Benjamin Marauder vs Umarex Gauntlet 2 (2026): Which PCP Air Rifle Is Worth It?

The Benjamin Marauder and the Umarex Gauntlet are the two PCP air rifles most people end up choosing between. Both are regulated, shrouded, magazine-fed repeaters built for pest control and small-game hunting, and both have a big following. But one costs about twice as much as the other, and the spec sheets don't make it obvious why.

So we lined up the current versions, the Benjamin Marauder Gen 3 and the Umarex Gauntlet 2 SL, and compared what your money actually buys: price, power, shots per fill, the air pressure you'll need to fill them, noise, trigger and warranty. Then we did the math on value: shots per fill per $100 and dollars per foot-pound of energy. Every number comes from the Pyramyd AIR listings and Umarex's own site, checked on September 24, 2026.

How we compared them

This is a research-based comparison, not a range test. We haven't shot either rifle. We pulled every price, spec, warranty and rating from Pyramyd AIR, one of the largest airgun retailers in the country, and cross-checked the Gauntlet against Umarex's own product pages. Crosman's site (Benjamin's maker) blocked our research tools, so the Marauder's specs are Pyramyd's published figures. We compared the .22-caliber versions head to head because both rifles are sold in .22, then covered .25 and .30 below.

One naming note: the original bolt-action Umarex Gauntlet 2 is now listed as discontinued at Pyramyd AIR. The current model is the Gauntlet 2 SL, the sidelever version, so that's the one we compare.

Marauder Gen 3 vs Gauntlet 2 SL: the specs

Prices, specs, warranties and ratings from the Pyramyd AIR listings, September 24, 2026. Energy, velocity and shot counts are published maximums, not our measurements. Umarex's own figures for the Gauntlet 2 SL come from umarexusa.com the same day.

Here's the surprise in the math. The Marauder costs twice as much, but it also delivers about twice the shots per fill, so shots per fill per $100 is almost a tie: 18.8 for the Marauder, 18.1 for the Gauntlet. Where the Gauntlet clearly wins is power per dollar: $11.73 per foot-pound of energy vs $16.00 for the Marauder. And where the Marauder clearly wins is fill pressure, which matters more than most first-time PCP buyers realize.

The rifles, one at a time

Best rifle to own long term

Benjamin Marauder Gen 3: $799.99

.22 or .25 · 50 ft-lb (.22) / 80 ft-lb (.25 slugs) · up to 150 shots per fill (.22) · 3,625 psi · 14-round magazine (.22) · 9.2 lb · 5-year limited warranty

The Gen 3 is a ground-up redesign of the rifle that made the Marauder name. The upgrades that matter in the field: an externally adjustable regulator and adjustable hammer spring, so you can tune it to your pellet or slug without taking it apart; two gauges, one for the regulator and one for the bottle, so you always know where you stand; a reversible sidelever for left- or right-handed shooters; and a two-stage trigger whose blade adjusts for height and rotation. The hammer-forged BSA barrel is shrouded, and Pyramyd rates its loudness a 3 (medium).

The 500cc bottle fills to 3,625 psi, which a quality hand pump can reach without a compressor. In .22, Pyramyd lists up to 150 shots per fill with 15.9-grain pellets at about 880 fps. In .25, it's up to 80 ft-lb with 55-grain slugs and 130 shots. For the full breakdown, read our Benjamin Marauder Gen 3 review.

Pros

• + Up to 150 shots per fill in .22, more than twice the Gauntlet
• + Fills to 3,625 psi: hand-pump friendly
• + Externally adjustable regulator and hammer spring
• + Two-stage adjustable trigger; reversible sidelever
• + 5-year limited warranty
• + Quieter by Pyramyd's scale (3 vs 4)

Cons

• − About twice the price: $799.99
• − Heavier: 9.2 lb
• − No .30 caliber option
• − Only 2 reviews on the Gen 3 listing so far

See the Marauder Gen 3 at Pyramyd AIR →

Best value

Umarex Gauntlet 2 SL: from $386.99

.22, .25 or .30 · 33 / 51 / 99 ft-lb (Pyramyd) · 70+ / 50+ / 25 shots per fill · 4,500 psi · 10-round magazine (.22) · 8.5 lb · 3-year limited warranty · 4/5 from 44 reviews

The Gauntlet built its reputation on one idea: a regulated, shrouded PCP for well under $500. The Gauntlet 2 SL keeps that and adds a sidelever with a big knurled handle, a larger 24-cubic-inch removable cylinder with higher fill and regulator pressure than the original Gauntlet, and a 4-baffle shroud that Umarex and Pyramyd say is 8 dB quieter than the original. You also get a height-adjustable cheek comb, M-LOK slots, a Picatinny/11mm dovetail rail, two magazines and a single-shot tray.

