You guys may have noticed lately that my shooting has taken a bit of side track into the world of air guns. I've always owned several, but of late, my interest has resurfaced.
My latest acquisition is another "Steroid" pneumatic rifle from Timmy Mac of Mac1 Airguns, the preeminent Sheridan/Benjamin tuner of our day. This one is a brand new Benjamin model 392, a .22 caliber pump-up (pneumatic) air rifle.
Tim takes these pumpers and replaces the valves, hammers, and pump levers. They go from fully able to discharge an eight pump charge for about 12-14 foot pounds of energy to being able to "clear" with 14 pumps, for just about 25 foot pounds of energy. Quite an increase in performance, and longevity, over the factory offerings. So, without further ado, here is my new Steroid 392:
Those of you familiar with Benjamin and Sheridan pneumatics will immediately notice (and question) both the scope mounting position and the bolt "handle". These things are notoriously hard to scope, with most shooters resorting to a forward mounted "Scout" scope, ala Col. Jeff Cooper's concept. Tim can mill dovetails into the receiver on newer guns, thereby allowing a more traditional scope placement, which he has done on this rifle.
In concert with that, he removes the bolt handle and welds on the knurled knob visible in the photo. These things are like old Mausers and Springfields - the bolt handle won't clear the ocular lens of a scope.
This rifle is the new power champ in my air rifle line-up. It tops 800 fps at ten feet from the muzzle with Crossman Premier 14.3 grain pellets, which really do not make full use of this powerplant. Tim tells me to use JSB pellets weighing 24 grains to take advantage of what this rifle has to offer; I'll have to add some to my inventory. By way of contrast, my recently acquired RWS Model 34 launches the same pellets at just about 700 fps.
This rifle really shoots. That said, the trigger sucks and it's not altogether aesthetically pleasing. It is a more advanced design than my 1963 vintage Sheridan Blue Streak, but the fit and finish are not even close. Here is my Sheridan (also "Steroid" modded by Timmy Mac):
And, finally, here is the whole line-up, for comparison's sake. The pumpers are handy little carbines, and a real joy to carry. The springer is notably bigger, heavier, and more difficult to shoot well. A Steroid gun from Mac1 is about the same price, more accurate, more powerful, and easier to shoot well. The only downside is all of that pumping...