Benjamin Akela For Hunter

[DRAGON64]

I believe that 'bullpups' have been discussed ad nauseum, yet I feel compelled...  I picked up an Akela in .177 not quite a year ago, and I am looking at tuning the rifle to shoot the Crosman 10.3gr pellet to Hunter legal FPE range and velocities.  I also picked up an SWFA fixed 16X42 scope for the effort.  I have an 8-32X60 on it now, but the rifle balances like &^^& with such a heavy and forward facing mount.  I am kicking around the idea of a HUMA regulator, and maybe a hammer spring mod; although I am not a fan of cutting springs.

Has anyone else whot an Akela for Hunter, or maybe successfully run a bullpup?

[22Jim]

What others have done should not sway your decision, as they won't be shooting your rifle. There is a reason that bullpups are not seen in large numbers in the hunter class  and not being a bullpup person I can't answer why. That said, if you can consistently put 9 of 10 shots inside a 1.5 circle at 55 yds from your FT position you can compete with just about anyone in Hunter Class. The catch here is "from your FT position". I know many bullpups are extremely accurate from benched or fully supported positions but they seem to lose this precision with a less stable platform. We have a shooter in central CA (Martin) who used a Daystate Pulsar for about a year in our matches. He consistently finished in the top 3 at most of our matches shooting against some of the best Hunter Class shooters in the country. He is now shooting a Air Arms Ultimate Sporter getting the same results. I can only assume that he found the AA easier to shoot in the varying conditions encountered in FT.

I know many of the Akela's are very accurate rifles. Get it set up to your liking and campaign it for a season. The worst that will happen is you will have a lot of fun, get tired of answering questions about the rifle and ultimately we will have someone with enough experience to answer the question of "why don't more people shoot bullpups in FT 

Good Luck
Jim in Amherst

After posting this response I went out and was looking at our updated website and I found a great explanation that will shed some light on the question!
  https://sites.google.com/site/sacvalleyairgunclub/general-topics/half-guns-and-artilleries  Look at the accuracy section

[DRAGON64]

Excellent reply Jim, and extremely appreciated.  I like the Akela, but would prefer a Marauder, which was not available at the time of purchase, and I am hoping it will work well for me.  My issue at the moment is getting the balance right.  I currently have an Optisan Viper 8-32X60 mounted on the rifle, and it is very forward facing, making the rifle quite nose heavy.  I love the scope, but I do not wish to fight it while shooting, something I am sure I could manage, I just do not wish to invest the time.  That is why I am picking up one of the SWFA fixed power scopes. 

The article you liked to was quite informative, with regards to the use of a full size rifle, or a shorter bullpup sized rifle.  There were some differences between the two that I need to take into consideration, such as shot count, and rifle stability.  I hope the SWFA will help with the stability, as it will not be as forward facing, nor as heavy.  As for shot count on the higher power settings, I believe HUMA has a regulator now that will help with count and consistency, all of which will take some to tune in

[DRAGON64]

So I just received the SWFA scope, and it is a MUCH better fit on this 33" Akela than the Optisan was; forward momentum is moved to the rear, and eye relief is actually moved forward... I can actually get a full cheek weld.  I should mention as well, I had already mounted an SWFA S.S.A.L.T scope mount on the Akela and the the combo really helps to align the eye.  I will try to get some pics up of my proposed Hunter set-up soon.

[DRAGON64]

The present configuration is a probably the 'tallest' rifle I have ever fielded, as I usually build with a scope closer to the bore, so this should be interesting...

[DRAGON64]

This venture ended as quickly as it was thought up... After some digging/research, the Akela does not seem to be a platform that I want to futz with.  I am swirtchig lanes to a buy once-cry one offer as I just bought a RAW TM1000 that I will instead. 

New thread will created to document that journey.

[DRAGON64]

Update:  Although I have decided to get a TM1000 for Hunter, I have also decided to work on the Akela as a side project.  I have kind of challenged myself to build the Akela to perform in Hunter FT.  I have completely tore the rifle down (goodness at the dirt and oil througout), to replace the hammer spring and to add a Huma regulator.  I always like tinkering with the Benjamin Marauder, and the Akela platform seems easy enough to do the same.

[JMJ in NC]

Was following this thread. Per the accuracy section cited, the “mass at length” provides stability, but a higher mass alone will also provide stability. Generally, the longer the gun, the higher the mass. So is it the mass or the length that provides the stability on a “long gun”?

The author cites a long gun that is 2x the mass of a bullpup. If the example was 2 guns of equal mass, same barrel length, I would be convinced.

I think if you can hold a heavy bullpup as steady as a long gun, pound for pound the accuracy should be the same.

Time will tell as I intend to try FT with my Akela, time permitting.

JMJinNC

[DRAGON64]

I find that when shooting offhand, the Akela settles really well into my hold...  My first bullpup, so I do not know if others would fit as well, but I know this fits nicely.

I followed your thread on Akela hammer springs, as well as others, and I have purchased a number of different springs in the popular "cut length" that many Akela shooters have settled on; 2.5" long  Mine range from 2.45 to 2.59.  Wire diameters did not very much at all, as most are .050" with one or two in the .049" range.

I am currently deep cleaning the rifle, and am about to tear into the airtube to get the regulator installed.

[JMJ in NC]

Best of luck with your Akela mods. I’m very happy with mine now that the hammer spring issue is resolved.

I just swapped out my 1/2” riser and high rings for an Aim Sports 1-piece cantilever mount. Shed a bit of weight and complexity, and looks proper now. Hopefully it sights in well.

JMJinNC

[Thane]

A big component is what is fun to shoot.
For me my Marauder is more accurate than my Akela, but no where near as fun to carry and shoot.
Akela with Immersive optic is an extremely fun combination, medium tight package with very wide field of view at 14x power.
Not a conventional combination to win nationals, but an incredibly handy combination in the field.

[DRAGON64]

 So I made the mistake of running my new-to-me RAW TM1000 (.177 @ 17ft lb) at the same time I was testing the Akela... The RAW was better in every way imagineable.  However, that Akela did not disappoint.  The rifle has been modified a bit, what with a new reg install etc.  There is still lots of breaking in to be done, but at the moment she is shooting 1" groups at 35-yards.  Not ideal, but it seems that is par for the Akela.  Barrel polishing helps as I have read, maybe try and see if there is a burr.

The RAW is a dreamliner to shoot.  My accuracy is not so good, but with the RAW, I was shooting tight groups at 35-yards, at least .5"  rested.  She loves the Air Arms pellets.

[HunterWhite]

Johnny,
I think that the bulpup will be easier for the standing shots, those often determine the winner.  The longer shots are reasonable,  but the 10-15 yard shots are DIFFICULT with a high mounted scope.
The KZ may be ¼ inch, the holdover will be wrong if you misjudge the range by one yard.

Hunter