Crosman's Benjamin Marauder....What a Concept!
Not only is the Benjamin Marauder a great concept, it is also a great reality! I have the fortune of owning the 77th gun made, one of the first 100, and it is a sure winner.
I opted for a .22 caliber in my Marauder, since I think it affords me a wider range of game to take. The .22 will take all the small game a .177 will, and allow you to move up to larger game with the greater energy the .22 delivers on target. And this gun certainly delivers pellets "on target". It is very accurate with Crosman Premiers and Beeman Kodiaks, but as the Premiers are cheaper, I opted to use them for most purposes. Both pellets deliver similar accuracy.
The Marauder is unique to PCP rifles in that the factory makes it very easy for the owner to "tune" the gun to their liking. With 3 separate adjustment parameters, the owner can lower or raise the flow of air into the barrel, adjust the length of the hammer strike, and the power with which the hammer strikes the valve stem. All this adjustability makes this gun a dream to own.....set your parameters, make notes of how many turns each adjustment gets, and you have a gun that one minute can be used for soft paper punching, and the next (after an adjustment or two), is ready to take live game with power and authority.
The Benjamin Marauder has the following specifications to it:
Features:
10-shot repeater with auto-indexing feature
Uses compressed air (only 2,000 psi) OR bulk-fill CO2
Internal shroud makes this a VERY quiet gun
Choked barrel delivers superior accuracy
2-stage adjustable match trigger...and the trigger is metal!
Raised aluminum breech for easier loading of 10-shot clip
Accepts 2-piece scope mount (does not come with sights)
Hardwood Monte Carlo stock with dual raised cheek pieces and checkered grip & forearm
Built-in pressure gauge
Quick-disconnect Foster fittings for fast refills
Specifications:
Max Velocity: 1000 fps
Loudness: 2-Low-Medium
Weight: 7.50 lbs
Overall Length: 43.00"
Capacity: 10 round(s)
Barrel: Rifled
Front Sight: None
Rear Sight: None
Scopeable: 11mm dovetail
Trigger adj.: Two-stage adjustable
Buttpad: Ventilated rubber
Suggested for: Small game hunting/plinking
Action: Bolt-action
Powerplant: PCP and CO2
Safety: Manual
Repeater: Yes/Multi-shot
There is a wealth of features on this gun that very few other air rifles, if any, can approach. There is quite a cottage industry on the internet of folks who take new guns from manufacturers and improve them with little add-ons, custom adjustments, etc. This air rifle comes with so many bells and whistles already there that the vast majority of folks will not need to do anything except "tune" it to their desired performance parameters.
The Marauder is filled via a quick-detach foster fitting, just as the Benjamin Discovery. You can even use the same pump if you want to.
There is an easily accessible safety located inside the trigger guard. Right at hand, a common feature on many other guns in terms of its location, so it will be familiar to most shooters.
A handy gauge lets you know the level of pressure you are at when shooting, and allows you to fill to a desired level without guessing.
The magazine is a 10-shot rotary magazine that has so far worked flawlessly for me. Clear instructions are included in the owner's manual, as well as tips and explanations on how to tune to a desired level of power and air consumption.
Out of the box, the Marauder delivered Crosman Premier Hollow Point Hunting Pellets down range in the mid-800's....which is plenty of power for small game hunting. I tuned mine with a few adjustments so that I gained quite a few more shots, less air consumption, and roughly the same velocity.
On my first outing in the woods for spring squirrel season here in KY, I managed to take the daily limit (6) with just 7 shots. In fact, the first 3 squirrels fell in rapid succession, 1,2,3 within 30 seconds of each other. The bolt action loading was smooth and quick, and I shot all 3 squirrels out of the same tree. This gun can hunt, and I am really looking forward to using it for some time to come!
For the Field Trial shooter, this gun represents a wonderful addition to the sport. In .177, being as adjustable as it is, I feel certain you will be seeing quite a few of these Marauders at shooting events in the near future!
Now the good part.....this gun costs about 1/2 of what a European gun would be, only $499.00....and it's made in America! Crosman has scored once again, following the debut of their first PCP, the Discovery, with this fine addition to their PCP inventory.
Ladies and Gentlemen, I give you....the Benjamin Marauder!
