by Tom Gaylord
Writing as B.B. Pelletier
Benjamin Wildfire.
This report covers:
- The test
- Sight in
- Trigger control
- Sights
- Falcon pellets
- Sig Match Ballistic Alloy pellets
- JSB Exact Heavy
- Something different
- Accuracy
- More to come
Today we start looking at the accuracy of the new Benjamin Wildfire. Knowing what an important air rifle this is, I have made a addition to today’s test. I will tell you all about it when we get there.
The test
I will shoot today from a rest at 10 meters. The targets are 10-meter rifle targets. Since the Wildfire is a PCP I will rest it directly on the sandbag. I will use the open sights that came on the gun. I will shoot 12-shot groups with each pellet, unless you read otherwise. Twelve pellets are what the magazine holds, so why complicate things?
Sight in
I started sighting in with Crosman Premier lite pellets. Shot one hit below the bull, so I slid the rear sight elevator up two steps. Shot two landed just above the bull, so the rear sight went down one step. That left 10 pellets in the magazine, so the first target was 10 shots with Crosman Premier lites at 10 meters.
The group measures 0.573-inches between centers at 10 meters. The first shot hit above the black bull and the following 9 were inside the black. I could see that first pellet hole with my new eye, so we know that is working as it should. When I adjusted the rear sight elevator the second time, I don’t think it actually changed, because the first shot of the 10-shot gropup is in the exact same place as sighter number two.
Ten Crosman Premier lites went into 0.573-inches at 10 meters.
No, that’s not the tightest 10-meter group I ever shot with a PCP and yes, it is darned good. I think the picture speaks for itself.
Trigger control
There has been a lot of talk about the Wildfire/Crosman 1077 trigger. This rifle is a double action only revolver whose trigger stacks (becomes noticeably harder to pull) at the end of its arc, just before the rifle fires. Some may think that is a bad thing, but if you want to shoot accurately, it’s really a good thing. You pull the trigger until it stops and then steady the sight picture and squeeze the shot off. I found the rifle was dead steady and predictable when I controlled the trigger this way. This trigger is an advantage, if you will learn to use it.
Sights
Unlike most other fiberoptic sights I’ve tested, the Crosman fiberoptics are very bright — at least the front one is. I saw it throughout the test. But I was also able to see the front post, so my aiming was quite precise.
Falcon pellets
I thought perhaps Air Arms Falcon pellets might be good in this rifle, so they were tested next. This time I shot all 12 pellets at the target. Falcons spread out sideways, giving me a 1.141-inch group at 12 meters. Given how well the Premier lites did, I don’t think this is a pellet for this rifle.
Twelve Air Arms Falcons went into 1.141-inches at 10 meters. Not the best result.
Sig Match Ballistic Alloy pellets
Next up were 12 Sig Match Ballistic Alloy pellets. These .177 lead-free pellets almost always do well, and I wondered how they would do in the Wildfire. They gave the second-best group, putting 12 into 0.714-inches at 10 meters.
Twelve Sig Match Ballistic Alloy pellets made this 0.714-inch group at 10 meters. It’s very vertical, but the aiming was always spot-on.
JSB Exact Heavy
I wondered whether heavier pellets might work, so I tried JSB Exact Heavy pellets next. At 10.34-grains, they qualify as heavy for the Wildfire powerplant. Twelve of them went into an open group that measures 0.942-inches between centers. So this isn’t the one you want.
Twelve JSB Exact Heavy pellets made this 0.942-inch group at 10 meters. It’s pretty scattered, compared to the Premiers and Sig Match pellets.
Something different
Okay, up to this point I have made no mention of filling the rifle. You probably wondered about that, didn’t you? Well, here is what I did. Sight-in and the first two groups (that’s the Premier lites and the Falcons) were fired on a single fill. That was 24 shots. Then I refilled the rifle to its maximum of 2000 psi, which, after the two groups, was hovering around 1200 psi.
The next two groups were also fired on a single fill. Those were the Sig Match Ballistic Alloy pellets and the JSB Exact Heavys. Another 24 shots. Time to refill, but then I did something different.
