I've had my Gen 1 Marauder for 9 years or so. Plenty of time to get to know the gun and form opinions about what I like and dislike about it. In particular, I dislike the balance of the rifle with the scope on it. So I decided to eliminate the optics first. I realize I could get a lighter scope, reflex sight, or whatever, but my Benjamin 397 has a peep sight and I've yet to find anything more comfortable to use. I decided to go the same route on the Marauder but the lack of a front sight was going to make setting up a peep sight something of a challenge.
I spent a couple of months figuring it out and I managed to design and 3D print a front sight solution (another hobby of mine). It slips over the threads of a DonnyFL Marauder shroud adapter and can be held in place by the thread protector or a moderator. It's pretty tight on its own, but I plan to use a small amount of RTV sealant inside the front to make a semi-permanent bond that should resist moving when changing out the thread protector for a moderator and vice-versa.
Of course, the rear sight is a Williams FP-AG with Target Knobs. This is a step up from the Williams I have on the 397. The click-adjust turrets are a treat. A bit pricey for an experiment, but I'm not sorry. I've mounted mine just forward of the magazine slot, figuring to keep it directly on top of the breech-end of the barrel.
Oh, yeah. There's this other thing I did a few months back when I decided against selling this gun. I bought a Lothar Walther barrel for it. I crack myself up. I'm gonna put a LW barrel on an Mrod, but I'm gonna toss the scope in the trash? Yep, that's about the size of it.
I had a minute for a few shots with it in the basement pistol range this morning. 6 yards, standing freehand, .177 JSB Monsters sailing at about 920-930 fps. My guess at elevation was spot on, but windage on the first 2 shots was to the right about 1/2 inch. 7 clicks left as a WAG, and the following 3 shots were on the money. Then two more 5 shot groups, standing, freehand. Wow! Gonna need to see how it does at 30 yards later this weekend! Was it worth the extra ~$200 for the barrel and the sight? Don't answer that!
I spent a couple of months figuring it out and I managed to design and 3D print a front sight solution (another hobby of mine). It slips over the threads of a DonnyFL Marauder shroud adapter and can be held in place by the thread protector or a moderator. It's pretty tight on its own, but I plan to use a small amount of RTV sealant inside the front to make a semi-permanent bond that should resist moving when changing out the thread protector for a moderator and vice-versa.
Of course, the rear sight is a Williams FP-AG with Target Knobs. This is a step up from the Williams I have on the 397. The click-adjust turrets are a treat. A bit pricey for an experiment, but I'm not sorry. I've mounted mine just forward of the magazine slot, figuring to keep it directly on top of the breech-end of the barrel.
Oh, yeah. There's this other thing I did a few months back when I decided against selling this gun. I bought a Lothar Walther barrel for it. I crack myself up. I'm gonna put a LW barrel on an Mrod, but I'm gonna toss the scope in the trash? Yep, that's about the size of it.
I had a minute for a few shots with it in the basement pistol range this morning. 6 yards, standing freehand, .177 JSB Monsters sailing at about 920-930 fps. My guess at elevation was spot on, but windage on the first 2 shots was to the right about 1/2 inch. 7 clicks left as a WAG, and the following 3 shots were on the money. Then two more 5 shot groups, standing, freehand. Wow! Gonna need to see how it does at 30 yards later this weekend! Was it worth the extra ~$200 for the barrel and the sight? Don't answer that!
