Marauder Rifle .22: Should I go for more mods to get power, or start all over?

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FlexWagtail

FlexWagtail

Member
Aug 11, 2016
130
24
MD, United States
Gun: Marauder Gen2 in .22; Marmot Militia Barrel; Huma Regulator (.22 version); FFH debounce device; Stock Valve, Stock spring.

Performance: stuck at 28 ft. lbs. with regulator set at about 2100-2200 psi. (the knee per my calcs). And the spring cranked basically all the way. Avg 840 fps with lubed JSB 18.1s (per MM's recommendation).

Goal: Significantly boost power to shoot heavier pellets 900fps+ for greater killing power and flatter trajectory for 100yd plinking/targets. -OR- chuck it all and buy something beefier, perhaps in .25 cal. Bullpup-ish.

I'm not a machinist, so I think I'm limited to going with off-the-shelf stuff I can order and install myself such as a bigger transfer port, new spring, or a .25 valve. But I really don't want to go down this road if I order all this stuff and end up with less than 100 fps in extra power and 10 more ft.lbs.

I understand my MM barrel is tightly choked, which is going to pull down my FPS.

It's a nice gun, and shoots as good as I can aim but I just want more out of it.

I posted on on this gun awhile back and got some good feedback. Now I really have to decide what to do. I really don't want to throw down $1600 to $2000 for a .25 Wildcat, .25 Impact, Vulcan, Cricket etc. I've worn myself out looking at videos and reading reviews. Going lower end -- Hatsan Gladius, BullBoss, P-12 comes with the idea that I would be adding a regulator at the minimum, which gets me back up there money-wise. Or I can spend more money and time on this marauder? Maybe a couple hundred more bucks.

What do you guys think?



 
Thanks. Do you think I would need a bigger dia. transfer port too? If so how big? I note my adjustable port setting is currently set wide open. On the Hill valve -- I've heard go with the .25 for more plenum because the tube diameter is the same as .22. Is this your experience? Naturally my shot count from all of this will decline, correct? Any idea how much?
 
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"socaloldman"I really like this discussion but I lot it at FFH ssg and tts. What do those initials mean? I so do love learning. Thanks .
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These are hammer debouncing devices. Seems the FFH is out of favor. I can tell you I had trouble with mine, but Mr. Brancato sent a spare part that helped me resolve. The SSG is alot more expensive. Here's a video intro:
 
 
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The tts from wicked air rifles will be your best bet. I think its around $70 but well worth it. As for the hill valve the only difference between all the calibers is the valve spring. I would recommend getting the lightest spring but that's just my preference. When you go up in power you always lose shot count. But if you get those parts and tooned for the fpe your at now you would end up with a lot more shots. And that is a good deal on that hill combo but depending on how high your wanting to go on fpe it mite not be anuff. Your better off polishing your stock heavy hammer for high fpe and always polish your air tube where the hammer rides.
 
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Flex -
I have the same hardware set-up with two exceptions. First, my regulator is set at 1600 psi and second I have a .160" transfer port. I have not tuned the hammer preload and I'm getting 800 fps for 35 shots with 18.1g JSB pellets. This is worse than the 45 shots at 820 fps I was getting with the factory hardware & Marmot barrel, so I'm also re-evaluating.

How many shots are you getting on your regulator at 2100-2200 psi?
 
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Flexwagtail: you are at the place I am, however, my .22 Marauder shoots the 15 gr better and they are traveling at 880 fps. It has a very flat trajectory out to 75 yards. I really believe you have reached the potential of this rifle. Some of the limiting factors on increasing power is loss of shot count. For me it was important to have 40 shots. My .22 can hit a .3 in. 5 shot group on any given day at 50 yards. My best group is under .2 in. In my opinion, this is a 75 yd and under rifle. Can it shoot to 100 yards, yes, but I think a larger caliber will perform better at longer distances. I am currently doing the mods of a .25 specifically designed to shoot to 100 yards. I just had Scott at Motorhead do the tune and it is shooting very consistent. Accuracy is good but not as good as my .22. I just contact Jim Gaska and he will be making me a MM barrel in .25. The rifle is shooting at 865 fps but I think I will be tuning it down again for shot count. Be sure to catch Ted's video on the Benchrest competition. He actually shot a slower speed and improved accuracy. 
hope this helps,

NM
 
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"Wager"O and i'd open the transfer port to .180 maybe a couple thousands over. But again thats my preference. As you research you'll find a bunch of different sizes.
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OK Wager, really appreciate the feedback. so go with a .180 port, get the Hill Valve in .22 (lighter spring than .25 correct?) Now about the hammer: it looks like the Hill kit comes with a custom hammer and spring (wt. unknown but assume 12.5). Are you thinking chuck that and polish my stock hammer/tube instead and stick with stock hammer instead? So what's your guess on added power? Closer to 40fpe like I'm looking for, or less?
 
