Regulated Akela!

[Rat Sniper (AKA: PaulT58)]

I got the air cylinder and block back from Troy, so was able to install the regulator and got it put back together.  Troy didn't install the regulator because I had purchased the Lane MK9 regulator that was for the Kral Puncher Breaker.   This was based on the video posted in the Akela Tuning thread.  But, apparently the U.S. version of the Akela uses a different valve, and I believe the Akela in the Video was the U.K. version.  So, I ordered the Huma Regulator for it instead and it arrived a couple days ago, so it was ready to install as soon as the rest of the Akela came back!

Install was pretty straight forward, The Huma reg come with a Plenum, and you just remove a screw in plug at the end of the valve and then slide the reg into the tube, removed the o-rings from the block and screw on the air cylinder.  The hardest part was separating the air cylinder from the block, and that's what I sent it to Troy for since I was unable to get them apart.  After putting it together, I filled it to 3000 psi and checked for leaks.  It held air, so I put everything back to gather, mounted the scope and set to testing out!

The AA 10.3 grain pellets averaged 954 FPS with a 4 FPS Spread over 14 shots and grouped decently, but the real surprise were the Crosman 10.5 grain domed pellets that average 934 FPS with a 4 FPS spread over 14 shots, but grouped really well!  Below is the the 14 shot group.

The gauge is reading 1800 psi, which is about right with the regulator set to 125BAR.  After filling to 3000 psi, I was able to shoot 3 full magazines (42 shots) before the gauge started to drop, indicating the cylinder pressure dropped below 1800 psi.  I left the spring I shortened to 3" in the breech and the power adjuster is set to high.  The shot strings are very consistent and accuracy is good, so I'm happy with the results!

Anyone who is thinking of adding a regulator to their Akela or Cayden, get the Huma Regulator, it works!  Anyone with a Kral Puncher Breaker who want to regular it, hit me up, I have a brand new one that I will make a deal on!

[EPG8]

Hi Paul,
Nice Result!

I just put my Akela back together yesterday. I had stripped the stock down to the bare wood and then Tru-Oiled the finish. (This is super easy to do - I’m no wood worker - super easy to get great results). It was just a dark dull stain from the factory, now the wood grain really pops. My Cayden is a nicer piece of wood, I’m just about done refinishing that one ad well - it has some mild tiger stripes- looks awesome.

As you remember, I clipped my .177 Akela hammer spring down to 2.57”. I’m getting a bell curve and 90 to 100 usable shots from a 3000psi fill now. 

Today I filled to 2950psi and took 61 shots. I had deleted my moderator and added a dollar store hair curler, felt and 3 original baffles with spring to the shroud. I turned the hammer spring in slightly less than 1/2 turn from yesterday when she was shooting 860-865 fps.

Result is below. 6 ten shot groups + initial sight in shot. FX 10.3g at a laser measured 40 yards.  I had two flyers, one was me - one was likely a bad pellet.

One ten shot group was .36” c-t-c , another was .42” c-t-c.  All other groups were between .53 and .56.  The other group had 8 shots that were .30” c-t-c !!

Velocity range was 870-899 fps.  She only used 850psi for the 61 shots - I dry fired a couple times so probably 63-65 shots.

This $380 sale rifle is INSANEly accurate. I must have won the barrel lottery. This is off a bag on a picnic table.

So, I’m going to put off ordering a Huma for the Akela… maybe the Cayden… but they both shoot so well unregulated with their shortened factory hammer springs…!

[Rat Sniper (AKA: PaulT58)]

Ed, the stock on your Akela looks awesome!  You have inspired me to get off my duff and do the same! 

I have a Cayden as well, in .22, and it has an amazing shot count and accuracy, unregulated.  It will stay unregulated, but it has such a flat shot string, you'd think it was regulated.  The Akela was just shooting too hot, even after I shortened the spring to 3", so the Regulator was a good option for it.  I do want to lower the regulator pressure a bit though, maybe drop it to around 1500-1600 psi.  That should get me in the 850 FPS range and probably really increase the shot count.  I'm still waiting on my second spring to arrive, I think Crosman forgot all about me!

I got one of the new Turkish Walnut stocks for my Marauder also, so I now have three of those beautiful stocks that can be refinished!  So much to do, so little time!   

[EPG8]

Check out this Cayden stock - tiger stripes and nice grain!

I can tell you what I used to strip these stocks if you are interested. Super easy and stuff you can use indoors- no fumes.

My Akela that I had to send back for a slight crack in stock at top of trigger guard was the nicest- incredible grain and stripes - knowing how great they refinish with just Tru-Oil, I should have kept it and filled in the crack. But then my replacement Akela shoots .36” 10-shot 40 yard groups… so I’m happy with the not as pretty stock…

[Rat Sniper (AKA: PaulT58)]

The Cayden stock looks awesome too!  I like using Tru Oil, what stripper did you use?  I usually use the orange citrus stripper, but it can be difficult to get out of crevices. 

