Who says you need to buy a 3K slug rig to run with the big dogs at Utah airguns? Check out this $450 (used, shipped) package. Yes, you read that right.
Discovery 4-14x44 scope:
The scope even came with rings that I mounted. No need to splurge on BKLs.
Initially tried Senecas to get on paper. 1.5" groups @ 30 yards. Glad I shot them so I don't have to store these turds.
https://www.pyramydair.com/product/seneca-25-cal-35-8-grains-domed-100ct?p=1467
I even shot one Hades. Broke the sound barrier.
Then I could stack pellets @ 30 yards with JSB redesigns:
Since this gun/power ratio was designed to shoot slugs, I then attempted 38.5gr. NSA slugs @ 30 yards.
You get 10 - 15 good shots with this rig. That's 80FPE of power.
Biggest downside: 5.5lb trigger verified with a Lyman trigger pull gauge! Trigger is non-adjustable. Feels like a single stage evolution trigger on a Theoben. Zero creep. If you come from the magnum springer world, handling this gun is not a shock from every angle. If the the trigger was 2.5lbs it would be a perfect setup.
Initial 10 round re-sight from pellet to slug: Looks promising. I'd say another 25 rounds of 38.5gr, and 36.2gr. NSA will decide a winner. Might even try H&N HP slugs. We'll see.
Backyard friendly. Will get final dba and velocity numbers with its slug of choice.
AEA makes some pretty nice guns. I've been looking at their .30 and .357 caliber guns. The most often complaint I've heard is that their triggers are kind of stiff. Wondering how that one is. I may have to check into them further.
By the pics it looks like you're going to have a keeper. Good looking gun that shoots well. ?
I have the .30 carbine version of the Challenger SL which I like, though still waiting on molds for casting the pelllets and slugs for it (taking forever it seems..). The shorter length carbine is definitely a lower power at around 100 fpe compared to the full length with the stronger spring (and no, changing the spring out doesn't improve the carbine version). Was very accurate up to about 40 yards though using the single tin of hatsan vortex .30 pellets I was able to get ahold of to shoot (which are pretty rough finish and dirty pellets).
Velocity: 952fps with NSA 38.5 slugs: 77.50FPE
Decibels (dB):
At shooter: 106.5
At muzzle: 116.7
38.5gr. NSA five shot group @ 30 yards. Getting close:
You really need to lighten up the trigger. That in itself would do a lot.
Looks like we have a winner. Five shots @ 30 yards:
Larger group are H&N 36gr. HP slugs:
https://www.pyramydair.com/product/h-n-slug-hp-25-cal-36-grains-hollowpoint-120ct?p=1618
Fill the gun to 245 BAR. 10 shots later, manometer is at 180 BAR.
I found that both forearm and rear of gun in bags produces the tightest groups due to the "challenging" trigger. I've never secured the rear of the gun until this one.
I've got two AEA guns and like them both but you guys are right the triggers are stiff but very predictable IMO. Here's from my .357 Standard Challenger.
The Challenger Triggers are ez to fix.
☝️take pictures of assemblies if you’re unfamiliar with this gun.
Remove rifle stock, Remove the Rear trigger assembly, Remove pins from Rear trigger assembly, Polish all the touching/rubbing trigger surfaces to a absolute Mirror finish.
Now the important part!
After you polish. Reassemble and Test it to see what and if it’s any better. It should be still 5+ lbs but at least should be much smoother.
*Important* Some of The Sear Step Needs to be removed to get a great 1~2 lbs trigger! The original sear step on my two Challenger’s was about 1.5 to 2mm. This makes for a long sear slide before release. I removed a little of the material at a time and tested before removing more. I did this 3 times before I was satisfied with the results. Yep.. 1 lb and Super Crisp!
Here’s a video that I repaired the machining barrel slop and it also shows the terrific 1lb trigger!
✌️Prospector Tripp
The Challenger Triggers are ez to fix.
☝️take pictures of assemblies if you’re unfamiliar with this gun.
Remove rifle stock, Remove the Rear trigger assembly, Remove pins from Rear trigger assembly, Polish all the touching/rubbing trigger surfaces to a absolute Mirror finish.
Now the important part!
After you polish. Reassemble and Test it to see what and if it’s any better. It should be still 5+ lbs but at least should be much smoother.
*Important* Some of The Sear Step Needs to be removed to get a great 1~2 lbs trigger! The original sear step on my two Challenger’s was about 1.5 to 2mm. This makes for a long sear slide before release. I removed a little of the material at a time and tested before removing more. I did this 3 times before I was satisfied with the results. Yep.. 1 lb and Super Crisp!Here’s a video that I repaired the machining barrel slop and it also shows the terrific 1lb trigger!
✌️Prospector Tripp
Any chance of getting a photo of what and where you removed material on the sear? I'd love to get lighter triggers on mine.
@pluric Hello Pluric, I will do a video on this trigger.. for You! 😁 It should help you and of course everyone to improve their AEA Challenger triggers.
BTW.. my Regulated AEA Challenger 22 cal is getting Amazing! Single hole accuracy at 28yds shooting AA 18 grain Diablo’s at 1011fps 😳 Chronograph data below:
Notes: 28 yds AA 18g diabolo very accurate at 1011fps
Shot count: 10
Low: 1007
Hi: 1016
Avg: 1011
Spread: 9
STD Dev: 2.8
1014
1011
1011
1009
1009
1011
1007
1016
1014
1009
Absolutely Amazing!
Should take a few days but I’m on it! Thanks for the request!
