Bought it for my birthday; in came in late Friday. I pulled a few patches through the bore, put a scope on it, and filled it up. It was already dark, but I fired a clip through it by flashlight in the back yard at 10 yards to get it on the paper. Even at 10 yards, the three-shot groups I used to adjust the scope (a Centerpoint 3X9X40AO) were over an inch ctc. Hmmm. I set it aside until Saturday morning.
At twenty yards, groups were 6 inches and very random using Discovery HPs. Benjamin domes were no better. I tried pellets from four different lots; no change. Off with the shroud and all the baffles; the crown looked fine. I fired two or three ten-shot groups without the shroud or baffles. It's loud without them (no surprise). No improvement. Different scope; no change.
I pulled out the bolt and pushed a pellet through the bore. I had some resistance at first, as the pellet skirt formed to the bore. Then the resistance decreased, and the pellet moved easily for about a foot. Then all resistance vanished until the pellet reached the choked muzzle. I tried again, with the muzzle pointed down. The pellet (another one) virtually fell through the bore for three or four inches just behind the muzzle choke.
I e-mailed Crosman, and hope to hear from them tomorrow. This bugled bore may be normal, but I doubt it.
Has anyone else ever pushed a pellet through their Marauder barrel?
Dale
