Most Compact Marauader!

[ackuric]

Got the carbon fiber rods in! Finally some real carbon fiber to put on this rifle! Carbon fiber machines very easily I was concerned it might not but no issues here, all done by hand. These rods came 8mm OD with 4mm ID which was perfect for me, I barely had to drill out any material to tap for a 10-32 screw.

I absolutely love this rifles look and feel, I plan on making a new cheek weld out of the same stuff my stock is made out of that sits maybe a bit higher but other than that this project is about wrapped up! (for now ) Oh and I plan on being able to fit 2 magazines under the cheek weld as you can see in the first pic (kinda) there is adequate space there for them, just need to fabricate something so they clip in. Pics also show how I recently glued a small bubble level on the rear of the air guns receiver, I love its placement as its easy to stay within scope eye relief to see if you're level prior to taking a shot.

These tubes saved 2.1 oz's and the rifle now weighs 4.68 lbs! (unscoped)








So many peoples ideas, thoughts and help has gone into making this rifle what it is today, and I can't give you guys enough thanks! I hope I inspire some half as much as others have inspired me!

-Matt

[ackuric]

So a marauder that starts off at 7.3 lbs has been brought down to 4.7 lbs by heavily modifying and customizing a stock, and using an aluminum air tube. Some might ask, can we take it further, how much more weight could be saved? I can only give a few examples as I am sure there are more avenues for reducing weight.

Prod Pistol frame = 100 grams. (modified with carbon fiber would be nearly a tenth the weight but also expensive, aluminum would reduce roughly 2 oz of weight)

My Aluminum butt stock 30~ grams (could be reduced with carbon fiber but only by about half, again quite expensive)

Toss out the plenum extension! (would reduce roughly 5 oz)

So maybe someone who does all the above + what I've done, could get a marauder down to around 4.2 lbs or so but I am not sure saving the next 8~ oz is worth it.

As you see its becoming hard pressed to save any weight, unless I can get a smooth twist x barrel liner that is supported and sleeved with carbon fiber, I don't think I'll be doing any more weight savings on this rifle, but the smooth twist x barrel liner idea certainly sounds yummy. I am unsure of what the weight savings would be but being the stock barrel is the next heaviest thing on the rifle, I'd imagine quite a bit of weight could be saved if this were viable.

-Matt

[FuzzyGrub]

You have certainly taken the mrod weight into a new "low" classification.   

IMHO: At under 5lbs, the light weight becomes a very specialized gun.  ie back packing deep into the woods.  But, it looks like with the collapsible stock, it  is still rather long for that, and will have to haul an air supply (pump or tank) for those kind of trips.  Certainly, for just an all day hunt/hike, where you only need the air that you have in the gun, that would be much less fatiguing.  I suspect that was what your target was for. 

Now, a "standard" mrod at 6lb or just under would be very nice for general field carry. 

[Xraycer]

I'd enjoyed following your build, Matt.

Once again, great job in turning your vision to reality!

[ackuric]

You have certainly taken the mrod weight into a new "low" classification.   

IMHO: At under 5lbs, the light weight becomes a very specialized gun.  ie back packing deep into the woods.  But, it looks like with the collapsible stock, it  is still rather long for that, and will have to haul an air supply (pump or tank) for those kind of trips.  Certainly, for just an all day hunt/hike, where you only need the air that you have in the gun, that would be much less fatiguing.  I suspect that was what your target was for. 

Now, a "standard" mrod at 6lb or just under would be very nice for general field carry. 

Collapsed fully its at 35" in length currently, and will be 30" when I make my stock moderator/baffles removable. A bit long but with the right pack you can certainly hike with this thing, toss in a little buddy bottle and you could go all day. Even with 48 shots @ 40 fpe I think that is plenty of shooting for a day if you're targeting game/pests.

My main goal was to turn my marauder into an airgun I can shoot off hand at a reasonable distance without fatiguing and having my sights wander within seconds. The way the marauder comes stock its just about only good for rested shooting, where as now I feel very comfortable in various sitting / standing positions with it. Also makes it easier to maneuver around in my truck and I can shoot right from my truck that much easier now.

Scoped with a 1.9 lb scope this thing still only weighs 6.8 lbs which is less than the marauder comes out of the box.

-Matt

[anti-squirrel]

Fantastic results, Matt.
 
It hits a sweet spot, I think.  Any lighter and stability might become an issue unless you have super-steady hands.  I find anything under 4 pounds has to be bagged to maintain good accuracy unless I have both a vertical and horizontal bracing (knee plus tree when I hunt with my PP700 pistol).

[ackuric]

I'd enjoyed following your build, Matt.

Once again, great job in turning your vision to reality!

Thanks Dinh, I have had a lot of fun, nothing beats turning your vision/dreams into a reality.

-Matt

[ackuric]

Fantastic results, Matt.
 
It hits a sweet spot, I think.  Any lighter and stability might become an issue unless you have super-steady hands.  I find anything under 4 pounds has to be bagged to maintain good accuracy unless I have both a vertical and horizontal bracing (knee plus tree when I hunt with my PP700 pistol).

I certainly agree, you can actually stand and hold/brace this rifle with 1 hand and hit 2" spinners from 30 yards if you wanted to now. Try that with a stock marauder...I kid you not.

-Matt

[FuzzyGrub]

Fantastic results, Matt.
 
