Hi All,
I'm new to the forum and a newbie to air rifles. I have a Benjamin Maraunda that I am using for pest control in the yard. The Maraunda is currently leaking air and I am trying to fix it. Found a Gunnar on sale for $600. Is this a good deal or is there another gun I need to look at? When searching for Benjamin Gunnar parts, I don't see many results so concern me a little bit. Thanks.
Iv'e had my Gunnar for almost 3 months. Spent 2 hours at the range this morning bringing in my accuracy to where I want it to be. After tuning which ended up taking 10+ hours, the tune was the regulator turned up to 2350/2400 from 1900 (factory setting), and about 10mm of washers. AT some point I will get a more rigid spring. I played with 2 different width washers and the micrometer and chrono'd every change with shots from 25 yards to 100 yards. There is a point of diminishing returns.
JSB MKII and FX 34 grains were by far the best at this tuning with the 100 yards shots going thru 3/4 plywood. The JSB 25's were good to 50 but groups were 3" at best beyond 50. With MKII, zeroes at 35 yards, I get same hole groups at 25, 50 and 75 (and being honest the 75 spread is 1/2" because it blows out the same hole). 100 yards is 1" spread and same hole. Today was 3mph winds and never beyond 1" at 100 but my range is in canyons and the cross winds are usually 10+ with changing directions. I have shot it to 150 yards and 162 yards which is it's max rarely getting better than a 6" group.
I fill to 3150/3200 instead of 3000 with the reg at 2350/2400(sorry the dial is not the best to read) and get 40 good shots to 2600 before refill. I don't have my range book with me or I'd be more accurate.
The one thing I will say that the gun was originally in the low 40's FPE with it being at 58 FPE now with the MKII's and 75 yards was a stretch to get a decent group. The buttstock is loose and there's something like a woodruff key that keeps the stock in place and that design causes it to move but it's not a big deal for me. My buddy had a gunnar from last year and he had baffle issues that caused accuracy problems and pellet jamming but I guess I got a good one. The case looks solid but sucks - not the right size or depth when you add a scope and the latches just fall off.
My original goal was to use it for predator and pest control out to 75 or maybe 80 yards and it fits the bill. Humane kills
I also shoot 33 grain ZAN slugs which hit with authority to 100 yards accurately but I'm still working on accuracy with them beyond that.
All other pellets and slugs I have tried are either hated by the gunnar or just ok. Extreme hunter it hates. Hades to 50 is ok and then the groups get larger and I start getting fliers. Now my buddies gunner is was far better with Hades then mine.
I'd like to say that the FX 34 grain shoots better then the JSB 33.95 by a little and they are cheaper, I just bought more of the MKII.
I also did have to spend a little time getting the scope mounted exactly right.
You need to degass before fooling with the reg, a wrench and hex key are needed.
I did try neilson slugs in different weights as well as other weight zan's and settled on the 33's. You can buy sample packs online so you don't go broke.
No valve locking with the tuning - I set the reg below where that happens.
There is almost no info on tuning the gunnar - I found 1 vid and went my own way. It takes a few days at the range.
