Hello ladies and gentlemen, first ever post here. I’m hoping you all can help me out. I have just purchased a .22 cal Benjamin armada, brand new, still in box, for $400. Not too bad a deal I think. It’s my first ever PCP air gun, I’ve had springers but they were all garbage and couldn’t hold groups. So I’ve decided, since I’ve moved into a new neighborhood, that I want to build this gun up nice. So far the armada is bone stock. For a scope, I’ve got a vortex 4-16x42 diamondback in a v-plex reticle. I’ve got all my required accessories to start throwing lead and the break in process. I want to get done with my break-in, confirm it holds air, and get used to the gun before I start taking it apart. I’ve got a cheap Amazon hand pump, cheap crossman pellets for the break in, and scope rings. What should I expect for the first 200 shots? What about shot count? I don’t have a chrono right now so I’m not sure what PSI is my low end stopping point. That’s definitely the next purchase. What modifications would you all recommend? I’m only looking to shoot small game, squirrels, birds, chipmunks, and paper. So 30+ FPE is not needed. Like I said, new neighborhood so quiet is a must. Suggestions?
New to PCP, Benjamin armada!
- Thread starter GaPlinker1974
- Start date
You are basically me some time ago, and let me tell you that hand pump thing gets old real fast or maybe I'm just a lazy ass. If you shoot often then you should really consider an air compressor. A cheap made in China YONGHENG is about the price of a good hand pump but is able to do up to 4500 psi which is plenty, and saves TONs of effort. Besides, if you'd like to get into pcp world you are gonna need a compressor soon or later anyway.
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lol it wont need to break in really and the crosmans are probably the most accurate pellets on the planet ..... clean your barrel, dry patching will suffice .. as far as chronos and psi recommendations , when you zero your scope at the 'correct' distance watch for spread .. and set a target out at the max point blank range and watch drop .. you'll figure out how high to fill and how low to go within 2 mags ..
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I started out with a marauder and a hand pump, amazingly accurate and really fun. I spent a fair amount of money on mine and put on a aftermarket barrel that was definitely more accurate and a Maddog stock that was really nice. I wouldn’t do that again though, I’d save for a high end gun. I think you’re in for a lot of fun and close to getting the airgunitus disease! After shooting a bad springer you are going to be so pleased with the Benjamin. Have fun and be sure to post pictures of your new gun and your first groups. Welcome aboard.
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Ahhh the good old days of being bright eyed , filled with excitement of the 1st PCP , hard to replace that feeling so 1st off Please enjoy the time and the learning experience .
The armada / marauder platform is very good starting point , as stated clean the barrel 1st, it will be nasty.
Another great point brought up was to buy a yong heng , if you do your homework you can pick one up for about the same as a Good hand pump , trust me you will appreciate the compressor route.
As for mods and such, man don't go crazy on the armada, use it for what it is designed to do, Teach you good basics that will benefit you later down the road .
To Learn the bell curve of an un regulated gun to find that sweet spot is a right of passage...
again i would leave the gun alone and just have fun with it, you will find one of two things, 1) you will want more and better , 2) if you spend the time with this one you will know exactly what you want the 2nd time around...
in the end you can always use your 1st pcp as a spare and , or , loaner for friends...
Enjoy the ride amigo !!
The armada / marauder platform is very good starting point , as stated clean the barrel 1st, it will be nasty.
Another great point brought up was to buy a yong heng , if you do your homework you can pick one up for about the same as a Good hand pump , trust me you will appreciate the compressor route.
As for mods and such, man don't go crazy on the armada, use it for what it is designed to do, Teach you good basics that will benefit you later down the road .
To Learn the bell curve of an un regulated gun to find that sweet spot is a right of passage...
again i would leave the gun alone and just have fun with it, you will find one of two things, 1) you will want more and better , 2) if you spend the time with this one you will know exactly what you want the 2nd time around...
in the end you can always use your 1st pcp as a spare and , or , loaner for friends...
Enjoy the ride amigo !!
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Welcome to pcp’s GaPlinker. Now that you’ve opened your wallet and started spending some of that money that’s been gathering dust in your pocket, don’t even think about closing it and putting it back into your pocket.
It’s time to make it rain and start throwing dollars at that Armada like it’s a pole dancer on payday.
You are totally going to have to buy a magpul PRS stock to replace the factory collapsible stock.
You gotta get a donnyfl adapter for your shroud and a donnyfl sumo or ronin, depending and then you’ll have figure out that you’d sure like the rifle better if wasn’t so long with the moderator attached , so you are gonna need to get a custom shortened shroud from Tim at hillairgun.com.
while you are shopping there, you’ll want a depinger to make the rifle sound better to your ear and eliminate that twangy ping you hear with each shot, and his PEEK striker for the hammer makes a difference in the sound as well.
Then you’ll probably of course have to go ahead and replace the valve because you are already in there anyway, and at this point...why not. You are already getting into your wife’s birthday present money anyway.
Now your armada is starting to get pretty dang cool...but it’s heavy. If only there were an aluminum air tube for it.... wait...maybe there is if the guys at JSAR are still showing up for work, which is anyone’s guess I reckon. Just a few bucks more to lose a pound of weight...that’s a no brainer right?
Im headed to work now so I gotta run, but maybe later we can talk about why you need a thermal scope for your Armada!
It’s time to make it rain and start throwing dollars at that Armada like it’s a pole dancer on payday.
You are totally going to have to buy a magpul PRS stock to replace the factory collapsible stock.
You gotta get a donnyfl adapter for your shroud and a donnyfl sumo or ronin, depending and then you’ll have figure out that you’d sure like the rifle better if wasn’t so long with the moderator attached , so you are gonna need to get a custom shortened shroud from Tim at hillairgun.com.
while you are shopping there, you’ll want a depinger to make the rifle sound better to your ear and eliminate that twangy ping you hear with each shot, and his PEEK striker for the hammer makes a difference in the sound as well.