It hits a sweet spot, I think.  Any lighter and stability might become an issue unless you have super-steady hands.  I find anything under 4 pounds has to be bagged to maintain good accuracy unless I have both a vertical and horizontal bracing (knee plus tree when I hunt with my PP700 pistol).

I certainly agree, you can actually stand and hold/brace this rifle with 1 hand and hit 2" spinners from 30 yards if you wanted to now. Try that with a stock marauder...I kid you not.

-Matt

I agree with Peter, at some point it gets too light and starts to work against you.  Also agree with you, that stock Mrod is hard to hold stable for any length of time, freehand.  I did get a set of sticks, which I need to get more comfortable in using. 

[UCChris]

Fantastic results, Matt.
 
It hits a sweet spot, I think.  Any lighter and stability might become an issue unless you have super-steady hands.  I find anything under 4 pounds has to be bagged to maintain good accuracy unless I have both a vertical and horizontal bracing (knee plus tree when I hunt with my PP700 pistol).

I certainly agree, you can actually stand and hold/brace this rifle with 1 hand and hit 2" spinners from 30 yards if you wanted to now. Try that with a stock marauder...I kid you not.

-Matt

Standing in 10m position makes hitting 2" spinners at 30 yards pretty effortless with a stock Mrod. Especially for younger shooters that are less shaky. My buddy and I would constantly challenge each other to 1/2" @ 25m offhand. But we were both amateur 10m shooters. Matt Dubber of AirArmsHuntingSA has a great video on the subject.

[ackuric]

Fantastic results, Matt.
 
It hits a sweet spot, I think.  Any lighter and stability might become an issue unless you have super-steady hands.  I find anything under 4 pounds has to be bagged to maintain good accuracy unless I have both a vertical and horizontal bracing (knee plus tree when I hunt with my PP700 pistol).

I certainly agree, you can actually stand and hold/brace this rifle with 1 hand and hit 2" spinners from 30 yards if you wanted to now. Try that with a stock marauder...I kid you not.

-Matt

Standing in 10m position makes hitting 2" spinners at 30 yards pretty effortless with a stock Mrod. Especially for younger shooters that are less shaky. My buddy and I would constantly challenge each other to 1/2" @ 25m offhand. But we were both amateur 10m shooters. Matt Dubber of AirArmsHuntingSA has a great video on the subject.

Do it with 1 hand on the stock marauder, while the other hand is tied behind your back. That is what I can currently do with my marauder versus when it was stock. That is all I am saying. It's an example of how light the front end of the rifle is and how easy it is to stablize, even with only 1 hand on the gun. Of course @ 10 meters when holding a rifle properly you can hit 2" spinners with even a daisy red rider!

-Matt

[ackuric]

Fantastic results, Matt.
 
It hits a sweet spot, I think.  Any lighter and stability might become an issue unless you have super-steady hands.  I find anything under 4 pounds has to be bagged to maintain good accuracy unless I have both a vertical and horizontal bracing (knee plus tree when I hunt with my PP700 pistol).

I certainly agree, you can actually stand and hold/brace this rifle with 1 hand and hit 2" spinners from 30 yards if you wanted to now. Try that with a stock marauder...I kid you not.

-Matt

I agree with Peter, at some point it gets too light and starts to work against you.  Also agree with you, that stock Mrod is hard to hold stable for any length of time, freehand.  I did get a set of sticks, which I need to get more comfortable in using.

I shot my stock marauder off sticks as well, was challenging and the weight was tough to manipulate and balance at all times, where as now it comes much more naturally and the rifle feels more like an extension of you versus a bulky 10lb + (scoped) item you're trying to balance. 6.8 lbs scoped isn't a bad weight imo and I feel one could go down as low as 5 lbs scoped and still not suffer any consequences of 'being too light'. I don't see any prod owners complaining about being too light in carbine mode which comes to 5-6 lbs as well.

-Matt

[ackuric]

Just ordered some new springs, 7.7 lbs/in @ 2" in total length. These are going to out perform my 1.75" 7.5# springs by a large margin.

So I tossed one in, and at minimum pre-load allowed in my rifle which is roughly .4" preload on spring, which makes it .4" + .75" = 1.15" total spring use which equates to  8.855 #'s of force. First shot over the chrony was 963 FPS with a 19.91 gr making 41 fpe effortlessly. With a JSB 25.4 it shot at 870 fps making 43 FPE! With more a tad more pre-load I simply just force the pellet out the barrel at the most I've been able to (1010~ fps (19.91gr)). All on LESS than stock spring!

So there ya have it! 7.7# of spring that can make 40-60 fpe in my rifle. I no longer need the 1.75" 11# spring to hit 60 fpe.

https://www.mcmaster.com/#9657k391/=19oombe



-Matt

[aluminumfetish]

looks like a marauder.

[ackuric]

looks like a marauder.

As long as it doesn't look like an FX then I am content! 

[aluminumfetish]

Sure, OK.

[JayV21]

That is awesome!!!  Something tells me you could patent your design and make looks of $$$$$

[Xraycer]

Next challenge, Matt, is fitting a carbon fiber bottle on that baby 

[ackuric]

Next challenge, Matt, is fitting a carbon fiber bottle on that baby 

Lol! I've considered it. I like the style of 1-1.5" air tube guns over the bottle guns though unfortunately and haven't been sold on any bottle gun other than maybe the condor style design where it is rear mounted into the butt stock and kind of hidden.

-Matt

[LeE]

Looking good, Matt! How well are the carbon fiber rods holding up? I haven't considered using them in my other stock designs but something effeminately worth testing for the weight savings.