New Marauder Pistol review

[jonnnyboy]

The Marauder Pistol has been lauded as maybe one of Crosman’s greatest accomplishments and I recently had the opportunity to save for one and finally ordered it from PyramydAir.  With a price of $389 minus 10%, the price came to 350 plus shipping, a good deal I thought.

After the thoughts of many pleased owners, I was cautiously excited and optimistic about the new gun.  With that said, let me state, “I love this gun!”  To be honest, there are some factors that need to be addressed but for my needs I think it will fit nicely into what I was looking for.

First, the Marauder pistol came double boxed from PA with a nice outer box sheltering a manufacturer’s box with Benjamin markings.  The inside box was nicely laid out and the gun was shielded from any but the most major of mishaps.  My pistol came with the normal handgrips installed and then the carbine stock was placed in a plastic bag underneath the packing for the gun.  A single magazine was also included in the plastine baggie which held the paperwork and minimal manual.
I first noticed that the pressure gage read zero psi which might mean the gun has a leak if shipped with air in the tube.  Immediately, I decided to rob another gun of it’s glass and ended up putting a 3-9X32 Leapers on it and then decided to shoot because I just couldn’t wait.  After shooting the gun for initial function testing, I decided to leave the gun filled to 2500psi while it continued to rain incessantly for the next three days.  It was reassuring to find the gage did not move after it’s initial cooling off.  It lost about 75psi within the first couple of hours after filling but did not lose any additional pressure since.  One negative at this point is that the gage does NOT read the same as my fill gage on the scba tank.  It actually reads 2250psi on the gun’s gage when my scba fill gage reads 2500psi.  Unfortunately, I have no way of checking the accuracy of my scba gage but have decided to follow it’s readings as the standard for filling.

The very first night I was able to get off a number of quick magazines of Crosman Premier Ultra Mags and was extremely excited to see what appeared to be small groups beginning to form for this new gun.  When the rain stopped a couple of days later, unfortunately the first impressions of accuracy with CPum’s began to diminish.  What started out as dime size groups at 25 yards was now mostly down to quarter size groups at 20 yards.  I’m not sure what went wrong but I began to be disappointed.  Since, things weren’t going my way I decided to go ahead and clean the barrel with Goo-gone and about a dozen dry patches to get everything ready.  Now, instead of quarter size groups at 20 yards the CPum’s were even larger.

A couple of messages to Jeff (Longislandhunter) and his recommendation to go to 3000psi on my fill and to try Beeman FTS pellets began to restore my excitement for this gun.  My very first group with the FTS resulted in a dime-sized group!  Ok, back on track!  This gun wants to group but like my Marauder may need a little work to get there but I’m convinced it will be worth it. 

Unfortunately, the FTS are among my most expensive pellets; way more than the CPum’s I was hoping it would shoot.  The thoughts of a cheap shooter began to slip out of my excitement but I’m still not convinced that the CP’s are out of the question. 

As you can see they are trying to group, but they just aren’t there yet.  They may come into their own as the barrel seasons or I may even try to order another barrel to see if I can get the luck of the draw to work in my favor.
As far as personal observation, I do have a few likes and dislikes.  First of all, the fill nipple cover is not screwed on like the Marauder but just spins around while trying to take it off.  My intention is to do away with it completely and replace it with a mushroom cap which will actually work as well or better without the exertion necessary to remove the stock cap.
Second, the carbine stock does not give me adequate support for a cheek weld that is easily and quickly returned to each time I pick it up to shoot.  I’m not sure but this might be part of the problem with some of my groups.
Third, at this price range, you would think a nicer stock might have been made available over the standard carbine stock that looks like it came straight off the basic 2240-2250 line of pistols.  Still, the pointability and lightness of the gun far outweigh my nitpicking over the stock. 
Finally, and it is a personal nit to pick, I just don’t like the ‘rinky-dink’ safety of the 2240 style of pistols which is carried over into the Marauder Pistol.  I’m always afraid it will break somehow when I am pushing it.  That may just be me, but that is my impression.
Now for the positive side, if you are looking for that lightweight plinker or small-game hunter with the emphasis on ‘lightweight’ you owe it to yourself to try this gun out.  I love my Marauder, but find that I just don’t enjoy carrying it for an all-day squirrel outing.  Even though the pistol doesn’t have the power of it’s bigger brother, it can still do the job on almost any small-game if shots are kept within it’s recommended range.  I have no doubt that by this fall, this pistol will be my go-to gun for squirrel hunting utilizing my normal shots at 30yards or less.  It just feels good to me. 
Would I buy it again?  You bet!  Even with my search for the best pellet, I’ve found that for every airgun I’ve ever bought I had to do the same so I will do so with the Marauder Pistol and I plan to enjoy the search while I am at it.  You would too, it’s a sweet shooting gun.
joe

[eddielee70]

You can always ask crosman for another barrel.  my .22 marauder didn't shoot any kind of pellets well at all, so they sent me a new one when I sent the bad one back.  and still doesn't like cp, only H&N ftt and JSB.  but my mrod pistol shoot cheap CP very well, so you might want them to sent you another barrel.

