My brand new Benjamin Marauder .22 cal PCP air rifle came in today. First thing I did after unpacking was to inspect the barrel. That had to be one of the cleanest barrels I have ever seen. Absolutely sparkling clean with no residue at all. After checking the barrel and inspecting everything that had arrived, I began assembling the air pump. Then I mounted the scope rings and mounted the Leapers 4-16x50 AO IR MD scope. After getting the eye relief correct and making sure the cross hairs were level with the rifle I proceeded to hand pump to fill the gun up. The initial fill took about 200 pumps. I really wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be. I did 50 pumps and stopped then would continue for another 50 (so that the pump would not overheat) and so on until it was filled. Then I began to zero the scope in at 20 yards (the farthest I can shoot in my backyard). I loaded up the clips with Crosman Premier Hollow Points (14.3 grain pellets) and within 4 shots I had it smacking the exact center of the bullseye and the subsequent 5 shots to follow made about a 3/8" pattern at 20 yards. I really, really like this rifle and scope. The only thing I would have changed was the finishing of the stock. It looks like someone wanted to get it done and go home 
. Really not the best quality I've seen 
. My Benjamin Trail NP XL 1100 has a better finish on it's stock than the Marauder does. Eventually I think I'll do a nice camo job on it anyway (once the stock gets a few nicks and dings in it). After getting it sighted in here is the chrony string with the factory settings:Starting PSI = 2600Shot FPS------ -----1 = 879.02 = 880.43 = 878.54 = 875.75 = 877.16 = Error7 = 870.88 = 871.09 = 864.710 = 861.7Second Clip11 = 857.812 = 857.213 = 855.514 = 850.915 = 846.316 = 844.517 = 842.718 = 841.619 = Error20 = 832.8Third Clip21 = 830.422 = 827.123 = 823.124 = 817.225 = 808.926 = 809.427 = 809.828 = Error29 = 801.930 = 798.2Ending PSI = 1800 I can't believe how quiet this rifle is. It's way quieter than my Gamo Whisper .22 and bit quieter than my Benjamin Trail NP XL 1100. Once I put in a de-pinger it is really going to be "silent but deadly". A couple of the shots when I was testing before I started the chrony string hit about 920 FPS, but that must have been a fluke. I would like to adjust the velocity up a little more and adjust for a higher fill pressure so that I can fill up to around 2800 to 2900 PSI and get at least the first 10 shots to hit above 900 FPS (as long as these 14.3 CPHP pellets will stay stable at that setting). Most of the shots I'll take while hunting will be between 25 and 55 yards out. I'd like it to still have good take down power at 55 yards and maybe even out to 65 (though I know that's pushing it). If anyone has any suggestions for setting and adjustments that will achieve what I mentioned above, I'd be grateful if you'd let me know what I need to do. I can't wait to get this out to the field and try knocking out some ground nutters (not to eat) or carrot munchers (to cook and fry up!). I'm so pumped! 
