I recently picked up a new Armada .22 just looking for some advice or recommendations on mods, anything I should look out for or be aware of ect..
Thank you!Rabbit hole can go as deep as you want on the Mrod/Armada platform. Or you can just find a tune you like and shoot it. They are great guns out of the box.
A short stiff hammer spring available through several vendors can get you a better shot count for not much $. A PEEK striker will keep the valve stem from mushrooming and quiet down the action. Both very affordable, easy to install mods that make it a better gun imo.
Google "Marauder High Capacity Magazine". You might like what you find.
I would for sure recommend a nicer bipod. Caldwell makes a decent one for under $50. (unless it's just for a display stand).
This sounds exactly like me with a Harley or a Hot Rod! as far as quieting this down more, there is a spring 7 individual stacked baffles in this like a suppressor, so what exactly do you mean? my air Venturi aven had an air stripper I believe, so are you referring to each baffle as such or?If I were to build an Mrod/Armada now, this is what I would do -
1. Polish barrel/open up ports on air stripper (the stock air stripper from Benjamin has very small holes to vent air into the shroud. Opening up these ports will make the gun substantially quieter. If you have the prowess I would DEFINITELY clean up the leade on that OEM Crosman barrel. That will probably give you your BIGGEST return on investment from an accuracy perspective.
2. Lawyer spring removal (extremely easy to do and will give you an incredible trigger).
3. Add a Huma Reg with the XL Plenum - the reg + a Hill/JSAR lightweight hammer (or drill out the one you have to lighten it), PEEK striker, and lighter valve spring will give you substantially more usable air and just a more pleasant shooting experience. The XL Plenum will give you ample plenum size for a slug tune and have incredible efficiency for a pellet tune if done right. SSG/SSS/TSS optional. I have had plenty of luck running the stock spring or a Hill 262 spring in my .177 build.
4. (maybe) an upgraded valve from Hill or JSAR/enlarged TP's from Hill
It's way too easy to go all in on these budget guns. I remember when I got my first Mrod, I was debating between getting an Mrod, or just going with an AA S510 or FX Dreamline. I went with the Mrod with the LW barrel from the custom shop for the cost savings. When all was said and done (regulator, lightweight hammer, valve/hammer springs, new shroud to replace the cockeye OEM one), I had spend MORE than it would've cost to get an AA S510 and put in about 3 months worth of labor (research, tuning, etc.). Modding for the sake of it is cool and most of my foundational airgun knowledge came from that experience, but I think there comes a point where it becomes impractical.
That being said, I don't regret building my .177 "Match" Marauder. I'd do it again without question
I agree with the extra spring removal as well and forgot about this cheap and easy mod. It basically turns the trigger into a match trigger for free. When suggesting this mod you should also mention that he will need to add back a spacer to recapture the sear and keep it from walking around and ruining the consistency.If I were to build an Mrod/Armada now, this is what I would do -
1. Polish barrel/open up ports on air stripper (the stock air stripper from Benjamin has very small holes to vent air into the shroud. Opening up these ports will make the gun substantially quieter. If you have the prowess I would DEFINITELY clean up the leade on that OEM Crosman barrel. That will probably give you your BIGGEST return on investment from an accuracy perspective.
2. Lawyer spring removal (extremely easy to do and will give you an incredible trigger).
3. Add a Huma Reg with the XL Plenum - the reg + a Hill/JSAR lightweight hammer (or drill out the one you have to lighten it), PEEK striker, and lighter valve spring will give you substantially more usable air and just a more pleasant shooting experience. The XL Plenum will give you ample plenum size for a slug tune and have incredible efficiency for a pellet tune if done right. SSG/SSS/TSS optional. I have had plenty of luck running the stock spring or a Hill 262 spring in my .177 build.
4. (maybe) an upgraded valve from Hill or JSAR/enlarged TP's from Hill
It's way too easy to go all in on these budget guns. I remember when I got my first Mrod, I was debating between getting an Mrod, or just going with an AA S510 or FX Dreamline. I went with the Mrod with the LW barrel from the custom shop for the cost savings. When all was said and done (regulator, lightweight hammer, valve/hammer springs, new shroud to replace the cockeye OEM one), I had spend MORE than it would've cost to get an AA S510 and put in about 3 months worth of labor (research, tuning, etc.). Modding for the sake of it is cool and most of my foundational airgun knowledge came from that experience, but I think there comes a point where it becomes impractical.