I filled the rifle to 2000 psi again and fired 12 Crosman Premier lites at the target. The group was larger than the first group of 10 Premiers, but by this time I was getting tired. However, I didn’t remove the target. I photographed it in place, instead.
These are the first 12 Premiers I fired at the 10-meter target. This was photographed in place.
Then I reloaded the magazine with 12 more Premier lites and shot the same target again. The rifle was not refilled with air. I did this to see where the second set of pellets would go. I think you will be surprised. I sure was!
These are the second 12 Premiers I fired at the same 10-meter target. They landed on top of the first 12 pellets. This was also photographed in place. Sorry this shot is blurry. It was hand-held in ambient light and I must have moved.
Notice that the group did not grow much larger. One stray pellet landed below the main group, but the rest of the pellets are in the main group. Compare this target with the first target and you’ll see what I’m talking about. There are 24 shots in this group!
Now, let me show you the same group as I normally present it.
This is the composite group the way it would normally be shown. There are 24 shots in this group.
Accuracy
I think today’s test shows the accuracy potential of the Benjamin Wildfire quite well. It was shot from a rest with open sights at 10 meters with 4 different pellets. In one instance, 24 pellets were shot at the same target. This is the kind of accuracy you can expect from a Wildfire.
The Wildfire is everything I told you it would be. It’s light, fast-handling and quite accurate for what it is. You have to use the right pellets, and I have shown you two that work very well. “Very well?” What does that mean? It means that they go where they are aimed.
The Wildfire is not a precision PCP, so don’t try to compare it to one. It also IS NOT semiautomatic!!! It has a double action only revolver mechanism in which the trigger both advances the circular clip to the next round and also cocks and releases the striker spring. That means it can not have a crisp and light trigger pull. It simply cannot, by design. If Crosman were to revive the Nightstalker and allow the sear to capture the striker every time, THAT would be a semiautomatic rifle. It would be the rifle equivalent of the model 600 pistol.
More to come
Okay — this was the test at 10 meters with open sights. Next I mount either a scope or a red dot and try it again. I’m thinking the 10-meter accuracy will improve a little with a scope, so that’s the way I’m leaning at the present.
After 10 meters, I will back up to 25 yards and try it again from there. That will definitely be with a scope. When I’m finished testing this rifle, you should know the Benjamin Wildfire quite well. Crosman didn’t put a time limit on this loan, so I plan to look at the Wildfire in great detail.
B.B.,
Unless they are HFT shooters, I don’t see any reason to complain about the accuracy of this rifle. Given its cost and function everyone who shoots it is guaranteed to have fun from chasing feral cans to making the paddles swing.
Siraniko
BB,
I was wondering if you did any barrel prepping such as “shot X no. of pellets to season barrel” or “used bore compound and brass brush” or any of the other methods that I’ve seen thrown around on the web, before you shot your groups ? I ask because I have two of these ordered and intend to do my own testing for accuracy and such and I want to do it “right”. Also, would putting up the results in a post here be appropriate or even of interest to many readers of your blog?
Halfstep,
Speaking for me,.. (all) results are interesting. I seek a broad range of information from varied sources when deciding what to purchase. Of course I keep in mind the differences there may be from gun to gun in the same model as well as pellet choice. The ability of the tester too. That is where I have to chuckle and remember to “keep it real” as my ability is not likely that of a seasoned tester/shooter.
Chris USA,
Got confirmation that my guns have shipped from PA at 7:30 this morning. Yaaa! I’m no expert at this but I am careful, always rest the guns,uses scopes when possible(old eyes and open sights No es bueno)have a measured 10 m range in my basement and have a crono and 30 + pellets that I try out(most are the less expensive types, but some are primo and some are brands I never see mentioned in print) The bad news is that I just picked up two Beeman p17s and am in the middle of checking them out. Love the gun, by the way, but haven’t found any real accurate pellets yet so I may “back burner” them in favor of the Wildfires.