[azgman]

Please tell us the details of your stock refinishing process. It does indeed look awesome!

[EPG8]

Step 1: Apply Citra Strip - don’t need to apply thick. Let sit 12 hours.
Step 2: clean off Citra Strip - mineral spirits on a paper towel works great. Let dry overnight.
Step 3: Use the Teak Brightner - scrub it in with a soft toothbrush. It contains Oxallic acid - which will lighten/brighten the wood and any remaining stain finish.
Step 4: wipe down again with mineral spirits. Let dry overnight.
Step 5: Sand with 220 (120 then 220 if you have some dark or rough areas
Step 6: Sand large areas with 320 - this very fine sand eliminates the need to “fill the grain” wet sanding Tru-Oil bull &^^& that you see in guitar finishing videos 
Step 7: mix a bit of 1/2 Tru-Oil with 1/2 mineral spirits and apply to stock with soft cotton rag (piece of old white tee shirt).
Step 8: let previous coats dry, each coat uses less mineral spirits and more Tru-Oil - eventually around the 5 th cost you are using pure Tru-Oil (no mineral spirits to thin it)

You should apply each coat as thin as possible - rub it in.
If you want a less shiny finish or need to buff out some runs where you applied Tru-Oil too heavy - just buff with 0000 steel wool pad.

Even I could do it - and I never touch wood projects.   

[azgman]

Awesome!

[Rat Sniper (AKA: PaulT58)]

Yep, that's the stripper I used, but didn't think of cleaning it off with mineral spirits!  I just wiped it down with a damp cloth.  I'll have to look into that Teal Cleaner also, never seen that before.  Thanks for sharing!

[ranchibi]

Paul, very nice Huma install and ES! Enjoy shooting that cool bullpup!

[Flatpicker]

I used 0000 steel wool and six thin coats of Tru Oil on mine. All that curl and burl was begging to come out.  Turned out pretty good. 

[EPG8]

I used 0000 steel wool and six thin coats of Tru Oil on mine. All that curl and burl was begging to come out.  Turned out pretty good.

You won the Turkish Walnut lottery with that stock!  Incredibly cool grain pattern.

[FuzzyGrub]

Surprised that they went to the trouble of a different valve in the UK version.   Even from a venting point, it seems like the Huma is much simpler than machining a channel across the threads for the Lane. 

[Rat Sniper (AKA: PaulT58)]

Surprised that they went to the trouble of a different valve in the UK version.   Even from a venting point, it seems like the Huma is much simpler than machining a channel across the threads for the Lane.

Well, I watched the video again and am now wondering if they are different.  Troy said they were and I figured he'd know, but with the way they go together, I'm thinking it might just work.  I need to turn down the Huma reg, so maybe when I open it up to do that, I'll test fit the Lane reg myself and see what happens.

[FuzzyGrub]

Please post some pictures of that side of the block, if/when you do.

[Rat Sniper (AKA: PaulT58)]

Please post some pictures of that side of the block, if/when you do.

Will do, but quite honestly, it looks identical to the one in the teardown video posted in the Akela Tuning thread!



This one!  It even had the plug he removed and discarded, except mine was actually screwed in and didn't just fall out.  It wasn't screwed in much, but was screwed in!...

[FuzzyGrub]

The plug threads should match the Lane reg then. 

[Rat Sniper (AKA: PaulT58)]

The plug threads should match the Lane reg then.

No, the lane reg has an o-ring that its inside the plenum where the plug normally goes.  I guess you could technically screw it in because the o-ring is pliable enough to conform to the threads.  On the video, he just pushed it in till it seated.

The Huma is designed a bit differently.  I came with an additional plenum with a o-ring that sits next the end edge of the valve plenum, so you end up with a much larger plenum using the Huma reg than you'd have with the Lane reg.  Being it's .177, I don't know if the additional plenum really does much.

When I take it apart this weekend to adjust the reg setting, I'll test the lane to see if it fits and take pictures of both so you can see the difference.

[FuzzyGrub]

The plug threads should match the Lane reg then.

No, the lane reg has an o-ring that its inside the plenum where the plug normally goes.  I guess you could technically screw it in because the o-ring is pliable enough to conform to the threads.  On the video, he just pushed it in till it seated.

The Huma is designed a bit differently.  I came with an additional plenum with a o-ring that sits next the end edge of the valve plenum, so you end up with a much larger plenum using the Huma reg than you'd have with the Lane reg.  Being it's .177, I don't know if the additional plenum really does much.

When I take it apart this weekend to adjust the reg setting, I'll test the lane to see if it fits and take pictures of both so you can see the difference.

OK, I think I have a better mental picture, but pictures would verify it.