what's up w/ the .22 marauders ??

[ranedouglas]

  i hear mixed emotions w/ this gun.   i'm thinking of getting a .22 m-rod project gun.   share your insights and experiences w/ me, please.   thanx.   - paul d self.       .....as of 10-14-2010.....  a big texas thanx to all of ya'll for your input.   i had suspected that it was a barrel issue only.   most of the 22xx barrels i get from crosman need seasoning - but they are so inexpensive that it doesn't matter.  they eventually become great barrels - especially the 18" barrels.   ...........(GOD in Heaven w/ excalibur - please inspire crosman to make these 7/16" barrels in .20 and .25 caliber !!)   the marauder is the finest american airgun that i have handled.  in my opinion, it surpasses the rocker sheridans.    i would change only the stock on my project m-rod - it's too thick.   - paul.

[oldpink]

I have not gotten one yet, but it sounds as if the accuracy problems attributed to them were from an early production of them with undersized or misaligned shroud baffles deflecting the pellet.
The new ones are said to have the baffle problem resolved, with accuracy restored to what it should be.

[JonnyReb]

 Mine is an early production gun, and i'm almost gonna complain that it's boring to just put the pellets through the same hole over... and over... and over... 

 Doesn't seem to care much what pellet you use either. I guess the choked barrel takes care of the anomalies. It's the most amazingly accurate gun i've ever fired. I heard about the issues with .22's as well but my own fears were unfounded.  J

[daveshoot]

Exactly what JohhnyReb said... I just dropped mine off at Mac1 but #39 was a winner from the get-go. It will get a tune and bigger baffles, but it is very accurate indeed.

[patton1]

Just picked one at AOA. they just moved to a new location. Boy, what a nice store, next time I'll take some pic's.

Got home and ran a few pellets through her, she seems to like CPHP....I guess I can't complain. Was running low on air so I really couldn't test her out.

Will refill my air and try to post some target pic's in the next couple of days.

[Springer25]

They say they are corrected now.  I'd like to see some guys groups with the newer .22 cal marauders

[longislandhunter]

My .22 M-rod (#25) shoots just fine and it's completely stock and still set at the factory settings.  The only thing I did to it was change the baffles to the larger baffles that Crosman sent me for free.  Mine shoots CPH's and Kodiaks into ragged hole groups all day long 

Jeff

[CharlieDaTuna]

I've not heard of anyone not liking their Marauder with the exception of the baffle issue with the initial production. I know that I sure like mine and never a problem.

[DeutschKSK]

I had the baffle problem but I drilled out them so it's all fixed now.. but that was a long time ago.. my marauder is a tack driver. 20 shots within a quarter @ 50 yards. I hit targets @ 80 yards with no problems at all. over all an amazing rifle for the price, but you'll want to give it a very nice scope like a leupold efr 6.5-20 mine will get here eventually from swfa.

[jonnnyboy]

Paul, get one!!!  You'll wish you hadn't waited so long to try it.  I got one of the ones during the time that some folks were complaining.  I did have trouble with my barrel to start with.  It was amazing that it would put four pellets in the same hole at 20-25 yards and then throw a flyer one to two inches out.  I tried cleaning it and also, tried about ten different kinds of pellets before I called Crosman.  Paul, it was one of the nicest exchanges I have ever had with a manufacturer.  After explaining all I had done short of taking the barrel off the gun, the Crosman rep said, "I guarantee its not supposed to do that!  Which do you want: a new gun or a new barrel?"  I almost fell out of my chair.  Feeling like Oliver Twist, I responded with "May I have a new barrel, please?"  My new barrel arrived 5 days later and after 10 minutes of following good instructions, I had a gun that all 10 shots from the mag will be in the same hole at 20-25 yards using an old camera tripod as a rest.  Now it's fun to see how many I can put into one hole before it breaks out the back of my wooden backstop!!!

Paul, the only problem now with my mrod .22 is that it is kind-of boring.  I know that it shoots better than I can and unless I am breathing hard and my heart is racing, my smallest spinner at 20 yards is going to continue doing just that, spinning!!! It has become my number one stress reducer of an evening.  Fill to 2500psi, fill three mags and sit on the back porch putting holes through my backstop or keeping my spinners swinging as fast as I can work the bolt and trigger.

Paul, get one and see.
joe

[keith2324]

Well johnnyboy couldn't be more correct. My gun is absolutely boring. But this is a very good thing. I must have gotten one of the good ones. I am not the best shot in the world, but I simply can't miss with this thing. I have enclosed a couple of pics. 5 shots at 30yrds.

Keith. 

[Chortdraw]

That is some great shooting. I have never shot a PCP yet. Just springers. Thats all I need is to fall into the dark side.

[keith2324]

Once you cross over, there is no turning back. Muhahaha!!!!

[daveshoot]

Meant in a positive way, but for me yes, there is turning back.

The Marauder is a fine gun. It was my first PCP and it wasn't my last. I think very highly of it, and Crosman. It is a tremendous value for the dollar.

I just really like springers. They are me-powered, one pump and done, no gauges and fill levels, the ultimate no-hassle gun. It's not that PCPs are a BIG hassle. They are just a little more hassle than cocking a barrel, inserting a pellet, and pulling the trigger.