You mentioned gun to gun differences and I may get a glimpse of that since I usually buy two guns at a time, so I have one for my grandson to use.(low cost guns,that is LOL) Shooting with him (or my drinkin’ buddies) is much more fun than shootin’ alone.
Halfstep,
Since we all know that shooting and “imbibing” are best kept away from each other,… no need to cover that. Your 2 at a time approach is quite a unique approach to getting shooting buddies. Kind of like the guy at the local watering hole that buys rounds and has lot’s of “buds”,…. until the pellets run out. 🙂 Hey, if it works,.. have fun and be safe. Keep us posted on the Wildfire “duel”. Not many of us would ever have 2 of the same model to compare,.. at the same time.
Chris U
I got 2 Daisy model 74’s. My daughter’s both told me very strongly.
“Dad your not getting rid of these 2 guns. Their just to much fun.”
And what’s funny. For bb guns they preform pretty much equally. And cost wise you can’t beat them. Nice little air guns.
Chris U
Oh and forgot to add.
How about this. Would love to see them as a PCP model.
That would be something new wouldn’t it. A PCP BB gun. 🙂
GF1,
Mmmmmm?????? And,… full auto? Back pack bb reservoir? Say a conservative 20 or 30,000 rounds? 😉
Chris U
The Daisy 74 could be a PCP very easily. They have a spring loaded pusher that feeds the bb’s like the Steel Storm’s.
In a sense. Different firing mechanism. But the 74 loads 15 bb’s in the magazine of the gun. And it has a 200 round resivoir. So 15 shots as fast as you can pull the trigger. Around 200 shots per 12 gram Co2 cartridge.
I have been thinking about trying the Air Venturi adapter that I got on my Steel Storm on the 74 with the regulated HPA Air Venturi bottle. I can’t even imagine how many shots per fill I could get out of it.
It could be used for multiple days of fast action plinking without a refill. And another reason to like pcp’s. 🙂
Halfstep,
I did no barrel prepping. What you read is how I tested the rifle. I did shoot it outdoors before this test, and I knew Premier lites were going to be very accurate, but outside of that, this is what I did.
B.B.
BB ,
I guess I’ll test that way also. Is the seasoning and prepping even of much benefit to air guns in this price range?
Halfstep,
I’m going to say, “No.” Not because it doesn’t work. Too many people have claimed good results from seasoning the bore for me to say that. I say it more because of what the Wildfire is designed to do.
This is a “pick up and go” airgun. One you don’t worry about — you just shoot it. And the price range is part of what determines that, because there is a certain mindset among the buyers who sbuy guns in this price range.
While my little test shows there are advantages to knowing the performance of certain pellets, many people will not care that much. Their targets are not so small that it matters.
B.B.
BB
Well that’s the best statement I have heard in a while about a air gun.
“”This is a “pick up and go” airgun. One you don’t worry about — you just shoot it.””
🙂
GF1,
I meant it.
B.B.
BB
And I believe you do.
🙂
BB
Received e mail from PA today saying some items on my order came in but they needed to reconfirm the credit card. That over 30 day thing. Only had the Wildfire and some mags on it so perhaps they arrived early? Still takes around a week to reach me after mailing anyway.
Glad to see the trigger has a predictable stop. Much easier to eliminate pests.
I was out plinking today with my Beeman Bison and really like shooting these adult big powerful bulky break barrels, like the Valken Infiltrator and Black Ops Tactical Sniper. They are really comfortable to shoot for their power and they don’t flop all over the place when you try to cock them.
I was interested in this report as the rifle is based on the Crosman 1077 which I have just recently bought, but not tested yet. After reading this report, I re-read your test of the 1077. It seems that you got some .63 inch groups with the Crosman. So it appears the two rifles shoot about the same at 10 meters. I will be glad when the weather warms up here some, so I can give my 1077 a fair test . Thank you for your report.
Harvey
K7uq,
Was wondering the same thing about the 1077–thanks for looking that up.
No problem. I think I am really going to enjoy the 1077.
