Benjamin EB22 Review

Overall Rating

Good and hefty without being heavy.
Build quality is very good.
Material quality is also very good; all metal and wood (no obvious plastic).
Extremely powerful for a pistol.

No real windage adjustment screw.

I should begin by saying that I have very little experience of air/CO2 weapons. With five years in the Royal Artillery, my main experience is with military small-arms (I was a marksman with my old 7.62 SLR) and bigger guns. However, these are my impressions of the Benjamin EB22:

The first thing I noticed from the box was the heft and build quality. I had read as many reviews of different pistols as I could during research prior to buying the EB22, and reviews concerning the EB22 were consistently good. However, I still expected a stereotypical 'air pistol' feel; a bit light and 'plasticky'. This is definitely not the case with this pistol, with the possible exception of the 'solid' hardwood grips (carved from two comparatively thin sheets of timber, but that's fixable). I have handled semi-automatic 9mm pistols that felt cheaper.

After checking the pistol over and giving it a rub down, I sighted it in. This is when I got my second surprise. This thing is powerful! Things have come a long way in the 30 years since I was a kid and owned a BSA Mercury. The power of the pistol did impress me. Whilst you only get around 30 full-power shots to one powerlet (as others have noted), the first shot really surprised me. I have used firearms converted to .22 for indoor range use that gave less of a whack! The target backing I used was 3/4" plywood and the pellets (BSA interceptor, 14.8gr) have penetrated 1/4 - 1/3 of the depth (at 7 metres).

Not only is it powerful, but it is extremely accurate (and consistently so). The rear sight needed depressing by one turn, which was simple enough. Happily, it didn't require a windage adjustment as there doesn't appear to be a proper windage adjustment screw. I guess you'd need to loosen the rear sight front mounting screw and then tap the sight in the required direction, which, in my opinion, is a bit hit-and miss (no pun intended).

Nevertheless, having zeroed the sights, I managed to cut out a 1cm square bulls eye (single hole group) with 5 rounds from 7 metres. Once that target was dead, I went for the heads of the 2 drawing pins holding it up and managed to knock out both, each on the second shot. Bear in mind I had owned this pistol for less than an hour at that point. Maybe it's my lack of modern airgun experience, but that impressed me a lot!

I bought two types of pellet with this pistol: BSA Interceptor (these were advertised at 15.43gr, but show 14.8gr on the tin) and Crosman Powapell (14.3gr). The grouping seems tighter with the BSA pellets, which also seem to fit more snugly in the breech.

One of the main reasons I bought this weapon was to deal with a couple of the local squirrels that have started eating my bonsai. The majority of the advice I have heard suggests that one should only use rifles for pest control (to ensure clean kills). However, Crosman offer up the rat-buster 2240 as a pistol suitable for vermin control and whilst I haven't tried that pistol, I'm prepared to bet the EB22 is at least as effective, and possibly more so (several sites advertise the EB22 as "probably the most powerful CO2 pistol you can buy").

There are two reasons I feel this pistol will do the job. First, my garden is only 26 feet long (which is why I didn't go for a rifle in the first place) and the squirrels with which this area is over run, have no fear of humans. Second, after trying the pistol, I really don't think it would have any trouble at all at ranges between 10 & 15 metres. This basically means that if you can see a tree-rat clearly enough to aim properly (without using a telescopic sight), this weapon will take it cleanly.

In summary, I had fairly high expectations when I ordered this pistol due to the positive reviews I had read, yet the EB22 still managed to surprise me pleasantly in all areas that matter; build quality, power and accuracy.

It is not a flashy, complex weapon. It does not attempt to look like something it isn't. If you don't want to be James Bond or look like a gangsta, but appreciate quality, enjoy target shooting for its own sake and for your own skill (i.e. without the benefit of telescopes and laser pointing), or if you have problems with the local tree-eating vermin, this is definitely the pistol for you.

Members' Comments onGlider's Review

• Grandelfe on 5th Dec 2006

  I have a squirrel problem also. How does it do against them?

• Glider on 6th Dec 2006

  Very well, using heavier pellets.
  
  I have been talking to an airgun supplier who has been testing the EB22 muzzle velocity and energy with different weight pellets. They say that according to Crosman, the EB22 delivers 6ft-lbs muzzle energy. However, using a comparatively lightweight pellet like the powapell (which one would intuitively go for with a pistol), the testers could only get around 4ft lbs. They tried heavier pellets and found that the muzzle energy went up. They then used a really heavy pellet (for a pistol), 'Piledrivers' (30 grain) and found that the muzzle energy exceeded 6ft pounds.
  
