Page 17 - Benjamin Marauder PCP Reviews

What can say that others have not already. This is the best rifle I have ever owned. Quieter than my Benjamin Trail NP by easily half. Trigger is great. Fit and finish are superb. I know it is expensive, but you get what you pay for. This is easily a 100 yard rifle. Anything within 50 yards is an easy target with this. Fires well from the standing position, and does not need the artillery hold that is need by most springer rifles. As some might know, this gun is very easy to shoot.

I would love to see this rifle offered with a synthetic stock. While I enjoy the hardwood stock, the beech that companies are using these days is not great. Walnut for a gun within this price range would be a much better fit. Beech is very soft and over time, this stock will obtain dings and dents easier than a harder wood.

Purchase a few extra mags for your rifle. You won't be disappointed with your Marauder, even though it costs a pretty penny.

Accuracy - I manage 3/4" groups at 50 yards sometimes. 1-1.5" is more typical, so this is not quiet on par with the high-end PCPs. Still, better than any springer I've shot, and very easy to get that accuracy consistently. Power - I get 980 fps with the factory tune and a 2600 psi fill with Crosman Premier Lights, 7.9 gr. About 100 fps slower with Crosman Premier Heavies, 10.2 (?) gr. Quietness - The only sound is the "ping" of the hammer falling and the pellet hitting the target. Fill nipple - I prefer this to the hole provided in other PCP guns. Pumping - I fill to 2600 psi, then shoot about 50 rounds, which brings me down to about 2000 psi. Pumping it up takes about 5 minutes, and isn't enough to heat up my Hill pump. No breaks needed for the pump to cool. I need a break about 2/3 of the way through, and I'm 35 and in fair shape. Trigger - is fantastic. It isn't as light as a proper $3,000 target rifle, but it is crisp and light at probably a 2 lb. pull.

Include the single shot adapter at no charge. It is ridiculous to charge for this on a gun that costs this much. All pellets I've tried do not drop down into the holes in the mag, they seem to get hung up on holes 5 and 6. No biggy, I can probably fix this with some very light Dremel work. I would also like to see some other stock options that are comfortable to shoot from a bench, such as thumbhole, pistol grip, and bullpup.

This rifle does not like JSB pellets. I know, hard to believe, right? It really does prefer the Crosman Premiers. It shoots Lights and Heavies well, as well as the Discovery branded pellets. (10.5 gr. hollow points) The gun comes tuned from the factory for a 2500 psi fill. If you hand pump, you'll appreciate this. That tune is a good compromise, as it gives good velocity but doesn't require a 3000 psi fill to get it. If you're willing to re-tune for 3000 psi, more power can be gotten from the gun, but probably at the expense of some accuracy, as the pellets will then be nearing the supersonic speeds, at least in .177. In .22 or .25, you'll have more energy potential, but at the expense of number of shots per fill and flat-shooting. Be sure you pull the bolt all the way back before inserting or removing a magazine, or you'll break off the probe tip and have to order a new bolt assembly. I did it once, and it was pure torture, not being able to shoot this for that week. I have a Hawke Eclipse 4.5-14x44 w/ 30mm tube and side focus mounted to this gun. It's very accurate, and the 1/2 mil dot reticle is great, but it makes the gun quite heavy. If you'll be doing any offhand shooting, get a scope with a 1" tube and no larger than 40mm objective. 10x magnification is about right, and you can get by with a common 3-9. Anyway, great gun, worth every penny. I'm going to de-ping it and think about having a custom thumbhole or bullpup stock built for it.

Very solid, nice gun. Looks great, feels well balanced, deadly accurate. I have the .22 caliber, for the price I don't think you can get a better more accurate PCP gun.

They should just include the single tray loader for larger pellets (like the Predator Polymags) which don't fit in the 10rd magazine. Had to order that tray extra.

Tested quite a few pellets so far, seems like the Crosman Premier domed are pretty much the best all around pellet, very accurate. For heavier punch I use the JSB Exact heavies ... 18g ones, and are very accurate as well, but have to re-dial in the scope when switching. I put a leapers 4-16x44 side wheel adjustment, seems like a good combination. Just remember, this rifle is definitely not a toy, pretty heavy esp. after adding a scope, but the accuracy is worth the tradeoff alone. I just shoot off bench or use a bipod most of the time.

quality, accurate, quiet.

nothing as this is my first pellet gun and i would not know what to change.

i have shot 200 pellets. i bought a scuba tank. after 10 shots the gun drops in pressure. after 20 shots it drops some more. the tank is at 2500 psi or so now. i am learning how the tank and gun act. i am looking at CO2 now, as the tank may be more portable. you really can't go off into the woods unless you have an air supply. i did not buy this to go into the woods. i have a metal trap in the yard and use the targets that illuminate when you hit them. i have about $1000 in this with tank, adapter, scope, gun, trap, pellets, extra clip and case. it is high quality and fun to shoot. quiet too.