[longislandhunter]

Nice review Joe.  Glad  the FTS pellets worked for ya   I'll betcha the Preds will fly well also.  Lookin forward to seeing that Prod laying next to a DOA nutter

Jeff

[kip5555]

Does anyone know the velocity on a full charge ?? any info would be great.  Thanks  Kip. 

[jonnnyboy]

Now that I've found at least one really good and accurate pellet, I'm ready to put a lot of lead through that barrel.  I'm still not sure about the CPum's until I've put a bunch through it.  Some mags will shoot almost as good as the FTS and othertimes,they shoot with a couple of bad fliers.  Eddielee, I too had Crosman send me a second barrel for my .22 Mrod and that's a good idea if this barrel doesn't turn out well though it is showing some good promise as of this evening.

Jeff, I will have to wait for another month before spring season opens on the squirrels but I actually saw three playing through the woods behind my backstop while I was shooting this evening.  I may not have to go far.  Thanks again for the advice, you hit it on the head with the FTS.  Now I need to get some preds, too.

joe

Kip, most folks are reporting somewhere around 650fps stock which can be gotten up close to 700 with some tweaking.  My stock gun is banging my spinners with authority.  I have no doubt that the squirrels are going to be in for a bad time!

[Jay]

Sound's like your dislike's are the same as all of us(price verse's stock's),shame that it does not like the cheaper pellet's, I lucked out with mine an it launch's all the pellet's I've tried very well so far. My biggest complaint now(other than still hating stock's) is I can't decide if I want to leave it a pistol or change to a carbine.

[RayK]

You should check out all the Prod videos on YouTube by this guy:



This particular video is how to make a brass safety for your Marauder Pistol.
It looks pretty easy to do.

He has other good videos on the Prod too.

Ray

[jonnnyboy]

Ray, those videos look cool and I may try some of the things I am learning for upcoming mods for this gun.  Did I say how much I love this gun??? 

Probably my first two mods are to add a cheek rest and sling to this little carbine.  I've already ordered a cheek rest and have the sling so that's going to be next.  I'm hoping to have a couple days of vacation here soon, and when I do I will be putting a lot of pellets through her to see if she begins to settle down before I place that call to Crosman.  I'll see what they say and maybe even take a chance on a new barrel. 

I know this one shoots FTS (as per Jeff, thanks buddy) but I would love for it to shoot cheaper pellets so I can shoot her a lot!  Guys, this gun is a shooter's delight.  Easy to point, natural to shoulder and a great trigger.  It's not an Mrod trigger but its the best 2240 style trigger I've ever pulled, nice and crisp.

If you're looking for a lightweight carbine shooter that you can carry all day long and you are into pcp's, you need to give a second and maybe a third look at the Marauder pistol.  I love mine.

joe

[threex4]

My Prod is on its way back to Crosman. I purchased mine from another vender, not PA , price was $332 shipped. I had to wait for it to come back in stock to get it at that price.
Out of the box first impression was the cheap plastic 1399 stock. My custon shop 1399 looked way better than this one and for the price of the Prod you would figure at least a cleaner stock. nuff on that though.
I too had put a leapers 3x9x32 on it cause my 6x bugbuster would not give me enough eye relief because the stock was just a little long for me.
Sighting in was not fun. It ususally takes me like maybe 10-15 shots, but how can you sight in  when the pellets fly all over the place. 10 yards, flyers , nothing but flyers. I tried maybe 8 different pellets from JSB RS, Crosman, Disco, RWS, Benjerman, weights from 13.4g to 18.1g and the only pellet I could get even some kind of group were the JSB RS 13.4g pellet and even that at 10 yards should have stacked them but with getting only 3/4" groups, not what everyone was reporting they got with there Prods. shooting out to 20 yards with that weak 10 yard sighting  the groups opened up to about 2-3" groups.
So long story short and from others suggestions, it went back to Crosman. Its their gun , if its a bad one , let them find out what is wrong, maybe it will help them produce a better product.

[jonnnyboy]

Hey Buster, long time no see.  It's good to hear from you!
I'm sorry you did not have a good experience with your Prod.  I don't blame you about sending it back.  If you remember, I had the same problem with my Mrod when I got it.  After a call to their customer service, they sent me a new barrel that was night and day different from the first one.  I'm wondering if this might be "deja vu" all over again!  hahaha

Mine is shooting great with the FTS but I would really like for it to shoot some of the cheaper pellets for plinking.  I'm not such a hardcore airgunner that I only use the expensive pells.  The 'penny a shot' pellets appeal to me when I just want to plink and I plink so much more than serious shooting.  After a few more shooting sessions, I may call Crosman and see what they think.  Because of the FTS shooting so well, I don't feel that they owe me a new barrel but if they offer . . . or maybe just buy a new barrel on the cheap!