The big practical difference is air. The Gauntlet fills to 4,500 psi. You can get there with a hand pump, but it's hard work, and most owners end up with a compressor or a scuba/carbon tank. Umarex's own site bundles the SL22 with its ReadyAir compressor. Also note the power figures differ by source: Pyramyd lists 33 ft-lb and 1,075 fps for the .22, while Umarex lists 48 ft-lb and 1,130 fps with an 11.9-grain pellet. And if you want a .30 for bigger pests, the Gauntlet is the only one of the two that offers it, at $476.99 with 99 ft-lb but only about 25 shots per fill.

Pros

• + Less than half the price: $386.99 in .22
• + Best power per dollar: $11.73 per ft-lb in .22
• + Offered in .30 caliber (99 ft-lb)
• + Lighter at 8.5 lb; M-LOK and adjustable cheek comb
• + Bigger review base: 44 reviews at Pyramyd

Cons

• − 4,500 psi fill: plan on a compressor or tank
• − About half the Marauder's shots per fill in .22 (70+ vs 150)
• − Single-stage trigger; one gauge
• − Louder by Pyramyd's scale (4, 90.6 dB)
• − 3-year warranty vs 5
• − A few Pyramyd reviewers report air leaks out of the box (one traced it to a loose bleed screw)

See the Gauntlet 2 SL at Pyramyd AIR →

The hidden cost: filling a PCP

Every PCP needs high-pressure air, and that's the part of the budget first-time buyers forget. The Marauder's 3,625 psi fill is within easy reach of a hand pump, so the rifle price is close to your total cost. The Gauntlet's 4,500 psi is higher than many hand pumps are comfortable delivering, so a lot of buyers add a compressor or a filled tank. Umarex's own bundle of the Gauntlet 2 SL22 with its ReadyAir G2 compressor was listed at $1,177.58. If you already own a compressor, the Gauntlet's price advantage is real. If you don't, factor it in before you decide.

Which should you buy?

Buy the Umarex Gauntlet 2 SL if you want the most rifle for the least money, you already have (or plan to buy) a compressor or tank, or you want a .30 caliber for bigger pests. It's the best power per dollar in this matchup.

Buy the Benjamin Marauder Gen 3 if you want to fill with a hand pump, shoot long sessions without refilling, tune the rifle yourself, and keep it for years under a longer warranty. It costs more up front, but you get about twice the shots per fill for the money, which is why the shots-per-$100 math comes out even.

Shopping higher up the ladder? See our FX Impact M4 .35 review.

Frequently asked questions

Is the Marauder better than the Gauntlet?

In most specs, yes: more shots per fill (150 vs 70+ in .22), more power by Pyramyd's listings (50 vs 33 ft-lb), a lower 3,625 psi fill, a two-stage adjustable trigger and a 5-year warranty. But it costs about twice as much, and the Gauntlet gives you more power per dollar.

Is the Umarex Gauntlet 2 discontinued?

The original bolt-action Gauntlet 2 is listed as discontinued at Pyramyd AIR. The current version is the Gauntlet 2 SL, a sidelever model with a larger 24-cubic-inch cylinder, sold in .22, .25 and .30.

Can I fill the Gauntlet 2 SL with a hand pump?

It fills to 4,500 psi, which is possible with a hand pump rated that high but takes real effort. Many owners use a compressor or a scuba or carbon-fiber tank. The Marauder Gen 3 fills to 3,625 psi, which is much easier by hand.

How many shots do you get per fill?

By Pyramyd AIR's listings: Marauder Gen 3, up to 150 in .22 (15.9-grain pellets at about 880 fps) and 130 in .25. Gauntlet 2 SL, 70+ in .22, 50+ in .25 and about 25 in .30.

Which is quieter?

Pyramyd rates the Marauder Gen 3 a 3 (medium) and the Gauntlet 2 SL a 4 (medium-high, 90.6 dB) on its loudness scale. Both are shrouded, and Umarex says the SL's 4-baffle design is 8 dB quieter than the original Gauntlet.

What warranty do they have?

Pyramyd AIR lists a 5-year limited warranty for the Marauder Gen 3 and a 3-year limited warranty for the Gauntlet 2 SL. Pyramyd also lists a 60-day money-back guarantee on both.

The bottom line

The Gauntlet 2 SL is the budget PCP to beat: $386.99 in .22, the best power per dollar here, and the only one with a .30 option. The Marauder Gen 3 is the better rifle to live with: twice the shots per fill, a hand-pump-friendly 3,625 psi fill, a tunable regulator, a better trigger and a longer warranty. If you already own a compressor, the Gauntlet is a great deal. If you don't, the Marauder's total cost is closer than the sticker suggests. Pick the one that fits how you'll fill it and how long you'll keep it. Buy once, cry once.

Marauder Gen 3 at Pyramyd AIR → Gauntlet 2 SL at Pyramyd AIR →

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