AEA Challenger Elite Bore scoped YUCK! Updated

[BriarpatchMtn]

Got my .457 Challenger Elite last spring as my first pcp. Despite negative opinions I took the chance with AEA because I don't mind tinkering. Certainly hasn't been a straight out of the box gun. Regulator issues, 1st replacement my doing, 2nd because originally owners manual didn't include the instructions of not lowering pressure without degassing first like the updated version does. (Who downloads an owners manual twice looking for revisions?) Had to replace hammer spring also.
Got the gun shooting decently enough just before deer season. Accuracy was an issue though. Could hole in hole but slugs spiraled down range so required left, right adjustments with yardage changes, but absolutely consistent. Also totally went to crap if it leaded up so needed frequent cleaning.
Storm damage and back issues put me behind getting back to the gun. But finally got a bore scope and found more issues. Unfortunately one month out of warranty, my usual crappy luck.
Chamber was cut off alignment with the bore and throat angles were very rough. Lot of bad places down the groves and lands also.
For a $1000 gun I don't believe the barrel should have made it out of the factory. Local gunsmith just shook his head and said "Get a new barrel."
Not being able to afford that I've cleaned the chamber and throat up with a wood dowel and lapping compound. Stopped when I did so as not over deepen the throat since not much precision with a dowel.
Seems to be shooting better but had a trigger issue and waiting on a new trigger rod and set screw. Mine's worn from far to many disassembling. Once that's fixed I'll likely do some fire lapping.
Anyway here's the look see. Before, After, then just a few of the bore.
My opinion now is that I wish I'd bought a bore scope before the gun.

 

[357cal]

It seems to that acquired else's problem. If the rifle was in such poor condition, the original owner should have returned it. Based on what you mentioned, they likely disassembled it, which voided the warranty, and then to sell it. I would feel more frustration toward the individual who sold it. If I had only a one-month warranty and paid $1,000 for a PCP, I would not be attempting to fix it myself. If it wasn't functioning properly, I would have returned it immediately. Purchasing from someone other than a reputable dealer is always a gamble. I regret that you had to endure this costly lesson. This is merely my personal opinion. $ 50 more dollars you could have bought new.

 

[BriarpatchMtn]

It seems to that acquired else's problem. If the rifle was in such poor condition, the original owner should have returned it. Based on what you mentioned, they likely disassembled it, which voided the warranty, and then to sell it. I would feel more frustration toward the individual who sold it. If I had only a one-month warranty and paid $1,000 for a PCP, I would not be attempting to fix it myself. If it wasn't functioning properly, I would have returned it immediately. Purchasing from someone other than a reputable dealer is always a gamble. I regret that you had to endure this costly lesson. This is merely my personal opinion. $ 50 more dollars you could have bought new.

This was a new gun. Won't name the dealer because they've been good otherwise. I just found th6 barrel issues to late. Just makes me discussed with AEA for their quality control. And wanted this out there for others. If I'd only had the bore scope when it arrived it would have went directly back.

 

[Ezana4CE]

This was a new gun. Won't name the dealer because they've been good otherwise. I just found th6 barrel issues to late. Just makes me discussed with AEA for their quality control. And wanted this out there for others. If I'd only had the bore scope when it arrived it would have went directly back.

Their reputation for quality or questionable quality seems to precede them. I was wondering what became of this model. That pitting is atrocious. I hope you get it ready before this year’s deer season.

 

[BriarpatchMtn]

Their reputation for quality or questionable quality seems to precede them. I was wondering what became of this model. That pitting is atrocious. I hope you get it ready before this year’s deer season.

Pitting is horrible and I didn't include all the pics. Mostly it's in the groves but still for what we pay for our guns nothing like this should leave their factory, or anyone's.
Still was shooting hole in hole like a laser. 5 shots in a penny at 45 yds. But was having to make right and left adjustments along with elevation at every yardage change. Drop to deer last season(heart/lung shot), and got a head shot on a turkey last month.
I'll get it worked out eventually, can't really make it worse at this point.

 

[Ezana4CE]

Pitting is horrible and I didn't include all the pics. Mostly it's in the groves but still for what we pay for our guns nothing like this should leave their factory, or anyone's.
Still was shooting hole in hole like a laser. 5 shots in a penny at 45 yds. But was having to make right and left adjustments along with elevation at every yardage change. Drop to deer last season(heart/lung shot), and got a head shot on a turkey last month.
I'll get it worked out eventually, can't really make it worse at this point.

Please keep us posted on your progress. Conceptually it seemed like a promising big bore. I don’t like the idea of adjusting windage as you change distanc.

