Should’ve bought a Mrod sooner

[PasadenaMike]

Marauder doesent care what it shoots wow. I only have 13 yards but it’s still impressive  my prod is the same exact way it doesn’t care what you shoot out of it

[3crows]

Marauder doesent care what it shoots wow. I only have 13 yards but it’s still impressive  my prod is the same exact way it doesn’t care what you shoot out of it

I do not have a big selection of .25 pellets but I do have a few types and while my M-Rod does seem to like the JSB 25.39 and 33.5 heavy pellets it does not seem picky at all. I like those H&N Barracuda also. A good barrel should not be picky.

James

[Frank in Fairfield]

My first Marauder was a Gen I .22
I had heard all of the stories about the first .22s not being too accurate.
My was.
Everyone knew it too.
When I decided to sell it to buy a .177 for FT (no one told me I could de-tune the .22) it was gone in seconds.
The Gen I .22 I have now I bought as a barreled action (no stock) and soon it will get a make over.
HUMA regulator, JSAR aluminum air tube and a 43gram hammer from Rocker1.
It has the bStaley mod and spring modification already.
I am hoping for 50 shots at 30-35fpe with 18 grain pellets.
It is blue, to match my eyes:

[T3PRanch]

I only have 5 in operation. 

[BC81]

I owned a 25 Mrod second hand which may be the issue. It wasn't accurate at all no matter what I tried. I inspected everything on it, nothing seemed amiss. I didn't want another money pit so I sold it. The synthetic stock was cheap and they aren't exactly small rifles. I don't do much bench shooting so that was another factor.
I really wanted one after years of reading all the good things about them, I just got burned I guess.

[johnbrown]

I don't have one yet but have started to think about one in 177.  I don't think I want a P35 in 177 in case I want to shoot hunter field target.  The high scope would be a liability.  I can't find anything for around $500 in a conventional rifle in 177 that would be as good.  Maybe an Avenger but I have one of those and I had to do several things to it before I was satisfied.  It still has an unimpressive stock.  I didn't have to do anything to my Prod but I have turned the power up and done a Bstaley tune and it was pretty fun.  I still haven't touched the trigger - that was a significant issue with both the Avenger and P35.  Crosman's good support plus the aftermarket support are big advantages of the Mrod, I think.

Jim, to get your Prod to shot well enough you had to do a lot, just like me.
We shared the same forum threads, and did the same mods.

Based on your own posts you did this:
-research on what you need to do
-BStaley mod
-drill the transfer port/sleeve larger
-buy a stronger hammer spring and adjust it to the right length, install it, etc

How many shot strings and how many hours did it take you do that ?
You also spent $10-$15 for the orings and hammer spring.

For me to get the Prod to shoot well enough (nothing to be proud of) it took many hours and many shot strings over the chrony.

[johnbrown]

At 13 yards I would shoot a slingshot if I wanted a small challenge, and I do kill soda cans with slinghsots up to 20 yards.

When people give their opinions about air guns they should mention the distance they shoot at.

I am shooting at 60-70 yards, and the Benjamin Prod mostly fails (20% hits on 1.5" targets) at that distance.
The Nova Liberty and Beeman 1358 underlever (in .22) are accurate (80% hits) at 60-70 yards, the Avenger is accurate but has too many point of impact changes.
All of the shooting above is with cheap pellets (CPHP mostly with some Daisy hollow points).

[3crows]

At 13 yards I would shoot a slingshot if I wanted a small challenge, and I do kill soda cans with slinghsots up to 20 yards.

When people give their opinions about air guns they should mention the distance they shoot at.

I shot this with a new rifle just out of the box. I pretty much just mounted the scope, only needed to adjust the elevation knob, and went to shooting, 40 yards:



I had my Caldwell Stinger on a patio table that was kind of bouncy. I just bought a Caldwell Stable Table Deluxe for half price, it should improve my groups.

James

[PasadenaMike]

As long as my gun is minute of ground squirrel accurate at 40 yards I’m happy. If I want to shoot 1 inch groups at a 100 yards I’d get an Impact and shoot slugs but my idea of airgunning is shooting 10-40 yards and humanely dispatching ground squirrels and sparrows.

[rangerfredbob]

My first go at PCP was my gen 1 Marauder in .22 I got as a refurb, already had the lawyer spring removed, did the Bstaley mod, threw some foam in the air tube and adjusted it a bit til it was around 850fps with CPHP, it's stupid quiet and accurate, taken many yard pests including a couple skunks, many dove, few nutria, I think one racoon... after having it for like 6 years the exhaust valve broke but that's cheap and easy... need to get that thing out more... I like the weight and balance of the original wood stock. I ended up with a synthetic stock gen II .25 Mrod through craigslist locally for cheap enough and I think it could use a little more forward weight for balance, or I'm just out of practice... I think I've only done the bstaley mod to the .25, and I think I took the lawyer spring out, haven't drug the chrony out to see what it's doing, need to do that one of these days... curious what the avenger is doing...

I think both the .22 and .25 are quieter than my Avenger... thought about getting a mrod in .177 to get the whole set but got suckered into the avenger, no real regrets though, with the buck rail LDC it's not bad...

I tell ya, having the new to me Air Venturi compressor is going to be a game changer... topped off the avenger from 3000psi to 4300psi or whatever in like 3 minutes... it did take like 40 minutes to fill my SCUBA tank from 1000psi to 3000psi but no complaints, very quiet and no hand pumping , bit spendy even on the refurb deal a while ago but hey...

