by Tom Gaylord, a.k.a. B.B. Pelletier
Benjamin Marauder .177 caliber Part 1
Part 2
Secrets of loading the Benjamin Marauder magazine
Part 3
Part 4
Part 5
Part 6
Fixing a Marauder magazine
Part 7
Benjamin Marauder .25 caliber Part 1
Benjamin Marauder .25 caliber Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
New Benjamin Marauder with synthetic stock has all the features of the classic Marauder in a lighter, trimmer package.
Sometimes, I get a rifle that I’ve waited a long time to test, and today begins a report on one of them. The Benjamin Marauder with synthetic stock has been on my mind since I first saw it at the SHOT Show back in January. In the intervening 11 months, I had forgotten a few things that struck me about this rifle when I first saw it. The first was how light and trim it feels. Compared to a wood-stocked Marauder this rifle is a pound lighter, at just over 7 lbs. But with the lightness comes a much slimmer stock profile, so it fits the hands better, too. It’s the kind of air rifle that makes me smile just to pick it up! The rifle I am testing is serial number 013121147.
You’ve noticed there are a lot of links at the beginning of this report. I’ve linked to all the other reports made on the Benjamin Marauder in this recent series. I did those other reports on the .177- and .25-caliber Marauders specifically so I could look at this new rifle in .22 caliber. Not only are we going to look at what’s new with the Marauder, we’re also going to have a complete set of reviews for all calibers in one place.
What’s new?
Those who’ve been following the Marauder reports are no doubt familiar with the general characteristics and features of the Marauder. Most of these have not changed. The rifle is a 10-shot bolt-action repeater (8 shots in .25 caliber). There used to be an optional single-shot tray for all 3 calibers, so you could remove the magazine and load each pellet separately, but Crosman has dropped that option for the .22 and .25 calibers. They retain it for the .177 caliber because that’s the only one suitable for field target and field target shooters like to load each shot separately.
The rifle is adjustable for both power and for the maximum fill pressure (from 2,000 psi to 3,000 psi) and a hang tag that comes attached to the trigger guard tells you the factory has set the fill pressure of your rifle to 2,500 psi. The owner’s manual tells you how to adjust both the fill pressure level and the rifle’s power, plus I did a very detailed report on both things a while back. Part 4 of the .177 report deals with adjusting the rifle’s power and Part 7 of the .177 report deals with adjusting the maximum fill pressure of the rifle. The new rifle I’m looking at operates in exactly the same way, and nothing has changed as far as those adjustments are concerned.
Another noteworthy feature the Marauder has is the adjustable trigger. It’s a dream trigger that can be adjusted very finely to almost whatever a shooter wants. The new Marauder also offers an adjustable trigger, but it’s slightly changed from the older one. I’ve examined the isometric illustration of the new trigger in the manual and can see very little difference in the internal parts, so I doubt the feel and function has changed that much; but I do plan on doing a trigger adjustment on the test rifle, so we’ll all know. Until that report, then, let’s assume the trigger is just as good as it’s always been, which — on the Marauder — is very good, indeed!
The trigger on the new rifle is very similar to the old trigger, but some internal parts have changed. The biggest noticeable change, though, is the squared-off triggerguard.
The trigger blade has moved backward in the stock, so your fingers reach it more readily. I think that gives the stock a more welcoming feel when you shoulder the rifle, though it doesn’t pop out at you. That movement was the reason some of the internal trigger parts had to be modified.
The safety is manual — just like the safety on the old Marauder. Pull it back to put it on — push forward to take it off. It’s light and smooth and can be operated by the trigger finger, alone.
One thing that’s obviously changed is the stock. The rifle I’m testing has a black synthetic stock with an adjustable cheekpiece. The sculpting of this stock is perfect for the shooter, in my opinion. The pistol grip fits my hand very well without being too fat; and the forearm just in front of the triggerguard is very thin, making a perfect place for the off hand to rest. The forearm then swells out a little further forward; so, if you hold your rifle like a deer hunter, there’s more meat to grab on to. But even that part is sculpted to fit the fingers and thumb of your hand, making a rifle stock that grips you as much as you grip it.
I intend adjusting that cheekpiece to suit whatever scope I mount on the rifle. How enjoyable to have a rifle that doesn’t need any adaptation or compromise when held — one that just fits me the moment I pick it up. I think Part 2 of this report will be devoted to setting up the rifle — the stock, the scope and the trigger adjustment.
The cheekpiece adjusts up and down, and can be set to match whatever scope you mount on the rifle.
The bolt is now ambidextrous! Lefties can now have the bolt handle on their side of the action. Making this switch requires some disassembly of the action, and Crosman recommends sending the rifle to an approved service station like Pyramyd AIR for the switch. So, if this is something you want, think about it when you order the rifle and get the work done before the gun is shipped.
Crosman touts some changes to the rifle’s valve that offer a 12 percent increase in available power and a 30 percent increase in the shot count. I guess I’m going to have to make those adjustments to find out how effective they are. I doubt that we’ll see both a power increase and a shot count increase at the same time, though. That’s just the way compressed air works.
Crosman also says there’s a factory installed de-pinger that quiets the striker fall. You don’t notice that noise on most guns, but the Marauder is so quiet that secondary noises start to be heard. My ears are pretty well worn, but I’ll see if I can detect anything for you.
.22 caliber
The test rifle is .22 caliber. Of all the Marauders I’ve shot, I’ve never tested a .22, so this will be a big thrill for me. I always thought that .22 was an ideal caliber for this rifle, given the power potential. I intend on testing it at 25 and 50 yards, just like I did the other 2 calibers. The choked barrel is 20 inches long and encased in a baffled shroud that quiets the gun’s report to almost noting. I did note that the .25-caliber Marauder was just slightly louder than the .177, so I’ll report on this one when the shooting starts.
