I am selling my AEA challenger bullpup in .457 cal. In the title I put .457 in quotes because this gun actually has a groove diameter closer to .461. As did basically all of the first ones.
This gun has some cosmetic defects. I once had to take it apart to fix a stuck bolt. I accidentally over loosened the nut that holds the barrel on, tightening it to the barrel in the wrong direction. To get it back I had to grip the barrel with vice grips. I put two layers of cardboard between, but the grips tore through and scratched the barrel. It also has some scratches from being removed from its housing, most of these are covered by the barrel shroud and I'd have to remove it to photograph them. It also has a scratch on the grip that I smoothed out and it can't really be felt but is visible. Will post pics of the defects soon, apart from the ones the shroud covers.
This gun had a critical component break on me a while back. The metal part that holds back and releases the hammer when firing. I could have gotten a replacement for free, but I didn't want this to happen again. That part is made of very cheap and weak metal. I had one fabricated from hardened tool steel. It has functioned flawlessly ever since.
As I mentioned, the gun has a groove diameter close to .461. I had a die made to swage slugs in .460 diameter, and they make higher velocity than similar weight .457 slugs. They arent really any more accurate though. I was pleased with the accuracy of both diameters. I'll include 50 .460 diameter, cup base slugs, in 200 grain. If you buy the rifle from me, you may hit me up in the future to buy more .460 slugs for it in any grain you wish, price will depend on weight obviosly, but ill give you a good deal. I just can't promise to get them to you as fast as NSA could, I work more than full time. I've already done enough testing to know that it does best with the 200 grain though, unless you add the power washers. It makes around 400 FPE with the 200 grain. With power washers installed I measured 500 FPE with a 265 grain slug if memory serves. Using the washers makes it use more air though, and it also needs to be filled to a higher pressure. Be warned, if you install the washers and want to remove them later, it is very difficult to do. Up to you. You can add any number of them you like, or none. I can't recall all the results I had with various numbers of them.
This gun is not hand pump friendly. Like some other AEAs I have had, the probe doesn't like to seal to begin pumping, and this problem extends to filling with a compressor. Some thicker o rings on the probe would probably solve that problem, I just never bothered because I fill from a SCBA, and that works fine. This gun would totally suck to hand pump anyway unless you're the incredible hulk. It uses a ton of air. Starting from 4500 PSI, my great white scba only has enough air for maybe 50 or 60 shots before the pressure falls below the optimal pressure for velocity, and that's assuming you leave it tethered and don't bleed the line between fills. With no washers installed, it fills to 3600 psi but gets optimal velocity around 3000-3300 psi. With washers it can fill to 4500 psi, and if I recall correctly, made optimal energy at around 3800.
Comes with everything it originally came with, plus 4 power washers not installed yet. That's the fill probe with extra o rings, 2 magazines and it's original box.
I'm thinking $450 plus shipping depending on which method you prefer. Hit me up with any questions and offers. Scope and rings not included. Not pictured is original box it will come in.
These pics show my 200 grain slugs on left vs NSA 196 grain slugs on right, and the diameter of my slugs. I can make them a bit smaller and up to 400 grain+, but i think the 200 grains are best for this rifle assuming no power washers are installed. I'm including 50 of them with the rifle
here are pics of the part that broke. It has been replaced with one made of hardened steel. Id have to take it apart to get a pic of that.
here are the scraches on the grip. They have been smoothed out and cant really be felt except by your fingernail
Here are the vice grip marks on the barrel. I was pretty irate when the grips tore through the dual cardboard layers i had.
