Generation 2 Benjamin Marauder with synthetic stock.
Part 12 (all links to earlier reports are there)
Part 13
This report covers:
- Still holding
- Back to the trigger
- Trigger adjustment
- The entire story!
- No plan
- eBay
- Next
- Summary
Okay, I’m doing you a big favor today. I’m going to show you how to repair a Benjamin Marauder trigger—WHEN SOME COWBOY HAS MESSED IT UP! In Part 13 of this report I mentioned that when Tom Himes worked on my Marauder he also adjusted the trigger. That was incorrect. He didn’t adjust it but he did lubricate it with his special lube that makes the rifle cock easier. That was what made the trigger release so lightly. I said this about the trigger in Part 12:
The Marauder trigger is set WAY too light for me! It needs to be adjusted heavier. It breaks with just 3 oz. of pressure and I cannot feel a stage two. That HAS to be adjusted!
So today I went to adjust the trigger so I could shoot more groups with different .25-caliber pellets. Well guess what? The trigger on this Marauder no longer adjusts!
Still holding
Before I get to the details of the trigger I want to share with you that this Marauder is still holding air. After 11 days of being pressurized to 3250 psi the pressure gauge now reads 2800 psi. That’s a loss of 450 psi over 11 days and I will take it! The Marauder holds for a long time, unlike some of the higher-pressure PCPs I’ve tested. And I may have a trick for even them in a future report.
The Marauder held 2800 psi for 11 days. It looks higher but that’s the angle of the photo.
Back to the trigger
Now let’s talk about the trigger. I have long said the Marauder trigger is one of the finest sporting air rifle triggers made. It is so finely adjustable. But in both Parts 12 and 13 I mentioned the trigger on this rifle is too light and needed to be adjusted. It was scary light—going off at 2.5 to 3 OUNCES and there was no stage two!
I shoot 10 meter pistol so I know light triggers. Mine are set to release at around 510-520 grams, which is about 1 pound 2 ounces. And they have two distinct stages.
I do know light triggers. But 2.5 OUNCES is WAY too light! So today I was going to adjust the trigger both heavier and more distinct so I could safely shoot the rifle for the test. There was just one problem. It would not adjust!
Trigger adjustment
I’m not going to talk about how to adjust the Marauder trigger today because I already did that very well in another report. I’m going to talk about what you can do when your trigger has been “adjusted” by someone who messed it up! Or when, like today’s case, a lubricant has made it too light.
Here is a drawing of the trigger with basic adjustment instructions.
The large round screw at the right (A) adjusts the trigger-pull weight. Clockwise to increase. Behind the trigger blade (E) the two small screws adjust the first (B) and second (C) stage pull length. For first stage clockwise to increase the travel. For stage two counterclockwise to increase the travel distance. And the screw behind those 2 (D) allows for slight repositioning of the trigger blade.
I tried to increase the trigger pull weight but screw A was already screwed down as far as it would go. Then I tried to get a first stage that I could feel and after a LOT of fiddling with screws B and C I got some travel into stage one. But the trigger still broke WAY too light!
I messed with screw D a little while trying to get the first stage adjusted and it did help stage one some, but what happened next was the entire story!
The entire story!
I had the barreled action outside the stock and as I was adjusting screw D I happened to look at the trigger spring. That’s the spring that screw A adjusts. Know what? It had been cut!!! NOBODY SHOULD EVER CUT A TRIGGER SPRING UNLESS THEY HAVE A PLAN.
No plan
If you cut a trigger spring, and there are times when it is okay, you first need a backup plan in case the trigger no longer works. There was no plan for this one. I now had a trigger tension spring that was WAY too light and no good way to make it right. The best I could do was stretch it until my replacement spring arrived.
I wish I had thought to take a picture of the spring before I stretched it but I didn’t. You can clearly see that the spring has been cut on the left side.
Marauder trigger spring cut and stretched.
