I'm pretty sure the gen1 and gen2 marauder barrels are completely interchangeable. You could test that theory by checking the gen1 and gen2 parts diagrams and see if they are the same part number.
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Benjamin Marauder rifles still popular??
- Thread starter Vince
- Start date
Being very new to learning about PCP the Marauder appeals to me because of its' proven design and availability of part as has been mentioned.
It may not be the newest or greatest out right now but still seems like a solid choice for a dependable gun for someone just starting out. My question: has the parts or quality of the gun changed over the years like so many of the items out there? For instance, I have a '50's blue streak and a new 392 and they are very different in feel. Personally, the older one feels better to me. Just curious if the quality of the newer Marauders is the same as older ones?
It may not be the newest or greatest out right now but still seems like a solid choice for a dependable gun for someone just starting out. My question: has the parts or quality of the gun changed over the years like so many of the items out there? For instance, I have a '50's blue streak and a new 392 and they are very different in feel. Personally, the older one feels better to me. Just curious if the quality of the newer Marauders is the same as older ones?
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It's probably not fair to compare the Marauder to a gun with such a long legacy like the 392. I think the Marauder is only about 8 years old or so, so it hasn't had to go through generation after generation of change. As far as I know, the Marauder build is substantially the same, they haven't done things like use a plastic trigger, barrel band, etc where parts used to be metal. They did start making their .25 barrels in house, I believe the jury is still out on whether that is a downgrade from the previous Green Mountain barrels. On the other side of the fence, they are reported to have dramatically improved their .22 barrels from the first generation ones.
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Things i like about the marauder is the fit and finish for the money spent, plus it has a great 2 stage trigger. They really do shine with an aftermarket regulator installed.
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My Marauder is probably 8 years old, paid around $450 with a pump, tin of pellets and some other stuff in the package. Super accurate out to about 50 to 70 yards, but after that, accuracy drops off. Best decision to buy the Marauder then. I added a regulator, hill springs, hill transfer port and hammer. now extremely consistent. Added about another $150 to the mix. I bought it because of the adjustability of the gun. The ability to tune was a key part of my decision along with a decent trigger.
If I were buying first gun today, not sure what I'd do. I like the Avenger, but no track record and delivery if I ordered today is a couple months out.. Gauntlet, well, no. I for some reason hate the look and fit / finish. Not even going there. The Diana is only $200, but not regulated, mediocre trigger, not adjustable, so that's kind of out. Fortitude might be a candidate if the trigger didn't suck.
I think it comes down to you get what you pay for. The Marauder used to be the best of the low end (It was the low end of the market) but Crosman built in features and quality so the price wasn't as low as some of the new guns in that range. The current wildcard is the Avenger. I'm waiting to see results from real production runs, real shooters that use real production run guns. Reviewers are great, but I'll wait.
Bang for the buck, Marauders still offer value the cheaper guns don't.
If I were buying first gun today, not sure what I'd do. I like the Avenger, but no track record and delivery if I ordered today is a couple months out.. Gauntlet, well, no. I for some reason hate the look and fit / finish. Not even going there. The Diana is only $200, but not regulated, mediocre trigger, not adjustable, so that's kind of out. Fortitude might be a candidate if the trigger didn't suck.
I think it comes down to you get what you pay for. The Marauder used to be the best of the low end (It was the low end of the market) but Crosman built in features and quality so the price wasn't as low as some of the new guns in that range. The current wildcard is the Avenger. I'm waiting to see results from real production runs, real shooters that use real production run guns. Reviewers are great, but I'll wait.
Bang for the buck, Marauders still offer value the cheaper guns don't.
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Salt Lake, You are right in that there does not seem to be one gun that has it all for a price that a new gunner would spend. I am new to the sport and know little but I would imagine it is like everything else in life and built to a price point. Everything we purchase is built to a price point whether it is a gun, car or house. You don't get anything for free. If something is cheaper there is usually a reason. Your comments about the Avenger make me think. For the price it seems too good to be true. I too, would wait some time to see how they hold up. I wonder if everyone will be so enamored with them 5 years down the road. The Mrod is still thought well of after many years and that does say a lot for the price point.
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I've got 4 marauders and 3 armadas all highly modded. I think they are a proven platform and offer a significant list of other attributes as well. I've seen good accuracy out of most all of mine out to 75 yards.
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Just had to post this. Started out as s .25 armada.. now, side lever , war valve , mds hammer, speed dial, boyds stock.. I have hit 1.7 and 1.9 efficiency with 33 grain swagged slugs. 40 to 90 ft lbs, the most versatile and easy to maintain gun I own. I have 800$ in it including original cost. The marauder/armada platform is awesome. 
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Oldchuck - the Avenger might be the best thing since sliced bread, but I just don't know yet. I'm an Auditor, so have to say, I don't have enough evidence to come to an opinion. I hope it's everything they claim it is, because I'll probably buy a couple if it is. Turn one into a .22 slug gun, another into a .177 sub-12FPE gun, etc. At that price I can afford a couple, but I'm waiting for more results before I jump in.
