sumatra .25 carbine vs .25 maurader

[Traum]

I have been saving up to get my first pcp rifle I have the mrodair mk2 .22 pistol but am waiting till after taxes to get a rifle. I had been decided on the marauder. I always liked the sumatra it was just to big and unwieldy for my liking. Now I found out they make a carbine that's looks great and is significantly smaller and still has a high shot count of around 18 shots on med power (mrod 16) more with a tune but I am not experienced in pcps yet and want the opinions of those who have shot more pcps than me and been around longer. I have a compressor so filling isn't a problem. I plan to plink, target shoot and get more into small game hunting. I planned on tuning the mrod after awhile if I went with it. what are yalls thoughts?

[squirrel_hunter]

  I have both rifles.they both need tuned to be an effective hunting rifle.the carbine is very loud,both are accurate but the Mrod has more after market support.my carbine gets 12 shots at 860-890-860(33.9).the Mrod gets 26 shots at 875 with the 25.39 pellets.i use the Mrod to hunt with most of the time,even more with the lighter air tube from JSAR...

[n2omike]

I have 4 Marauders, all modified to varying degrees, and a friend has a stock .25.

The friend with the factory stock, un-tuned .25 uses it to shoot squirrels.  He doesn't do a lot of target shooting, so he's not that worried about shot count.  I believe he gets 2 good mags out of it, and has killed a LOT of squirrels with it.  It's plenty accurate out of the box.  Remember, the .25 comes with the good Green Mountain barrel.

One of mine is minimally modified.  I had tuned the 100% stock rifle to get 24 shots at 800 fps using 25.4 grain JSB pellets.  With the addition of a TSS and MDS hammer, it can now get 5 mags at the same velocity.  It's all I really need, as it's used in the back yard.  I've shot 3 crows with it this year, and countless birds (not saying what kind, but they are annoying) last year.  Usually go for head shots.  Gun is very accurate and dependable.  I like it better than my more highly modified guns, and is the one that sits by the door for when it's needed. 

It's tough to beat a .25 Marauder for hunting...  especially for the price!

Good Luck!

[FuzzyGrub]

I have both, as well.  If your primary goal was hunting and needed higher power, the Sumatra Carbine might out rank the Mrod.  For your stated order, the Mrod is probably the better choice. 

The stock carbine is significantly shorter than the mrod, which is nice.  But, as stated above, it is VERY loud, and once you add an effective LDC, it is just as long as the Mrod.  It is lighter than the Mrod, but it was less than the specs would have you believe.  It does have noticeable mechanical noise, once you tame the initial blast.   I like the handling and the under lever for quick follow-up shot.  It is good for about 12 60+fpe shots.  It is a hunter through and through. 

The mrod is allot more tunable, and having the compressor will be nice when plinking.  It would be easier at bench shooting than the carbine.   It is on the heavy side, and if you do get back into more hunting, where the field carry becomes an issue, the aluminum air tubes from JSAR will lighten it up considerably.  The mrod is also easier to work on, if you to decide on any mods in the future.

[Traum]

well you guys helped me get over the sumatra lust. it is a sexy air rifle and I love  that under lever and power but a flashy package isn't what I need. I need a tuneable gun with options and aftermarkets since this will bey first and will probably be awhile before I can get another.  weight isn't as much of a deal for me I'm a carpenter and weaey heavy tool bags while carrying heavy lumbet or tools all day so i don't notice a rifle on my shoulder much but the sumatra full size is just too cumbersome for me.  I am going to stick with the mrod it's a staple in every air gunners arsenal it seems so that's where I shall start thanks guys

[Ribbonstone]

Could live with the Sumatra as a first PCP if hunting is on your mind, but you won't get as many good shots (at least not when set on "high")...but it does give the easy option of power control, is short enough (if not light), and actually has a very good build quality ("quirky" in some ways...but the one's I've handles have been well made/well finished rifles).  You could do some tuning.mods to one, but I'd bet that most folks don't.

Also betting that something like 18 or 19 out of 20 buy the M-Rod, esp. the folks here at the forum on line. There are always posts about the M-rod...regulation one, shot counts, energy levels,  better shroud "guts", posting groups, converting one from this to that, etc.  Could pretty much participate in all sorts of home-brew mods, spend $ a little at a time, and keep busy for the next couple of years.

[steveoh]

I have both.

Sumatra .25 carbine naked is so small and light, I would think it's a perfect bushwhack gun. But as soon as you put on a scope, and then the LDC to make it reasonably loud, you have a long heavier rifle. But keep the scope size to minimum like with a bug buster, and skip the LDC you will have a really great woods gun. Just gonna be LOUD. Though it has iron sites, I can't see squat with them with my worn out eyes.

Marauder .25 starts out heavy and long, and has no iron sights. It's pretty quiet out of the box so you don't need an LDC. I had mine tuned by Travis, for efficiency and it's a perfect rat gun.

I use both on a regular basis when the rats are out. Pow, dead rat! Right now the Sumatra has an ATN X-Sight on it, along with LDC and bipod, and it's no longer svelt and light. But I still love the thing.