This gun is unbelievable how accurate it is. Shooting some heavier pellets, 5 shots groups all in 1 or 2 holes. It is also very quite and easy to cycle pellets.

The only thing I would change if possible would be to have the safety engage automatically when a pellet is chambered. I'm used to my Beeman Kodiak 25 cal spinger and it has spoiled me and nice to know it is on safe after it is loaded.

This PCP gun is an air HOG!it uses quite a bit of air at the higher setting that I have it at. I can start at 3,000 psi and shoot about 2 clips (16 pellets) and it starts to lose some velocity and needs to be pumped up again. From 2,000 to 3.000 psi it takes about 100 pumps to get it back to full. I will be buying a scuba tank soon because I love to shoot this gun and don't want to waste time pumping it up so much. It gets to be quite a workout and you can work up a pretty good sweat if it is hot out. I would recommend this gun to anyone who is the market for there 1st PCP gun or there 2nd, it is a bargain for the price.

great build quality, very accurate and very quiet.

a lighter stock would really help.

Price, low noise, pretty accurate, easy to use safety mechanism.

Weight. The listed weight is simply not accurate. Not PAs fault - it is also incorrect on Benjamin's website. Mine is 8 1/2 lbs or just over 10lbs with a Hawke scope. This is a heavy air rile. Have an option for an upgraded stock.

This is a great gun for the money and it is easy to praise. However, the build quality and accuracy (on mine, anyway) are not the same as the higher end imports. It may not be worth it to you to spend over twice the money for an Air Arms, Falcon, etc., but it is important to realize that those other guns are generally higher quality and it is not really like getting one of those guns at half price.

very quiet and accurate

nothing

quietness, power, ease in operation

can't think of anything...except make lighter

this is a high quality product that is a joy to shoot

The .25 cal arrived a week ago. I really like this gun it has a nice weight and feel. It shot well straight out of the box. I understand the 2-stage trigger copies an expensive English mechanism and the trigger certainly feels good - better than some of my rifles. I haven't fired enough rounds to know how accurate it is but inital groups are excellent.

The tacky large white lettering on the breech.

Its a bit tricky the first time working out how to load the cheap-looking plastic rotary magazine. The owners manual relies on a low-res black and white image for the critical bit of information about the orientation of the clear plastic shroud. This could be improved.

The rifle was very well built... fit and finish was clean and of decent quality. I know you can spend much, much more for a repeater like this, and only get a slightly better gun... so I think it's a great value. I also like the fact that it really is a very quiet rifle. The trigger is fantastic. Pressure and stage distances are adjustable, and can be made quite light - which I prefer. I bought the .25 and am very happy with the feeding of pellets and the accuracy - IF you have the right pellets. Groups do change considerably between pellet brands. I find the gun loves the EunJin 35.8g pellets...they fit a bit tightly, but the pattern is great. JSB Match Diabolo Exact King 25.4g were also pretty good... but not like the EunJin's. H&N Baracuda 31.02g were not impressive at all. I bought the suggested Leapers 4-16x50AO scope, and like it. Most of my shooting is at 25 or 50 yards. It's a good solid gun, well built, and should shoot for years... and has Crosman behind it, if there is any problem.

It's a bit heavy in the wood I think... They could shave some size and weight from it. I also wish the power adjustment was accessable without removing the stock. A simple hole in the right place would allow quick changes for heavy or light pellets. I would like to see some fixed sights for it, even if optional. Fixed sight shooting can also be enjoyable and rewarding... and this gun could certainly deliver on the shooter's skill level.

In .25 cal, it is an air hog. I have to refill after about 16 shots, which you will shoot VERY quickly from this gun. Plan on getting a tank, or getting a lot of exercise with a pump.