Shoot safe
Harvey
BB,
It looks like Crosman has developed the ideal PCP for feral soda can hunting. That twenty-four shot group is really quite impressive. Is the first shot of your groups high? Maybe if you only filled it to 1900 PSI, the group might tighten up even more.
RR,
Yes the first shots were always high for some reason. Even the first 10-shot group has a high first shot, even though I shot two sighters before that one. I think it could be mental and not actual.
B.B.
BB,
Maybe. Maybe the slightly higher velocity of the first shot or two remove them from the optimum “accuracy range” for this PCP. The maximum fill is not necessarily the best fill.
Of course, with this particular PCP in the hands of most any competent shooter, a feral soda can is most certainly dead.
RR
Sometimes they actually still work good above their maximum “so called” full fill.
You have to shoot them all the way through a fill that is sometimes more than what’s recommend. And I’ll say this. The gauge on the gun is the worst thing to go by. That’s just used for a reference to know when your ending shot is after you shoot the gun enough to get some data of when the poi starts falling off of what the rest of the fill does.
Shoot and document is what needs to happen.
RR
And remembering something Twotalon use to always remind me about. Sometimes a PCP likes to be dry fired first to get the valve working. Well he worded it differently.
But that could be why the first shots a little different. And if it is at the first shot of each clip it just might have to do a little bit with the action of the gun to the barrel sealing. Just a thought. Who knows.
RR,
If you check the Ham wildfire review you will notice that the velocity increased on the first shot of every new mag. Perhaps that might account for the change of poi.?
All in all, it is shaping up to be a nice short range pest control and plinking gun. Those feral soda cans don’t stand a chance.
Pete
Pete,
This is why I suggested such. My experience with various PCPs usually show an “accuracy range” to the fill pressure. I have even seen this with regulated air rifles. This is one of the reasons a chronograph can be a most useful tool.
RR
Agree a little bit with that.
But paper tells the story. Not always the chrony. The chrony just gives you a number to compare with the targets shot.
B.B.,
Nice shooting. I liked the 24 shot group. A very good illustration of POI in relation to falling air pressure. ,.. (in this case being little to none). I did this with the .25 M-rod and at the time, with the settings at that time, it became quite evident that somewhere around shot 22, things started to head South. Spot-on regarding the trigger. Lighter is not always the better. A 3-4# can have it’s advantages, though most times 1 1/2# works for me.
Looking forwards to the scoped 25 yard.
Good Day all,….. Chris
Nice shooting young fella. You De man. Another tester only managed 0.70 in @ 10 yds with a scoped Wildfire.
You have to introduce me to your eye doctor. If she fixes my eye I might shoot better groups. Lol!
Pete
B.B.,
It seems that the Wildfire “prefers” a fill range of something like 1800 psi to 1200 psi. Is that how you interpreted the tighter grouping of the second clip?
By my count you have shot the Wildfire at least 120 times. I know that is not a lot, but during this period have you noticed a bit of lightening of the trigger pull?
Michael
Michael,
I had not thought about the pressure curve. You may be right.
No, the trigger is still the same. I have just gotten used to it.
B.B.
Michael
Very good point about the fill pressure. I for sure can tell with my Maximus what it likes best. It will go a little above 2000 psi. Actually 2300 down to 1200 is it’s shooting range.
I had that 1077 that I converted to HPA with the 88 gram cartridge and Foster male fitting. It definitely had it’s fill area it shot it’s best at target shooting. But would still shoot good above or below that range.
Some guns are more forgiving than others on what fill pressure they like. That’s the trick to shooting a PCP accurately or very accurately. Know what range the gun likes.
GF1,
2300? I have not tried that. Stock hammer spring? I was afraid of getting a “lock”.
Chris, Chris, Chris
Was going to call you grasshopper but can’t quite do that anymore. 😉
Sometimes being afraid is a good thing, sometimes it ain’t. But yes try the gun above and shoot a full fill all the way through to a low end pressure. Again. Gauges tend to be not right and different guns like different things. And take like 5 shots at a target then 5 more at another till your to the end of the fill. And don’t do that once and think you got your full fill and end fill established. Do 3 or 4 full fills and see if the group’s repeat. That will give you a average idea of what “your” gun likes.