[lennyk]

there is no better platform to learn the dynamics of pcp tech than an mrod
from regulator theory, tuning spring knee curve, plenum size, hammer weight, valve poppet spring tension all the way to hammer bounce

[FuzzyGrub]

When people give their opinions about air guns they should mention the distance they shoot at.
All of the shooting above is with cheap pellets (CPHP mostly with some Daisy hollow points).

They also should mention if they refuse to try better pellets.   

The Prod is a pistol/carbine, and not a 60-70 yd gun.  Comparing to a rifle makes little sense, and then extrapolating your experience to a Mrod.    

The Mrod has an additional adjustment variable, so you would probably find it even more frustrating in tuning.  Others see that as being flexible. 

 

[BC81]

Between the marauder and fortitude I feverishly tried to get to stay at POI, I probably won't ever buy another newer benjamin or crosmam again. I also had a 25 kratos for a hot minute and it was an awkward hold off hand. Sold it, bought a cayden and just sold that. Theyre too big for my liking. Although it was super accurate, I cant stand a rifle that is longer and heavier than a frigging musket lol.
 
I bought a hatsan hydra in 25 since it was shrouded and a little smaller/lighter than the Mrod and it's a laser out to 50 yards. That's with multiple pellets too. Also only paid $290 for it. Its not the best looking rifle, but I like it way more than the Mrod or fort. When I go woods walking I take one of my home brew 2260s/1760 or my shrouded disco that has a breech riser and standard single shot breech. Theyre just more accurate than what I could get from benjamin repeaters. Alot of that I believe is the magazines always seem to be pellet picky. You feel the resistance when loading pellets, my hatsan is smooth as glass

[bear air]

Good to hear you found a rifle that fits the bill. I agree that if I wanted sub par accuracy I would grab the nearest tin of cphp's. I wouldn't put a 2 barrel on a big block race car either. LOL.

[FuzzyGrub]

I just don't get the point of posts that basically say "You made the wrong choice" after the person has bought the gun and even when they say that they are happy with it.     

[3crows]

I just don't get the point of posts that basically say "You made the wrong choice" after the person has bought the gun and even when they say that they are happy with it.   

Neither do I. But I am accustomed to rain on my parade and I dismiss ridiculousness. And recognize it when I see it. People have a right to enjoy different platforms.

James

[PasadenaMike]

Everyone has had different experiences with different guns and manufacturers so it’s understandable some people like and dislike certain guns. I’ve had my share of that. However
I’m one of the pickiest mofos you’ll find with Airguns. I’ve sold and given away so much stuff I’ve lost count whether they annoyed me in one way or another or were just total junk. I consider myself a trigger, fit and finish and overall performance snob. If a gun makes me happy I’d say it’s good to go and the marauder line have proven themselves over the years.  If down the line the rifle annoys me it’s being thrown on eBay and it’ll be gone in no time but Marauder and I have already had this conversation so it knows it’s on probation for 90 days:)

[n2omike]

Bought a 22 Marauder back in the day, and it was 'meh'.  Loved the gun, but accuracy was not the greatest.  (This was back when the 22's had the crappy barrels)  Scored a deal on a .25 for $399 and tried one of those.  These came with the Green Mountain barrel.  Thing was incredibly accurate!  A small amount of tuning and it was shooting even more accurately with 24 shots on a charge at 800 fps...  and only got better with a few parts. 

The 22 eventually got one of the Hammer Forged barrels that was super accurate, but liked lubed pellets and needed cleaned regularly.  Have since purchased a Lothar Walther barrel for it, but have not installed it yet. 

For anyone with a Marauder, remove the 'lawyer spring' from the trigger.  Instant smoother trigger.  A de-bounce device for the hammer is also highly recommended.  Get a chrono, do a little tuning...  and have fun! 

I have a .25 that has been fully built (regulated, high power, big valve, etc)  A .22 done up in a similar manner....   and my original .25 with basic mods and no regulator.  Guess which one I grab off the shelf 95% of the time?  Yup, the original .25 with only basic mods.  Love that gun! 

[kbstingwing]

Bought a 22 Marauder back in the day, and it was 'meh'.  Loved the gun, but accuracy was not the greatest.  (This was back when the 22's had the crappy barrels)  Scored a deal on a .25 for $399 and tried one of those.  These came with the Green Mountain barrel.  Thing was incredibly accurate!  A small amount of tuning and it was shooting even more accurately with 24 shots on a charge at 800 fps...  and only got better with a few parts. 

The 22 eventually got one of the Hammer Forged barrels that was super accurate, but liked lubed pellets and needed cleaned regularly.  Have since purchased a Lothar Walther barrel for it, but have not installed it yet. 

For anyone with a Marauder, remove the 'lawyer spring' from the trigger.  Instant smoother trigger.  A de-bounce device for the hammer is also highly recommended.  Get a chrono, do a little tuning...  and have fun! 

I have a .25 that has been fully built (regulated, high power, big valve, etc)  A .22 done up in a similar manner....   and my original .25 with basic mods and no regulator.  Guess which one I grab off the shelf 95% of the time?  Yup, the original .25 with only basic mods.  Love that gun! 

I had the bad barrel too, I put the LW Polygon and what a difference
here's a group at 40 yards , 1" target.

[jimbo]

John and James, I know where your coming from, I posted about a compressor that I am so happy with and then I get guys basically telling me (in a nut shell) what a mistake I made, piece of junk, wont last etc.