.25 Caliber Benjamin Marauder
In this article, I will be detailing my current setup of my .25 Caliber Benjamin Marauder Pre-Charged Pneumatic Air Rifle as it is my favorite tool for plinking and hunting small game. I have done quite a bit of modification and tuning of this rifle with the idea of balancing the amount of energy being generated and maximising my shot count while also trying to further quiet the already stealthy Marauder without sacrificing its laser accuracy. In its current configuration, the rifle is extremely quiet. I get 32 shots per fill of air (plenty for a day worth of hunting) When filled to 3200psi using the on rifle pressure gauge and shot down to 2100 psi where the pellets begin to noticeably drop off. Accuracy wise I could not ask for better, this rifle will shoot into the same hole at 50yds all day long.
Let’s now break down all of the additions and modifications of this rifle:
Wicked Air Rifles SSG
The Wicked Air Rifles SSG prevents the hammer from bouncing against the air release valve after the shot, causing the rifle to waste air, thus improving your shot count and quieting the gun down. It also adds the benefit of moving the spring tension adjustment externally to the rear of the gun making it easier to adjust.
Hawke Sidewinder 30SF
The Hawke 30SF 6.5 – 20×42 20x Half Mild Dot scope is an amazing scope, with locking and re-settable windage and elevation turrets and a range-finding parallax ring on the left. Paired with Hawke Optics software for calculating ballistics and creating shot cards, this helps making shooting this rifle effortless.
Hill Airguns Depinger
The Hill Airguns Depinger stops the resonance caused by air being released from the outlet valve preventing the “ping” sound that this causes, further quieting the rifle.
UTG Recon 360 Heavy Duty Bipod
Rugged Bipod that allows for a very wide range of movement
Talon Tunes Shroud Extender and additional baffles
The Shroud extender and additional baffles add to the quieting of the air released ahead of and behind the pellet this mod has definitely helped in reducing the report of the rifle.
Air Stripper Mod
The stock air stripper at the end of the barrel has had it’s port holes widened to 3/16″ and tapered backward to allow the baffles to better do their job, also what is not shown is the shroud has a 3/16″ hole back near the receiver with a piece of foam just ahead of it for air to vent from, this has made a noticeable difference in quieting the rifle.
.25 JSB Exact King 25.39 Grain Pellets
With this current set-up and these pellets, I get approximately 32 shots per fill, 39.3-foot-pounds of energy at the muzzle, and amazing accuracy as you will see in future posts.