Pcp’s are sweet shooting guns if you put some time in them. Well listen to that. Heck, same for pumpers, springers and Co2 guns. They all got to be figured out as a individual gun. You know that. They all have their own personality. 😉
GF1,
I always use the gauge(s) on my Guppy to judge a fill. I just was not sure the spring had enough “oomph” to knock the valve open. I will do a bump up (21,22,23) and see if anything acts weird. Thanks for the tip. That is the first I had heard of that being mentioned with the Maximus.
Oh,… and on the trigger spring,…. did you bend just one end of the wire or did you retention the (entire) spring?
Chris U
Yep try the different fills. But don’t get carried away on how high you go. The Maximus uses a different valve than the Discovery. It only has 2 screws holding the valve in the tube. The Discovery has 3 screws. So I would be cautious about going crazy on a high fill pressure.
And bent the whole spring just enough keep the safety button in place. Any less and the button would fall out. And the sear won’t catch the striker. So yes my trigger is on the edge of safe. Did the bump test and it passed. But I’m still cautious. As it goes. Don’t mess with something if you don’t understand what could happen.
GF1,
Yup,… got it,… and got it. I would never go above 2300, since you have tried it first. The trigger is no issue either. And yes,… do the “bump”,… and still be cautious. I do have the Lyman trigger gauge for just such tweaking occasions.
Grass Hopper,… 🙂 🙂 🙂 been awhile since that has even crossed my mind. Gettin’ into new stuff at work and feeling like a grass hopper all over again. It is fun learning new things.
Besides,…. B.B. “promoted” you, me and the BD to Jedi Knights there awhile back. 🙂 I was quite honored.
Thanks for the tips,… Chris
Chris U
As time passes we all learn. And get called something one way or another along the way. 😉
Hey B.B. Pelletier,
I’m gonna go off topic, my apologies…
In your post about making the breech seal, you did not mention which side needs to be facing outwards: the rough side or the polished/smooth side of the leather. EXPLANATION!!!
thanks mate 😀
I meant leather breech seal for your airgun.
Atharxd1,
I’ve done it both ways. I think the rough side up is best, because it gets smoother when pressed against the spring tube. Keep it well-oikled and it will shape up for you.
B.B.
I have wondered about the technique for double-action triggers in a variety of guns. Going slow as suggested does add a degree of control, but it does raise some new problems from the viewpoint of physics. When you stop, right before your release, the stacking effect means that resistance will be greatest. Surely there is friction within the mechanism although I’ve never understood exactly how a sear works. Doesn’t it have to do with two metal surfaces sliding over each other? At any rate, the resistance caused by friction is determined by a coefficient of friction associated with the materials being used. But it is a general principle that the coefficient of static friction is always greater than the coefficient of non-static friction. This is just our everyday experience that it is harder to get something moving from rest than to keep it moving while in motion. This effect adds to the maximum resistance of stacking.
At the same time, perched on the edge of release, you are expected to make the tiniest movement to fire the shot without jerking the trigger. In other words, you are working at cross purposes, expected to summon the maximum effort then stop it in the smallest possible window. This is still better than exerting continuous force throughout the pull, but it’s not like stopping the trigger before release is removing all the difficulty. But maybe it’s not fair to compare it with a single action. It is certainly better than any other method of using double action that I can think of. And as David Tubb sayeth, it is possible to get used to any trigger with sufficient practice.
Vana, have you ever heard of Jeff Cooper’s “Jackass prone” positions? These refer to getting an improvised rest in the field, and he has some ingenious ones. I myself am taking another look at kneeling. I hadn’t considered it before because of a mild arthritic condition in my knees. Also, I have miserable memories of it from my high school rifle team. My conventional kneeling position was so unstable that the coach gave me this variation whereby you sat on the inside of your rear foot. It was more stable but agonizing, and I could never do that now. However, I think with the purchase of original Corcoran jump boots from WWII (for my re-enactment) plus modern tactical kneepads, I might be able to do it. It would certainly expand my repertoire from offhand shooting.
