Benjamin 397P Phase 1

[ratbuster2240]

I don't usually strip the stocks in order to keep them looking original but this one hadn't been looked after and the nasty varnish was damaged.

It has a lovely grain and medula rays but I'm not sure why Benjamin/Sheridan hid it with such a dark muddy stain.
I used wet and dry, 0000 wire wool, old English walnut oil and finally beeswax sparingly buffed in. Just the forend left to do now and it looks like it might match up well with the stock which is unusual. For a mass produced rifle I don't think the American walnut looks too bad.

[TonyL]

Try and resist Tony you know how slippery slopes these become! But they do make great projects during the wintry months. Let me know if you need any spares I can have a look.

Thank you.

[TonyL]

I don't usually strip the stocks in order to keep them looking original but this one hadn't been looked after and the nasty varnish was damaged.

It has a lovely grain and medula rays but I'm not sure why Benjamin/Sheridan hid it with such a dark muddy stain.
I used wet and dry, 0000 wire wool, old English walnut oil and finally beeswax sparingly buffed in. Just the forend left to do now and it looks like it might match up well with the stock which is unusual. For a mass produced rifle I don't think the American walnut looks too bad.

That looks lovely, sir.

[ratbuster2240]

It's a bit healthier than when I collected it at the last bash.

[ratbuster2240]

The Sheridan and later Benjamin's are easier to fit the Williams 5d-sh having pre drilled reciever holes.

The earlier Benjamin's have a slot behind the cam plate to accept a B273 peep sight but these have been hard to find. In the US there's some nice blued steel reproductions just like the originals and they fit perfectly.

[--ped--]

the 273 looks good on them or the bar V if you can find one
being a careful Yorkie i made my own in the style of a 273

[--ped--]

just reminded me i need to blue the steel and possibly make a larger iris


a little bit older than yours and is fitted with the tootsie roll option

[ratbuster2240]

You did a cracking job making your own.
I like the transitional 342 having the tootsie roll handle but also the tang safety. The 312 I have has the v notch sight, it's better than the standard 342 sights but the 273 feels like the right choice.
I've just noticed the later style bolt fitted to that one.

[--ped--]

it's a sheridan one if i'm honest as the gun came without one and i had a spare bluestreak one so i machined it to fit the 347

[ratbuster2240]

Looks nice on it, the Benjamin steel bolt looks crude in comparison.
I've just fitted a B273 peep to my early 342, it shoots high at 10 meters but should be fine at 20 or more. If it's still high I'll have to file some of the post down.

[--ped--]

i read somewhere that often the post for the 273 needed shortening

[ratbuster2240]

I sent a couple of parts to Ped for modification. He added a hidden set screw in an alloy barrel band for my backpacker to eliminate barrel movement. The band was also drilled and tapped for a mossberg 500 sling stud. I had an issue with the solid
brass piston rattling around inside the pump tube making pumping noisy. This was resolved by machining a groove and installing an oring at the tail end.

[ratbuster2240]

[--ped--]

looks well James any issues with the second o ring on the piston
rather than an o ring a ptfe split back up ring can be used
i recently got a crosman 362 and they have a piston in the same style with a plastic split bush
it's a nice touch and if i make any brass or all FT Pistons i may incorporate it into the design,with my standard delrin one you don't have the issue
the quality of the front pivot plug was very good i thought,a nice tight fit and good quality anodising

[MartynB]

Really nice mods