Benjamin New guy here! Just ordered my first "grown-up" air rifle

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Congratulations. You have what you need to start slinging some lead with air. My first PCP was a Benjamin Marauder Pistol which I shoot as a carbine. It's taken 18 squirrels for me and is quite accurate. It likes Crosmans but prefers H&N Field Target Trophy, copper plated. You have more power so H&N 18s and 21 grain would probably work. But if it likes the ones you already bought there's nothing to say you have to keep looking. I have a couple guns that really like JSBs.

I use a Yong Heng to fill my 45 minute firemans tank. I think its about 66 cubic feet. Great way to fill guns. But if I was starting out now I would get a GX CS2 and just fill my guns from that. Takes about 5 minutes per fill (with the added GX air filter which may not be necessary, 3 minutes without), very portable, quiet enough to use indoors, and can be powered by 120V or a car or with a little work a power tool battery. No reason you couldn't use it at a range. It's more money but the GX CS4 is still portable but is a little bigger with water cooling and rated to fill smaller bottles.
 
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JimD said:
But if I was starting out now I would get a GX CS2 and just fill my guns from that. Takes about 5 minutes per fill (with the added GX air filter which may not be necessary, 3 minutes without), very portable, quiet enough to use indoors, and can be powered by 120V or a car or with a little work a power tool battery. No reason you couldn't use it at a range.
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Thanks!

As a long-time range junkie with firearms... the notion of going back to my car to refill my rifle for 5 minutes before I can shoot again... That's a no go for me. If the range is busy (and there's a waiting line), they limit you to one hour. I don't want to spend my time hanging out at my car waiting for the 12V compressor to fill my rifle.

I like the idea of hooking the rifle up to a high pressure fill tank right on the firing line, cracking the valve, PSSSSShhhhhh... and in a few seconds, ready to go again. :)

At least that's the way I imagine it happening! I could be wrong. ;)
 
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I bought a GX CS3-1 compressor off of Amazon. It will top up the Marauder tank from 2kpsi to 3kpsi in 55sec. With just minor tuning (no chrono), I'm getting 4 magazines in that range.

The compressor uses either 120v or 12v, switchable. I park the car nose towards the shooting bench, lift the hood, hook it up and a minute later it's done. If I couldn't easily access the car, I'd have a separate battery on a cart.

Accuracy with the Marauder is equal to my 1959 vintage 22LR Freeland BSA Martini match rifle at similar distances (10, 25 & 50m).
 
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Racer88 said:
Thanks!

As a long-time range junkie with firearms... the notion of going back to my car to refill my rifle for 5 minutes before I can shoot again... That's a no go for me. If the range is busy (and there's a waiting line), they limit you to one hour. I don't want to spend my time hanging out at my car waiting for the 12V compressor to fill my rifle.

I like the idea of hooking the rifle up to a high pressure fill tank right on the firing line, cracking the valve, PSSSSShhhhhh... and in a few seconds, ready to go again. :)

At least that's the way I imagine it happening! I could be wrong. ;)
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You can also just leave it tethered and shoot for the whole half hour 😉
 
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I use both MOA and MRAD scopes on my air rifles. I prefer MOA but if I only find a MRAD on a model I want I buy it. For most purposes it doesn't matter to me. I like the Hawke Vantage on my Prod. I also like my Arken EPL-4 6-24 and my little Vector Veyron 6-24 SFP. But my Athlons are my favorites mainly because of their glass. I have a Talos 6-24 and a Argos 10-40 target scope. I like 6-24s for pesting and plinking and targets at 30 yards.
 
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Another reason I am not interested in a portable compressor powered by the 12v car battery.... To take the gun off the shooting line (to the car), I have to case it while the range is hot... and uncase it when the range is hot on the return trip from the car. If the range is cold... no touching the rifles.

So, the evolution required to recharge the rifle on a public range (taking it on and off the shooting line / to and from the car).... plus the waiting time... "That's a no from me, dawg." :)

For an indoor range, it's an even much bigger issue. I'd have to leave the building and come back. No dice!

The mini wingman should work a charm for a day at the range.
 
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Racer88 said:
As a kid, I had a Crosman 761XL, and it was "da bomb." Stolen from our house in a burglary. I wish I could replace it for nostalgic purposes. I've looked, but the vast majority of vintage 761XL (with gold receiver) are in very poor condition.

Since then, I've been a big "gun" guy with a pretty decent collection of firearms. I like me some guns!

I've been wanting to add a "real grown up" air rifle to the collection for a while. And I finally placed the order yesterday (Pyramyd Air)!

I ordered a Benjamin Marauder Regulated (aka "Field & Target") in .22. Wood stock. Lothar Walther barrel.

View attachment 566030

Also ordered:

Hawke 4-16x44 Airmax 30 SF Compact Rifle scope, Ill. AMX IR, 1/10 MRAD, 30mm​

Air Venturi Mini Wingman, 100 cu in PCP tank

Also an assortment of pellets to try and four extra magazines.

That ***t adds up to some serious $$$! But I can't wait to play with it!

A year ago, a dude at the range had an FX Impact M3 that attracted my attention. He let me shoot it. At 25 yards, I put 5 pellets in one hole. Not a "cloverleaf." ONE hole! Oh, baby... I gotta have one of those! Well... that rifle (alone) is $2100. Sooooooooooooo.... I'm starting with the Maruader!
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That was also my first PCP Pellet Shooter in the same configuration. Unfortunately mine began leaking within the first month but while I had it, the accuracy was insane. Boringly Accurate as some say. Once you do an easy tune (chronograph required), you will be in love. The only thing that I don't like about a Marauder is the charging bolt. I very much prefer side lever cocking. BTW, Airgun Revisions is a great resource for anything Benjamin related.
 
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Max Sand said:
That was also my first PCP Pellet Shooter in the same configuration. Unfortunately mine began leaking within the first month but while I had it, the accuracy was insane. Boringly Accurate as some say. Once you do an easy tune (chronograph required), you will be in love. The only thing that I don't like about a Marauder is the charging bolt. I very much prefer side lever cocking. BTW, Airgun Revisions is a great resource for anything Benjamin related.
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Bummer about the leak. Was it easily fixed? What did you do?

I'll have to learn more about what an "easy tune" is. I do happen to have a chronograph (MagnetoSpeed).

I did pay the extra fee for Pyramyd to mount the scope and test the gun for proper function and leaks. I can mount a scope (have done so many times), but for one nominal fee ($20), they mount the scope, test the gun for leaks, fire and chrono 20 rounds, etc. Worth $20, I think. If not... it was only $20! ;)

1748606088405.png
 
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Finally got shipping confirmation from PA. It was strange... I got a shipping notice from UPS for a 0.10-lb package that is on its way, even though no such notice from PA. Then today, I just got confirmation from PA for that package AND two more packages (about 20-lbs each). So, three packages now on the way, though UPS doesn't have two of them, yet.
 
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Got my rifle and gear! Quick question.... I got the rifle from PA with the scope mounting and testing service. So the rifle comes in a rifle case rather than the original box. I've looked through everything, and there is no rifle owner's manual. Does the rifle not come with an owner's manual? While I can probably figure out most of it, I like an owner's manual.
 
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