The cut spring was stretched but it did not fix the pull weight. There was now a definite stage two in the trigger pull but it was still way too light to use.
Success!
I sent a message to Crosman that I needed a replacement trigger spring and also a screw that holds it in the trigger assembly because when attempting to replace the spring with an aftermarket spring that screw went flying! Why is it I can tell you guys not to do stuff like that and yet I do it every time?
Within a short time of the message I was called by Matt from Crosman about the parts I needed, but I had found the screw and a perfect replacement spring! Hurray! I had to promise the Lord to clean my office that currently requires a tetanus shot to enter, but that is small potatoes for getting the Marauder back on the road.
So thanks, Matt, for your rapid support and thank you, Lord, for allowing me to continue to work in squalor just a little longer.
With the new spring the trigger now pulls to 9 ounces in stage one and one pound even in stage two. A lot more adjustment remains in the adjustment screw so I can go heavier, but for shooting off a bench in a warm room, a pound is fine. That’s my competition air-pistol training talking.
Summary
There are occasions when cutting a trigger spring is okay, but ONLY if and when you have a plan to keep the trigger safe afterward. This one was not safe and had to be repaired. I don’t know when it was cut or by whom; it just was. Thankfully no other parts were altered so fixing it was possible.
Fortunately for all of us, this rifle is a Marauder. It still holds air and once again it has a stunning trigger!
Tom,
Congratulations in getting the trigger back to satisfaction. Your statement “office that currently requires a tetanus shot to enter” probably rang a lot of bells. I am glad to hear that there is still someone at Crosman that answers the phone and that they are still actively supporting people in need of parts. Hopefully all is not lost in the new management of TCFKAC (The Company Formerly Known As Crosman).
Siraniko
The only time I have cut springs is to shorten “aftermarket” springs to the original length with the exception of those springs in the Edge trigger. In that case I replaced them altogether. Of course I did not really plan on it going anywhere.
Like you said, cutting trigger springs is not a good idea without a backup plan.
Crosman has impressed me with their excellent customer service every time I have needed some help (some of which was due to my own ignorance at the time). I enjoy reading these types of reports that explain how things work and how to properly work on them. Glad you got the trigger working better. Looking forward to more reports on this rifle!
BB
There is an upside and a downside to fixing squalor. The upside is the room or work area looks neater. The downside is you won’t remember where you moved stuff to and you may never see some of it again. I know since it happens every time family from out of town comes to visit.
Deck
Decksniper, I have been to BB’s place many times.m
It is not squalor, it is fact over 70 years of Airguns collecting, and is a museum of un believable Airgun history.
.
But unfortunately lacks the wall real estate to properly display said collection.
The scope of the historical content there has to be seen to be appreciated.
Ian
Ian
Yeah and I bet others as well as me would dearly love to see photos or a Utube with BB narrating. Better still a report series would probably break a record for number of comments. May even enable some purchases from P/A.
May even get to see what BB has near the door for quick pesting.
Deck
I concur. It might make me feel better about my own organizational system (or lack thereof…hey, I’m working on it), but on the other hand, I might be overcome with jealousy at the guns I would love to have.
;o)
Seriously, when I think about my own meager collection, my thoughts turn to who in my family will make sure the pieces go to the right place (or if they are even wanted or will be appreciated) or are properly sold to get some value out of them. Most of what I have is worth more than what I paid. I’m thinking of Dr. Beeman’s collection sadly getting auctioned off in lots of 10-15 pieces per lot. Oh well, perhaps it is enough to have enjoyed the collecting, restoring, and the shooting, and not worry too much about the residual value.
It’s not squalor, it’s “GWOO” – Guy’s Way Of Organizing. Tom’s alleged squalor sounds a bit like FM’s. And yes, he never learns to remember that when he moves things around he forgets where he put them. One trick to avoid that – take phone pics of the new location and put them in a folder which could be labeled “Where My Stuff Is Hopefully.”
FM.