Next time…
That’s it for our first look. Next time, I’ll adjust the rifle to fit me, adjust the trigger and mount a scope. After that, I’ll check the velocity and then we’ll get to the accuracy testing, which I’m really looking forward to. Stay tuned!
Fan-freakin’-tastic. This is just exactly the combination I intend for my first PCP, so I’ll be very happy to see how this report pans out.
Being a noob, I’m quite curious to see how the .22’s ballistics will stack up to the .25’s, from the same platform. I don’t feel like I’ve really grokked, yet, the sense of where the .25 becomes a demonstrable advantage over the .22 in the field. And I’m not just talking about pure numbers; I can certainly calculate energy numbers and trajectories, but there is more to field performance than that.
For example, I might make the firearms analogy that the .177 pellet is like the .243 Winchester, in terms of what it can do: it will do a fine job on a great deal of what you might ask a hunting rifle to do, on the lighter end of the big-game spectrum. Then, I might look at the .22 pellet as analogous to the .30/06: it can do nearly anything well, and is nearly ideal in the middle of the big-game spectrum, with the ability to perform both above and below that. And maybe I’d look at the .25 pellet as a .375 H&H: outstanding on the largest game animals in the spectrum, but a little overkill for smaller things.
That sort of analogy gives me a really clear picture of how the three calibers might “overlap”. For instance, there is a whole lot of overlap between the .30/06 and .375 H&H; while I loves me some Elmer Keith as much as anybody out there, it is pretty well established that there is not a whole lot that the .375 can do that the .30/06 can’t–the .375 just gives you a little more wiggle room to do it. I get the sense that a similar relationship might exist between the .22 and .25 pellets, but I’d love further clarity. Is this sort of analogy anywhere near the mark?
For full disclosure: my “purpose” intention with the Marauder, at least initially, is to develop it as a gun for hunting our local snowshoe hares (3-4 pounds down here in Homer) and eventually the Alaskan hares (6-12 pounds in the Interior and North Slope) as well. I’d be curious to get opinions from folks on just how far away the .22s and .25s might be effective on these critters.
Thanks for this series too, B.B. The things I keep hearing about the Marauder (both the rifle and the pistol) are very encouraging. 🙂
KW
I got a idea. Get the .22 and .25 Mrod. Then you got one for each size hare you hunt. 🙂
But on the serious side I like my .25 Mrod.
The .177 Mrod and my .22 Prod just were involved with a trade I did with my buddy for a .22 FX Monsoon. And yes the Monsoon is a way cool gun.
I’m interested to see how the new .22 Mrod with the synthetic stock performs. And now I’m going to have to investigate and see what they did with the air valve. And how they did there depinging device. Which I have already done both things to the .177 I had and the .25 I still have. So I’m sure they changed the spring weights some also.
I guess I will go see if some part numbers got changed on the Crosman site.
All I know is the Mrods are way adjustable. And with very little mods the .25 will shoot in the 60 fpe range with the 31 grn. Barracudas. Mine does.
And I totally like the adjustable cheek piece. I wonder if they made the recoil pad adjustable. The Monsoon I got has the adjustable recoil pad and it works out real nice.
And know it makes me wonder with the new trigger if the 2240, .22 Prod, 1720T and such trigger assembly will still bolt on along with the 1399 Crosman stock when you take the stock off to make a carbine out of the Mrod.
I shot my .177 Mrod that way for along time. Well that’s the way it went to my buddy along with the stock trigger and wood stock still in the original box.
Don’t you just love guns.
Oh and that is the set up I have on my Disco. The pistol trigger assembly with the 1399 stock.
Makes for a much lighter and easier handling gun. Feels like your holding a pool cue stick in your hand when you shoot.
I have the new .22 synthetic. The recoil pad is not adjustable.
redlace
It would of been a nice extra touch they could of added. But do you like the gun?
The short answer is yes, so far. I haven’t yet had a good opportunity to really stretch its legs out, but I like the way it shoulders and it seems to have a pretty good trigger. It has a nice look, clean lines, etc., and I don’t find the weight to be objectionable.
I filled it with CO2 and ran some numbers across the chrono. Perfect performance for shooting inside the garage, and very quiet.
I almost pulled the trigger on the first model Marauder earlier this year, but I’m glad I waited for M2.
Very much looking forward to Tom’s report, as I’ll be able to follow along at home.
On Co2. That’s interesting.
“I got a idea. Get the .22 and .25 Mrod. Then you got one for each size hare you hunt.”
Ha! But for funds, my friend, but for funds…
Actually, my current long-term plan calls for one M-rod and one P-rod. Maybe it would be more versatile to have the M-rod in .25 to go with the P-rod’s .22…
(Yes, I do love this too.)
Go with the .25. It will give you more energy down range and I will bet you that before long you will have a much larger selection of top shelf pellets to choose from.
Also, with pellets you do not have the massive wound cavities of high velocity PBs. The .25 is suitable for up to groundhogs and coons. Anything bigger and you will have to take another step up.
Don’t sweat it, you are not going to blow that hopper or tree rat apart with a .25, but you just might nail him at 100 yards with it.
I agree with RR. The .25’s are nice guns. But I also liked the Prod also. But it wont stretch out as far as the .25 does.
But I think the new synthetic stock .22 cal. Mrod will be more powerful than the Prod. So I think the .22 will be a cool gun. Will have to see how BB’s test go.
And as far as funds go. I know what you mean. That’s the reason I work overtime at work when its available. And I’m always working on somebodies race car in one way or another.
Or do like I did. Sell off a couple guns and maybe you can get one sooner than later.
Kevin,
I think the new Marauder will be fine for both those animals. But we shall see. I’m going to enjoy this test.
I didn’t know you live in Alaska. How are the Northern Lights?
B.B.
