HB22 Review-
I purchased an Benjamin Sheridan HB22 pellet pistol a few months ago. I feel that this gun is worth every penny of the 125$ I paid for it; this is why:
My initial impressions upon opening the box where it’s size and sturdy feel. It measures 12 inches end to end, and weighs 40 ounces. One of my concerns upon ordering was that the handle may be too small for my hands. I’m the kind of person who can never find big enough gloves at home depot. The factory grips are indeed thin, but I have no problems comfortably shooting the pistol. The wood was plain, but pleasing in appearance. I like the looks of the gun’s black painted brass too.
The iron sites are acceptable. Adjusting the rear sight required removing it from the pistol and bending it. Elevation requires only the turning of a screw. Adding a dab of yellow acrylic paint to the front sight really works a treat, and makes shooting in low light situations much easier. Later on I added some glow in the dark paint on top of this, and a layer of clear coat to help it stay on. Now we’re really crackin!
When I was looking at pistols I wanted something that would really pack a punch, and be entirely self contained (no CO2). This pistol fills both bills. At 8 pumps it will easily push a Crosman point through one side of a can. 11 pumps will push one through both sides of a can (at point blank range, supported)
When hunting I use 8 pumps. That will put a pellet right into the noggin of any squirrel within the ranges at which its possible to hit their heads. So far I have taken a variety of birds, many squirrels, an armadillo, and a small raccoon.
I find pumping the gun easy, although some of my younger or smaller friends start to go blue in the face towards the 8th pump. Once you have your pumping strategy down however it becomes much easier. I hold the pistol in my right hand, with the breech in my palm and my fingers wrapped around the trigger guard and handle. Holding the pistol close to my chest I pump with my left. Extended plinking sessions are quite possible, but not nearly as easy as with my fathers Beeman HW70. Then again, this is very much a hunting gun, and his very much a plinker.
In fact now when shooting my Shadow I am constantly reminded of how nice it is to have a shot ready to go without the noisy operation of cocking a springer to give away your presence.
I have found accuracy to be very good, and most likely much better than I am able to shoot. I haven't been able to shoot groups for a while now, but with .22 CPHP’s I could consistently shoot 1.25” 5 shot groups at 10 yards off a bench rest. I can not profess to be a target shooter though, and I am quite certain that with some testing of ammunition and some serious practice on my part I could shrink my groups bellow one inch. I seem to be able to hit squirrels with it alright though.
The trigger pull benefited from some polishing of the internal components. It is still a bit rough, but predictable.
Being the crafty type that I am, after a couple months of owning it I could stand the itch any longer, and I ended up polishing the trigger components, and making new epay furnishing’s for it. Replacing the grips is an easy project that I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend undertaking to any one with modest woodworking knowledge. The pump arm is a bit trickier, but totally doable. With my new larger and fuller handle I feel that I can hold the pistol much steadier.
In the future I hope to send it off to Skyler to soupificated. I doubt I would put more than 8 pumps in it much, but a bit more efficiency for the same work would be very cool.
In conclusion, I would recommend this to anyone interested in a solid American made hunting pistol, who doesn’t mind a little bit of pumping.
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To load a pellet, the bolt is pulled back, an action which also cocks the gun.
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Shown with the pump arm halfway open.
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Equipped with the new scales:
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The new pump arm:
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In the leather holster I fabricated for it, on a US army webbing belt:
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