Performance carries more weight when it is earned.
At the 2026 Pyramyd Air Cup, Team Iconic brought the Benjamin Marauder Gen3 to the 100-yard benchrest line. Across from them were experienced competitors, sponsored shooters and purpose-built rifles costing more than $2,000.
The Marauder Gen3 starts at $829.90.
The price difference was clear. On the target, it was much harder to see.
Built to Hold Its Own
Team Iconic was represented by John Sopietro, Shawn Pragle, Daryl VanWhy and Ed Schultz—employees from different areas of Iconic Outdoor Group who share an understanding of the products they represent.
John and Shawn competed in 100-yard benchrest with .25-caliber Marauder Gen3 rifles. They faced a field largely made up of .30-caliber competition rifles, many of them heavily modified and backed by professional or sponsored shooters.
In the opening round, John scored 227 out of 250 with eight Xs. The X-ring measured just .2 inches across. That score placed him in a tie for 11th among more than 40 shooters in his group, only eight points behind the leading score.
Shawn posted a 200, breaking the 200-point mark for the first time. Ed Schultz, shooting a RAW air rifle donated to the American Sporter Airgun Association, finished the round with a 203.
There was no need to overstate what happened. The targets made the point.
More Rifle. Less Investment.
The Marauder Gen3 rifles used at the event were not custom-built competition guns. The team polished the barrels, but the foundation remained the same one available to Benjamin shooters.
A regulated powerplant. A balanced valve. A 500cc air reservoir. A two-stage adjustable trigger. A refined sidelever action.
Each feature serves a purpose. Together, they create a rifle designed to deliver repeatable performance without unnecessary complication—or an unnecessary price.
At $829.90, the Marauder Gen3 costs less than half as much as many of the rifles it faced at the Pyramyd Air Cup. It was not built to imitate those rifles. It was built to provide serious shooters with dependable precision at a more attainable price.
At 100 yards, it did exactly that.
When Conditions Changed
The second day brought more difficult wind.
John recorded a 213 with three Xs, bringing his two-day score to 440—approximately 20 points short of the finals. Ed improved his score to 211, while Shawn finished the round with a 193.
The results were not what the team had hoped for, but difficult conditions are part of long-range shooting. They reveal where the shooter and rifle stand. There are no shortcuts and few excuses.
Team Iconic accepted the results, learned from them and moved forward.
That is the nature of competition.
Attention Earned Quietly
Interest in the Marauder Gen3 extended beyond the firing line. Visitors stopped at the Team Iconic booth to inspect the rifle and ask about its redesigned platform. Many wanted the opportunity to shoot it for themselves.
The Gen3 rifles donated to the event raffle also drew considerable interest. One went home with airgun enthusiast BillM, who later shared his experience with the Hard Air Magazine community. Another was won by a representative from FX Airguns.
The response was encouraging, but not surprising. Shooters recognize a capable rifle when they see one—especially after it has been tested under pressure.
A Practical Standard of Precision
The Pyramyd Air Cup is a demanding test. The distances are long, the targets are small and the competition is experienced.
The Marauder Gen3 entered that environment without the price or extensive customization of many rifles around it. It still produced competitive scores at 100 yards.
That matters.
Benjamin has never been about spectacle. It is about building equipment that earns confidence through use. The Marauder Gen3 continues that tradition with regulated consistency, refined control and the accuracy to stand beside rifles costing more than twice as much.
No excess. No excuses. Just performance where it counts.