The aurora has been a bit of an eye-roller for me thus far. We’ve lived here (Homer, which is at the southern end of the Kenai Peninsula, essentially due south of Anchorage) for five years now, and I’ve only seen it twice. It’s one of those things where if any of several requirements are not met, it pooches the whole deal. On most of the best aurora nights, it’s simply been cloudy, and you can’t see anything. Other times it’s the awareness: sometimes the activity develops so fast that you’ve already gone to bed by the time anyone knows about it–and with two small children in the house, we tend to prioritize our sleep pretty aggressively. (I can recall at least a half-dozen times I have woken up to a Facebook feed full of references to the unexpectedly awesome lights the night before.) And still other times it has been a tease: we’re up, we’re ready, it’s clear…and there’s nothing, at least at our latitude. Fantastic in the Interior (think Fairbanks), impressive in Anchorage, and…nothing here.
And then there’s the requirement that comes as a surprise to those who don’t live at high latitudes: it does need to be dark. This is obviously not a problem in the winter, but some of the best displays come in the late spring and early fall, and it is rather hard to see the lights when the Sun is still up. 🙂
Sheesh, I sound ungrateful. Really, I’m not–but I do wish I could see them more. It’s pretty amazing to watch the lights while thinking carefully about what they are. Now there is a display of power!
That “display of power” thing is one of the many things I love so much about Alaska. Lots of people can identify with scenery, a much smaller set can identify with the sense of scale, and a still smaller set can really appreciate the beyond-words quality of the light that you get in winter (what we don’t have in quantity is more than made up by the quality) … but what really gets me are the natural displays of kinetic power that happen right in front of your eyes. I suspect that most folks who get to see this sort of thing, see it in the form of glacier calving while on a sightseeing boat in Southeast or out of Seward, and I can attest that is indeed chock full of The Awesome. But (he says, grinning), you’re expecting something amazing, then; what’s even more impressive is when something like that happens without warning, as part of everyday life. We had a great example of that just this last spring, when we were returning from Fairbanks after a GFWC conference for my wife. We pitched a family camp on the banks of the Nenana River, got the girls to bed, chatted with some neighbor campers for a bit, and then walked out to see the ice-dammed river in the low midnight sun.
Within half an hour the river was nearly ice free.
The display of power was intense. At that bridge, the Nenana is at least a quarter-mile wide, and the level of the water fell a good six or eight feet by the time it was over. Bus- and even house-sized chunks of ice collided like billiard balls; when they scraped along the banks we got to see the stereotypical whiplashing of fifty-foot spruce trees that I’d only before seen in pictures. The bank-side boulder from which my wife had taken her first set of river pictures, before the break, wound up with an ice block on top of it the size of a pickup truck, pushed there by the irresistable force of even bigger things. The sound was stunning–we were amazed the girls didn’t wake up.
And to think this happens every year, at least once, on dozens of rivers the size of that one.
Yeah, we did come here for a reason. 🙂
Kevin,
And here I thought all you Alaskans were leftovers from Robert W. Service. You know — whooping it up in the Malamute Saloon!
Seriously, I have never seen anything like the breakup of that river ice, but once in Maryland I watched as 18 inches of snow evaporated in 7 hours with the Foehn wind!
B.B.
Actually, B.B.–and I know you didn’t mean it this way–one of the things I most appreciate about the Alaskans I’ve met is how easy they are to underestimate. The Robert Service observation is indeed an apt one.
Don’t get me wrong, there are certainly plenty of fluffy types up here, who are just as aggravating as they are in the big cities. But there are also a lot of people whose depth you cannot appreciate without paying more attention than you’d expect. (In my experience, actually, you can find such really impressive people anywhere you go, if you’re willing to look. But I’ve never seen such a concentration as here, nor such depth when I do find it.) And–this is where they really endear themselves to me–they mostly seem to enjoy being underestimated.
Roger that, brother!
KW
I would love to live in Alaska. I bet the scenery is magnificent. And alot of the wilderness is still untouched. Still like it was in the early days of the US when the settlers were discovering the great frontier.
I bet you have many stories that could be told about that area of the country.
I’m incredibly fortunate to be here. We were able to move here at a time when it didn’t matter where I was located, and that made a huge difference. Not everyone has that luxury. Still, I think the most important thing that we did, in our decision process, was to turn the question on its ear. Most of us are programmed to think of venturing into the unknown in the form of self-defeating questions: “What if X goes wrong?” and the like. At some point, though, we looked at our lives and asked the big question this way: “If not now, when?” It’s hard to describe how different those two frames of reference really are, and nearly the very minute we looked at it this way, we both knew what we were going to do. Five years and several curveballs later (“X” did, in fact, go wrong–more than once), I have no regrets whatever.
And as far as stories: sure, I’ve got a few good ones. But even better: I now know people, and know of people, who have truly amazing ones.
Well, I’m sure I’m not the only one on the blog who never heard of Robert W. Service so here’s a link to a really neat poem and I typically can’t stand poetry. Used to put me to sleep in school. Of course, the “Rime of the Ancient Mariner” was different…….
http://www.internal.org/Robert_W_Service/The_Cremation_of_Sam_McGee
Fred DPRoNJ
Fred,
That’s one of his classics!
B.B.
BB
Is the 50 yard test of the .177 cal version a lost episode, or am I merely senile? I can’t find the darned thing.
First impressions: I HATE the triggerguard. It reminds me of the purposefully ugly big plastic blocky eyeglasses that hipsters are so fond of nowadays. Yes, this is a trifling criticism, but I like the old triggerguard better, and I hate hipsters.
I also notice that the power adjustment screw port now peeks out above the stock. If Crosman had put a slight cut out in the side of the stock, that would have allowed the ability to adjust the power without removing the action to make adjustments. Small change to make, huge payoff in convenience.