Gunfun1, I got Lauren an IZH 61, a Crosman 1377, and a Makarov CO2 pistol. She seemed to like the Makarov best.
Matt61
Matt61
Do you remember from shooting your 1077 how when you pull through the trigger it has the stopping point that BB is talking about. What I found that worked with my 1077’s I had. When I was target shooting is to kind of keep pulling through at that point where the stop happens. Or in other words where the trigger stacks. I don’t stop and hold at that spot of the trigger pull. So basically aim while I start the pull and don’t stop. As I approach that spot where it gets heavy I slow up but continue the hold and the pull. I have shot my 1077 pretty accurately that way. And matter of fact that Colt Python that uses the circular clips like the 1077. It is very accurate for a pistol when I shoot it double action. Remember follow through. Well that’s real important with a double action trigger. Or should I say dual action.
And ok I thought it was a 1377 that you got her. Did you ever pump and shoot it? What do you think about how it felt pumping when you shot it if you did. Did it feel solid or toy like to you? No trick question. Would like to know what you think since we was talking about it
Not all double action triggers “Stack” meaning that the weight of pull increases at the end of the stroke. Smith and Wesson triggers do not stack. Their weight of pull stays the same through the entire stroke to let off. However, there is a point just before let off that you can feel. If you want to, you can hold there and steady your aim, and then fire the shot. This works well with Ruger double action triggers too. Of course, you can just pull all the way to firing if needed.
Mike
Big Iron
True. But if you shoot’em enough you get use to the feel. Just like a 2 stage or even a nice FWB 300 trigger.
They all got their feel. Although I have shot some guns with terrible triggers.
Well, I would not mind picking up a new Wildfire and an inexpensive hand pump. However, I was diagnosed with a serious health issue about three weeks ago, and until I meet with my Doctor on Monday to get all the test results, and then my options etc, I won’t be spending any money on myself on airguns. If the meeting goes well (the cancer hasn’t spread etc), then I probably have an operation. If it goes bad, I don’t know what comes next.
But, I can still read about them. Looking forward to your part four!!
Birdmove,
I will pray for you.
B.B.
Birdmove,
Prayers on this end as well. My father, 80, is going through something similar. Prostrate. Genetic testing is common now as well as IDing what specific type. He was told that a non aggressive type is much less an issue. Many will pass from something else first. The test he took awhile back takes 30 days to get the results. I did not really mean to “delve in” there, but I thought I would share what little bit I could. Best of luck with answers and options. Chris
Well, I have the same problem as your dad, but at 63 years old. Mine’s a pretty aggressive form, and so my Doctor kind of pushed to get my MRI and bone scan done quickly. The biopsy was done a few weeks before, and was no fun at all. All 12 biopsy samples showed cancer, and my “Gleeson” rating is 8. I have airguns to shoot, and just came in from an hour of target shooting my Crosman Model 66. It takes my mind off the bigger picture for a while.
Things are a bit complicated because I live near Hilo on the big island. So, for all the technical stuff they have to fly me, or as in the case Monday, they fly my wife and I over and back. They have a shuttle van that picks us up at the Honolulu airport, takes us to the Kaiser Permanente hospital, and return us to the airport after. Monday is an informational meeting with my doc, and he wants my wife there too, so she goes with me this time. My dad died of this at 82, but it wasn’t diagnosed until it had already spread to his bones and lungs.
Birdmove,
Well then, praying for strength in both mind and body would be the top order of the day. People lament on living in Hawaii, but I bet very few give any thought to the difficulty of accessing top medical care. Take care and best wishes on a successful fight.
Birdmove
Hope all goes well with your doc visit. Saying a prayer for you.
A little off topic but still about Crosman. A thread on another board mentioned that the Marauder Field and Target is scrapped. Checking PA’s site confirms that it ‘s not available, no longer listed. Any info?
