Airgun Brand · Benjamin
Benjamin Airguns: brand guide, lineup and is it worth it?
Researched by James · Updated September 26, 2026 · Editorial policy
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Ownership history comes from Wikipedia's sourced Crosman corporate timeline and Compass Diversified's own April 2024 press release. Current models, prices and warranty terms come from Crosman's and Airgun Depot's live catalogs. Full methodology & editorial policy →
Quick facts
| Founded | 1902 (Benjamin Air Rifle Company, St. Louis); Crosman acquired Benjamin in 1992 |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | Bloomfield, New York, under parent company Crosman Corporation |
| Where made | Hand-assembled in the US at Crosman's Bloomfield, NY facility |
| Parent company / owner | Crosman Corporation, owned since 2024 by Daisy Manufacturing Company (a BRS & Co. portfolio company) |
| Known for | Regulated PCP air rifles (Marauder), big-bore hunting PCPs (Bulldog, Akela) |
| Typical price range | About $650-$1,000 for current PCP rifles |
| Warranty | 5 years on PCP/break-barrel rifles and pistols (post-Nov. 2017); 1 year on CO2, pump and lever-action models |
What does Benjamin make?
Benjamin is Crosman's PCP-focused hunting brand, sitting a notch above Crosman's own budget CO2 and multi-pump lineup (covered in my Crosman brand guide). Everything current is precharged pneumatic: a regulated sporter (Marauder), a bullpup sidelever (Akela), and big-bore rifles built for hogs and larger pests (Bulldog). That's a narrower, more hunting-focused catalog than value brands like Umarex, which spans everything from CO2 replicas to PCPs.
Current lineup
| Model | Type | Caliber | Typical price | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marauder | PCP sporter, regulated valve on some variants | .177, .22, .25 | About $650-$700 | The default first serious PCP; quiet, accurate, hand-pump friendly |
| Marauder Gen3 | PCP sporter, updated valve and stock | .22, .25 | About $800-$860 | Buyers who want the latest Marauder revision |
| Akela | PCP bullpup, sidelever, 12-round mag | .177, .22 | Not consistently listed; check current retailers | Compact small-to-medium game hunting with an onboard pressure gauge |
| Bulldog M257 | Big-bore PCP | .357 | About $950-$1,000 | Hogs and larger pests at moderate range |
Benjamin also still sells gas-piston break-barrels (Trail NP2 and similar) and the niche AIRBOW arrow-firing platform, but neither is core hunting gear the way the Marauder line is, and current break-barrel pricing wasn't consistently listed when I checked — confirm it with a retailer before buying.
Best Benjamin picks for hunting
- Marauder (.22) — the safest first-PCP recommendation: fills with a hand pump, runs quiet, and is the rifle my own beginner PCP comparison uses as the benchmark against the Umarex Gauntlet 2 and Air Venturi Avenger.
- Bulldog M257 — the pick once .22-.30 energy runs short on hogs or bigger pests.
- Akela — a compact bullpup alternative to the Marauder's sporter stock, with a built-in manometer so you always know your fill state.
For the full beginner-PCP cost picture — pump vs. tank vs. compressor — see my first PCP buyer's guide.
Pros and cons
Good fit
- First-time PCP buyers who want a proven, US-assembled rifle
- Hunters who want a hand-pump-friendly fill pressure (3,000 psi)
- Big-bore hog hunters looking at the Bulldog
Look elsewhere
- Shooters chasing FX- or Daystate-level tunability and slug performance
- Buyers who want a springer or CO2 gun — Benjamin's current lineup is almost entirely PCP
- Anyone who assumed Benjamin was a small independent maker rather than part of a larger corporate family
How Benjamin compares
Against its own sibling Crosman, Benjamin is the PCP-hunting half of the same company — Crosman covers CO2 pistols and budget multi-pumps, Benjamin covers regulated PCPs. Against Umarex's Gauntlet 2 and Notos, the Marauder trades a lower fill pressure (easier hand-pumping) for fewer shots per fill; both are common first-PCP shortlist rifles, and the honest advice is to compare the specific model, not just the brand. Against premium brands like FX, Benjamin isn't really competing — it's a different tier aimed at getting a hunter into PCP shooting without the tuning learning curve.
Verdict
Benjamin earns its reputation on the strength of one rifle: the Marauder, still one of the best first regulated PCPs a hunter can buy, and still assembled in the US. Its big-bore Bulldog and Akela extend that into hunting niches most value brands don't cover well. Buy it for the hunting-focused PCP lineup, not for variety — that's what Crosman, its corporate sibling, is for.
Shop Benjamin airguns
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FAQ
Is Benjamin a good airgun brand?
Yes. Benjamin's Marauder is one of the most recommended first regulated PCP air rifles in the US, and Hard Air Magazine has rated it highly across generations for accuracy and quiet operation. Its big-bore PCPs (Bulldog, Akela) extend that reputation to hog and larger-pest hunting.
Who owns Benjamin airguns?
Benjamin is a brand of Crosman Corporation, which was sold by Compass Diversified's Velocity Outdoor to Daisy Manufacturing Company in 2024. Daisy Manufacturing is a portfolio company of the private equity firm BRS & Co., which also owns Gamo — so Benjamin, Crosman, Daisy and Gamo are now sister brands under one owner.
Where are Benjamin air rifles made?
In the US. Crosman hand-assembles the Marauder and other Benjamin PCPs at its own factory in Bloomfield, New York, sourcing components globally but doing final assembly domestically — one of the few things separating Benjamin from most Turkish- and Chinese-built value PCPs.
What is the best Benjamin model for a first PCP?
The Marauder in .22. It fills to 3,000 psi (a hand pump handles it fine), delivers around 30 shots per fill from an unregulated valve, and its full-length shrouded barrel makes it one of the quietest rifles in its class. See my full beginner PCP comparison for how it stacks up against the Umarex Gauntlet 2 and Air Venturi Avenger.
What is the best Benjamin model for hunting bigger game?
The Bulldog M257, a .357 big-bore PCP built for hogs and larger pests at moderate range, or the Akela, a .22/.177 bullpup sidelever with a 12-round magazine and an onboard pressure gauge for small-to-medium game.
Is Benjamin the same company as Crosman?
Benjamin is a Crosman brand, not a separate manufacturer — Crosman bought the original Benjamin Air Rifle Company in 1992. Since 2024 both brands sit inside Daisy Manufacturing Company, so Benjamin and Crosman are siblings within an even larger family that also includes Daisy and Gamo.
What is Benjamin's warranty?
5 years on break-barrel and PCP rifles and pistols bought new after November 15, 2017; CO2, multi-pump and lever-action models carry a 1-year limited warranty. Unauthorized disassembly voids it, per Crosman's published terms.
Is the Benjamin Marauder still worth buying in 2026?
Yes, especially the current Gen3 version. It remains a benchmark for accuracy-per-dollar in a US-assembled regulated PCP, and it's the rifle most beginner PCP comparisons — including mine — use as the default first-serious-airgun recommendation.
Sources
- Benjamin Airguns — True Originals (company founding history)
- Wikipedia — Crosman (corporate ownership history, including the 2024 Daisy sale)
- GlobeNewswire — Compass Diversified Announces Sale of Crosman Air Gun Business (April 30, 2024)
- Crosman — Warranty Info
- Airgun Depot — Benjamin Airguns, current models and pricing
- Crosman — Benjamin Marauder Regulated PCP Rifle specifications and price