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"Dartagnan"You may want to ask Marmot Militia (yeah I just wanted to type that instead of, Jim) and ask if his barrels are capable to shoot heavier pellets accurately, then take it from there.
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Good point, although I think I'd be happy I think with the 18.1s flying in the low 900s even if I could step up to Monsters or some such. Being stuck at 840fps seems like I have more room for velocity without spiraling? Agree? I'll email Jim perhaps. 
 
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"NMshooter"Flexwagtail: you are at the place I am, however, my .22 Marauder shoots the 15 gr better and they are traveling at 880 fps. It has a very flat trajectory out to 75 yards. I really believe you have reached the potential of this rifle. Some of the limiting factors on increasing power is loss of shot count. For me it was important to have 40 shots. My .22 can hit a .3 in. 5 shot group on any given day at 50 yards. My best group is under .2 in. In my opinion, this is a 75 yd and under rifle. Can it shoot to 100 yards, yes, but I think a larger caliber will perform better at longer distances. I am currently doing the mods of a .25 specifically designed to shoot to 100 yards. I just had Scott at Motorhead do the tune and it is shooting very consistent. Accuracy is good but not as good as my .22. I just contact Jim Gaska and he will be making me a MM barrel in .25. The rifle is shooting at 865 fps but I think I will be tuning it down again for shot count. Be sure to catch Ted's video on the Benchrest competition. He actually shot a slower speed and improved accuracy. 
hope this helps,

NM
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NM. Good thoughts. I have not tried the 15gs. I did see Teds vid and must have completely blown by the lower velocity part because like a lot of noobs, I'm probably over fixated on POWER. If I've "reached the potential" as you say, I take that as a vote for upgrading to a more powerful .25. My experience between 75 and 100 is what you say. Holds together at 75, but really lobbing 'em in and starting to spread out unreliably at 100. Maybe better with the 15g. I'll try it. 
 
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"parallax"Flex -
I have the same hardware set-up with two exceptions. First, my regulator is set at 1600 psi and second I have a .160" transfer port. I have not tuned the hammer preload and I'm getting 800 fps for 35 shots with 18.1g JSB pellets. This is worse than the 45 shots at 820 fps I was getting with the factory hardware & Marmot barrel, so I'm also re-evaluating.

How many shots are you getting on your regulator at 2100-2200 psi?
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Parallax, similar result for me. My shot count sucks despite Reg and debouncer. I'm good for about 26 shots with 18.1s before falling off reg. And this is with pumping to 3250 for extra air since the reg prevents valve lock. Opposite of what I thought I was buying with all the mods., figuring I would increase from the 30+ I was getting stock. Obviously I'm not a physics major or an engineer or I would have figured this out by now instead of wasting everyone's time here!
 
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I don't think the extra power will give you any extra killing power. There is nothing you can't kill now that you would suddenly be able to kill with that level of power increase.

There is also no certainty that accuracy will improve and it is possible that it might have the opposite effect, as well as making it shoot too hot for most other pellets. 

If you take a look at Ted's video on how he won Extreme Benchrest (which is shot at 100 yards), he was advising people to tune down for accuracy, not up. One of my most accurate guns in my Mutant Shorty and that is tuned for 26fpe.

28fpe is perfect for a 22. I would leave it alone.

Any increase in power is will come with a reduction in shots per fill (which the Marauder can't afford to lose) and an increase in noise. 

A flatter trajectory can be achieved with a lighter pellet, if the current trajectory is huge problem for you. You will still have to holdover at 100 yards even if you get an extra 50 fps btw. It's not like it will become noticeably flat at 100 yards because it's 900fps. It will never be flat like a firearm at 3000fps+. 

Better killing power can be achieved with a smarter pellet choice. I don't find JSB pellets to be very good for hunting. Game walks away from those shots but nothing walks away from an H&N Baracuda hunter extreme or a polimag. I'd trust a hunter extreme at 28fpe over the JSB heavy with an extra 50fps any day. 

Just my $0.02
 
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"zebra"I don't think the extra power will give you any extra killing power. There is nothing you can't kill now that you would suddenly be able to kill with that level of power increase.

There is also no certainty that accuracy will improve and it is possible that it might have the opposite effect, as well as making it shoot too hot for most other pellets. 

If you take a look at Ted's video on how he won Extreme Benchrest (which is shot at 100 yards), he was advising people to tune down for accuracy, not up. One of my most accurate guns in my Mutant Shorty and that is tuned for 26fpe.

28fpe is perfect for a 22. I would leave it alone.

Any increase in power is will come with a reduction in shots per fill (which the Marauder can't afford to lose) and an increase in noise. 

A flatter trajectory can be achieved with a lighter pellet, if the current trajectory is huge problem for you. You will still have to holdover at 100 yards even if you get an extra 50 fps btw. It's not like it will become noticeably flat at 100 yards because it's 900fps. It will never be flat like a firearm at 3000fps+. 

Better killing power can be achieved with a smarter pellet choice. I don't find JSB pellets to be very good for hunting. Game walks away from those shots but nothing walks away from an H&N Baracuda hunter extreme or a polimag. I'd trust a hunter extreme at 28fpe over the JSB heavy with an extra 50fps any day. 

Just my $0.02
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Well said and couldnt agree more.
 
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