Scott80
Too much speculation I would say. It’s got a far off delivery date so people are probably discriminating that it’s not happening.
In my opinion it’s probably happening. It takes time to get things in place. And who knows where the regulator’s are comming from. Hopefully Crosman is making them in house. And if so again takes time to ramp up production.
I could go on with more things about production and meeting deadlines. But just to keep it simple. I think people should hold of on assuming what could be right now.
The regulated Marauder is a very doable gun. And with Crosmans knowledge about air guns I don’t see why it won’t happen in time.
Could be speculation, but the op on GTA supposedly talked to Crosman/Pyramidair reps. Like I posted before PA’s site has noting on the F & T anymore when they used to have it listed for pre-order.
Scott80
Yep your right about that. Saw it listed on the PA site and not now.
Speculation again. Maybe PA don’t want to list it if it’s a long ways off.
I could see where that could cause preorder problems with PA and people’s accounts with there cards or bank accounts. And customer relations.
I would say just keep watching. In time more info will be released. But I really think it’s not a far off idea of a regulated Marauder. Maybe I’m wrong. But I think it’s doable.
Regulated Marauder is doable, lots of aftermarket already been done. They were going to improve the barrels also. I have a .177 gen 2 and hate it. Heavy in weight and cocking, also bad accuracy. I am a springer man mostly.
Scott80
Really bad accuracy with a .177 Marauder. Had a bunch of wood and synthetic stock fender 1 and 2 Marauders in all calibers. Never had accuracy problems with the .177 calibers. The .25 are a little finiky to get shooting good. And the .22’s are hit and miss.
And heavy cocking? Weird too. I went up to a 16 pound spring in one of my .25 Marauders. Now that’s heavy bolt cocking there.
Maybe your just use to the springers. Definitely a different type of cocking and shot cycle. But I don’t think I ever heard of anybody saying a .177 Marauder wasn’t accurate. How accurate are your springers and at what distance and what type of pellet? Sounds to me like you got some pretty accurate springers.
Well I have 2 LGU’s, 2 LGV’s, TX200, Diana 54.22 and a lot more. I do have other pcp’s, AA 200T , Air force Condor SS and some converted QB’s. I shoot airgun benchrest and field target with my springers.
Scott80
What pellets and velocity in your .177 Marauder?
No joke, I have a tin of most of the available pellets that are currently made. Have tried them all in the Marauder. The top three were AA 8.4, HN FTT, and the new HN Sniper mediums. The sniper mediums were best. I tried velocity from 600-1000 not much difference, but best was around 850-900. Biggest problem is flyers, always one or two in a 10 shot group. Have weight and sorted pellets and used different scopes, trigger is adjusted light. Removed shroud and baffles, no difference. Tried shooting it indoors at 50 feet for benchrest competition once, that was a joke, no repeatable accuracy.
Scott80
Ever try a single shot tray? And is the barrel band centered on the shroud? Is the shroud tight?
Also what fill pressure and what setting is the striker and striker spring pressure adjustment set at? Also transferor setting.
Since we’re getting into this and all.
Scott80
And here check this out. I just picked the .177 model for the link.
https://www.crosman.com/new-2017/new-for-2017-airguns/marauder-field-and-target-177-cal
Yes on the single shot tray. Shroud is tight and centered. The adjustments for striker etc are back at factory did try some adjustments.
Scott80
What fill pressure? And before you start shooting your groups do you take a few practice shots first?
Some guns like that. My Talon SS needed it. My Maximus definitely don’t.
In other words the valve needs nocked first. And fill pressure makes a difference.
I tried fill between 2500 and 3000, no difference. I could shoot three-four mags no difference. I have had this rifle apart, cleaned, adjusted more times than I care to remember no change in accuracy. In all honesty I haven’t shot the rifle since last fall and in the mean time it has developed a leak.
Scott80
That could be the problem.
If it’s bleeding down through the barrel you could be getting inconsistent shots cause of the valve top hat not seating.
You know how that happens? Contamination in the system. Do you have moisture in the system. Plus contaminants build slightly over time. Maybe particles from something getting in.