The the key of your response is the word “HOPEFULLY”…
Ian.
We closed on our house last Thursday and have been moving stuff since then.
I have a LOT of Airguns in cases and boxes in a couple of closets.
I can’t tell you how may “project guns” are not included in that count. But it is far more than I realized.
I have several plastic totes simply labeled “air/gun stuff” Again , far more than realized I had.
They are stacked in a corner of the garage.
While I am not on par with BB’ collection YET, that is my goal.
He who dies with the most toys wins!
Ian
Moving stinks. Last time I moved, wife and I vowed to put our stuff in its new “place” as we brought it into the new house. That worked until the old house sold. Then we suddenly had a big pile in the new basement that sat for a few years. You really learn what is important by what stays in piles and what is needed for everyday life.
Well, I am one of those who have cut a trigger spring but I did have a plan. I have a Barnett Tracker/Webley Spitfire that I bought at the last Roanoke show that BB attended. In fact, I asked him about the rifle before laying down my cash. At home, I found the rifle had the typical lawyer trigger. That is, after 8 shots, my trigger finger hurt! Guys, the trigger on my M1 Garand was nicer than this piece of garbage. My finger didn’t hurt from shooting the Garand but my shoulder did after some 30 rounds. Less now (rounds that is).
Anyway, I found a trigger shoe for an S&W fit the Barnett trigger and that eased the pain but the trigger still felt like a NY City 12 pound trigger. So I cut one coil off the spring and, ta da, I can now shoot the Webley/Barnett until I get tired without any pain.
It was for sale at the NC show but no takers. Maybe next year.
Fred formerly of the Demokratik Peeples Republik of NJ now happily in GA
I re-read the blogs for the Benjamin Discovery last night (inspired by RidgeRunner and shootski, of course).
1) glad those blogs are still there. The comments were an education as well.
2) wondering if the Maurauder was the next step in the Crosman PCP evolutionary chain.
3) I love blogs like this
I have a question, when you stretch out a spring like this, does it lose its springing faster? In other words, will B.B. have to replace that trigger spring before too long?
Roamin Greco,
“2) wondering if the Marauder was the next step in the Crosman PCP evolutionary chain.”
To the best of my knowledge it was the next PCP that Crosman brought to market. Tom knows way more about it than i do…i just bought both (Benjamin Discovery .177 caliber and a Benjamin Marauder 1st Generation .22 caliber) as soon as Crosman put them up for purchase.
Spring Links:
https://www.tevema.com/does-cutting-a-spring-make-it-stiffer/
https://specialspringsna.com look around in RESOURCES.
This: https://specialspringsna.com/spring-force-calculator/ is the one that really interested me! Anyone interested in Gas Springs should have a RESOURCE like this.
shootski
Sometime about the beginning of the Marauder era, TCFKAC brought out the Katana. If I am not mistaken it may have been a special order by Pyramyd Air. It is a very rare air rifle indeed. I am sure that BB likely knows something about it.
RR,
Yes the Katana was a special order PCP for Pyramyd Air. I think the stock was all that separated it from the Marauder.
Here is a short series on it.
https://www.pyramydair.com/blog/2009/11/the-benjamin-katana-part-3/
BB
BB,
It appears to have the Marauder trigger and a similar stock, but it is a single shot. I sure would like to have one.
There used to be an adapter shim you could put on a Discovery action so as to use a Marauder trigger. Lloyd used to make it and sell it.
RidgeRunner,
I put a Marauder trigger in my Discovery and if my rememberer is working correctly, it called for a .030” shim. But the literature that I read also said that due to manufacturing tolerances, some rifles could work well without the shim.(I put the shim in mine, anyway.)
The Marauder trigger is very good, especially compared to the original Discovery one.
Bill
RG
“With the new spring the trigger now pulls to 9 ounces in stage one and one pound even in stage two.
BB found a suitable replacement spring,, if he was wise, he discarded the cut one,,, but if he is like me,, he held on to it.
