I did this build yesterday... it turned out great !
Why did I pull apart a good shooting Cayden? It always seemed too loud for the power level that I was shooting it at - due to unshrouded barrel. It was very moderator picky and only liked one particular moderator that wasn't very effective a reducing the bark.
I had a refurb .177 Akela that I had not shot yet. I measured the barrels and the 4 inch longer Cayden barrel fits under the stock Akela shroud - once you discard the baffles and spring. It fits using both the Akela air stripper (to keep Cayden barrel centered in shroud) and with the DonnyFL moderator adapter for the Akela - which extends into the shroud a bit due to replacement "baffe" in its design.
I'm using a stock Benjamin hammer spring - cut to 2.68". I guessed and turned in the hammer spring exactly 1 turn - and using my fill pressure of 2,600 psi, I was immediately at 880fps with AEA 15.9g (barrel when on Cayden liked AEA 15.9s). Lucky guess on setting the hammer spring, but I'd rather be lucky than good when anxious to try shooting a new build.
.22 Akela "HP" or is it a "Caydela" is now VERY quiet shooting 15.9g @ 880-890fps - using only 2 sections of a Huma Mod30.
It immediately shot a 1/4 inch c-t-c 5-shot group at 30 yards. Took one shot to adjust scope. Then fired shots 7 to 26 at this 30-Masters card and shot 198 !! Dang - thats an unregulated "budget" rifle. If you are shooting 30-Masters cards with a $2,000 air rifle you know that 198 is a darn good score.
Thought I'd share the details (more info on pictures) with this community - as some folks with .22 Akelas may want to try the longer barrel from a Cayden if they are seeking more power or a milder tune.
Stay tuned for a .177 Cayden in the future, lol.
-Ed
Why did I pull apart a good shooting Cayden? It always seemed too loud for the power level that I was shooting it at - due to unshrouded barrel. It was very moderator picky and only liked one particular moderator that wasn't very effective a reducing the bark.
I had a refurb .177 Akela that I had not shot yet. I measured the barrels and the 4 inch longer Cayden barrel fits under the stock Akela shroud - once you discard the baffles and spring. It fits using both the Akela air stripper (to keep Cayden barrel centered in shroud) and with the DonnyFL moderator adapter for the Akela - which extends into the shroud a bit due to replacement "baffe" in its design.
I'm using a stock Benjamin hammer spring - cut to 2.68". I guessed and turned in the hammer spring exactly 1 turn - and using my fill pressure of 2,600 psi, I was immediately at 880fps with AEA 15.9g (barrel when on Cayden liked AEA 15.9s). Lucky guess on setting the hammer spring, but I'd rather be lucky than good when anxious to try shooting a new build.
.22 Akela "HP" or is it a "Caydela" is now VERY quiet shooting 15.9g @ 880-890fps - using only 2 sections of a Huma Mod30.
It immediately shot a 1/4 inch c-t-c 5-shot group at 30 yards. Took one shot to adjust scope. Then fired shots 7 to 26 at this 30-Masters card and shot 198 !! Dang - thats an unregulated "budget" rifle. If you are shooting 30-Masters cards with a $2,000 air rifle you know that 198 is a darn good score.
Thought I'd share the details (more info on pictures) with this community - as some folks with .22 Akelas may want to try the longer barrel from a Cayden if they are seeking more power or a milder tune.
Stay tuned for a .177 Cayden in the future, lol.
-Ed