A clean system should be thought about of always.
But I keep thinking about your other pcp’s. They don’t have flyers like you say the Marauder does. That makes me wonder.
I have owned this rifle for a couple of years, the leak has just happened in the last six months. Like I said this gun has been apart a few times, no contaminants. I also use nitrogen because I have a steady supply. Yea my AA 200t is really accurate. Last month in an indoor benchrest match I finished 4th ahead of a Raw, HW’s, AA.
Scott80
You never did say what groups your Marauder gets and at what distance.
And what does your AA 200t group at and what distance?
Marauder groups 50′ indoor best was 1/2″ 10 shots. Outdoors good conditions 25 yards 3/4″+ 50 yards 2+ .
AA 200t indoor 50′ one hole maybe hole and a half. Outdoor good conditions 25 yards no wind sub 1/2″. My 200t is set at 600 fps.
Scott80
Yep you definitely got a bad .177 Marauder.
That’s unheard of bad accuracy compared to every on I have had. Maybe I’m lucky. Or in your case unlucky.
Or maybe there’s more out there like yours. And just haven’t heard.
????? Is all I can say.
I found right away when I bought my 1077 that the 12 round magazine dictated my choice of pellets quite a bit. I found some pellets were too loose of a fit and didn’t try them as I was worried they would move inside that magazine and jam the system. While I never tried any top level pellets, I found the Crosman hollow points were a perfect fir in the mag, requiring some pushing to get them into it, but I never had to worry about them slipping in the mag. Luckily, the 1077 liked that pellet very much, and no other pellet that I tried shot wit the accuracy of that hollow point.
Scott80,
No info but I remember that rifl;e did have a regulator. They can be difficult to stabilize at times. m,aybe they are spending more time with it.
B.B.
The outdoor is 5 shot groups.
Tom:
It doesn’t make any sense to me to buy the least expensive PCP rifle on the market, and have to feed it the most expensive pellets to expect any sort of accuracy? Would you please test this gun with some more reasonably priced alloy pellets?
In all fairness to those who might purchase this gun at the market price point, I think you should have done it in your first test. People who buy this gun will not be shooting high priced Sig pellets through it. Much more likely they will be shooting Crosman Premiers, even if accuracy suffers.
Deerflyguy,
The Premier lites did very well. So, is your concern that I used the Sig Match Ballistic Alloy pellets? I wouldn’t use them for real if the Premiers are as accurate as they are.
I’m certainly not going to shoot other alloy pellets in the wildfire, as all of the ones I can think of are not accurate. Am I missing something?
B.B.
With the price of an hand pump and the price of the Wildfire, I can buy nearly 1000 12 grams CO2 cartridges, more than I personally needs to shot at least five years with my Crosman 1077 (way more than that with a 88 grams adapter or a bulk-fill adapter). Consider also the cost and time of maintenance of these cheap hand pumps with low quality control such as the Benjamin and Venturi air pumps. Resealing them is a messy job that if all goes well, will take more than an hour each time you will have to disassemble, clean the old lube, change the seals, re-lubricate and reassemble your pump (If every thing goes well…), and with reasonable use, these cheap pumps will last not much than two years, even less than that.
With my Crosman 1077, I shots five to five and a half clips before changing the CO2 powerlet, witch takes less than a minute, where with the Benjamin Wildfire, after three clips, it’s time to slowly pump and pump and pump and pump again for an other three clips or 10 to 15 minutes of plinking!
For such cheap plinkers, the higher velocity of the Wildfire is not and advantage over the 1077, it just make it louder so less backyard friendly. The only positive point I see with the Wildfire is that it can be shot in the cold.
PGAir
I have to say I agree. If you already have the set up or if you live up north (where it’s cold) I can see it, but if you don’t have the set up or you live where it’s warm, C02 just might be the way to go. Buyers choice, but isn’t it good to have choices? Air Gunners are blessed with so many choices these days. Now if Crosman would bring back that bulk C02 1077 (or an adapter to do so) that is cool
Doc