THE BENJAMIN LEGACY
Written by: Der Luftmeister
Benjamin has been one of the most recognized names in airguns since the late 1800s. The first Benjamin was a multi-pump model that had a pump rod that was held below the barrel. Pumping action involved moving the rod in and out, but for many years, the Benjamin rifles have featured the familiar swinging forearm lever. Regardless of the action required to pump the rifle, the Benjamin name has been around a long time.
A few years ago, a Benjamin rifle was introduced that is a radical departure from the traditional Benjamin. Although it carries the revered Benjamin name, the Legacy is a break action! Moreover, it is produced in the U.S. by the parent company, Crosman, who acquired the Benjamin Sheridan company in 1992.
The Benjamin Legacy was initially introduced as a 177 caliber that was advertised to give 1,000 ft/sec, but a 22 caliber Legacy is also available. The Legacy is 43 inches long and weighs about 6.5 pounds. The nicely shaped hardwood stock is attractively checkered and has a cheek piece on the left hand side. Sights on the Legacy are at least functional although they are of the fiber optic design (for which Der Luftmeister has no love). The rear sight is adjustable for elevation and windage by means of rotating dials, and the front sight has a fiber optic bar along the top of the post. The receiver is grooved for attaching scope mounts, and it has provision for a scope stop.
So far, the features of the Legacy sound comparable to those of many other 1,000 ft/sec break action rifles. However, one desirable feature of the Legacy is that the cocking force is only 28 pounds. I have several fine break action rifles that are of the same advertised power level, and the Legacy is the easiest to cock. Although the difference is not great in some cases, I can feel the difference if the shooting session involves a great many shots. The Legacy also weighs less than some of my other break action models of the same power class. These physical attributes of the Legacy make it a good choice for the pest hunter needs a rifle of convenient size that does not require a lot of work to shoot.
Like many other break action air rifles, the Legacy features an adjustable two stage trigger. I have not tinkered with the trigger on my rifle because I found it to be acceptable as delivered. The safety is a metal tab that protrudes downward inside the trigger guard in front of the trigger. Unlike some other break action rifles, the safety does not go on as the rifle is cocked.
I have tested almost a dozen break action 177 caliber rifles that are advertised to give 1,000 ft/sec. In every case, this claim is not met unless the pellets are of very light weight. With pellets weighting 7.9-8.0 grains, the velocity is about 880-900 ft/sec. Velocity with pellets weighing about 6.8-7.0 grains is usually about 940-950 ft/sec with most of my break action rifles. For example, the Legacy averaged 884 ft/sec with the 7.9 grain Crosman Premier and 939 ft/sec with the 7.0 grain RWS Hobby. The 22 caliber Legacy is advertised to give 800 ft/sec, but this is probably optimistic. Regardless, these rifles are in the magnum class, and a difference of a few feet per second has no detectable effect when the pellet reaches the target.
On thing that I did observe with the Legacy is that the velocities are very uniform right from the start. The standard deviation varied only from 1 to 5 ft/sec with five types of pellets and this from an almost new rifle. Most break action rifles that I have used tend to be somewhat erratic in terms of velocity during a period of breaking in.
I tested the Legacy with a 2-7X scope attached, and at 25 yards the groups with the 7.9 grain Crosman Premier averaged around an inch. Switching to the 10.5 grain Premier resulted in groups of about 0.7-0.8 inch. Under good conditions I am sure that this rifle is capable of better accuracy.
The Benjamin Legacy is a handsome, capable air rifle. I have not had the opportunity to test the 22 caliber version, but it should be an excellent pest rifle. With good looks, adequate accuracy and power, and relatively easy cocking action, the Benjamin Legacy is a welcome addition to the break action market. Also, our friends here at Compasseco offer this fine rifle for under $170.
Benjamin has been one of the most recognized names in airguns since the late 1800s. The first Benjamin was a multi-pump model that had a pump rod that was held below the barrel. Pumping action involved moving the rod in and out, but for many years, the Benjamin rifles have featured the familiar swinging forearm lever. Regardless of the action required to pump the rifle, the Benjamin name has been around a long time.
A few years ago, a Benjamin rifle was introduced that is a radical departure from the traditional Benjamin. Although it carries the revered Benjamin name, the Legacy is a break action! Moreover, it is produced in the U.S. by the parent company, Crosman, who acquired the Benjamin Sheridan company in 1992.
The Benjamin Legacy was initially introduced as a 177 caliber that was advertised to give 1,000 ft/sec, but a 22 caliber Legacy is also available. The Legacy is 43 inches long and weighs about 6.5 pounds. The nicely shaped hardwood stock is attractively checkered and has a cheek piece on the left hand side. Sights on the Legacy are at least functional although they are of the fiber optic design (for which Der Luftmeister has no love). The rear sight is adjustable for elevation and windage by means of rotating dials, and the front sight has a fiber optic bar along the top of the post. The receiver is grooved for attaching scope mounts, and it has provision for a scope stop.
So far, the features of the Legacy sound comparable to those of many other 1,000 ft/sec break action rifles. However, one desirable feature of the Legacy is that the cocking force is only 28 pounds. I have several fine break action rifles that are of the same advertised power level, and the Legacy is the easiest to cock. Although the difference is not great in some cases, I can feel the difference if the shooting session involves a great many shots. The Legacy also weighs less than some of my other break action models of the same power class. These physical attributes of the Legacy make it a good choice for the pest hunter needs a rifle of convenient size that does not require a lot of work to shoot.
Like many other break action air rifles, the Legacy features an adjustable two stage trigger. I have not tinkered with the trigger on my rifle because I found it to be acceptable as delivered. The safety is a metal tab that protrudes downward inside the trigger guard in front of the trigger. Unlike some other break action rifles, the safety does not go on as the rifle is cocked.
I have tested almost a dozen break action 177 caliber rifles that are advertised to give 1,000 ft/sec. In every case, this claim is not met unless the pellets are of very light weight. With pellets weighting 7.9-8.0 grains, the velocity is about 880-900 ft/sec. Velocity with pellets weighing about 6.8-7.0 grains is usually about 940-950 ft/sec with most of my break action rifles. For example, the Legacy averaged 884 ft/sec with the 7.9 grain Crosman Premier and 939 ft/sec with the 7.0 grain RWS Hobby. The 22 caliber Legacy is advertised to give 800 ft/sec, but this is probably optimistic. Regardless, these rifles are in the magnum class, and a difference of a few feet per second has no detectable effect when the pellet reaches the target.
On thing that I did observe with the Legacy is that the velocities are very uniform right from the start. The standard deviation varied only from 1 to 5 ft/sec with five types of pellets and this from an almost new rifle. Most break action rifles that I have used tend to be somewhat erratic in terms of velocity during a period of breaking in.
I tested the Legacy with a 2-7X scope attached, and at 25 yards the groups with the 7.9 grain Crosman Premier averaged around an inch. Switching to the 10.5 grain Premier resulted in groups of about 0.7-0.8 inch. Under good conditions I am sure that this rifle is capable of better accuracy.
The Benjamin Legacy is a handsome, capable air rifle. I have not had the opportunity to test the 22 caliber version, but it should be an excellent pest rifle. With good looks, adequate accuracy and power, and relatively easy cocking action, the Benjamin Legacy is a welcome addition to the break action market. Also, our friends here at Compasseco offer this fine rifle for under $170.
posted by Randy Mitchell at
6:47 AM
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