Benjamin Marauder question scope

Hello,

Im thinking on picking up a Marauder for use on Red Squirrels in my area, live on 3 acres but need the Air Gun to be quiet because of neighbors.
I have new in a box a ATHLON Talos/SFP 3-12x40 been on the shelf for 2 years. Is this a good enough scope for the Marauder and varmits? Dont think ill be shooting more than 40 yards maybe longer but who knows. Could go with another PCP but would like to keep it under 1000.00 dollars,

Appreciat the advice

jim
 
I think a Marauder and the scope you have will be fine. Marauders have a very reliable and accurate history, and from what I'm told are not hard to service. In fact I saw one in the classifieds just (yesterday?). And I own several Athlon scopes. For what you're doing and the distance you'll be shooting I think you'll be happy with a Marauder and your scope. As a side note, if you don't go Marauder, you might consider a Stoeger XM1 scout. I just picked one up and they are incredibly accurate. And have a 5 year warranty. just Thoughts. Let us kow what you choose.
 
Last edited:
As for noise, most of those rifles either come moderated, are threaded to accept moderators or have adapters for moderators.
Cost wise at the low end
Reximex Silent Force (sharg.pl ships from Poland takes 1-2 weeks) $30 + 18 shipping. Works great, i have 5.

Buck Rail modular, $60-75, in stock right now. A good moderator

Huma Air are great, cost more
DonnyFL work again, pricey

Or you can 3d print your own.
 
  • Like
Reactions: JungleJim
Its decent enough and I don't know how silent you want to be. It makes noise, just not the types you would think of. My gen 1 marauder 25 used to ping from the air cylinder like a bad joke. A 1 inch mod filled with mrod new style baffles and a depinger fixed the old girl up. Mines been good to about 80 yards with the green mountain barrel.

There's a few guns that would fit your requirements nicely not knowing what your caliber preference is.

Heres where I do what I hate when other people do it and suggest waiting for a used gun with a new msrp well above your request. My buddy got his for 1k, I paid retail. The fx dreamline tactical compact in 25 is everything I hoped the marauder 25 would be(and wasn't). Way more precise, more powerful, more air efficient, shorter/lighter easily tuned and quiet with a moderator. It's our go to hunting rigs over our souped up 22 fx guns. Sparrows are on the menu at 110 yards with pellets as well as turkey headshots.

I'm not looking to talk you out of an mrod, but sharing my journey with it as the first of my pcp guns that I've had since it was released. Obviously it's good enough and sentimental enough I never sold it. It's very much the classic crosman architecture dialed up in quality and strength for pcp stuff.

20250506_074537.jpg
 
  • Like
Reactions: JungleJim
Its decent enough and I don't know how silent you want to be. It makes noise, just not the types you would think of. My gen 1 marauder 25 used to ping from the air cylinder like a bad joke. A 1 inch mod filled with mrod new style baffles and a depinger fixed the old girl up. Mines been good to about 80 yards with the green mountain barrel.

There's a few guns that would fit your requirements nicely not knowing what your caliber preference is.

Heres where I do what I hate when other people do it and suggest waiting for a used gun with a new msrp well above your request. My buddy got his for 1k, I paid retail. The fx dreamline tactical compact in 25 is everything I hoped the marauder 25 would be(and wasn't). Way more precise, more powerful, more air efficient, shorter/lighter easily tuned and quiet with a moderator. It's our go to hunting rigs over our souped up 22 fx guns. Sparrows are on the menu at 110 yards with pellets as well as turkey headshots.

I'm not looking to talk you out of an mrod, but sharing my journey with it as the first of my pcp guns that I've had since it was released. Obviously it's good enough and sentimental enough I never sold it. It's very much the classic crosman architecture dialed up in quality and strength for pcp stuff.

View attachment 560669
I am also looking at that exact FX model also the leopard....I may open the wallet..then it's probably 600 on a scope. I'm ok doing that....plus compressor.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 6gun
Hello,

Im thinking on picking up a Marauder for use on Red Squirrels in my area, live on 3 acres but need the Air Gun to be quiet because of neighbors.
I have new in a box a ATHLON Talos/SFP 3-12x40 been on the shelf for 2 years. Is this a good enough scope for the Marauder and varmits? Dont think ill be shooting more than 40 yards maybe longer but who knows. Could go with another PCP but would like to keep it under 1000.00 dollars,

Appreciat the advice

jim
buy a shroud adapter from Airgun Revisions then buy a moderator for the gun and it will be very quiet.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 6gun
I am also looking at that exact FX model also the leopard....I may open the wallet..then it's probably 600 on a scope. I'm ok doing that....plus compressor.
The tuoauto orange amazon compressor is not expensive and has proven to be a good value for the price for me and my circle of friends. 1 of 5 has had issue but he was filling an scba and the motor shaft broke.

Again, I'm not trying to change your mind but I will put it to you this way: I have a completely tweaked and tuned up impact 22, dreamtact 25, marauder 25 and tweaked and tuned aea hpss 22. If that dreamtact was in my hands first I wouldn't have bought the impact or any of the others. It's that capable and enjoyable and the easiest on air.

I hope you find something equally as rewarding and enjoyable for your needs. Best of luck on your quest!
 