  There was a tradeoff with velocity (of course), but not as much as you'd expect. These findings suggest that the EB22 has energy to spare. Apparently, with lightweight pellets that accelerate quickly and leave the barrel fast, a lot of force is wasted in the CO2 equivalent of 'muzzle flash'. However, with heavy pellets that accelerate more slowly, this previously wasted force is imparted to the pellet.
  
  This is important in humane vermin control as velocity does not necessarily mean energy. To humanely dispatch something as resilient as a squirrel, you need a pellet that will carry a lot of energy. High velocity .177 pellets might penetrate, but they won't necessarily carry the energy to stop a squirrel. On the other hand, .22 pellets are more likely to carry the energy (which is why .22 pellets are more commonly used for this purpose), but then most pistols lack the force to accelerate the heavier pellets to lethal velocities (which is why rifles are more commonly used for this purpose).
  
  The results of the testing done by the airgun suppliers (they suggest) makes the EB22, in combination with heavy pellets, an ideal tool for short-range vermin control, where previously they hadn't recommended using pistols for vermin control at all.
  
  For myself, I have been using BSA Interceptor pellets (14.8 grain hollow point) and I have found them to be extremely effective; accurate (one hole groups at 7m) and they carry a lot of energy. The airgun suppliers are sending me a handfull of 30 grain Piledirvers to test. It'll be interested to see the results.

• novan3 on 11th Dec 2006

  Hey there. I'm contemplating on purchasing a EB22. I live in Canada and will be purchasing from a Canadian retailer (www.trail-marker.com). On their website, the velocity of the EB22 is listed @ 500 f.p.s. max. I've also looked @ a few American suppliers and they say it's 400 f.p.s.
  So i'm confused. Does the manufacturer tune it for different countries, or does the retailer dont know what they're talking about.
  What would you peg the max velocity of your EB22 at?
  
  Thanks!

• Glider on 13th Dec 2006

  I know what you mean. The reported muzzle velocities very hugely between the manufacturer and other suppliers.
  
  The manufacturers want to sell the pistol and will try for the maximum velocity to make it look good. To do this, they will use lightweight pellets to increase the velocity. The EB17 is reported reliably at 500fps. The EB22 is more often reported at around 460fps (it uses a heavier pellet). The trade off is with muzzle energy (the EB22 has a higher muzzle energy than the EB17).
  
  Personally, I don't have the kit to check velocity, but the supplier I have been talking to who has been testing the EB22 report a number of velocity/energies according to pellet weight. Basically, it boils down to what you want to use the pistol for. They say the EB22 can achieve velocities of around 500fps with lightweight pellets (still heavier than .177), but that's no good if you want it for vermin control. Muzzle velocities of around 440 - 460fps are common with medium weight pellets (which also gives tighter grouping) and are more useful against vermin as the muzzle energy goes up to a around 5ftlb. With still heavier pellets they can raise muzzle energy to nearly 6ftlb but the muzzle velocity drops (although it's still too fast for a squirrel to duck within about 10 metres).
  
  The EB22 is tunable to a degree. You can get heavier and polished hammer blocks and heavier main springs which will raise the power (and thus the muzzle velocity). There are a number of other tweaks that can can be done to increase power, but the EB22 is nowhere near as customizable as say, the Crosman 2240.
  
  In my opinion, the Crosman 2240 is a bit cheap and nasty from the box, although still a good pistol. It uses essentially the same 'guts' as the EB22 (the EB22 was the inspiration for the 2240). However, if you want to pay, the 2240 is about the most customisable CO2 pistol you can get. You can get longer barrels (increase power & accuracy), milled aluminium or steel breech blocks that are tuned (more power), longer bolt probes that push the pellet further into the barrel making for more efficient gas flow (more power) and nice custom made wooden grips (comfort and, believe it or not, more accuracy. A grip that 'fills the hand' is steadier in the hand). You can also get heavier hammer blocks and mainsprings and ported and gas-flowed valve systems as with the EB22. It is comparitively easy to get the 2240 well over 6ftlbs muzzle energy, but that's illegal in the UK (at 6ftlbs it becomes a class 1 firearm then and you need a firearms certificate).
  
  Ultimately, you can make a 2240 into a better pistol than the EB22, but it means buying a 2240 and then paying at least the same again for the parts to turn it into a different pistol. The EB22 is good from the box and IMO, compared to a 2240 from the box, it is a better pistol (except for the rear sight), but you can't change it so much.
  
  It comes down to what you want it for. I hope this helped.

