Marauder .25 project

[3Crows]

As my little acreage has increasingly been encroached upon I began searching for a means to eliminate pests that did not involve a firearm. I still shoot on my range but it is situated to be safe whereas when pesting I cannot always have the subversive take a nice steady pose in a safe direction. I do not like to use poisons as they travel up the food chain and have unintended consequences and trapping is useful but not a total solution.

I wanted a PCP rifle and being new to PCP rifles did not want to spend $2000 for a (single) high end rifle right away. So, instead I wound up with a Gamo Urban .22 PCP and 2.8 Benjamin Marauders. The 2.8 is because I borrowed parts to complete my Marauder project that I call the Super Light. I really like the Marauder rifle but just like most air rifles and PCPs it is a bit portly coming in at about 10 pounds with (4-12X40AO) scope and bipod. That is a lot for a still hunter (pester) to carry.

I built this from parts on the aftermarket mostly and some Crosman orders and parts from Tim Hill and Jefferson State. With scope, bipod and magazine it weighs in at 7 pounds and 4 ounces, 20 of which is scope and rings and 7 for the bipod:



Getting just over 50 fpe with the JSB 25.39 pellets and right at 55 fpe with the JSB 33.95. I can get a good string of shots, at least two magazines each (16 shots .25 caliber). The 33.95 pellets seem to use a bit less air, are more efficient perhaps. I can push it on up to about 60 fpe but I think I would need a heavier pellet to keep velocity down.

JSAR side lever breech, aluminum air tube and Delrin hammer, Tim Hill valve and short shroud and transfer tube. It will put five pellets in a nickel size target at 30 yards which is where it is sighted in for as that is my average or typical distance for dispatching of subversives. This one dug a hole under our patio. I tried to run it off by using smoke bombs but it just came back. It began acting aggressive and a few days back chased my wife and then me when I tried to shoo him off. I grabbed the M-Rod SL and dispatched him cleanly with one shot to the head at about 15 yards and another to make sure. The vultures seemed to enjoy the snack:



I am trying to duplicate the CCI Quiet Segmented or .22 Short energy with reduced ricochet and range.

3C

 

[3Crows]

Caught this bugger digging under the sidewalk I had just had repaired for $$$$$ due to animals digging under it. I got him with the Romeo5 at about 15 yards, one Crow magnum pellet with the M-Rod tuned to 55 fpe ended his work day early. That is the exit wound, the Crow Magnum went clean through and carried on with energy to spare:



In night hunter configuration:



3C

 

[Remington1911]

That is the one thing I don't like about PCP, they are just so heavy. I doubt we will ever see one that weighs like a model 60.

 

[3Crows]

That is the one thing I don't like about PCP, they are just so heavy. I doubt we will ever see one that weighs like a model 60.

I agree but in this case you are incorrect , weight being one of the reasons for my Super Light build. The Marlin Model 60 weighs in at 5.5 pounds bare and the Marauder Super Light also weighs (under) 5.5 pounds bare. With all of the accessories, 4-14X40AO scope, rings, light, sling, bipod the weight gets up to nearly 7.5 pounds. But that would be the same for any rifle similarly equipped.

My benchmark for this rifle was a .22 rifle shooting CCI .22 Short Segmented or CCI Quiet Segmented for energy, quietness, weight and handling with reduced potential for ricochet.

 

[jmorris]

…legality in built up areas were powder burners are not as welcome.

Lots of municipalities include airguns in the “unlawful” group.

as an example.

(a) Unlawful action. It shall be unlawful for any person to fire, shoot, explode or cause to be fired, shot or exploded any firearm, rifle, shotgun, pistol, revolver, air rifle, air pistol or other devices or instrumentality ordinarily known as firearms and capable of propelling bullets, shot or other solid or compact substances whether propelled by powder, fire, compressed air or other force or by a combination of such forces within the corporate limits of the town. For purposes of this section, a “Taser” type of weapon is considered a firearm.

 

[3Crows]

Lots of municipalities include airguns in the “unlawful” group.

as an example.

Okay. Does not change anything for my needs or purpose. Read post number 1.

 

[jmorris]

Oh, I got that part. Why I have a .25 Mrod too.

FWIW for quiet armadillo kills around our house I use a Remington 572 with these https://www.remington.com/rimfire/29-21119.html not quite as stout as your mrod or mine for that matter but they do work good at the distances one would expect to shoot them at.

 

[3Crows]

Oh, I got that part. Why I have a .25 Mrod too.

FWIW for quiet armadillo kills around our house I use a Remington 572 with these https://www.remington.com/rimfire/29-21119.html not quite as stout as your mrod or mine for that matter but they do work good at the distances one would expect to shoot them at.

Thanks, I am on the road so words are at a premium, did not mean to sound terse.

My preference for .22 is the CCI Quiet over the CB from Remington. I had some Remington CB and got too many squibs and stuck bullets in the pipe!

I could be wrong, probably am, but 22 bullets just from my experience, even low powered stuff like CBs and Quiet, seem to carry further and ricochet and bounce along the ground further and more easily than do pellets. Not that pellets cannot bounce and ricochet also.

 

[3Crows]

I fooled around with the tuning and the SL can push the 34 grain pellets handily at around 60 fpe and still has a useful if fairly steep shot string curve.