My New AEA Challenger .30 Special Edition
- Thread starter Northwoods
- Start date
Good rifle , the only thing i do not like is the loud "twang" every time you shoot the rifle, I wish the AEA company fix this issue !
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I've long (over three decades) taken Chinese and Korean airguns that seem to have POTENTIAL(S) to much higher levels of performance than most airgunners would believe.
After noticing AEA produces several intensely interesting models that I assumed are "a little rough around the edges" as all Chinese airguns are, when the 32" barreled, 39" overall .30 caliber Challenger Bullpup came available I reckoned it an excellent platform for DE-tuning to sane power levels that would exhibit a bell-curve power-band (as virtually NO Chinese or Korean PCPs do). Having done such de-tuning to several Shin Sung Careers with great results, the question was not if the AEA BEAST could be tamed, but what are it's accuracy potentials after domestication.
After shortening the AEA hammer spring several times before achieving a bell-curve power-band at only 120 BAR charge pressure, reducing the power from 133 foot pounds to "ONLY" 84 in that process, I then set about reducing the long, gritty 9-1/2 pound trigger pull. Upon achieving a crisp 2-1/2 trigger break, polishing the barrel with JB Bore Paste, and several hundred rounds of accuracy testing, the accuracy evolved from promising to good, then amazing!
Only after those dozens of hours invested did I invest in a Huma regulator in order to increase the worthwhile power-band shot-count beyond 5-8 shots. While installing my first reg I found the AEA an excellent example of one of my favorite credos, "SIMPLICITY is the hallmark of good design". The Beast was not only fantastically simple, but I was also impressed with the manufacturing quality. Hence, my first reg installation went with nary a hitch or bobble. Results-
This is the best average accuracy I've achieved in decades of accuracy testing of hundreds of airguns.
The Beast-
After noticing AEA produces several intensely interesting models that I assumed are "a little rough around the edges" as all Chinese airguns are, when the 32" barreled, 39" overall .30 caliber Challenger Bullpup came available I reckoned it an excellent platform for DE-tuning to sane power levels that would exhibit a bell-curve power-band (as virtually NO Chinese or Korean PCPs do). Having done such de-tuning to several Shin Sung Careers with great results, the question was not if the AEA BEAST could be tamed, but what are it's accuracy potentials after domestication.
After shortening the AEA hammer spring several times before achieving a bell-curve power-band at only 120 BAR charge pressure, reducing the power from 133 foot pounds to "ONLY" 84 in that process, I then set about reducing the long, gritty 9-1/2 pound trigger pull. Upon achieving a crisp 2-1/2 trigger break, polishing the barrel with JB Bore Paste, and several hundred rounds of accuracy testing, the accuracy evolved from promising to good, then amazing!
Only after those dozens of hours invested did I invest in a Huma regulator in order to increase the worthwhile power-band shot-count beyond 5-8 shots. While installing my first reg I found the AEA an excellent example of one of my favorite credos, "SIMPLICITY is the hallmark of good design". The Beast was not only fantastically simple, but I was also impressed with the manufacturing quality. Hence, my first reg installation went with nary a hitch or bobble. Results-
This is the best average accuracy I've achieved in decades of accuracy testing of hundreds of airguns.
The Beast-
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Very nice. I’m interested in what you did to the trigger? What pellets or slugs have you had luck with?
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"I’m interested in what you did to the trigger?"
I've written more than once that simple trigger designs respond well to simple trigger-smithing techniques, and the Challenger trigger is a good example. Once I'd done the usual replacement of the trigger and/or sear return spring(s) with as light as I feel maintains safe function, I moly-lubed all trigger and sear pivot and engagement surfaces (anything in the trigger/sear mechanism that rubs).
Those things helped a lot, and reduced the let-off to 3-4 pounds. But at that point I felt adding a sear-engagement screw would get me closer to a competition-worthy trigger action. So I fashioned a sear-engagement adjusting screw that attaches to the stock just in front of the trigger blade; the adjusting screw simply limiting how far the trigger blade can return forward. Now by adjusting the sear-engagement to one side or the other of what I can get away with, the trigger let-off comes in between 2 and 3 pounds. It seems 2-1/2 pounds is enough that it doesn't start slipping out of engagement after dozens to hundreds of shots. But when/if I remove and reinstall the stock, I'll usually have to fine-tune the adjustment a little.
The only ammo I've shot through The Beast is 44.75 grain JSB and FX-branded JSB pellets.
I've written more than once that simple trigger designs respond well to simple trigger-smithing techniques, and the Challenger trigger is a good example. Once I'd done the usual replacement of the trigger and/or sear return spring(s) with as light as I feel maintains safe function, I moly-lubed all trigger and sear pivot and engagement surfaces (anything in the trigger/sear mechanism that rubs).
Those things helped a lot, and reduced the let-off to 3-4 pounds. But at that point I felt adding a sear-engagement screw would get me closer to a competition-worthy trigger action. So I fashioned a sear-engagement adjusting screw that attaches to the stock just in front of the trigger blade; the adjusting screw simply limiting how far the trigger blade can return forward. Now by adjusting the sear-engagement to one side or the other of what I can get away with, the trigger let-off comes in between 2 and 3 pounds. It seems 2-1/2 pounds is enough that it doesn't start slipping out of engagement after dozens to hundreds of shots. But when/if I remove and reinstall the stock, I'll usually have to fine-tune the adjustment a little.
The only ammo I've shot through The Beast is 44.75 grain JSB and FX-branded JSB pellets.
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Wonderful performance with a AEA!!! How is the barrel ? Pretty smooth? I can't shoot like that with Texan tethered
. The marksman behind the trigger of Aea is pretty good!!!!!
. The marksman behind the trigger of Aea is pretty good!!!!!Upvote 0
"How is the barrel ? Pretty smooth?"
No. But I've polished the bore with JB Bore Paste (a couple times), and polished the muzzle crown with a rubber rotary-tool polishing bit.
No. But I've polished the bore with JB Bore Paste (a couple times), and polished the muzzle crown with a rubber rotary-tool polishing bit.
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