GTA

Airguns by Make and Model => Benjamin Airguns => Topic started by: Sean on December 14, 2023, 08:33:13 PM

Title: Marauder then and now
Post by: Sean on December 14, 2023, 08:33:13 PM
Hi all. I'm looking into getting a marauder. I would like to maybe do a 30 conversion. Question ? Are the new single shot marauder as good as the older ones? I have heard QC issues lately perhaps? Thank you for any input.
Title: Re: Marauder then and now
Post by: 3crows on December 15, 2023, 01:09:56 AM
Hi all. I'm looking into getting a marauder. I would like to maybe do a 30 conversion. Question ? Are the new single shot marauder as good as the older ones? I have heard QC issues lately perhaps? Thank you for any input.

What single shot Marauder? The Marauder is the same as it has ever been, a good solid platform to have fun with, shoot as is or modify like crazy and learn about PCP rifles along the way.

(https://i.postimg.cc/cLfWndGj/IMG-4640.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/ZWYXktRF)

A potential problem I see with doing .30 caliber is as the power level goes up so does the recoil. Those four screws that secure the breech to the valve (not to mention a barrel secured with two silly grub screws) and reservoir tube were never meant to handle 100 fpe. My 6 pounds bare and highly modified .25 caliber Marauder is a beast and can reach near 70 fpe pushing JSB 34 grain pellets beyond accurate speeds. And it recoils like a .22 Magnum PB. I think that is about the power limit. But, heck, I have not run the stresses despite being a halfaxx engineer. And the shot count will be just a few shots because the other main issue with the Marauder is the tiny reservoir volume and 3000 psi pressure limit.

Hanging a bottle on it, well, now you have a bench rest rifle. All these bottle guns I see are almost laughable. Ten pounds air guns making maybe 150 fpe and my Kimber Mountain Ascent in 7mm Remington Magnum makes near 3,500 fpe and weighs fully scoped and ready to hunt barely 6 pounds. And it is short, more compact and easier to carry. That is my goal for an air rifle, something I can carry about in a practical manner for killing things that need to be dead.

I rant on, clearly I am not representative of the center of the bell curve.




t.
Title: Re: Marauder then and now
Post by: Sean on December 15, 2023, 09:05:43 AM
I love it!! Thank you for posting. By single shot I mean not ,,, f,ing semi auto!! I like your set up. I don't need to or even, thinking about it, don't believe I want to do the 30 now. I have seen all the parts and pictures, right down to the two screws recommend for drilling and tapping and pinning the valve more. I gotta look into it more. So in regards to the quality of the newer marauder vs the older ones? Is the QC still good? Or should I find an older one in the classifieds.
Title: Re: Marauder then and now
Post by: avator on December 15, 2023, 09:11:33 AM
I would wager that you would have as much, if not more invested in modding Marauder to effectively shoot big caliber, big fpe as would would if you just purchase a gun already made to make those numbers.
Title: Re: Marauder then and now
Post by: 3crows on December 15, 2023, 11:08:43 AM
Maybe, maybe not. But, I do think the OP is no longer interested in a .30 Marauder.

Building a Marauder. My rifle does not include a purchase of a rifle. I bought every single part, used, new, some here, some there, some on GTA Classifieds, some parts from Crosman direct, some from various vendors such as JSAR, Tim Hill, AGR, Talon Tune, Archer and individuals. Yes, it is an expensive rifle but please do not include the price of a new rifle on top. I built mine from parts. I still have the Marauder I bought new and one I bought used and two I am building completely from parts. Bought new, #1:

(https://i.postimg.cc/vBsybXss/IMG-3789.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/TyCFcV17)

Built from parts, #2:

(https://i.postimg.cc/yxsqV4DZ/IMG-0729.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/phGcZSYW)

Here is Marauder #4, my second complete parts build, not a purchased rifle, waiting on a barrel and it needs a stock because that one is borrowed from the rifle above for build up and testing. I think I will go Boyds maybe, not sure, or buy a used SynRod stock like I did for my Superlight:

(https://i.postimg.cc/g2ZbqhRW/Screenshot-2023-11-24-at-9-17-36-AM.png) (https://postimg.cc/68tPByYj)

I would much rather a Marauder than a crooked Avenger or those flexi-breech JTS CCC rifles. A FX M3 plus slug kit and a barrel kit, what is that going to run, about $4,000. I will get there eventually, maybe. The value in the Marauder is the learning.