Another thing, on the wood stocked model you can remove the bolt by merely unscrewing a hex screw on the left side of the breech. On this model, it appears the entire breech assembly must be removed, and the action removed from the stock to do this same operation. }:-( The Marauder pistol is the same way. I mention it because you can clean the barrel the right way (from the breech end of the barrel) by removing that one screw and then the bolt. This is detailed in Derricks post on the Marauder. http://anotherairgunblog.blogspot.com/2009/11/benjamin-marauder-baffle-modification.html
Much easier if you don’t have to remove the stock and the breech assembly to do it.
Thankfully, I am now finished whining. The improved valve, bolt adjustment, and included depinger show that Crosman really does listen, despite all the naysaying from the naysayers. It also sounds like the new stock shape addresses my gripes about the wood version (too heavy, too bulky) though I miss the more elegant look of the old style buttpad and white spacer. Looks like I was able to squeeze in some more whining after all.
I think the idea of this stock is form follows function. Hey, they lightened it a pound, made it weather resistant, slimmed it up and made it somewhat adjustable and you are whining because it does not look like the chunky wood one. Dude, you are starting to sound like me.
As for me, I think it is spot on! It is all function without looking like an erector set. I have to agree that they should have made a little cut out for the adjustments, but maybe the intention is to slow you down and make you think. I can see a novice cranking back and forth on the screws and getting this thing so discumbobblated it doesn’t shoot anymore. A few minutes with a round file should do the trick.
Slinging Lead,
I couldn’t find a 50-yard test for the .177-caliber Marauder. Maybe, there wasn’t one.
Edith
Good day,Slinging Lead……I was going to make a butt joke,can’t seem to put one together this morning so I’ll owe you 1. FrankB
Nice try. The REAL FrankB would never be at a loss for a butt joke.
Identity theft is a crime! 😉
OK,OK…..truth is you just made it too darn easy SL.Felt it was beneath my talents! So you like old butts better??
HA!
That’s more like it.
SL,
Okay, me lad! Good catch!
How could I have missed doing that, when I did everything else?
There will be a 50-yards test for the .177!
B.B.
I’ve got to agree on the trigger guard, SL. That thing is a seriously ugly mark on an otherwise nice rifle. The synthetic stock I think I could live with given all of the new features. I can’t wait to see if Crosman’s claim of shot count and power increase are true.
/Dave
Love the idea of the raised cheekpiece. Methinks that feature should be standard on all airguns.
Pete
Pete,
Especially on guns like this that need to be scoped. I like it, too!
B.B.
Hopefully these built in cheekpieces will become more common.
In the meantime their are products like this http://www.snipercentral.com/karsten.htm
It completely changed how easy it is to position myself behind the scope on the rifles I have added it to.
csd,
Here’s an example of an olde school cheek raiser:
https://www.brownells.com/rifle-parts/stock-forend-parts/butt-plate-parts/cheek-pieces-palm-swells/leather-lace-on-cheekpiece-prod1870.aspx
An old solution for a cheek weld problem for many guns that is often overlooked these days.
kevin
I’m going to continue Slinging’s whine for a bit and state that I for one hate plasti-guns. I get the utility part, I get the less weight part, and to be fair the Marauder’s plastic isn’t bad looking-but it still doesn’t hold a candle to the plain ol’ beech on the original model.
Any chance the wood version will get the depinger and valve upgrade?
DD,
I think it is very possible! 😉
B.B.
If I was in the market for a “small bore” hunter, this in .25 would be my choice. The reason I would go with .25 over .22 is that although right now there are more choices in .22 for top quality pellets, that is changing rapidly. It used to be the same with .177 and .22.
Crosman continues to impress me.
An airgun manufacturer that actually listens to airgunners and incorporates changes airgunners want into their airgun designs. How novel.
You may not like synthetic stocks but the design/function seems like a vast improvement over the marauder wood version. The wood version of the marauder stock has the ergonomics of a 2 x 4 in my hands. A lighter version in synthetic the airgun crowd screamed and now they have it. The adjustable cheek piece is a fantastic bonus. Trimming a pound off the gun is huge.
The bolt is now ambidextrous! Crosman listened.
Be interesting to know what changes were made to the valve. Must assume the HDD (Hammer De-bounce Device) drove this change. If not, I wonder why incorporating an HDD into this new version was ignored. A depinger is a nice touch but unnecessary in my opinion since the ping in the .22 caliber marauders I’ve shot isn’t objectionable. Maybe the change to the valve made the ping more pronounced?
Don’t know. What I do know is that Crosman listens and as an avid airgunner I appreciate that.
kevin
BB,
Like you, I’ve been waiting for this review. Look forward to what you uncover regarding this Crosman claim. “Made top secret changes to the valve resulting in a 12% power increase and a 30% increase in shot count (.22 & .177).” Wondering if they also increased air capacity. Would appreciate if you could also provide how much work is required to keep this new rifle filled to stock pressures using a hand pump.
TC,
That is exactly the sort of stuff I am built to handle. The test rifle was sent nearly empty, so I’ll fill it with a pump and report on what it takes. Then I’ll shoot it and refill it several times and see what that takes.
B.B.
An investment you can play with:
http://www.network54.com/Forum/79574/thread/1385408771/F.S.+Whiscombe+80+MK2+HOTS
kevin
Kevin,
That looks like a good buy. The wood is great. The barrels are an aftermarket assembly, but hopefully they fit and work well. And the price seems reasonable to me.
B.B.
B.B.,
I think so too.
A collector would want the 4 original barrels but those Whiscombe combinations that include the HOTS are tought to find. 😉
kevin
BB
Great gun… you will end up writing a whole book on the Disco/Mrod/Prod series… if not for your participation on the development of the Disco.