The looks, the feel, and it works as advertised and then some. Shoots like a laser and mine likes all different weights and brands of pellets. I just make a slight scope adjustment for whatever different pellet I'm shooting. I mostly shoot the JSB 18.1's in mine, but I have and shoot the Beeman Kodiak's in 21 gn too. I haven't turned mine up wide open, but I have shot 14.3's at 965, and JSB's above 900 and it's just as accurate at these speeds as it is at the lower speeds...and it'll shoot faster. Mine's adjusted to start out with 850 fps and after 30 shots, it's down to 750 fps...plenty of power and speed with the JSB 18.1 gn pellet...

I'd like to see the velocity adjuster have a knob or something on the outside of the gun...something like the Air Force guns...Not complaining, it would just be a nice feature...I'd like to see this gun available in a larger caliber like the .357 for example with a bigger tank on it... or the ability to switch among calibers again like the Air Force guns...That would be even more awesome than it already is! I'm gonna upload some pics later...still testing this bad boy...

Pyramyd Air is the absolute best. Do NOT be afraid to deal with them. They will take good care of you and help solve any problems that you might have...Pull the trigger with Pyramyd Air!

OK So I have had my .22 caliber Marauder now for roughly 6 months. It is the most accurate air rifle I have ever owned!! I can shoot targets at 100 yards and the impact of the H&N Barracuda Match pellet is still HARD!! I am going to get a .25 caliber to get more nock down power at that distance but the .22 still hits hard for what it is. As far as settings and accuracy, they go hand in hand. You will have to "tune" the gun to the pellet you shoot. I prefer the heavier pellets since Rick Utsler from Airgun Web sugessted them. They are by far the most accurate and have the weight to put serious hurt on whatever you shoot. The Predator Polymag is another awesome pellet for this rifle. And no, just like everyone says they dont fit in the clip. BUT.....if you buy the single shot tray and use the gun in the single shot configuration...IT IS INCREDIBLE!!! I took a 3-1/2 pound cottontail rabit at 65 yards and it took him OUT!! Yes, 65 yards!! I could not believe the damage the Polymag did and if it were not for the fact that I used the wrong mildot on my scope and hit him in the neck, I am confident that he would have been dead with one shot. I did finish him off quickly. But he never left the spot where he was sitting. Shooting form is the most important factor with any weapon, wether it be a compound bow, a 30-06 hunting rifle, a .45 caliber handgun or a .177, .22, or .25 caliber air rifle. Perfect your shooting form and you will have an accurate weapon.

The finish on the rifle is very light. In other words, it is not a deep finish into the wood. The finish on this rifle is almost as if it was painted on. It is not a stained and absorbed finish like most firearms. I have bumped the gun into my shooting table a few times and every time it takes the finish right off, leaving a exposed spot and bare wood. What i am hoping to do is to have a custom stock made for the gun. A friend of mine in Montana is an expert craftsman when it comes to wood. He has said if I send him the stock, that he would make me a custom hardwood stock that will be of furniture quality. So that is my plan when I get the .25 caliber version. The one thing that Crosman should change is the finish. They should finish the stock in a more durable finish or offer a laminated hardwood stock or maybe a composite stock as well. One in Advantage camo and one in flat black would be great!!!

You can leave the settings of the rifle the way they come from the factory or you can "tune" the rifle to the way you shoot. Either way, you will have an air rifle that, for the price, rivals the higher priced PCP air guns. I have a Benjamin XL 1100 break barrel air rifle as well, and it does not come close to the Marauder in most areas, especially the trigger. But for the price and simplicity, it is a great air rifle for the money as well. As for the Marauder just be prepared to tweak and play with it a bit. I would recommed getting a tin of the H&N Barracuda Match pellets or if they are not available just get the regular H&N Barracuda pellets. They weigh 21.14 grains and they are by for the most accurate pellet I have shot yet. If you tune the gun for lower velocity you can use the Crosman HP Premiers or the H&N FTT (Field Target Trophy) pellets. They will work too, you just need to tune the rifle to the pellet. Even with the heavier pellet, the velocity will be high enough to do the job. I am so confident in the accuracy and power of this rifle, I KNOW I could take a head shot on a deer and kill it. I have seen on video, a guy take a 250.lb hog with a .177 caliber air rifle. He did that at 15 yards. With the way my Marauder hits at 40 yards, I have no doubt that I could harvest a whitetailed deer with a well placed head shot out to 50 yards. If you are looking for a fun gun to shoot and a tack driver....GET THE BENJAMIN MARAUDER!!!! It will not let you down!!