Some parts were given to me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :D Thanks  8).
Title: Re: Marauder then and now
Post by: avator on December 15, 2023, 11:19:32 AM
I must have hit the Avenger lottery. I've had mine for a couple years now without issue. But I have read about the issues many others have had. Still one of the most accurate guns I have. But, I don't own any upper crust guns. The ones I have suit me just fine.
Title: Re: Marauder then and now
Post by: 3crows on December 15, 2023, 12:36:02 PM
Is it possible, really curious as I know it is a well supported rifle, is it possible to build a complete Avenger from aftermarket parts? Maybe a few basic parts like the trigger group and breech still from China, but the rest from non-China aftermarket? In other words, order a few parts from Air Venturi and then custom build a rifle from aftermarket? Can an individual order parts direct from Air Venturi? I like the look of the Avenger-X but --------. And at or under 7 pounds bare?
Title: Re: Marauder then and now
Post by: Sean on December 15, 2023, 01:48:43 PM
Thank you all for the responses. I have a .22 lelya 2.0 and a talon p.25 .I am just liking the simple mechanics and  traditional look of the marauder. Either 22 or 25 . Research time. Thank you everyone.
Title: Re: Marauder then and now
Post by: Motorhead on December 15, 2023, 02:13:04 PM
Hi all. I'm looking into getting a marauder. I would like to maybe do a 30 conversion. Question ? Are the new single shot marauder as good as the older ones? I have heard QC issues lately perhaps? Thank you for any input.
.30 cal .. while it was doable a few years ago with being able to purchase Side lever breeches that had the HUGE transfer path ( 1/4" ) being the as shown above JSAR breech and in my picture as well.  Yes it is a .30 using ax FX liner in a tensioned shroud  ;)
Also is the fact that due to how receiver is screwed down to the lower air tube, barrel diameter passing threw the breech is limited to 1/2"

Now you could put a .30 into the stock .25 breech, your very limited to output with the transfer size afforded which for feeding a .30 is too small for any modest to upper power output.
The factory valve as well is Insufficient to feed a .30 etc etc etc ......
Title: Re: Marauder then and now
Post by: avator on December 15, 2023, 02:23:36 PM
Thank you all for the responses. I have a .22 lelya 2.0 and a talon p.25 .I am just liking the simple mechanics and  traditional look of the marauder. Either 22 or 25 . Research time. Thank you everyone.
There was a a .22 Marauder in the GTA classifieds earlier. Looked like a fair price if it's still there.


Just looked, still there.
Title: Re: Marauder then and now
Post by: Sean on December 15, 2023, 04:07:14 PM
Thank you for that. I will look.
Title: Re: Marauder then and now
Post by: Back_Roads on December 15, 2023, 08:27:45 PM
https://foxairpower.com/products/challenger-standard-30-cal-w-32-barrel-35-cal-w-24-barrel
Title: Re: Marauder then and now
Post by: Sean on December 15, 2023, 08:50:30 PM
I was looking at the AEA stuff and get some mixed reviews. Nice looking though. Classic lines.
Title: Re: Marauder then and now
Post by: Back_Roads on December 16, 2023, 09:14:55 AM
I was looking at the AEA stuff and get some mixed reviews. Nice looking though. Classic lines.
I have the .30 added a hammer spring adjuster 60 gr at 105 fpe, accurate and less cost to get the power you are after, and plenty to tinker with to get more. Good parts service and dealer network are now established well.
Title: Re: Marauder then and now
Post by: Sean on December 16, 2023, 10:16:47 AM
Outstanding BackRoads!! Thank you for your time to reply. I appreciate it a lot. I keep finding myself looking at those rigs.
Title: Re: Marauder then and now
Post by: bear air on December 16, 2023, 01:51:06 PM
The challenger is pretty nice and has plenty of power.