And, concerning the Discovery, I was wondering how the barrel band (the one that holds the barrel and reservoir together) can affect POI and accuracy in general. There is a screw that touches the barrel from the top that obviously will affect POI if changed. If this band can be moved back and forth, should I try to change its position to tune the barrel harmonics? Have you ever tested something like this in the past?
The only time I have done anything like it was with a Mauser 7mm custom. The barrel was very thin and I added a few shims between the stock and barrel. I had to move it a little bit until I found a position that reduced the groups by half.
Isn’t it something you would like to test for us?
Fred_BR,
Talk about an enabler!
The upward pressure bedding technique is well-documented. Years ago I owned a German-made 30-06 with a thin barrel that had it and it really worked — with some reservations. The first shot from a cold barrel was always on target. But the next 4 shots made a J pattern that went about 1.5-inches at 100 meters. As the barrel heats it walks against the stock pressure.
B.B.
While crosman hasn’t mentioned it in the new syn literature, they have changed the baffle system. Old had four larger baffles. New has seven smaller and conical shaped ones, held in place like the 1720T, with a spring. I would recommend some type of sound comparison between them. Easiest way would be to measure syn rod at a particular tune, and then replace the baffles with ones from the 177 cal.
Since you now have a “factory tuned” sample, will you be running a PvV run down from above the factory fill specification?
As I’ve stated over the years — My .177 Marauder is the only PCP I’ve spent doing that on. In “as received” tune, I found the acceptable range to be 2700PSI down to 2200PSI (or 2450PSI +/- 250PSI). An indication that the factory “2500” may mean the /center/ of the performance band, not the peak fill.
Wulfraed,
What, on God’s Green Earth is a PvV? And how do I run one down?
B.B.
Guess I got too lazy…
Pressure vs Velocity
I like the marauder but this is one gun on my “want it but too hard to get” list since I am in Michigan where our poilticians in Lansing decided without checking out facts that somehow shrouded barrel air rifles were somehow more dangerous than non shrouded air rifles so I now need to locate an FFL dealer willing to help me get one. So my only option really is to build my own. I already succeeded in making a disco perform as good as a marauder. Now I’m working on making a disco exceed the performance of a marauder. I have the performance. Now I’m working on bringing my useful shot count up and adding a repeating magazine. When I’m done I should have what I would hope I could show Crosman and hopefully see if they want what I did for the next model year. But I want it 100% made in the USA.
John,
I hope I don’t offend PA by this – I do really appreciate them and buy lot’s of stuff from them – but since PA won’t ship one to Michigan, try Precision Airguns and Supplies (do a web search, since I’m not about to post a direct link to a PA competitor here). They are in Dryden, MI, and sell Marauders and lots of long guns with shrouds and moderators. Maybe they can help you out.
Alan in MI
I’ll keep them in mind. I’ll be doing some business with them for things I can’t get at pyramyd air due to frightened Michigan politicians legislating things they don’t understand.
I just wanted to add that I’m a fan of wood stocks.
But I found when your out in the woods shooting and bumping in to stuff. And wresting on trees or rocks to make a shot. The synthetic stocks take a little more abuse than wood will.
And BB here is something to compare.
Does the synthetic stock verses the wood stock make the gun seem louder or quieter to you by chance? Or vibrate less.
And do you think the two different stocks could make a bit of difference in the accuracy of a gun.
Not necessarily in the new verses old Mrods. But in any guns that you have shot.
GF1,
I don’t know. We’ll see.
B.B.
Looks like the classic just got better. And just when I’m developing an aesthetic for solid wood and metal like I have in my military surplus rifles, here is a great synthetic stock. Maybe I was right from the beginning. I remember getting reamed out for missing the write-up on the world-class Marauder trigger, so I’m glad to see that the standard has been maintained. 🙂 Should be interesting to see what this gun can do for accuracy tests.
So, how does the hasty sling work? I actually have a period military sling for my M1 and clearly you do not detach and loop it up as you would for prone or sitting position. I seem to recall seeing the hasty sling somewhere. Isn’t it a matter of creating a loop in the sling and twisting it around your arm until you get suitable tension?
/Dave, yes, I agree that what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. I was reading about how Sweden–an extremely liberal state where the jails are like country clubs–has raised a whole generation of incredible brats. An adult trying to correct a child is likely to get cursed out. It’s a long way from the Vikings. As it turns out, I have actually been thinking about regimens of toughness. One example is the regimen of teenage Olympic swimmers like Missy Franklin who has been in the news. It is up at 4:15am to get into the pool at 5am and swim for an hour or so. Then a nap. Then homework over breakfast and off to school. During her lunch hour, she is pounding the weights, and in the afternoon she swims some more for a daily total of something like 8000 yards. Then she goes to bed early to do it all over again. This is crazy. It is like the Shaolin monks. There certainly are tough people out there if you know where to look.
For a less systematic version, a college friend told me that his boarding school that he attended had some kid who was homeschooled in Louisiana. The guy had all sorts of abilities although he would swing from pipes in his spare time. This sounds like the Deliverance movie. The hillbillies were kind of gross, but man were they tough. One guy who was shot at point blank range with an arrow managed to stumble for quite some distance and almost get his levergun into play before dropping.
Nevertheless, some parts of the body are tougher than others. I’m in absolute agreement about the need for eye protection. The fact is that I had a terrible eye accident from a gun when I was very young. The gun wasn’t even capable of firing. It was a crappy toy rifle with an unfinished sharp edge to the muzzle. My brother and I were playing urban combat. I came around the corner and he was charging forward with his rifle up…. A martial arts master told me that there are two parts of the body that absolutely cannot be conditioned to pain and injury. One of the is the eye….
Matt61
For the wood lovers, the new syn rod owner’s manual shows a forth coming wood model. It has the new action and the stock is very close to the syn rod shape, including adjustable cheek riser. It does look thicker and slightly different in the pistol grip area. Checkering on pistol and forgrip. I have seen acknowledgement from a crosman rep, and suspect it will be at this coming shot show. Would guess sometime available in 2014.