Hate to say it but I'm a bit of a trigger snob. As I'm finding out in the AR15 world, good triggers cost. Some of the nice drop in triggers for an AR cust nearly as much as an Avenger! If the Avenger trigger stands up, I'm all in.
Hate to say it but I'm a bit of a trigger snob. As I'm finding out in the AR15 world, good triggers cost. Some of the nice drop in triggers for an AR cust nearly as much as an Avenger! If the Avenger trigger stands up, I'm all in.
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Salt lake, I hear you on triggers but once you have time on a good one it is hard to go back! Like nice optics- If you every want to be happy with what you have DO NOT look thru really nice glass.....
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I like incorporating Eugene Stoner’s (father of the AR) concepts into my Mrods. Just got used to shooting that style of rifle and love the Mrod platform.
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I started with Nikon cameras in the 1970's. Made it hard to go to lower quality equipment in general. Even mediocre glass today is better than what I had back in the day. The new scopes are SOOOOO much better, but you are right. Looking through incredibly clear glass with razer thin reticles and accurate turrets, then going to low end garbage just hurts the eyes. Besides, my eyes are so much worse these days. I need better glass.
The Marauder trigger is good, my Impact Trigger is on another plain. After building an AR, the heavy trigger (Mil-Spec) drives me nuts. Even the "Competition" triggers are 3 pounds plus that I've seen. Gives me a better respect for the lowly Marauder. So good in so many ways.
'Cmon Crosman, you can do better on the Fortitude! I'd pay more for the trigger! I'd pay a premium for US Built product if it met my needs!
So much for my rant on glass and triggers. It's a good time to be shooting airguns. This is really the golden age!
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I like incorporating Eugene Stoner’s (father of the AR) concepts into my Mrods. Just got used to shooting that style of rifle and love the Mrod platform.
I dig your Gibson guitar case! The MRods look nice also.
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Have a question for the more knowledgable folks here from a newbie. I understand the function of a regulator but do the higher priced guns have better regulators than say the Benjamin F&T? I know everything is built to a price point but trying to figure where Benjamin cut corners from say a gun that is $300-400 more.
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Too heavy and long for field carry, but with more money than the gun cost initially you can make them a decent shooter with some decent power, and lighter. I'm not sure they are still Marauders at that point though. I'll likely never sell my two as they would just basically be giveaways with what I have put into them.
However, because of the Marauder I was able to get into the game 4-5 years ago. I'll always give Crosman that credit. These days there are much better choices in that price range or less.
However, because of the Marauder I was able to get into the game 4-5 years ago. I'll always give Crosman that credit. These days there are much better choices in that price range or less.
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I'll do my best, it's all my opinion.
A regulator that works is a regulator that works. Some may recover faster than others, but it's only a second or two. The difference seems to be the amount of air in the regulated part of the cylinder. The Marauder F/T has a very small regulated "Plenum" where an Impact has a large plenum and the newest models are even larger.
In my case, I added an after market regulator with a fairly decent plenum.
Why is that important?
With the Marauder F/T, it expends all of the available regulated air with each shot. The air is released quickly to get the oomph (scientific term, right?) to push the pellet out the barrel. The Impact with a much larger plenum can be adjusted for slower air release, use air more efficiently for a more consistent push, achieve higher power at the same pressures, etc.
More expensive regulators may be externally adjustable as well. (do check, not all are externally adjustable). The Impact has an external screw. When adjusting my Marauder's regulator, I had to degas the gun, remove the reg, adjust, re-install, air the gun up to pressure and test. It was a royal pain in the you know what. The Impact, being externally adjustable is so much easier to work with. I'll never use anything in the Marauder except .22 JSB 15 and 18 grain pellets because that's what it's set for and it's too hard to change. I can adjust the Impact easily so it's more flexible.
The F?T works for it's designed purpose, but you really can't adjust it, and Crosman recommends leaving it alone, so your ammunition choices are very limited. Impact, since I can adjust easily, changing ammo isn't too difficult.
Just my thoughts.
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Saltlake, Thanks for taking the time to explain how they work and what may be the pitfalls with the F&T and cheaper guns.
I realize that there has to be trade offs with each gun but knowing airguns is much different than firearms. Spent 60+ years learning the firearm platform but airguns are a whole different animal. Again, thanks for taking the time with my question.
I realize that there has to be trade offs with each gun but knowing airguns is much different than firearms. Spent 60+ years learning the firearm platform but airguns are a whole different animal. Again, thanks for taking the time with my question.
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Just had to post this. Started out as s .25 armada.. now, side lever , war valve , mds hammer, speed dial, boyds stock.. I have hit 1.7 and 1.9 efficiency with 33 grain swagged slugs. 40 to 90 ft lbs, the most versatile and easy to maintain gun I own. I have 800$ in it including original cost. The marauder/armada platform is awesome.
That's a great looking gun!! Love the laminate!
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