The Marauder has a big old BSA FFP sight that's just a pleasure to use. If I put up the red LEDs on the rat stations I will most likely use the Marauder. If no LEDs then I'll use the Sumatra with X-Sight. Rats don't like either one. 

[triggertreat]

I believe you will like the .25 Marauder.  I have two (.25 and .22) in synthetic stock (Synrod).   The biggest thrill they have are the very quiet, accurate shots with a "match" like trigger pull.  Also, power and shot count.  No beautiful stock or titanium parts... Just pure shooting joy.  My .25 is averaging 56 FPE and is very accurate with the 33.95gr JSBs at longer ranges which is a lot of fun.  It has been modified with available parts from JSAR.

[gendoc]

i have had both...still have the sumatra because i'm into power & speed when hunting.
i'm not really worried about report, just the DRT effect from the 38gr pellet.
my 2500 in .25 gives 80fpe as it is now with no mods or tuning.
i only need 1 or maybe 2 shots, but the 2nd is rarely needed for the game i hunt.

the mrod i had was a very nice shooter that weighed alot.....carrying in the swamp
 was not fun, but it was just as accurate without the power and speed of the sumatra.

good luck with whatever you choose.....

[Nomadic Pirate]

I'll go against the grain and would definitely pick the Sumatra carbine, I just like the fact that I can shoot them with the power wheel at minimum for backyard pesting and plinking but if the need arises that power wheel has all the settings you'll ever need all the way up to 80 FPE, and the fact that the gun isn't pellet picky opens even more opportunities,.....plus it's so small

[steveoh]

I'll go against the grain and would definitely pick the Sumatra carbine, I just like the fact that I can shoot them with the power wheel at minimum for backyard pesting and plinking but if the need arises that power wheel has all the settings you'll ever need all the way up to 80 FPE, and the fact that the gun isn't pellet picky opens even more opportunities,.....plus it's so small

And it swings around so nicely without a big old pickle on the end. After I had mine apart the other week I'd stripped off the scope, and LDC. Put it back together, and it was soooooooo small and light. Loud little booger though. And I still haven't gotten that trigger to be butter smooth.

[Habanero69er]

First off, I see people comparing the long Sumatra to the Marauder. That was not the OP's question. The comparison was the Sumatra carbine to the Marauder.

If you need stealth without an LDC, then the Marauder wins. But even with the Roy Kasten LDC, my carbine is the same length as my Marauder & is still lighter than the Marauder. Raw power definitely goes to the Sumatra carbine. In a hunting scenario I prefer power & like the fact that the Sumatra has a power adjustment wheel & can be adjusted to the ammo I'm shooting. The Sumatra is not pellet picky.
Using the power wheel, I can get 12 (2 mags), 70fpe shots from my Will Piatt tuned carbine.
Trigger goes to the Marauder.

[Habanero69er]

well you guys helped me get over the sumatra lust. it is a sexy air rifle and I love  that under lever and power but a flashy package isn't what I need. I need a tuneable gun with options and aftermarkets since this will bey first and will probably be awhile before I can get another.  weight isn't as much of a deal for me I'm a carpenter and weaey heavy tool bags while carrying heavy lumbet or tools all day so i don't notice a rifle on my shoulder much but the sumatra full size is just too cumbersome for me.  I am going to stick with the mrod it's a staple in every air gunners arsenal it seems so that's where I shall start thanks guys

Flashy? That's the first time I've heard a Sumatra described as being flashy! LOL
The OP's question was in reference to the Marauder & the Sumatra carbine. At only 6lbs & less than 36" long, I've never heard the Sumatra carbine described as being cumbersome either.
The Sumatra is both tune able & has the capability to change power settings on the fly with a turn of it's power dial.

[FuzzyGrub]

Flashy? That's the first time I've heard a Sumatra described as being flashy! LOL
The OP's question was in reference to the Marauder & the Sumatra carbine. At only 6lbs & less than 36" long, I've never heard the Sumatra carbine described as being cumbersome either.

My 25 carbine came in at 7lbs, gun only.  Variability in the wood stocks?  Still, not heavy in the pcp world.  About a lb lighter than a 25 cal synrod.

PS: I have always liked the look.   

[squirrel_hunter]

 I like them both and hunt with both.the Mrod is more accurate shooting squirrels heads.the solution is to save up and buy them both in time.

[Ribbonstone]

My one reservation with either choice for this poster is that it's a FIRST PCP.

Unless you re mostly a hunter.  Think most of us are plinkers/target shooters who spend a whole lot more time shooting stuff that's not alive...so a lot more time shooting when power doesn't really count much.

[Traum]

Yeah I am just going to keep saving and buy me a sumatra .50 or something down the road or whatever is popular and well made when the time comes to ado to the collection. I got the marauder wood stock .25 it shows up tomorrow can't wait. you are right I target shoot way more than I get to hunt so I like that I still have the option. to hunt small game and  med game (racoons, groundhogs, possums etc) but can get a few more shots without filling back up. thank you all for your thoughtful and we'll informed oponions it has been a great help.

[hanleyfan]

I looked at the Sumatra carbine a few years ago and when I watched a guy on youtube tearing one down to replace o-rings I decided to stay with my marauder.  I can tear down my marauder, very easy to do not so with the Sumatra and all pcp will need new o-rings at some time.