Marauder questions?

[mikes]

Since I cant wait for the new Avenger, I'm going to buy a new or used Marauder (.25 cal, should suit my needs well).  I have a few questions though,

1- Are the Camo stocks offered from Crossman wood or synthetic and are they hydro dipped or?

2- If buying used, what are the common problem areas if any?

3- Should I be thinking of adding a regulator to it?

THANKS!!

[CraigH]

1- Are the Camo stocks offered from Crossman wood or synthetic and are they hydro dipped or?

I had thought them synthetic, but I have see it posted the are painted wood.

[bear air]

They are painted wood. I'm not sure about any common problems with them if any at all. You could add a regulator and a light weight hammer, it would be a great addition. They are a very solid platform and great for pesting, target shooting and plinking. Good luck.

[WildCJ5]

They are dirt simple to work on and parts from Crosman are reasonable. I have purchased two MKII rifles used and they only ever needed seals. Again, easy fix if needed.

I put a Huma in both. Only catch is if you keep the gauge you only read reg pressure.

[Deckard1973]

Lots of aftermarket products (Hill Air Guns), mods (mods!  And more mods!), and people who like to tinker with theirs.

This is mine, after my mod project. 

[AlanMcD]

AS others have said the Marauder is a great platform.  No issue buying used - you might be getting a deal from somebody that messed up the "settings" on theirs and got frustrated with it.  Easy to tune and get shooting well once you understand them.

Do know that there are two versions out there, Gen I and Gen II.  Both are fine, but by now Gen II far outnumber the Gen I versions, and some aftermarket parts are Gen specific and thus are limited to Gen II anymore.  If you have no Marauder, I'd go Gen II - my guns are all Gen I as I have had them that long and had plenty of parts, but if I were starting over I would be fine with Gen II (Gen I has a slightly better trigger, but Gen II has slightly better ergonomics).

Good luck!

[Frank in Fairfield]

Like Alan, I have Gen I’s

[Acapulco]

If you're set on a 25 cal...go with early model for the barrel.  I own the gen 1 in 25.

The only downside to these older pcp guns is the shot count sux. Yes, you could put a reg in, but it bumps up $$$$.

Also,  Mrod is long and heavy.. mainly a bench rest style/ sniper rifle. That's how I use mine shooting.



good luck !!

[YEMX]

I say get one.  They're easy to tune, easy to work on, cheap to buy any replacement parts from the factory.  There's TONS of aftermarket support, and a lot have been done with them.  I don't find them to be particularly heavy or ungainly, but they can be made more nimble:


.25 Gen2 Mrod with synthetic stock, regulated.  Tube was cut 3" shorter than factory, barrel and shroud cut down to match.  This one is tuned for 14 fpe or so for close range work, but I can bump it up to 30 fpe if needed.  I can also add a LDC when I need it to be REALLY quiet...     Get one.  You won't regret it.

[bear air]

Great looking gun Tom. I have 6 Marauder/Armada rifles all the way from 17 to 30 and they are all pretty awesome. The 22's can be pretty powerful too so that's something to keep in mind. I have huma regs in all of them. I just got done putting a low powered 17 Armada that shoots the hades pellets around 720-735. My other 17 makes 26-27 fpe with the JSB 16.2gr pellets, Same thing with my one 22 , it shoots around 26-27fpe with the hades and I'm working on my 22 bottle gun now. My 25 shoots the hades around 45 fpe and my 30 shoots the 44.75 around 68-70fpe. I know that's a lot of info but I just wanted you to keep in mind how versatile these rifles are, cant really go wrong.

[mikes]

Looking great guys! Thanks for the info. Much appreciated!

[vdwb]

Mike,
Here’s some pics of that Mrod I sent you a PM about.
Dennis

[Frank in Fairfield]

Good for FT?
As long as I am not shooting

[HunterWhite]

I bought a 25 cal Syn-Rod about 4 years ago. I liked it enough to get another M-Rod in 177 cal for field target. The 25 would be the one I would keep if I could only have one air rifle.
The trigger is about 3 pounds pull effort but can be modified to 1/2 pound by removing the spring, or weaken the spring to get 1 to 1+1/2 pound trigger pull effort.
The used market is good. The only thing that I can think of is:
Orings.
Golden screwdriver mechanic's.
Scratches and dents.