Either way, so far I'm loving this little carbine.
joe

[jonnnyboy]

Guys, I just had a thought.

Are the H&N FTT the same as the Beeman FTS? 

They look the same but the price is much lower.  What do you all think?

joe

[Nomadic Pirate]

I always buy H&N, same pellets as Beeman but lower price tag

[threex4]

Hey Joe, ya its been awhile.
I've read that most Prods shoot good with the Preditor pellets, but like you, I dont want to shoot my expensive pellets if I cant get it to group with the cheap ones. Oh I've tried three different JSB , 13.4, 15.9 & 18.1. again the heavy pellets were reported to shoot better than the light ones, but this one didnt do any good with them. Crosman 14.3 in the tin, Benji HP, and even Benji dome , same thing , no good groups. I sighted my scope with the 13.4 JSB only because they grouped the best and reshot with the others , nota, same shotgun pattern.
So hopefully Crosman can work out the problem with this gun, other wise I'll have to try and get a refund.
I like the gun, but I've never had this problem with ANY other gun I've had.

[Nomadic Pirate]

I've being hearing of a lot of problems with the Maurader pistol, lots of them don't shoot.

[jonnnyboy]

Buster, I hate to hear that.  When I opened my box and without cleaning, my pistol shot dimes at 25 yards with CPultramags.  A few days later when the rain stopped the groups weren't so good.  After cleaning the barrel, they opened up even more.  I talked to Jeff who recommended the FTS and my groups came back, so I can't complain too much.  My problem is that I wanted to shoot alot and I guess, I'm cheap when it comes to pellets.  I want to be able to shoot the cheap ones, too.  I think I will put a tin of cps through it this weekend and see what she does all leaded up.  I'll let you know what happens.

Manny, I've heard some of the same things, too.  I wonder if it's a problem in trying to get a bunch on the market too quick and the barrels are not up to par.  If I can get a barrel that shoots cps, you will hear me cheering all the way from tennessee.  The weight and form factor of this gun is off the charts for me.  If I can get it to shoot accurately with anything other than the really expensive pells I will be completely stoked.  Either way, I still love this gun.  I don't know why, it just pushes my button right now.  Of course, thats today and tomorrow is another day!!!! LOLOL

joe

[Brushy Bill]

Thanks for the write up johnnyboy.
I have never understood why Crosman
does not address the cheek weld issue
with that stock.
It looks to me like even with iron sights, it would
still be too low.
You have probably seen these before, but in case
you haven't.
http://www.sksstocks.com/ATI-SKS-Cheekrest-p/ati-sks3050-.htm
I have seen several post on other forums of guys using
these. Never tried it myself. The one I have close to
that is an AS2250XT. Different animal.

I hope you can find a less expensive pellet that it loves,
and you enjoy your new little carbine.
They look like they would be a perfect companion in
the woods.

[threex4]

Joe, I feel the same way. I had a RWS 850 22 that I sold because it only shot the expensive pellets good. not much left after buying 02 and pellets and feeding a hungry beast LOL.
I purchased the Prod for the "carbine" of it. short, light and good for follow up shots. I dont shoot that much any more but when I do I like the guns I shoot to be accurate and not all over the place. What little 'burb hunting I do, has to be accurate in close quarters, other wise I dont need it.
I've had others tell me their guns came back from Crosman better and others still having the same problems and asking for refunds.
I could or should have tried to get one of the first 100 guns, seems like those havent had the problems as some of the newer guns.
when I talked the the CS from crosman , you could almost hear him say , oh no not another gun.
So with fingers crossed, hopefully what I get back will be a keeper, if not, I still have my home build 2260 PCP, which does hit where I aim it .

[jonnnyboy]

Brushy Bill, I agree the cheek weld is pretty low and my chin almost sits on top of the stock when trying to sight through the scope.  I appreciate the recommendation for the cheek rest and actually have already ordered a couple.  I'll let you know how it works out on the carbine stock.  And, the 2250xt was what sold me on the mrod pistol.  I love my xt too, but wanted to take advantage of the multi-shot capability of the prod.

Buster, I know exactly what you mean.  I'm going to shoot it alot this weekend and I hope I see the barrel settling in to more than one pellet.  If not, I'll call Crosman and see what they say.  My Mrod is doing what it is supposed to do and I really want the Prod to do so as well.  I'll try to let everyone know.

Thanks guys
joe

[JimmyBobby]

I guess I was lucky to get one of the first 100 as my P-rod shoots a full magazine into less than a dime all day long at thirty yards with a variety of pellets.  I know two others with first 100 pistols and theirs do the same.

[jonnnyboy]

JimBob, You're bragging!!  LOL
I really like the ergonomics of this gun.  As long as it shoots at least one pellet well, I will be keeping it.  Even if that is with some of the most expensive pellets.  BUT, I will keep on searching to be able to plink with the cheaper pells.  Buster is right, the first 100 were probably meticulously gone over and assured to shoot all pellets.

Anyway, I still love this gun!
joe