles.

What things should a person, who has zero experience with PCP air guns such as myself, know about such air guns? Also, are there any moisture issues when compressing this volume of air? If so, are there any suggestions on how to mitigate this or does Crossman/Benjamin "have it covered"?

The Bulldog is a fantastic entry level "big" bore PCP. The one I have is power tuned, and has a Mega on it delivering 140 class bullets at about 900fps over 3 shots and above 800 for a full magazine.
Pumping wise it takes me about 1/2hour to pump mine from zero to 3000, 2500-3000 takes the most time and constant breaks. I break mine down every 6 months or so to change orings and check the insides of the res for corrosion, so far I have not had any moisture issues.

I REALLY need to just invest in a portable compressor so I can shoot the thing more often, its fun out to well over 100yds.

 

[tallpaul]

The Bulldog is a fantastic entry level "big" bore PCP. The one I have is power tuned, and has a Mega on it delivering 140 class bullets at about 900fps over 3 shots and above 800 for a full magazine.
Pumping wise it takes me about 1/2hour to pump mine from zero to 3000, 2500-3000 takes the most time and constant breaks. I break mine down every 6 months or so to change orings and check the insides of the res for corrosion, so far I have not had any moisture issues.

I REALLY need to just invest in a portable compressor so I can shoot the thing more often, its fun out to well over 100yds.

yep a compressor is the way to go...after my first experience filling anair force talon ss I looked for and found a 3250 psi compressor early on years ago used n local then fell into a 5000 psi scba compressor cheap...they dont come up often in my state but open eyes n ears they showed up now n again.Today there are several options for cheap compressors I did not have 15 or so years back. I have several .25 n under but only one big bore- a Quackenbush bandit .50 that I have not spent enough time shooting. for me its been more of a fun unpractical thing. Maybe one day my state will allow it to hunt white tail with it...