✌️PT
That would be so appreciated! I've watched Bing's videos and they just don't get into actual modifications to improve the pull. I bought a 9mm Terminator on a whim.
Never shoot it over both the physical size but more the heavy trigger pull. Three pull average.
My Carbine is better, but I would really like to get it in the 2lb area.
Thank you so much for helping us all out.
Rick
@pluric I also have a HP carbine Semiauto in 22 cal. It took a bit of work to get it shooting completely reliably. The trigger on my Semiauto is definitely more tricky to improve. After polishing its better with a smoother operation. However, I am worried about turning it into a Fully Automatic if too much material is removed. So for this reason and the fact it is so so accurate being Semiauto I’m not going to do much more with the trigger on my HP carbine. It’s a happy fun plinker that swats pretty hard.
The Challenger is mucho easier and safer to get er dun nicely!
✌️PT
AEA owners and myself can't thank you enough for for your time and help on this!!! I'm going to tear into it this week. I love the narration. 😎 "Okay, this little dude goes right here" None of the dry monotone narration you often get in how to videos.
My only correction I would like to make to the video was "A young man requested...." Hell, I'm far from young. 🤣 I think I have you by a few years.
Again, thank you from the bottom of this "Young Mans" heart. 😉 😀
Rick
@pluric thanks much for your nice youthful comments sir. 😂
I am very impressed with the accuracy of both my 22 and 357 Challenger’s. On the 22 cal I had to fix the barrel slop o-ring blowout issue (o-ring popped out between the barrel and the receiver while shooting) and then fixing the gritty 6 lbs trigger the 22 was much much better. Then after polishing the rifling in the barrel.. this 22 is as accurate as any air gun I’ve shot or seen. I know there’s better.. but at $400 bucks with up to 80 ft lbs of energy in 22 cal and now shoots single hole.. it’s a real winner!
Please be safe and careful.. and please be extra careful of how much of the sear step you remove.
One by one, step by step, a little here a little there. Then Boom.. it’s great!
Thanks again
✌️PT
Tore into the 9mm Terminator. Different trigger set up but principles are the same. Used a polishing stone to smooth out the contact areas. I didn't feel the polishing alone would be enough, so I replaced the two springs. Just did the pinch test and felt the replacements were lighter pressure. Seems to operate fine.
Went from this,
To this,
Still very heavy but much nicer to shoot. I'm going to go sniff around and see if I can find more spring options before I do the other semi- auto. Thanks again for the motivation.
@pluric That’s definitely better!
Go slow on the Semiauto.. unless you want Full Auto 😂
During my HP carbine Semiauto trigger work. I too replaced the trigger springs. After this I tested by dry firing and sometimes it would fire two or three times in Full Auto 😳
So far it has not doubled or triple fired during normal shooting. But it definitely could it seems!
Go slow and test.
I’m glad your making some trigger progress.
Happy Thanksgiving!
✌️PT
I didn't remove any material to speak of. Just smoothed it all up with a sharpening stone. I did the same test you did. Dry fired it and tried to jar the gun to see if it would fire on its own. I may even try another set of springs. Hard to know the line on spring replacement.
@pluric Me neither, I just polished and replaced the springs. It now breaks clean and has a much better feel for sure. I probably will not do to much to further improve this Semi auto trigger. It has been running very well since the last work I did and has not jammed or misfeed even once since. Yahoo!
It’s so so accurate (1” at 28 yds) but that’s somewhat expected being a semiautomatic.
I did convert it to bolt action for a few weeks to test and work to improve the accuracy. It was a smidge better but not much. It’s a 22 cal and the barrel I feel is likely the accuracy issue on mine. The rifling is very rough. I removed and cleaned the barrel super well and also used Mother’s Metal Polish with a soft cleaning mop and polished a bit. It’s slightly better visually and accuracy wise, but I need to revisit this barrel and polish it again, also need to crown it and test again.
One by one ☝️
I do have another Semiauto.. A 30 cal Evanix Raptor. I’ve done very little work on it. Just cleaned, lubed and added a Huma regulator. I’ve ran a few thousand rounds through it with Zero Jams or Issues whatsoever. It is accurate.. not perfectly accurate, but it’s close. It was a more expensive air gun, about $1200 but has not disappointed.
Let me know about your Terminator’s function and any feeding issues or failures.. also the accuracy if you would. I thinking the larger calibers very well could be more accurate and probably feed more reliably due to the larger size caliber.
✌️PT
Here is a link to my initial testing of the Terminator. It will have an accuracy test as well.
AEA “Terminator” .35 semi auto first impressions. | Airgun Talk | Airgun Warriors Forum
I resprung and polished the trigger on the .30 AEA HP Carbine semi-auto. Not a massive improvement but shooting it felt much better. I forgot what a power house that gun is with 50gr pellets. 😆
Started here.
Ended here.
I originally wanted to get it in the twos. I was just a bit nervous what it could do to the action of the semi-auto. I put a couple magazines through it and it functioned great. So I'm going to leave it.
@pluric that’s terrific dude!
Being a Monster 30 cal that’s probably going to be good. On my 357 I left it at a bit over 2 lbs.
I’ll test my HP carbine trigger for comparison.. it’s the most similar air gun to your Terminator.
Just curious what mine is, as I’ve forgot 🤪
Good work sir
My AEA HP carbine 22 cal trigger tests now at 4.5 lbs. After polishing it breaks clean and is smooth but definitely is still heavy. I’ll try some lighter trigger springs and see if I can get it down to 2 lbs without additional work.
✌️PT