Then you’ll probably of course have to go ahead and replace the valve because you are already in there anyway, and at this point...why not. You are already getting into your wife’s birthday present money anyway.
Now your armada is starting to get pretty dang cool...but it’s heavy. If only there were an aluminum air tube for it.... wait...maybe there is if the guys at JSAR are still showing up for work, which is anyone’s guess I reckon. Just a few bucks more to lose a pound of weight...that’s a no brainer right?
Im headed to work now so I gotta run, but maybe later we can talk about why you need a thermal scope for your Armada!
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Welcome 
! Yes, buy a chronograph next - money well spent, and IMO don't spend any more money perfecting the gun yet; lube those cheap pellets to maintain a clean bore and have fun shooting!
! Yes, buy a chronograph next - money well spent, and IMO don't spend any more money perfecting the gun yet; lube those cheap pellets to maintain a clean bore and have fun shooting!Upvote 0
Just shoot it.
The Armada is just a Marauder with a different stock.
Later go to the Marauder Forum and start your research on .22 Marauders.
Read all of the posts then ask questions.
The Armada is just a Marauder with a different stock.
Later go to the Marauder Forum and start your research on .22 Marauders.
Read all of the posts then ask questions.
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A chrony is good. JSB pellets are "best in the world" might be worth a try.
For your stated purpose and also not too loud a $69.00 lithuanian regulator which is a drop in reversible mod would be my #1 recommendation. Will aid with noise, air consumption and accuracy across a fill while leaving more than enough power to suit you. And really so easy I can do it.
Post up a full report once you've used a few tins.
Oh and remove the torsion spring in your trigger group then adjust. Before they looked in a mirror and copied that trigger it was a $260 match trigger from a different manufacturer and the only thing preventing you from enjoying it's full benefits is that spring.
John
For your stated purpose and also not too loud a $69.00 lithuanian regulator which is a drop in reversible mod would be my #1 recommendation. Will aid with noise, air consumption and accuracy across a fill while leaving more than enough power to suit you. And really so easy I can do it.
Post up a full report once you've used a few tins.
Oh and remove the torsion spring in your trigger group then adjust. Before they looked in a mirror and copied that trigger it was a $260 match trigger from a different manufacturer and the only thing preventing you from enjoying it's full benefits is that spring.
John
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Thank you so much for the kind welcoming words! I have EVERYTHING I need to start throwing lead. Except the gun! It’s supposed to arrive tomorrow, I’m so excited I can barely wait! I have done a fair bit of research into YONGHENG air compressors, and they don’t seem that reliable, have to buy a water separator, beads, cool it with water and ice. Just seems like more work than I’m willing to give it right now. I don’t plan to be an everyday shooter so it seems more of an inconvenience to set all of that up rather than pump for a few minutes.
I haven’t seen any comments on my selected scope, has anyone had and luck or issues with vortex?
i really hope the guns preferred pellet is a crosman. Easy to find locally and relatively cheap. I do plan to try JSBs and the predators. But I hope it prefers crosmans.
the first mod will probably be the stock with a magpul replacement, it seems like everyone reports the original stock is garbage and the magpul is a solid $40 upgrade.
after That, probably a magpul bi-pod and magpul grip.
What do you guys think?
I haven’t seen any comments on my selected scope, has anyone had and luck or issues with vortex?
i really hope the guns preferred pellet is a crosman. Easy to find locally and relatively cheap. I do plan to try JSBs and the predators. But I hope it prefers crosmans.
the first mod will probably be the stock with a magpul replacement, it seems like everyone reports the original stock is garbage and the magpul is a solid $40 upgrade.
after That, probably a magpul bi-pod and magpul grip.
What do you guys think?
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Welp guys, got her here and mounted up nicely. Shoots like a dream. I mean a DREAM! I’ve shot through a full tin (400) already! I’m dead on, hittting golf balls at 30 yards in the backyard! I can’t wait for a squirrel to make its final steps so I can see what this .22 cal will do. I get around 60-90 shots per fill. Which is much more than I expected. 60 is what I would be comfortable shooting animals with, and 90 shots per fill is good for just plinking. I had to go buy more pellets tonight since I already shot 400 of the 600 I bought! Taking it out tomorrow and seeing what it can put down on some birds and squirrels and maybe a chipmunk or 2. I think I got the “airguninitus” disease as you called it. LOL
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Keep in mind that if shooting regular Golf balls that pellet is still heading another 500+ yards (fast) in some direction.
John
John
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Yes regular golf balls but we are aware, golf balls were not being shot in the neighborhood. Those were on an outdoor range that we used to sight in the scope. It functions more like an interactive target in that it moves when shot. Just fun plinking LOL
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Still have my Marauder, still shoots incredibly well. I added a regulator and other stuff so my .22 gets 50 shots per fill now, and very consistent. Accurate out to around 75 yards.
Great starter
Great starter
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Odd, I thought the marauder and armada were the same underneath the stock. However it looks like I get a few more shots per fill, unregulated while you get less, and are regulated. Is there any difference in the volume of air cylinder?
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G
Guest
Guest
as an alternative to the YH with it's high maintenance and water cooling, you might try the GX CS2, air cooled, they're getting a decent reputation, Mines been trouble free.
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Hello Gaplinker, I just came across your post from April. I am am Armada owner as well. Don't see very many on here. Mine is pumped up for longer shooting matches, no hunting. Now I have a pair, one is actually stock Marauder. My Armada has 22 inch L/W barrel, Huma reg, and a bunxh of custom springs and personal touches. 
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