Benjamin 392, windage is different from close range to long range, why?

[His lordship.]

I have a one year old Benjamin 392 in .22 cal. that shoots well at 25 feet, and at 50 yards it goes 1"-3" to the left.  Last year I took it to the range and adjusted the sights to hit right on at the longer range, but then it shoots incorrectly at the closer range.  Took it to the range again this year, same problem but did not adjust the rear sight.  My RWS 52 shoots correctly at all ranges, never had any of my other pellet rifles act like my Benjamin.

I suspect that the sight mounts are not aligned with the bore axis, poor quality control.  I had read of Remington doing this on some of their Model 700 rifles years ago due to shoddy manufacturing in regards to the scope mounting holes.  I considered throwing the gun away, but will have to aim some to the right at the longer ranges.  I don't mind the dovetail sights, and scopes don't do well on this type of rifle as they get in the way of pumping it up.  Has anyone else encountered anything like this?

Thanks.

[PowPow]

I have not had that problem, but I did mount a pistol scope (long eye relief) about 3/4 of the way down the barrel in a scout position on mine so it would not be in the way when I pump it.

[trotterlg]

I would say you are holding the rifle slightly canted off vertical, that will cause exactly the condition you are experiencing.  Larry

[His lordship.]

Took my 392 to the range for one last day a few weeks ago.  Shot it at 30 feet, seemed fine, then 50 yards.  Had to pump it up to a minimum of 5 pumps to even get it on the paper.  Same problem with the shots going to the left, but real moody at that, it could be anywhere from 1"-3".  My RWS is more spot on, and with only one pump too.  Traded the Benjamin off.

I had a Crossman 2200 Magnum that was real tinker toy in quality and materials, but it shot right on, had it for 7 years before junking it out.  Took out alot of house sparrows with that gun.

[IOWA DON]

ChrisD - Wind may not be the problem, but I think it is. Just for an example use the ballistics data I simulated for my 124 FWB in .177 with a velocity of a little over 800 fps with flat nosed H&N match pellets. For a 5 mph crosswind the deflection at 9 yards is 0.15-inch. For a 5 mph crosswind the deflection at 45 yards is 3.7 inches. A 5 mph wind is not very noticable as the force one feels from a 5 mph wind is only 1/4th that felt from a 10 mph wind, because wind force is proportional to the square of the wind velocity. However, pellet or bullet deflection is directly proportional to the velocity of the wind. That is, a 5 mph wind, althought it don't feel like much, deflects a pellet or bullet half as much as a 10 mph wind. Now assume one's sights are corrected the 0.15-inch for the deflection at 9 yards. That would be a 0.75-inch at 45 yards, about 3.0 inches short of the needed correction. - DON

[His lordship.]

IOWA DON...wind was never the issue.  Where I shoot there is only a light breeze, and the shooting lanes are sheltered.  My problem was with the "windage", an old term for the side play of the aim point.

I think this 392 was off centered for the sights and the barrel in relation to each other, shot really well in my house though, but the spot that I shoot there is around 21 feet.