That being said, I don't regret building my .177 "Match" Marauder. I'd do it again without question
Nope - the baffles are different than the air stripper.This sounds exactly like me with a Harley or a Hot Rod! as far as quieting this down more, there is a spring 7 individual stacked baffles in this like a suppressor, so what exactly do you mean? my air Venturi aven had an air stripper I believe, so are you referring to each baffle as such or?
The guy asked for mods, so I gave him mods.I agree with the extra spring removal as well and forgot about this cheap and easy mod.
The rest of the post contradicts itself by suggesting he take the whole rifle apart and install things that cost a significant amount of $ followed by saying that you would have just bought another gun instead of spending all the money and effort.
This is of course my opinion again but DONT REGULATE IT. This platform can easily be tuned to shoot 40+ rounds within 20fps of each other. A regulator costs significant $, adds parts and seals, WILL CREEP AND EVENTUALLY FAIL AND NEED REBUILT, and kneecaps the power unless you do a bunch of other stuff.
Suggesting a bunch of mods that require complete disassembly without even asking about their skill level or desire to take apart their brand new rifle is a great way to end up forcing someone right out of the hobby when they cant get it to seal up or perform hardly any better than factory.
Do the cheap or free and easy mods first, learn the gun and evaluate what you like it to do that it doesn't do already.
He asked for advice and recommendations. Are you advising and recommending or are you just listing?The guy asked for mods, so I gave him mods.
I don't gatekeep. If he isn't advanced enough to try them, that's his decision to make. It's an airgun, not a space shuttle. Half an hour on YouTube will give him all the tools and knowledge he needs to safely disassemble and reassemble the gun.
You can add a regulator, hammer, and new valve spring for less than $200.
Doing all the easy + free mods first is good advice. As is the advice of just enjoy your new gun without screwing with it, but didn't seem like the point of the OP's post...
I appreciate any and ALL feedback, I’m just trying to learn and I appreciate it!The guy asked for mods, so I gave him mods.
I don't gatekeep. If he isn't advanced enough to try them, that's his decision to make. It's an airgun, not a space shuttle. Half an hour on YouTube will give him all the tools and knowledge he needs to safely disassemble and reassemble the gun.
You can add a regulator, hammer, and new valve spring for less than $200. I really could not disagree more with your assessment about adding a regulator. A Huma adds ONE extra seal. Reg creep is really a non-issue for the VAST majority of airgunners (it only takes 1-2 purge shots to clear it). The Huma XL Reg with a 30cc plenum with do nothing to knee cap his power unless he is going for a cannon build which I don't get the impression that he is. Adding a reg can get you to 70-80 shots of even better consistency depending on caliber and platform. There is a reason why most modern airguns are adding a regulator - I say this as someone who regularly competes and makes the podium with unregulated Air Arms S400's. Regulated guns are just BETTER at many things.
Doing all the easy + free mods first is good advice. As is the advice of just enjoy your new gun without screwing with it, but that didn't seem like the point of the OP's post...
Of course man - this forum is a wealth of knowledge.I appreciate any and ALL feedback, I’m just trying to learn and I appreciate it!
You followed his advice to the letter and ended up wishing you had just bought a different rifle?Of course man - this forum is a wealth of knowledge.
Hopefully Motorhead with chime in. He is THE Marauder man IMO and I followed his advice to the letter when I built my regulated .177 Marauder a few years ago.
I never said I wished I bought a different rifle - I said that I had spent as much as it would have cost to buy a different rifle. Not the same.You followed his advice to the letter and ended up wishing you had just bought a different rifle?
Interesting take but ok.
Ok. Good point! So you think he shouldn't waste the $ either. Glad we can agree on that.If someone wants to buy a gun to get the best performance per dollar spent, then I think it makes more sense to buy one of the airguns I listed rather than mod a less expensive airgun. That was my point.
What caliber? What do you use it for?Any tips on ranking the difficulty of some of the mrod mods? As a newbie upgrading the valve sounds a little daunting. But replacing a hammer/ hammer spring seems relatively easy