BB,
The .177 you tested in wood states Marauder Made In the USA, but the new .22 model only states Marauder. Any significance?
TC,
The owner’s manual says “Made in the USA with some foreign components.”
B.B.
Im simply addressing a few of the questions concerning the Marauders. Please accept these statements as my personal opinion and not facts. Between my brother and I, we have 4 Marauders. 1 Wood Stock .25, 1 Wood Stock .22, And 2 Synthetic Stock .22s. The noise difference between the Wood stock and synthetic stock model is very minimal. As set by the factory, the new Marauders operate best between 2000 and 2700 psi . We use these mainly for squirrel hunting, and both calibers seem to perform equally well on squirrels. When sighted in at 30 yards, the .25 tends to drop an extra inch and a half at 50 yards. When first filling a new rifle With A Pump it takes a lot of effort, but refilling takes only 5 minutes or so. The new marauder barrel was very dirty, so might want to consider cleaning it first. The synthetic marauders are liking JSB Pellets, So that might be a good place to start. I hope this answers a few questions.
Jonathan,
Thanks for your info. You have a good persopective to know about stuff like this.
B.B.
As an owner of an older Mrod,, I am curious as to whether or not the new synthetic stock could be used on my rifle. From looking,, the barreled actions seems very close to the same. From what has been said, here,, there was some change in trigger position,, but, as that could be a function of a differently shaped stock,, the question remains.
I ask,, because I find the old stock to be awkward and blocky,, and not the pleasant shooting experience I had hoped for before my purchase.
ed
edlee,
I asked Crosman, and they told me the synthetic stock (1) will not be available separately and (2) you cannot fit the synthetic stock on the current Marauders with the wood stock.
Edith
Thank you Edith. That is a shame, on both levels. I suppose,, if I want a rifle I will enjoy,, I will be forced to go with a custom stock. My woodworking skills are not such that I would risk trying to alter the stock one.
ed
Hello Airgun Fans
This Benjamin Marauder is the type of rifle I was trying to explain about in my comment of the Umarex Fusion combo. Here we see a rifle that appears to be capable of competing with any gun made today but at a very reasonable price. I assume the components not made in the USA, would be subject to close scrutiny by Crosman.
Kevin Wilmeth
You are a fortunate man indeed to be able to live in a place we southerners can only dream about. As I read Robert Service poems and stories about the Klondike gold rush, I was filled with a pioneering urge only a 12 year old could dream up. The reality of working for a living has kept me closer to the 49th parallel. I did have one good friend who made it up to the Yukon for a stab at living free. He came back 5 years later with some good stories and the fact that this freedom he was after came at quite a high price. I would guess if you don’t hunt or have a garden, the price of food and other necessities can be quite dear in the north.
Matt61
Anyone who has competed at a high level has put in many hours of repetitive practice. When I was training for archery tournaments, I tried to put in a minimum of 5 hours a day – 5 days a week. The weekends were set aside for tournaments. I truly loved this regime for the first couple of years, but as I became involved in other activities, and a relationship, it became more of a chore. I marvel at the athletes who compete at the Olympics, etc, but I also know of the good times they have deprived themselves in their quest for gold. High performance sport is truly for those who have youth on their side. The inevitable injuries that crop up seem to heal faster when you are younger too. This being said, I was 32 yrs old when I began my archery career. Its never too late to follow a dream.
Ciao
Titus
Titus, I grew up next to a family whose son, from a very early age (about 5yrs) had a natural talent for hockey that he and his family pursued with vigor.
When I got my first apartment (in another city) he was about 14 and it was generally thought by all (including his coaches) that he had an NHL career.
About 10 years later on one of my visits home he was visiting his parents and I ran into him.
I asked him if the hockey career had continued and he answered ‘no’.
When I asked him what happened he simply said…’a girl, now my wife’.
Just didn’t see that one coming 😉
I’m just curious if crosman fixed their .22 mrod barrel issues. Check any AG forum and the number 1 complaint for the .22 mrod was/is accuracy issues. Crosman is well aware of the issues and normally just ship you another barrel (took me three replacements to get a good one).
WHAT????. The .22 Marauder has Barrel accuracy issues? How did you determine if the barrel was inaccurate? I just got a synthetic marauder in .22 from pyramyd air and I’m just dialing in the scope. It seems pretty accurate, so how did you tell if yours was off? When you acquired the rifle,did you clean the barrel before you shot the air rifle? I’m really interested to know since my return date is fast approaching.
Stephan,
For a long time this has been a popular topic on the internet. Apparently there was a run of barrels with poor accuracy years ago, and the legends grew from there.
I fully expect my test Marauder to be very accurate.
B.B.
I JUST bought a NEW .22 synthetic marauder and I’m hoping from what you referenced, that the barrel problem is a thing of the past. I really hope that is the case. This is my FIRST PCP air rifle and I’m using it for rat control in an urban setting.(so it has to be quiet) I had asked around about suppressors that you would see on the end of expensive English air rifles from: Air Arms,Daystate,Brocock,etc…but in the USA,(where we have the right to own REAL firearms) I’ve found them to be almost non existent or hard to acquire.Pyramyd AIR gave me the name of a custom air rifle suppressor maker, but I guess no imports. I’m fairly new to the adult air rifle world and I’m trying to learn as much as possible as fast as possible-(and that’s a lot of information to assimilate). Do you think the NEW Marauder Synthetic would have barrel problems…? because as far as I’ve read, that’s not the case. Please let me know if you’ve heard differently.
Stephan,
There is nothing to worry about. Some people just like to stir the pot with rumors and open-ended questions that prey on the confidence of new shooters. That’s what this blog is here for. We will be your sounding board.
