I wasn't looking for a Marauder (in any caliber), but she's one of those finds you (read that, I) simply cannot NOT glom onto.
Thankfully, and as is often the case, the 'good' condition description on AoA's pre-owned page was quite conservative; the very good plus to excellent minus actual condition the first of several pleasant surprises. Unfortunately the photo doesn't do justice to the lovely figuring in that custom walnut stock, and the flip side is at least as impressive. Wasn't till I removed the stock that I discovered who built it, thankfully the inletting was signed in black marker 'James Lithicum 2010'.
Think I've seen that name mentioned on this forum, however I've had no luck confirming that with the search function. Hopefully someone reading this can shed some light on Mr. Lithicum.
Sexy Beast came to me with (also) a shroud extension, like the chamber-tube extension, that I removed to shorten the 47" rifle to 'only' 43" and hopefully solve a vertical-stringing accuracy issue driving me nuts.
Neither did the trigger-adjustment I left to a Marauder guru buddy (at his insistence) resulting in a 2 ounce first stage followed by another two ounces to a glass-like trigger-break. Nor did testing all the usual-suspect pellets
, nor did as good bore and crown polishing as I could manage.
Just as I was about to give up all hopes of accuracy, for some reason that still remains a mystery she magically came around!
Several hundred rounds of 25.4 grain FX-branded JSBs later, she's (FINALLY and STILL) stacking them at 50 yards.
But as to be expected with 25.4s, any amount of wind conditions open groups exponentially as ranges approach 100 yards. However, on the few minimal-wind opportunities afforded so far it has become obvious she's capable of consistently averaging 1.1 to 1.3 MOA at 100 yards in minimal winds.So after enough hundred rounds to develop confidence in Sexy's (continuing) accuracy, I set about monkeying with the excellent (factory) power adjustments in hopes higher velocity might reduce the 25.4 grains wind-sensitivity at extended ranges. Given the extended chamber-tube volume, my hope was to not sacrifice shot-count per charge despite (also hopefully) increasing the velocity closer to 900 FPS than the 854 FPS average she was producing over a 21-shot power-band from a 200 BAR fill, displaying a 29 FPS extreme spread.
Not knowing how close to maxed-out in power she might be, I started with two revolutions (counter-clockwise) of the hammer-stroke adjusting screw. The 44 FPS gain confirming the hammer-stroke screw was not maxed-out in its adjustment, another 1.5 revolutions produced another 6 FPS gain (likely suggesting that adjustment now maxed). Of course every adjustment required an increase in charge pressure to find the new power-band/sweet-spot.
At that point I shifted attention to the hammer-spring tension-preload adjusting screw. One revolution (clockwise) and another increase in charge pressure not only achieved my velocity goal of at least 900 FPS, but a bit more. And as hoped, with no decrease in shot-count.
The (higher) 225 BAR charge pressure still returns a 21 shot power-band with 25.4s. Low= 894, High= 922, ES= 28, SD= 8, Average= 911 FPS/46.8 FPE.Unfortunately the winds have been HOWLING day and night since achieving these very gratifying results, so 100 yard capabilities are yet to be well explored. Hopefully some accuracy-testing eye-candy (aka- photos) will be forthcoming, once wind conditions allow.
But at this point I'm almost feeling guilty about negotiating the asking price down to $450.
Key word, 'almost'.
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