I did the unthinkable buying a new rifle

I've been doing some handling by grabbing the silencer can.

If anyone else springs for this gun...DO NOT...handle the gun by the can. The barrel is free floating, back at the receiver, so any banging around at the silencer end can put a load on the barrel threads. It does have two stabilizing rings around the barrel that are part of the rail on the top of the gun, but there is "about" a .02" or .03" gap between the barrel and the aluminum. So...you can't break anything, but an unnecessary load on the barrel/receiver threads still happens.

Off to lunch.

Mike

Ya'll know what it looks like..! I haven't taken any shots of a stock, unmodified gun yet.

Maybe while I give my hand a try at making the empty silencer can a try at actually making it quieter shooting. I have an idea. Sort of a mix of a few others ideas that I saw on You Tube. I'll see what happens, maybe take a few shots of the details.



Mike

I wasn't going to post this since only one person asked about the differences between the Lelya and the BP-17...but what the hell...

Comparing the Lelya to the BP-17 -

1. In a nutshell, the Lelya is built like a tank, the BP-17 more like a 60's Volkswagon. The Lelya as shown in one of their advertisements can be run over by a pickup truck with little to no damage, other than scratches ! If you did that to the BP, well, might as well sell it for spare parts. In reality, who's going to do that..? With normal care, there's nothing I see actually wrong with the BP-17's design, some things are just lighter duty than the Lelya, namely the trigger bar connections. The BP-17 should get the job done well for many years. This is coming from a retired Aero Space Engineer.

2. The Lelya cocking action takes a little effort and must be done in a very positive manor. The Ataman is as smooth as hot butter as they say. The Lelya cocking arm is very short and a bit stiff, takes some effort. The BP-17's cocking arm is longer, and much smoother in its action. I do not see it as being prone to breakage as some longer arms are.

3. The Lelya safety is stiff, but positive. The BP-17's is very simple, and a little fidgity. Not really bad, just not real positive.

4. Same 300 bar max. air tank. As adjusted from the factory, the BP-17 get's more shots per fill.

5. I've got no way to check the trigger pull or the pellet speed. But like in my original note, the Lelya has a little takeup that is light and mostly smooth. It then hits a wall, and then a crisp let-off of "about"...#2. The BP-17 on the other hand is VERY smooth and light, but has no "wall" prior to the final let-off. You just get to know the initial take-up distance, and then let your heart beat complete the final pull..! I don't see any adjusting will fix the non-"wall", just make it a little stiffer. Leaving as is for now.

6. Overall feel. I did NOT like the Lelya stock. I spent some time grinding and filling the stock until it was comfortable at my shoulder. Then coated it in Krylon Truck Bed paint. Black, a little rough surface, a hard surface, and tuff. The BP-17 fits with no modifications required, feels good at the shoulder

7. Overall money spent, you get more hard core engineering in the Lelya. In the BP-17, you get a nice rifle that should last years, and be fairly accurate. Still playing with the accuracy and finding the pellet the BP likes best. I didn't measure, but the Lelya's barrel is longer.

8. The Lelya is notably quieter, but in the way the BP-17's "can" (it's hollow !) is designed, let your imagination run wild. I have an idea to make it much quieter..!

Hope that helps some.

Mike



P.s. - Forgot one big thing.

9. The Lelya has its barrel in tension. That is, it's stretched by having threads on both ends and both ends have nuts (effectively) and is stretched between heavy members of the frame. Having two, dissimilar metals in tension is not a good design. The aluminum frame during it's heating (out in the desert) and cooling deltas, are much different than the barrel. So when the frame is warmer, it will "pull" on the barrel ">" (greater)amount. When the frame is cooler, the frame will pull" on the barrel "<" (lesser) amount. So...it all depends on the barrel vs. frame CTE (expansion characteristics at temperature). This is part of the design that makes the Lelya a very tuff rifle, capable of very rough treatment without harm.

The BP-17's barrel is free floating. Many high end, highly accurate rifles (both pellet and powder firing) have free floating barrels. It somewhat...again...depends on ambient temperature and that big ol can hanging off the end barrel. While it should be more than capable of excellent groups, it's not up to any rough and tumble handling.