• novan3 on 13th Dec 2006

  Indeed you helped much in my decision process Glider. Thanks!
  
  Yes I'm aware of the customizablity (is that even a word?) and am planning to purchase one also, I also have a 2289, which is like a 2240, except pump actuated.
  
  See I live in Canada, where freedom is way overrated, and here, like in the U.K., our law prohibits an airgun exceeding 500 f.p.s lest I own a PAL (Posession and Aquisition License) which I'm also planning to obtain soon.
  
  So....if anyone cares to know, I'm ultimately going to buy the HB22, the pump pistol. Maybe I'll save a few not having to purchase CO2, that way I could take my girl out for the weekend and still have time to send that pesky squirrel to an early grave.
  
  Once again, thanks for the input and hope to communicate with you again soon. Cheers!

• Glider on 14th Dec 2006

  You're welcome. As for the HB22, that's what I would have gone for, but you can't get them in the UK (muzzle energy is too high at 8 pumps).
  
  I'm getting a 2240 too, just as an alternative to play with. It should arrive this weekend. Those damn squirrels are sure in trouble now! (I found more teeth marks on one of my bonsai).
  
  We have a catch 22 in the UK. An air (or gas) pistol that exceeds 6ftlb is considered a class 1 firearm, for which you need a firearms certificate (FAC). However, handguns are banned in this country, so as far as I can work out, the minute an air pistol becomes a class 1 firearm, it becomes illegal with or without a FAC. I'd have to check on the details, but it all seems very weird to me.
  
  Still, it's not an issue for me as both the EB22 and the 2240 will take a squirrel cleanly at the length of my (very short) garden, without modifications to increase power.
  
  Good luck with your HB22. Have fun!

• Boris on 12th Apr 2007

  Could Glider give the name of his source of heavier hammer springs and polished hammer blocks please ?

• Cognition on 11th May 2007

  Good review. You can't go wrong with the EB22.

• Boris on 21st May 2007

  Whenever a reviewer tells you about tuning- valves, hammers, springs etc, and about their accuracy (5mm groups at 30 metres) alarm bells ring !
  Any question is met by silence. Do most of these airgunners live in a fantasy world ? Hopefully there are some real technicians out there. Perhaps we can hear from them ?

• Glider on 22nd May 2007

  Tuning valves, heavier/polished hammer blocks and stronger springs are simply a matter of basic physics. Any competent custom airgun shop can advise you on these matters. Bear in mind that small changes can make a big difference and in the UK we have to be careful not to exceed 6ftlb muzzle energy.
  
  As for 5mm groups at 30 metres, I don't believe that's even possible with a pistol (not least because 5mm is smaller than the diameter of a single .22 pellet), and I don't believe I even implied that it was. Please don't strawman me.
  
  I gave my honest views on what, in my opinion, is a very good Co2 pistol. You are entirely free to disagree with any of it, but if you wish to do so here, please present a case. rather than a strawman argument.

• khuramb on 3rd Dec 2007

  what scope would you recommend for this gun? my budget is 35 pound max

• Glider on 4th Dec 2007

  Again, it really depends what you want to use it for. If you are keen on target shooting, then a scope with a bit of magnification and a standard reticle is probably the way to go.
  
  However, if you were going for vermin, given the effective range of the pistol, a reasonable red-dot sight (no magnification) is the way to go. With with a pistol against vermin, if you have to magnify your target , you're too far away.
  
  Hawke do a few nice re-dot sights for pistols at reasonable prices.

• astroman on 2nd May 2008

  I have had my EB22 for 4 Months now & have tested it through chrono when cold & warm with 5 different pellets. Here is the results. With Baracuda Match 21.14 grain in cold average velocity was 322 fps, 4.86 ft Ibs. When warm the average was 5.55 ft Ibs, the highest was 350 fps at 5.75 ft Ibs. Next is Logun penetrators at 20.5 grain. In cold the average is 5.12 ft Ibs , when warm the average is 5.85 ft Ibs & the highest was 360 fps, 5.9 ft Ibs! Ok the next 2 pellets are Air arms 16 grain & Logun 16 grain, these results are similar so we will go with the Air arms, in cold the average is 4.77 ft Ibs, in warm 5.5 ft Ibs & the highest was 397 fps at 5.6 ft Ibs & that leaves the Dynamic tin pellets at 12.85 grain. When cold 395 fps- 4.45 ft Ibs, warm at 420 fps- 5.03 ft Ibs. For my gun the Logun 20.5 pellets seem to take the EB22 to its limits in power Legally.