For the price of the rifle in a .25 caliber it can't be beat. Nice trigger, fit and finish is acceptable, accuracy is dead on (after tuning) and it is quiet. I am getting 24 rounds through it before airing the rifle back up with no change in POI. Hits like a sledge hammer with 28 grain pellets.

It is a bit on the heavy side and the stock is beefy. It could definitely lose some size and weight here. The clip is lightweight plastic and is a little too dainty for this beast.

Take the time and read the manual and tune the rifle.They are supposed to come tuned for 2500 psi from the factory. When I took mine out of the box it was shooting dinner plate size groups at 50 yards and would tighten up at around 1400 psi. I did some tuning on the hammer spring tension and the hammer stroke length (they were way off) and now it shoots quarter size groups at 50 yards off of shooting sticks.

This rifle is amazingly accurate,it has shot every pellet that i have thrown at it, whitch includes JSB 18.1,beeman kodiaks,benjarmin discovery pcp's and CP hollow points, it shoots all of them so well I really cant tell with one is the best, they all shoot sub 3/8" 10 shot groups at 20 yards

the stock grip is a little on the large size, so someone with smaller hands may have a little trouble reaching the trigger comfortablely

If your new to PCP's and thinking of getting one you will not be disapointed if you get this rifle

I hit what I shoot at! This gun is everything I was looking for in a pellet gun. I tried 3 different spring guns and was disappointed in many of their attributes. This gun rocks. I'm 66 years old and have been shooting long distance rifle for over 50 years. The trigger is absolutely excellent. Way better than you would expect on a gun of this price. I realy like that the magazine gives me 10 shots without looking for where to put a pellet. This gun hits hard. This gun is exceptionally quiet. The pellet hitting the target makes more sound than the gun going off. No break in period necessary! My gun was sighted in with only 6 shots and all shots are now in a dime size hole at 25 yards. That means that any squirrel or chipmunk digging in my yard is toast at any range up to 50 yards by holding dead on. Buy one. You will love it!

I would add a depinger. The only sound made by this gun is an echo in the air chamber when it is shot. This is very quiet but audible. This can be resolved many ways very cheaply. When the ping is gone there would be hardly any percievable sound when shooting. This gun now sounds like a BB gun. With a depinger it would be less if you can imagine that.

I use a scuba tank for an air source. It's cheap, easy and fast. I would recommend it to everyone.

For the price you can't beat the Marauder. I love using this air rifle for hunting and target practice. It's quiet, easy to shoot and it's great to have the 10 shot magazine/clip for quick follow up shots.

The barrel should come cleaned and polished from the factory. I purchased the .22 caliber version and I had to run J&B Bore Paste down the barrel to polish and clean all of the gunk that was inside the barrel. It was amazing how much gunk was inside this brand new barrel. I would also use a better finish on the stock. It's a mediocre finish at best.

If you purchase the .22 caliber version, be prepared to polish out the barrel before you get any good groups. Also, the 5.52 and 5.53 diameter pellets will work best in the .22 version. It will take some pellet testing and trial and error to find the pellet that your's will like best. Most of the .22 caliber Marauders like the H&N Baracuda Match 5.52's or 5.53's, the H&N Field Target Trophy 5.53's and the JSB Jumbo Extra Heavy 18.1 pellets. If you use cheap pellets, you won't get good groupings.

Good value for the money. Very accurate. Very easy to shoot, no recoil. 25 cal does it for me. Did I mention ACCURATE.

Nothing

I was so impressed with the 17 Marauder I bought this one in 25 cal. And a couple weeks latter I also bought a P-ROD. The 25 really impressed me wih power and did I mention accuracy. Its a little louder than the 17 cal. But over all still quiet. All three Marauders were bought from, you guessed it. Pyramyd Air. Outstanding service.

very, very accurate with the 4-16 center point scope I mounted on it, very quiet won't disturb nieghbors, best of all, it slings those big .25 down range with devistating foot lbs of energy

give the customer a choice between wood or synthetic stocks, Crosman should make a small high pressure compressor that can be used with thier products such as the Maruader

get all the air accesories, extra clips, and pellets you can afford, cause once you pick up this beauty, you won't want to put it down. also plinking frozen soda bottles of ice is alot of backyard fun when you see them explode before your eyes.

It is accurate, you can shoot ten pellets with a clip, and maybe 5 to 10 clips before recharging.