If you own a synthetic Marauder, what can YOU tell US about the accuracy? How is YOUR rifle?
That’s all that matters. The rest is just gossip.
B.B.
Look for my comments about my Synthetic Marauder .22 under AirrifleRatHunter down the page.
BB
Very happy to see your going to go back and test the .177 at 50 yards. I have read the all the Marauder reports several times during the past few months and have always wondered why you never got to that. I have had my .177 for about 3 months now and have put 2000+ pellets through it, hard to keep track when it gets to be that many, and I LOVE the rifle. To bad its bitterly cold here in Indiana now and I’m just not that die hard. I also am excited about the next report to find out what scope your going to use. I have had 2 scopes on mine so far trying to find what I really want, just ordered what I hope will be “The One”. A Vortex Crossfire II 6-18×44. But I had a heck of a time with magazines for mine, ended up with 5, Two from pyramyd, and 3 from crosman and they all had those hairline cracks in them that I asked you about. I finally just gave up and asked both companys to not send any more, cause they still worked ok and I was starting to feel like maybe I was being too picky. But I’m curious if the mag you got with the new rifle had them, I posted a link to the pic of mine last time but can do it again if you cant find it. Hope its not too long till part 2!
I’ve got a Marauder Synthetic .22cal PCP and a BSA essential 312X44 scope,( the scope is from Cabela’s)but the air rifle (Pyramyd Air) and it’s got me perplexed. I’m trying to find the best pellets to use w/it. I’m having accuracy issues. So far I’ve used RWS superdome 14.5gr, the Benjamin discovery ultimate hunting pellet assortment:super point[worthless] Domed magnum[OK],pointed expanding[not so good] and hollow point[OK]. Benjamin Discovery PCP hollow points came w/t rifle{N.S.G.]. Any recommendations on pellets for my rifle? Also does anybody run their Marauder Synthetic @ 2900psi or 3000psi? Does it improve the power? Pellet arc? Energy delivered to target? And if anybody has some thoughts on reasonably priced Air rifle scopes…I’d like to hear from you.ARH.
ARH,
I would check the baffles to make sure the pellets aren’t touching as they leave the barrel. That happens a lot with guns that have them and it destroys accuracy.
I would think the best pellets would be JSBs and Premiers.
Of course I will be tewsting our .22 synthetic and you will be able to watch what happens to me.
B.B.
Does anyone clean the barrel before shooting a new PCP air rifle?
ARH,
It is rare, but I have done it. It doesn’t hurt anything.
B.B.
Exactly what are the “baffles”? And how do I go about checking them? This is my 1st PCP so….
ARH,
Okay, we have a lot of learning to do. Let’s start with the baffles. They are rings of metal or synthetic that look like thick washers. When your rifle fires, the pellet leaves the muzzle of the barrel that is deep inside the shrouded jacket and passes through several baffles before exiting the end of the shroud. You probably thought the shroud was the barrel, but it isn’t.
Read this report:
http://airgun-academy.blogspot.com/2007/11/how-do-barrel-shrouds-work.html
These baffles allow the pellet to pass through, but they strip off the compressed air behind it and reflect it back into the chamber that is formed by the baffle. The air loses energy this way before it leaves the gun and that’s what makes it quieter.
To check the baffles you have to look at them. This involves disassembling the shroud and looking inside it at the baffles. I use a tactical flashlight and I look for shiny spots on the sides of one or more baffles. If you find them, it means the pellet is touching the baffle as it passes through, and that destroys accuracy. Somehow that must be corrected.
Since you are new to PCPs I don’t recommend you do this yourself. I just told you so you would know what’s happening. The rifle needs to be examined by a technician for this problem, but before you do that there is something else to consider.
Pellets make all the difference to accuracy. The ones you buy at discount stores are not usually accurate and have little chance of doing well. Whenever you read one of my accuracy test reports, you will see which pellets I use. I have linked to those pellets the first time they are mentioned in the article, if Pyramyd AIR has them for sale.
For a .22 Marauder my top pellet picks would be the JSB Exact 15.89-grain pellet, the JSB Exact 18.1-grain pellet and the Crosman Premier pellet that comes packed in the cardboard box.
/product/jsb-diabolo-exact-jumbo-22-cal-15-89-grains-domed-500ct?p=584
/product/jsb-diabolo-exact-jumbo-22-cal-15-89-grains-domed-500ct?p=584
/product/crosman-premier-22-cal-14-3-grains-domed-625ct?p=116
I wouldn’t say the rifle is inaccurate until I had tried these 3 pellets. You will see me try them in the Marauder I am testing.
That’s it for now, but there is a ton of information that you need. Let’s take it a step at a time, and I hope the other readers will also contribute their answers.
One final thing. The scope you are using on the gun — how high have you adjusted the elevation? Are you aware that adjusting it above the 3/4 mark, or adjusting the windage beyond 3/4 to the right can allow the scopes reticle to bounce around, and that could also be the problem?
B.B.
Oh great! another problem. I’ll check the scope. Can the reticle cant due to over elevation? I’ve read reviews on this scope- BSA Essential 312X44AO, and they seem to be very positive for the most part. However, the scope in the photo didn’t look “exactly” like mine.[maybe due to year of manufacture, or it’s of a different line] I have to find out if BSA makes a 312X44AO and a BSA “essential”312X44AO so I can determine if the reviewed scope is the one I use.
P.S. do you have any idea when you will be testing the .22 marauder?
ARH,
I’ve already begun.
/blog/2013/11/benjamin-marauder-22-repeater-with-synthetic-stock-part-1/
I do a part every week or so, so the next one should be soon. I’ll make it Friday for you.
Scopes do not cant with over-elevation. All that happens is the erector tube return spring relaxes and the tube starts moving with every shot. That means the reticle can be in a different place with each shot.