The guns by the doors are all springers. I love my Marauder, but no PCP is as permanently ready to go as a springer. I don't see how PCP could ever be as get-up-and-go as a well-made and dialed-in spring rifle. I don't worry about manometers, magazines, and adjustments with my springers.

Thus I have spoken and I am prepared for a little flak, but they just suit my style, I guess. YMMV.

[Joshua A.]

I totally agree with you dave, I love springers for the same reasons. but really have nothing to compare with because i own no pcp's yet. but the main reason for that is because of the added costs to power the pcps. I really like how the springers are "me powered" too. there are no added complications. or the threat of running out of air..those are some really good points there. i don't think many could argue with that.

[keith2324]

No flak needed. As you can see from my signature, I have a couple of springers too. And yes, they are guns which are at the ready at all times. But I have yet to see anyone group as well with springers at the longer ranges that PCP's can. I know it's like comparing apples and oranges but I think that's why people love PCP's so much. They are effort less, you don't have to keep re-torquing bolts like the magnum springers and they inspire confidence with the gun the moment it comes out of the box. All rifles have their place. But give a person a springer and a PCP and see which one they reach for first the second time around.  

Keith.  

ranedouglas, I guess it just depends on how many guns you have already and how much of a project this is going to be for you. These rifles are great right out of the box and unless you are changing stocks, etc, whatever form it takes it will always shoot well.

[daveshoot]

Thanks Keith for your gracious reply.

On the original topic, the Marauder has got to be one of the very best values in PCP in my personal experience. And of course, it will outshoot any of my springers at 50 yards (at least with me behind the wheel). It is also quieter- quieter than my R7 or Diana 24, much less the big boys.

I would buy another .22 without reservation, and I am definitely in line for the pistol, when available.

[only1harry]

I love a well tuned Springer but equally love my PCP's too.  It's hard to explain but I will always have a place for both in my heart and "man cave".  The Springer takes no "figuring out" and you just pick it up and go shoot whatever it is you want to shoot at. With the PCP's, I have to fill to the pressure they like and not go over (or I get a different "curve" at first, and slightly different POI before it settles to how I zeroed it..), then I have to remember how many I shot and when it 's time to refill so that the POI doesn't drop.  I mostly hunt so I need to make sure my PCP's are shooting optimally and within a specific velocity range.  With a well-tuned Springer you just cock, load and shoot, and keep on shooting for as long as you want or until you get tired of cocking, but a nicely tuned Springer cocks easier too.  Like I said I like them both.  I am spoiled from the PCP's, so if a Springer is not accurate or only part of the time (ie: not consistent), it goes straight to a tuner until he makes it accurate.  I could not shoot a factory stock Springer after I got PCP's.  But I discovered that advance-tuned Springers can be almost as accurate and fun as PCP's once you master the hold, which is less sensitive after a good tune with an aftermarket spring and custom guide. 
So for those of you that have never shot a really well-tuned Springer, I can see why you might not want to "go back" after you own a PCP.  The key to keeping and enjoying both types of guns is that you must really tune a Springer to appreciate it and then you will be surprised how it can stack up against a PCP, and with the ease of use, how can someone say "I 'll never go back", is sort of incomprehensible to me.  My only guess is, that person has never owned a well tuned Springer. By that I mean, a Springer that will give you a small ragged hole easily covered by a dime at 25 to 30yds with a nice smooth shot cycle.  A good trigger tune is also implied because that is one very important part of the tune and a cost that many people do not opt for, when tuning their gun or sending it to a tuner.  A good trigger is more important in a Springer than it is on a PCP.

I would also take a Springer (with a low magn. scope) to the woods over a PCP if I planned on spending the whole day there.  I tried taking PCP's to the woods with a 6-24x50 scope and it didn't work out so great.  I ended up running out of air a few hours later and the 6-8x magnification did not work well for acquiring squirrels quickly before they moved again.  A Springer with open sights or a low mag. scope like 3-9x or 4x32 would have worked way better to find the critters quickly and shoot and shoot and shoot all day without running out of air.

Both guns have their advantages, but I will grab a well-tuned Springer to head to the woods any day.  Now if you are talking open field hunting (rabbits, birds, ground squirrels), where the targets will be >40 yards down range, and the car is not that far away with a Scuba or "buddy" tank in it, then I will opt for a PCP.  Like I said there is always room for both!

[gene_sc]

I have not gotten one yet, but it sounds as if the accuracy problems attributed to them were from an early production of them with undersized or misaligned shroud baffles deflecting the pellet.
The new ones are said to have the baffle problem resolved, with accuracy restored to what it should be.

Yes the first batch of M-Rods had undersize baffle holes. Since then Crosman has changed them and will replace yours if there is problem. Easy to remove and replace them.

[gene_sc]

Just picked one at AOA. they just moved to a new location. Boy, what a nice store, next time I'll take some pic's.

Got home and ran a few pellets through her, she seems to like CPHP....I guess I can't complain. Was running low on air so I really couldn't test her out.

Will refill my air and try to post some target pic's in the next couple of days.

Ya with that nice new store they will have some nice new prices for air guns... To help on monthly mortgage...