  • Like
Reactions: JungleJim
buy a shroud adapter from Airgun Revisions then buy a moderator for the gun and it will be very quiet.
I recommend a rigid barrel band for the mrod, or bushing. Especially if using another moderator for barrel/shroud sag reasons. My mod is homebrew for weight reasons since the ronin (what I have in stock with no host gun) didn't play nice.
 
  • Like
Reactions: JungleJim
Its decent enough and I don't know how silent you want to be. It makes noise, just not the types you would think of. My gen 1 marauder 25 used to ping from the air cylinder like a bad joke. A 1 inch mod filled with mrod new style baffles and a depinger fixed the old girl up. Mines been good to about 80 yards with the green mountain barrel.

There's a few guns that would fit your requirements nicely not knowing what your caliber preference is.

Heres where I do what I hate when other people do it and suggest waiting for a used gun with a new msrp well above your request. My buddy got his for 1k, I paid retail. The fx dreamline tactical compact in 25 is everything I hoped the marauder 25 would be(and wasn't). Way more precise, more powerful, more air efficient, shorter/lighter easily tuned and quiet with a moderator. It's our go to hunting rigs over our souped up 22 fx guns. Sparrows are on the menu at 110 yards with pellets as well as turkey headshots.

I'm not looking to talk you out of an mrod, but sharing my journey with it as the first of my pcp guns that I've had since it was released. Obviously it's good enough and sentimental enough I never sold it. It's very much the classic crosman architecture dialed up in quality and strength for pcp stuff.


I recognized the picture and knew it was you.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 6gun
I would not buy a used gun for your first PCP. Buy it new from a reputable dealer with a good return policy and good support. Buying used is for after you have learned to disassemble and maintain your airguns.

You are looking for a reliable 50 yard gun that will hit what you are aiming at. Not a used gun that will give you 1/4 inch spread from the bench.

Dealers I have personally had good interactions.

For guns:
Utah Airguns
Bintac LLC
Krale and Huma Air in Europe (surprisingly fast shipping) Huma for moderators too.
Airgunarcheryfun in Canada.
 
All you need for the stated purpose is a 3-12X40 or similar with an adjustable parallax.

A .25 M-Rod will easily do what you want with power and accuracy. Get one prepared by Airgun Revisions for the best experience unless you know how to tune. And the M-Rod is excellent for learning. Simple, reliable, very few places to leak, O-rings available at Ace Hardware. Not made in China.

The .25 M-Rod is very quiet out of the box but not as quiet as the .22 M-Rod. Depending upon your neighbors the .25 may have enough bark to warrant a suppressor. As to my neighbors, most of us moved out on acreage to enjoy not being bothered by neighbors. They shoot, I shoot, any that do not like it can go pound sand if the tiny report of an air rifle is such a problem to them. I do not know if .25 M-Rod is 3 acres quiet, depends, but for me it is 10 acres quiet.

The .25 is known to be more accurate than the .22 unless you get the upgraded barrel, there is no upgraded barrel for the .25 because they just shoot good out of the box. It is not a bench rest rifle, they are intended for hunting.

 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: 6gun and Struckat
I would not buy a used gun for your first PCP. Buy it new from a reputable dealer with a good return policy and good support. Buying used is for after you have learned to disassemble and maintain your airguns.

You are looking for a reliable 50 yard gun that will hit what you are aiming at. Not a used gun that will give you 1/4 inch spread from the bench.

Dealers I have personally had good interactions.

For guns:
Utah Airguns
Bintac LLC
Krale and Huma Air in Europe (surprisingly fast shipping) Huma for moderators too.
Airgunarcheryfun in Canada.
I'm of the mindset where you throw them in the deep end to learn to swim. Used is the only way to avoid some of the expense and for somebody like me it's reaping the benefits of the lazy not working on their stuff 😂
 
  • Like
Reactions: Struckat
All you need for the stated purpose is a 3-12X40 or similar with an adjustable parallax.

A .25 M-Rod will easily do what you want with power and accuracy. Get one prepared by Airgun Revisions for the best experience unless you know how to tune. And the M-Rod is excellent for learning. Simple, reliable, very few places to leak, O-rings available at Ace Hardware. Not made in China.

The .25 M-Rod is very quiet out of the box but not as quiet as the .22 M-Rod. Depending upon your neighbors the .25 may have enough bark to warrant a suppressor. As to my neighbors, most of us moved out on acreage to enjoy not being bothered by neighbors. They shoot, I shoot, any that do not like it can go pound sand if the tiny report of an air rifle is such a problem to them. I do not know if .25 M-Rod is 3 acres quiet, depends, but for me it is 10 acres quiet.

The .25 is known to be more accurate than the .22 unless you get the upgraded barrel, there is no upgraded barrel for the .25 because they just shoot good out of the box. It is not a bench rest rifle, they are intended for hunting.

The rear bolt is the only big gripe I have left about my mrod. Lack luster actuation on my part has caused double feeds and broken baffles 2 times. Sooo I made a giant bolt handle to make sure I get it done.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Struckat
The rear bolt is the only big gripe I have left about my mrod. Lack luster actuation on my part has caused double feeds and broken baffles 2 times. Sooo I made a giant bolt handle to make sure I get it done.
That is because you are pulling back on the bolt and the larger the handle the more offset the force. The thumb rest works much better with the original bolt, place thumb on rest, fingers on bolt in as close to the center line as possible, squeeze hand and the rifle cocks easier than my side lever conversions. A larger bolt handle just makes it worse by increase side loading of the bolt mechanism.