Bulldog Is the Benjamin M357 Barrel Different from the .357 Bulldog?

[Ezana4CE]

I’m curious if Crosman (Velocity Outdoors) switched barrels between the .357 Bulldog and the Bulldog M357 iterations. Are these the same barrels? Does anyone know? @Pguadalupe can you provide some insight here?

 

[BenjeneerJohn]

I think the only difference between the M357 and 357 barrels is the size of the port hole.

 

[Ezana4CE]

I think the only difference between the M357 and 357 barrels is the size of the port hole.

@BenjeneerJohn Would that be enough of a difference to account for varying performance (accuracy) using ammo that shot well in the original .357 Benjamin Bulldog?

 

[BenjeneerJohn]

What ammo a barrel likes best will very from gun to gun. So it is more likely a slight difference in the sizes of the two barrels. As an example, we can test 2 barrels made back to back in .25cal. 1 with shoot Crosman pellets at 30 yards. The other one JSBs.

Try a few different ammos to see what it likes.

I would also clean the new M357 barrel.

 

[Pguadalupe]

I’m curious if Crosman (Velocity Outdoors) switched barrels between the .357 Bulldog and the Bulldog M357 iterations. Are these the same barrels? Does anyone know? @Pguadalupe can you provide some insight here?

John is correct, only the transfer port is different. That should have no impact on on the accuracy. However, just as John mentioned barrels will like what they like and be slightly different from one gun to the next. I will note that the new M357 has a LW barrel. The older .357 version had Green Mountain barrels but were later changed to LW during the middle of Covid.

 

[Ezana4CE]

John is correct, only the transfer port is different. That should have no impact on on the accuracy. However, just as John mentioned barrels will like what they like and be slightly different from one gun to the next. I will note that the new M357 has a LW barrel. The older .357 version had Green Mountain barrels but were later changed to LW during the middle of Covid.

@Pguadalupe I’ve come across this info before. Is there a significant difference between the Green Mountain and Lothar Walther manufactured barrels?

 

[Ezana4CE]

@Pguadalupe @BenjeneerJohn Can these barrels be cleaned with brass brushes without damaging the rifling?

 

[BenjeneerJohn]

@Pguadalupe @BenjeneerJohn Can these barrels be cleaned with brass brushes without damaging the rifling?

There should be no major differences in the two barrels. I have shot them both and have found them to be very accurate at distance.

You can clean them with a brass brush and rod as long as you are careful. If you pull the barrel to clean it, you can use some simple green to help degrease it. Some of the barrels from LW/GM have a bit of rust preventative and we have found that Simple Green works well to remove it. Just make sure you lube the barrel after.

John