Benjamin Bulldog M257 .25-Caliber PCP Carbine: Full Review

Today’s air rifles are capable of taking coyotes, hogs, and even larger game. The rifles are big-bore precharged pneumatics (PCP) that use a high-pressure air reservoir to propel a pellet or slug out the barrel. Like all hunting, bullet selection, shot placement, and getting close are the key to putting an animal down with a PCP.

The Bulldog M257 from Benjamin Airguns I tested here is the third Bulldog release. The series includes the M357 and M457. The number in the name refers to the caliber it shoots. In the case of the M257, it shoots a .25-caliber pellet or slug. 

The Bulldogs have a bullpup design, meaning the receiver and magazine sit rearward of the pistol grip and close to the cheekpiece of a buttstock. The rear mounted receiver allows the use of a 28.5-inch barrel while minimizing overall length to just 36 inches. 

This magazine-fed bolt-action uses a full-length top rail attached to a metal barrel shroud extending from the muzzle to the receiver. Beneath the shroud lies a 28.5-inch steel rifled barrel with a 3-inch barrel extension threaded to receive an M18-compatible sound moderator. The lower half utilizes a synthetic stock, a clamshell design that includes the pistol grip. The stock houses the PCP reservoir and trigger assembly.

One of the appeals of PCPs is the velocity high-pressure systems generate. Filling a PCP is not easy or cheap though. They require a high-pressure hand pump, compressor, or tank. Home compressors generate 175 psi at best, a far cry from the 3,000 psi needed to fill a PCP gun.

Benjamin has three options: a $224 Hand Pump, a $749 Traveler, and a $1,685 Recharge Compressor. The Hand Pump works well with small reservoirs but takes huffing and puffing to top off a tank. The Traveler is portable and powered by a 110-volt outlet or car battery. Once you get the PCP bug, you’ll opt for the Recharge Compressor to fill tanks much faster.

Shooting the Bulldog is just like any other bolt-action rifle. What makes operation unique is the hammer slams into the reservoir’s valve, which opens to eject a burst of air. There are two types of PCP airguns: those with air regulators (regulated) and those without (nonregulated). 

The Bulldog M257 is nonregulated. Air goes directly to the pellet to push it down the barrel. The downside of a non-regulated airgun is velocities may fluctuate 80 to 100 fps over 10 shots as the reservoir’s pressure decreases. With regulated airguns, the reservoir fills a small chamber to a specific pressure. That pre-staged air is released when the hammer falls. The benefit is consistent velocities. 

Although the Bulldog M257 is unregulated, the velocity of the pellet can be controlled through the adjustable hammer spring. An adjustment screw behind the butt pad increases or decreases spring tension and therefore air volume. 

For testing, I mounted an Athlon Heras SPR 2-12x42mm with an AAGR1 mil-based reticle in high Warne rings (model 502M). The objective bell barely cleared the rail. Even with high rings, I found the optic too low. I had to crank my head down to peer through the center of the scope. A simple remedy is to add a rail riser. 

Benjamin sent their 27.9-grain Domed Match Pellet and Nielsen Specialty Ammo 65-grain slugs for testing. The first pellet exited the barrel at 1,187 fps with 87.2 ft-lbs of kinetic energy. Each subsequent shot dropped roughly 20 fps. The fifth shot slowed to 1,091 fps.

The Bulldog’s trigger breaks smoothly at 3 pounds. At 25 yards, I found the accuracy of the 27.9-grain pellets on par with other .25-caliber air rifles. Five-shot groups averaged 1.05 inches, with the best being .75 inch. With the slugs, groups tightened up. The average group size was .73 inch; the best group was .40 inch.

Overall, Benjamin’s Bulldog M257 is a good rifle. It’s heavy, but the bullpup design makes it manageable. The action operates smoothly, and the trigger breaks cleanly. I like that it is magazine fed instead of a single shot. Also, its accuracy with the slugs is just right for well-placed shots 50 yards and in. 

Bulldog M257

• Type: Bolt-action PCP airgun
• Caliber: .25
• Overall Length: 35.88 in
• Weight: 8 lbs., 15 oz.
• Magazine: 5-rd. rotary
• Trigger: Two-stage (3 lbs. as tested)
• Stock: Synthetic bullpup
• MSRP: $1,000
• Manufacturer: Benjamin Airguns, benjaminairguns.com

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