 

[MrP]

I remember when I first got a look at the crown on the HP max - it looked like someone had been trying to cut a breech with a Dremel tool - very rough cut, shallow angle extending deep into the bore - definitely not made by somebody who cared about quality. I thought maybe the barrel had been mounted backwards but it was the same on the breech end.

 

[BriarpatchMtn]

Final Conclusion
Gun is a paper weight till I can get a new barrel
I have worked this barrel all I can. I'm very tenacious but after over a year and 2000+ rounds I give up.
Got the chamber and throat polished out. Had to do some at the muzzle also because end of lands were basically smeared too one side and clipping lead.
That actually got it where I wasn't making windage adjustments across yardage changes. However no amount of work is going to stop the bore from leading up. There's simply to much pitting, and lands are to burred up from piss poor tooling.
I've fire lapped what most would call aggressively from 220 to 600 grit. I've polished with both 330 and 600 on a tight patch till my arm got tired, and then did more even more polishing with the 600 at the range.
Bore scrubbed clean take about a dozen shots and will go from flyers to hole in hole. Then another 2 dozen or so shots and it throwing flyers every direction again.
There's simply no way to gain any proficiency with the gun when you can't shoot but a few rounds at a time and then spend 20 minutes cleaning it.

 

[Ezana4CE]

Final Conclusion
Gun is a paper weight till I can get a new barrel
I have worked this barrel all I can. I'm very tenacious but after over a year and 2000+ rounds I give up.
Got the chamber and throat polished out. Had to do some at the muzzle also because end of lands were basically smeared too one side and clipping lead.
That actually got it where I wasn't making windage adjustments across yardage changes. However no amount of work is going to stop the bore from leading up. There's simply to much pitting, and lands are to burred up from piss poor tooling.
I've fire lapped what most would call aggressively from 220 to 600 grit. I've polished with both 330 and 600 on a tight patch till my arm got tired, and then did more even more polishing with the 600 at the range.
Bore scrubbed clean take about a dozen shots and will go from flyers to hole in hole. Then another 2 dozen or so shots and it throwing flyers every direction again.
There's simply no way to gain any proficiency with the gun when you can't shoot but a few rounds at a time and then spend 20 minutes cleaning it.

@BriarpatchMtn You tried. Thank for your honest assessment.

 

[BriarpatchMtn]

@BriarpatchMtn You tried. Thank for your honest assessment.

Maybe no one talks about these guns because they're to embarrassed. Can't say I got suckered, but can say I got a lemon. This could be a good gun if it had a good barrel. Definitely would advise anyone buying AEA to get a bore scope before even purchasing the gun.
Tip broke off valve pin today. Gun still shoots fine, just very difficult to air up. Thought it was a worn valve pin o-ring. But this was totally wear and tear. And for the amount of rounds I've shot I can say it took the abuse.
Smaller parts aren't really expensive for these and they're actually very simple to work on. Now to find out the cost of a new barrel. Definitely not spending more than what the gun cost to have one made.

 

[Ezana4CE]

@BriarpatchMtn On AGN, AEA has a reputation for poor quality control in many of their big-bore airguns. This is what I have gathered form reading about various models on the forums. Several people that boast of good performance from theirs have added aftermarket parts or modifications. I've read of one model that has been spoken highly of consistently and that was the Challenger. I have never owned an AEA because of that. When I read threads like yours, it is no surprise to me that you faced issues. I appreciate people like yourself that are unselfish enough to be honest and not making excuses for manufacturing issues, cheap parts, quality control issues, etc. You have the ability to save others money and frustration. For those that purchase a gun like yours, at least they aren't going into their purchasing decision blind when these sort of issues have been documented.

 

[BriarpatchMtn]

@BriarpatchMtn On AGN, AEA has a reputation for poor quality control in many of their big-bore airguns. This is what I have gathered form reading about various models on the forums. Several people that boast of good performance from theirs have added aftermarket parts or modifications. I've read of one model that has been spoken highly of consistently and that was the Challenger. I have never owned an AEA because of that. When I read threads like yours, it is no surprise to me that you faced issues. I appreciate people like yourself that are unslefish enough to be honest and not making excuses for manufacturing issues, cheap parts, quality conrtrol issues, etc. You havce the ability to save others money and frustration. For those that purchase a gun like yours, at least there aren't going into their purchaing decision blind when these sort of issues have been documented.

Exactly why I put this out here.

 

[RM.510bigbore]

That barrel is terrible....You can buy a Green Mountain Barrel or a TJ barrel liner..They arent too expensive $100.00 to $200.00 for a blank.