As to No 2, I know that the original Challenger came out at about the same time as the Marauder but don’t know which was first. It also had the same or a very similar trigger. it was mostly used with CO2 ( as can be the early Mrods) tho. It could also use Air but since the pressure was limited to 2000 many felt the increased shot count from CO2 the better option.
I own the later version of the Challenger 2009 (not really much different other than the better barrel) and an early Mrod. I can’t tell any difference between the two triggers. Both are excellent.
Ed
Roamin,
Actually Ed Schultz wanted to bring out the Marauder or something like it first. Crosman had been rebranding a certain British line of PCPs and everyone knew what they were. By buying the original rifles people saved a lot of money, so they weren’t selling so well under the Crosman banner.
When I took what became the Discovery to them I didn’t just sell them my idea for the rifle. I sold them the way to launch it, too. I said to test each rifle thoroughly before it left the factory and don’t let leakers leave the plant. They did it that way and the result was a resounding success!
So when the Marauder came to market a year later Crosman was already inculcated with the way to build a PCP. And the rest is history.
BB
Roamin Greco,
Another LINK to the past history: https://www.airgundepot.com/vault/articles/benjamin-discovery-part-1-the-game-changer/
There are links at the bottom to the following Parts which are of high interest to BD current and future owners; notice the misspelling of Tom Gaylord’s name ;^)
shootski
Thank you, sir. Good stuff.
This was very good and relevant for FM. His pre-loved Marauder, purchased a few months back, shows no signs of leaking. The trigger works well, or at least well enough for FM who does not like fiddling with what ain’t broken. Maybe the previous owner fine-tuned the trigger, being he seemed to have customized the rifle a bit and appears to know what he is doing. So, FM believes in following the Hippocratic Prescription of “first, do no harm,” when it comes to pretty much anything.
Speaking of leaks, the recently-arrived K98 PCP was in its original box and surprisingly, it was pressurized to almost 2000 PSI. No idea how long it had been at that level pressure. Test-fired it – even with the fixed sights and FM’s imperfect eyes, got a decent – FOR FM – group of four out of five, with one “flyer” at 25 yards, group size being 1.125.” This was with Crosman 14.3 grain hollowpoint pellets with impacts being clustered to the left. As of today, still no leaks evident. Before messing with the front sight adjustment will try different pellets and work a little more on aiming technique. So far, pleasantly surprised by how it feels and shoots. This “lady” is a looker too, though we must not forget beauty is in the eye of the beholder. No matter, Mrs. FM is not jealous and actually gave Ms. “Kay” a couple of compliments.
B.B., RidgeRunner, Fred formerly of the PRofNJ currently in GA, other readers interested in a story about the loss of LIBERTY in the BLUE states,
Texas is no longer the only state Virginia lawmakers are currently quarreling with. Earlier this month, West Virginia state senator Chris Rose created a resolution that invites 27 Virginia counties and three Maryland counties to join the Mountain State. LINKed article: https://northernvirginiamag.com/news/2025/11/17/resolution-invites-27-virginia-counties-to-join-west-virginia/
The 2nd Amendment protections are at extreme risk join the reformed nra.org or one of the other organizations that support the Bill of Rights or prepare to lose your right to own and use arms of any kind.
And if you don’t believe they will come for your Airguns, Crossbows, Blades, and Slings you are deluding yourself.
A response at the end of the piece from one of the Virginia Senators: When Sen. Tim Kaine was asked about the resolution by West Virginia’s News 5, he said, “I wasn’t aware of it and it’s not going to happen.”
Note that isn’t a TYRANNICAL statement by a Tyrant…is it?
shootski
“I wasn’t aware of it and it’s not going to happen.” George III could have said that 250 years ago. We know what happened. By the way, encourage fellow citizens to watch the current Ken Burns production on the American Revolution. One thing anyone with even half a brain will take away from it is that if the colonials had not had access to firearms, there would have been no Revolution.