I think that the gen 1 trigger placement was better for larger hands, gen 2 has the trigger moved back a bit.

The wood stock is heavier, and stiffer. The synthetic stock is about 1 pound lighter than the wood stock.

By the way, the 25 caliber shoots about 40 foot pounds of energy.

Hunter

[PGUADALUPE (Velocity Outdoor)]

Since I cant wait for the new Avenger, I'm going to buy a new or used Marauder (.25 cal, should suit my needs well).  I have a few questions though,

1- Are the Camo stocks offered from Crossman wood or synthetic and are they hydro dipped or?

2- If buying used, what are the common problem areas if any?

3- Should I be thinking of adding a regulator to it?

THANKS!!

The camo stocks are wood stocks that have been hydro dipped.

[Ribbonstone]

Given the lower speeds/lower energy requirments....why  the $ for a .177 conversion just to shoot at 30 yards?

Are veral really good ligher wegiht .22 pellets that may work out fine for you at low speeds,avoiding the cost of converting to .177,keeping the same mags,  and not losing anything important in trajectory over such short ranges.

OK..don't belive...can see how the long range folks have infuenced that.

Maybe you'll belive a ballistic program  of your choice.


Just need scope height,sight in range, 30 yard max range, and the basic ballistics.  Don't know your scope height....that you'll have to measure.

But consider something like 1.5"over bore line,sighted in at something like 20 yards,and then the drop/hold over/windage difference between:

.177 10.3gr. JSB (or AA) at 600fps
 .22 13.4gr. JSB (or AA) at 525fps.


One is just a retune away...wich can be reversed easily when you want more power.....the other takes a full caliber conversion.


And from expeneice with the low end....22 could be a bit more efficent in air use.

[Fate]

If you're set on a 25 cal...go with early model for the barrel.  I own the gen 1 in 25.

The only downside to these older pcp guns is the shot count sux. Yes, you could put a reg in, but it bumps up $$$$.

Also,  Mrod is long and heavy.. mainly a bench rest style/ sniper rifle. That's how I use mine shooting.good luck !!

It was this post that prejudiced me regarding the size and weight of the Marauder. Since I had one on order I was reading everything I could find, and this, last, comment prepared me for what was to come.

It arrived today. I took the big box from the Fedex driver who needed my signature. I was almost stunned when I took it in one hand and carried it inside. Something had to be wrong... the box was too light for a Marauder I thought.

Quickly cutting it open, there was another box inside with the gun in it. I couldn't get it open quick enough. But there it was, my new Synrod with LW barrel and Weaver rail receiver! Picking it up, it was even lighter with the two big boxes gone.

Maybe it was the specs, maybe it was the post above, but I was definitely NOT prepared for the size and weight of this gun. It's freaking light! And not big at all. I can't wait to get into it. Lots of things to do.

Could be the fact I've been shooting a Diana 48 for a while. With a scope and muzzle weight... it's what I'd call a heavy gun. Not big really, and the weight is a plus when holding it offhand because it's stable and secure in the hands. But it's no lightweight.

This Marauder feels half the weight of the D48, though I know it's not. But it is definitely in the lightweight category for a rifle in my opinion. Even my old RWS 35 is heavier than this gun.

No, this is not just a benchrest gun. It's going to the woods with me.

It's not because I'm a big guy either, cause I'm not at 140 lbs wet. I'm fit, relatively speaking. But I'm also 80. The Marauder is my BD present (along with the YH). But honestly, taking that gun out of the box and feeling its lightness and maneuverability? That was icing on my cake.

[Nomadic Pirate]

I say get one.  They're easy to tune, easy to work on, cheap to buy any replacement parts from the factory.  There's TONS of aftermarket support, and a lot have been done with them.  I don't find them to be particularly heavy or ungainly, but they can be made more nimble:


.25 Gen2 Mrod with synthetic stock, regulated.  Tube was cut 3" shorter than factory, barrel and shroud cut down to match.  This one is tuned for 14 fpe or so for close range work, but I can bump it up to 30 fpe if needed.  I can also add a LDC when I need it to be REALLY quiet...     Get one.  You won't regret it.

Looks so much better with the tube and shroud matching in length

[YEMX]

Looks so much better with the tube and shroud matching in length

Thank you!!  I really like it this short as well- so much more "pointable".  It's everything I thought it would be!!