B.B.
As for pellets: Crossman premier hollowpoints? And JSB Exacts?
ARH,
Premier hollowpoints MAY be accurate. They are one o0f the few hollowpoints that are accurate in some guns. Premier domes are far more likely to be accurate.
And JSB Exacts that weigh 15.89 grains should be the best ones.
B.B.
Um, I saw a video on “you tube” concerning the JSB exacts. I was going to purchase some until I saw the video. From the information I’ve gathered so far from the Web and “Airgun World” magazine, JSB exacts are the pellet of choice for many an Air gunner. However, after I saw the video on a slight manufacturing “defect” on the JSB Exacts I’m not so sure. The guy in the video,{who had way too much time on his hands or was some kind of machinist} made a “pellet modification device” to correct the factory defect. He gave before and after results. Then he bought a 2nd tin of pellets. These pellets did not have the defect and did shoot much better. I’m concerned about the manufacture of these pellets and don’t want to waste money buying “future fishing weight material” How recently have you bought JSB Exacts? Any problems? I’m going to try Crossman Premier’s,since local stores carry them. But I’d like to try the JSB’s if the “defect” has been removed from the manufacturing process.
It is my understanding that: The NEW Synthetic Marauder has the “depinging” device already installed @ the factory. Is this true? One last question: BSA makes the “essential” line of Air rifle scopes. I have a 312X44 AO “essential” on my Marauder synthetic. It may be as you said “over adjusted” and the reticle may be bouncing around.[I’ll have to check] Is there a scope/rings combination you’d recommend for this Air rifle in that power range. I shoot in my basement @ 10M and outside up to 65M? I was looking @ the Hawke Sport optics line-[Panorama EV 4-12X50AO,IR,1/4MOA,1″ tube] If I have to “overextend” the elevation/windage on my scope, should I get Taller scope rings? or buy a higher quality scope?
I am considering a Marauder Synthetic in .177 or .22 caliber.
I do not hunt.
I shoot paper targets, tin cans, marshmallows, etc.
I like accuracy.
Which caliber is the most accurate?
Earl,
Welcome to the blog. Both calibers are equally accurate, but they have accuracy problems with the .22 more often than the .177. There aren’t a lot of them, but when there are, it’s always the .22 pr ,25.
Also, .177 pellets are far less expensive. That’s the way I would go.
B.B.
OK, I will choose a .177. The hand pumping should be less for the .177 also.
I am concerned about the hand pumping.
I am 70 years old, 5′-9″ tall, 215 pounds and above average strength for my age.
Do you think I will be able to do the hand pumping?
I wish someone near Lexington, KY would let me practice on their hand pump.
Earl,
Why would there be less pumping for the .177? Both calibers have to be filled to the same pressure.
The Marauder needs to be filled to between 2,500 and 3,000 psi. That’s the place where pumping becomes difficult. You might want to think about the Discovery that only needs to be pumped to 2,000 psi.
You live close to Roanoke VA. There will be an airguns show there in September. Lloyd Sikes usually has a table there. He owns airgunlab.com If you contacted him, he could bring a hand pump and let you try your hand at it.
But I would say that you probably are not going to like pumping the Marauder that much. Yes you should be able to do it. I’m about your size and it’s no problem for me. Of course I’m three years younger than you, but I don’t think that has much to do with it.
B.B.
B.B.
I thought it would take less volume of air to shoot .177 pellets than .22 pellets.
I assumed the .177 would shoot more shots per refill.
Do they shoot the same number of shots per refill?
The Discovery would be OK if it was as quiet as the Marauder. My guns need to be quiet.
It will take me about 7 hours to drive to Roanoke VA.
There should be someone in Lexington or Louisville, KY that will let me try their hand pump.
Earl,
The number of shots will be close to the same. They will differ more per gun than per caliber.
The Discovery is not quiet. Maybe Lloyd can suggest a way to quiet it down a b it.
B.B.
BB
I own legal silencers for 22 long rifle firearms. They are threaded 1/2×28. I need adaptors to connect 1/2×28 threads to the Discovery and my 2240 and my 2300T. I will contact Lloyd.
BB,
I think you are right about trying the Discovery first. I will buy the Discovery because it is easier to pump with the hand pump.
I am looking to buy a Marauder but haven’t decided on the caliber. I will mainly use it for Starlings. Don’t really need the power of the .25 but I want accuracy and I keep reading about .22 accuracy issues. Any suggestions?
Steve,
I read the final report on the .22, which is Part 5. I think it will be accurate enough for starlings out to 50 yards, and most shots should be closer, don’t you think?
/blog/2014/02/benjamin-marauder-22-repeater-with-synthetic-stock-part-5/
But the last thing you want to do is buy a gun in which you have no confidence. If that is the case, get the .25 by all means.
B.B.
Tom, I am having problems witht a very hard to cock synrod, the cause is the hammer hitting against the surface of the air cylinder, tried polishing the hammer and rough surfaces in tube and aplying silicone grease but it does not work very well, the hammer seems to be a bit little, heard is a common issue with synrods, have any idea how to resolve this issue? Thanks.
Christopher,
I have no experience with the newest Marauders in the synthetic stocks. But I never use silicone grease for lubrication. I find it causes steel to gall and stick. I use Moly when I want slickness.
I hope that helps.
B.B.
Great, molly grease will be, thanks BB.
You are right, just replace the silicon grease for moly graph grease and the bolt cocks smooth, as hot knive in butter! Thanks again.
Christopher,
Thank you for that feedback. Knowing something worked is so important to me.
Good job.
B.B.
Thee is so much to learn from the comments especially considering they follow uniformly comprehensive articles. I have been lurking for months and finally could not resist an expression of praise for BB et al.
Jts,
Welcome to the blog.
B.B.