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

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Thoughtful response Zebra. My "killing power" issue comes from the unfortunate and unnecessary wounding of a couple gray squirrels this fall, along with a hefty crow that took a miscalculated 50+ yd shot aimed to the head square in the breast instead. It flew off like nothing happened. I figure some more fpe would have killed them all humanely. I had not considered a pellet change since the MM choked barrel is really designed for those 18.1s. Some pellets are so tight you have to force them in the breech. As for the whole 100yd thing, that comes from jawing with my rimfire buddies about how I can bust bottles at 100yds as good as they can with a gun that I can actually USE whenever I want in my suburban yard (without planning a special trip to the range). On both counts, the Marauder at 28fpe is close, but not quite there. I'm hearing you (and Ted) on the velocity/accuracy balance, but I'm still tempted by Wager's Hill valve upgrade thoughts. My wife already knows what I won't admit; by summer I'll probably have spent the kid's tuition money on Marauder upgrades discussed here AND a .25 bull pup. LOL.
 
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"FlexWagtail"
"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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Wind drift is worse at higher velocities. The optimal velocity for shooting 100 yards is about 850 fps. There is a thread over at AGG in the "Ask Bob" section which addresses the issue.
 
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Going up in power doesn't necessarily mean your gun will get louder. The loudness comes more from the gun be inefficient with air at the higher powers. By modding the stock air stripper running a hill valve, huma reg, and my home made ssg i have a .25 at 65 fpe thats no louder then when it was stock. As for lower velocities being more accurate. I full agree, but you have accuracy on one side and power on the other and you have to decide for yourself where you want your gun to be at in between the two. I dont have any experience with your barrel other then knowing they run tight.
 
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Opening up the air stripper will quite it down at higher energy's. The hill valve doesn't have a valve screw. Iv always felt its useless anyways. You ajust velocity with hammer springs and if you have to you can get a smaller transfer port to restrict air. With a high flow transfer port the only thing to open is the barrel and I would wait tell you do everything else before that and its pretty easy compared to taring your gun down.
 
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Oldspook, I read ask bob and studied Mr Sterne's graphs. Very instructive and thank you. Was also unaware of AGG so now I've got another forum to follow. Wager has made an effective argument for valve, spring, HDD upgrades while you and others have cautioned me to keep it safely subsonic and cool it on chasing the "power" genie as the be all, end all of air gunning. On reflection, I'd like the be able to use this gun to power up with a heavier/more lethal pellet for popping groundhogs at 50-100 yds this summer, while being able to tune back for paper-punching and bottle busting with 18.1s. 
 
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What you may find that there really isn't a rifle that "does it all". chances are you will need a rifle for each application. If you will be hunting past 50 yards, you really should be looking at a .25 or .30 caliber. Paper punching or hunting under 75 yards, a .22 (or .177) would do just fine and be less costly in pellets. It is also fun to stretch these lower calibers out for paper, but for hunting (which is what you are trying to accomplish), you are more likely to injure the animal and not kill it humanely. I personally would leave your .22 alone (unless you want more shot count). You should be getting 40 shots at 28 FPE. Use it for plinking and hunting close. Develop the .25 to your liking for hunting and you will be much happier with your results. Again, I am currently doing the same thing you are at this moment.
Best of luck!

NM
 
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NM, you have talked me into a .25 regulated and adjustable, while Wager has me convinced I can get more out of the Marauder efficiency/performance with addl mods within the limitations discussed such as scaling back on the hunting expectations. I knew this discussion was going to cost me $$$ LOL. Cuz now I'd like to pursue both paths. Any ideas on a .25 bull pup? Or perhaps it's back to other threads for that one. Really enjoyed this discussion and appreciate all the knowledge. 
 
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This is a great topic. I have a similar setup regulated at 2,100 ish psi with a 15" MMHF barrel and SSG. The transfer port is left to what Jim drilled. I'm sure the shorter barrel length plays a role on the velocity. The highest I've been able to push pellets through is 850-860 on 15.89 JSB and 820-825 with 18.13 JSB. Increasing my hammer spring only made it louder and wasted more air. I'm also just using a stock HS and softer valve spring. This made it very easy to cock and less vibration during firing. 
 
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"Jayman07770"This is a great topic. I have a similar setup regulated at 2,100 ish psi with a 15" MMHF barrel and SSG. The transfer port is left to what Jim drilled. I'm sure the shorter barrel length plays a role on the velocity. The highest I've been able to push pellets through is 850-860 on 15.89 JSB and 820-825 with 18.13 JSB. Increasing my hammer spring only made it louder and wasted more air. I'm also just using a stock HS and softer valve spring. This made it very easy to cock and less vibration during firing.
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Jay, I also believe I'm wasting air based on my lame shot count. Seems re-valving is the next step. If I decide to do it, (against the advice of some here) I'll post results. 
 
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I would go with a hill valve for any toon I was doing. Its just a superior valve. You can drill and ream a stock valve and get close to the same performance as a hill valve but hill still slightly edges it out and its kinda a pain to do. Very easy to mess it up and be out a valve. For massive amounts of power check out the Cothran powerhouse valve. Not a hole lot on the net about them, I'm just going to get one and see what she can do.
 
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"NMshooter"R & L Airgun supplies does offer a bullpup stock for the Marauder. Looks really cool but.............$450.00. Just a little pricey
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I just picked one of these up for my .25, wrestled for weeks over the price, in the end my thoughts were not wanting to add another gun that I would pick up over my .25 Synrod, that I just love to shoot.
Next up WAR has a new hammer and then if I can regulate it at 55 fpe+, I guess my point is there's always more to do and the return on a gun that you already enjoy, is always a good thing.
 
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