AEA Challenger .25

[Nathan36]

I've been looking for a bullpup in .25 to replace my Hatsan Flash .25. I wasn't happy with the shot count of the Flash and inaccuracy with any slugs I tried, so decided to try something different than a Flashpup. I kept waffling between the Walther Reign and AEA Challenger. Finally decided on the Challenger due to the initial reviews I was seeing. Received mine a few days ago from Zach at AEA US. I mounted a Discovery HD 3-12x44 on it that I got from Wes awhile back.
Got out today to shoot it for the first time and try some different pellets and slugs through it. I zeroed it using JSB Kings at 30 yards. The King's we're doing a roughly 1/2" ten shot group at 30 yards. I could tell by the sound that they were moving much faster than pellets should be. All groups were ten shots at 30 yards. I tried H&N Grizzly next since they were the heaviest slugs I had on hand. The group was a little over an inch. I then tried JSB King Heavy MKII's. Again the group was roughly an inch. NSA 29 grain cup base was next. Grouping was slightly better at roughly 3/4", but nothing to write home about. NSA 29.5 grain flat base was better yet at 1/2". H&N Baracuda Hunter Extremes and JSB Hades both did roughly 1/2" groups also.
I then broke out the chronograph to see how consistent the NSA 29.5 flat base could be for a string. I was able to get consistent twenty shot strings between 1020 and 980 fps. I was only filling to 3200 since that was what I had in the bottle and my Coltri needs some parts. I plan to order some heavier NSA slugs and try for better FPE and accuracy in the 950 fps range. I'm happy with twenty shot strings between fills for now. That's two magazines. So far I'm happy with the AEA Challenger. The trigger is heavy and needs some work. Other than that my only other complaint is the thickness of the forearm on the stock. It is rounded and fairly thick. That will be an easy future fix.

Nathan

[Cableaddict]

I then broke out the chronograph to see how consistent the NSA 29.5 flat base could be for a string. I was able to get consistent twenty shot strings between 1020 and 980 fps.

You're getting 980-1020 fps with 29.5 gr slugs, with a dead-stock gun?
Geez, that's really impressive.
AEA must be doing all the porting and valve tricks that most folks have to do at home.  Makes you wonder why no other manufacturers are doing so.

I wish it had its cocking lever near the trigger.  That would make it the perfect budget rifle.  - But I just don't get along with rear-mounted levers.

Their "HP" version has a front lever, and seems like a great gun, but sadly it's semi-automatic.  We can't hunt with those here in NY State.   
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As for the accuracy with Grizzlys,  I think that's to be expected.  Having a cross cut into the nose lowers the BC quite a bit.  The way I see it, you sacrifice long-range accuracy for short-range killing power.

[EdinGa]

My Flashpup didn't like the NSA 29.5s but loves the .250 33.5s.

[Back_Roads]

 I was in-between the Walther Reign, just because it iss the coolest BP in my price range, and the AEA standard short barrel .30. well I got such a deal on the AEA that any thought of the other went away and I clicked buy on the AEA, not a bullpup, but a respectable carbine, that I can cast whatever for. So far happy big bore plinker here.
 Main thing , Clean the barrel, allow for seasoning shots between testing ammo, mine is liking the pellets I cast for it so another Lucky Strike for me too 

[Nathan36]

Yes, I haven't done anything to this rifle except mount the scope. Everything I've been seeing on these has had impressive power levels for stock rifles. As soon as I fired the first JSB Heavy and heard the crack I knew it was launching them at close to the sound barrier. I might eventually tune it down a little to give it a larger shot count on a fill. If I can keep it around 65 FPE I'll be very happy. If I can add a regulator and keep it around 65 FPE I'd be even happier. My Flash was only getting 12 shots at around 45 FPE on a fill.
I ordered some 33.5 and 38.5 grain flat base slugs from NSA today to try. I also ordered some 32, 34, and 36 grain AVS slugs. This thing is going to be an iguana slayer.

[Wayne52]

Nathan that gun would be an excellent iguana slayer for sure.  I've got the 357 AEA Standard Challenger and that gun would easily blow their heads off with the hollow point slugs I've been shooting from it.  I have been eyeballing the smaller caliber ones myself however the one that I want is sold out, hopefully they'll be restocking them soon but heck that might be 6 months down the road for all I know.

[Cableaddict]

I did some messaging with the guys from AEA today.

It turns out that, due to this specific design, the semi-auto rifles can be easily made bolt-action only.  You pretty much just have to remove the big spring inside the shroud.  So they can be legal to hunt with in States like NY.   

These guns are also extremely customizable. You can swap barrels and air bottles in minutes.

I'm strongly considering the HP bullpup now, and then maybe adding an external CF bottle and regulator (via a custom drop block) when I have the funds to do so.  This gun has crazy power out-of-the-box,  and a 24" barrel in only a 33" package.  That's incredible.  There are a few small thins I still need to find out, but it's looking really good to me right now.

I like some of their carbines as well, especially the HP Standard. 18" barrel with a foldable stock, makes it a tempting alternative to a bullpup, for easy-transport / stealth situations.

These guys are definitely on to something here.

[Nathan36]

I got my sample packs of NSA 33.5 and 38.5 slugs yesterday. The 33.5 were about the same accuracy wise as the 29.5. The 38.5 were a little better. I shot my $30 Chinese chronograph the other day and killed it, so couldn't check velocity with any of them.

Nathan

[Wayne52]

I was out looking over some state land I might hunt deer on this year. I'll definitely be going for a doe permit this year.
 

[Nathan36]

So yesterday I received the sample pack of 32, 34, and 36 grain slugs from AVS. The 36 were very consistent and had the best group yet. I need to get some 38s to try from AVS. I also cleaned the barrel very thoroughly.

Nathan