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benjamin air rifle co

d@rren turner
live in uk and have just aquired a benjamin air rifle co(st louis)model no 342,brass barrel and bolt action housing was told it is about 80 years old,it is short in length and is pumped up under the barrel to charge with air can anyone give me a bit of info on it as it is an unusual gun in the uk as most of ours come from eastern europe.many thanks darren
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  • rufe-snow
    If our members can't help you regarding the Benjamin, perhaps the folks in these forums can.



    http://www.bbairguns.com/index.shtml


    http://www.network54.com/Hide/Forum/50544?it=0
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  • Basil_O
    These Benjamin Franklin air guns are real American classics. They came in both 177 and 22. I've got a Model 312 in .22 cal that I bought used in 1966. It was less than 10 years old at the time as I recall. Search for the air gun boards and find the experts. For what it's worth, I can give you a few tips. Don't use a metal brush on the bore as the barrel is soft brass (doesn't rust though). 6 to 10 pumps is plenty, if you need more pressure something is broke. Pull up the pump handle and you will see a breather hole ahead of the plunger. Whatever you do don't put a big squirt of oil in there! as this can mess it up. To see if it's still functions properly give it a charge of air and dry fire. Dry fire a second time without pumping. If you get a significant amount of air on the second shot someone has over oiled and messed it up. It is my understanding that the fix for this requires a special tool to fit the replacement parts so a professional repair is in order. There are still folks who do this work, the guys on the air gun boards will steer you to them. These are suprisingly accurate air guns, and a reciever sight used to be made for them. The trick is to use a consitent amount of air and learn the ballistics of your air gun. Once you figure out how high to hold for given ranges you will be impressed at how far away you can hit.
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  • rhmc24
    When I was a kid in the 1930s getting a Benjamin was the holy grail of air rifles - - and about as likely to ever get. In those days the pump pulled straight out under the barrel and parallel to it. I have one of their pistols like that. My Benjamin BB rifle has the later pull-down pump handle. There are people who collect and rebuild and restore Benjamins. They can still be bought new.
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