AEA Element Max .457 trigger improvement

[AaronCap]

I got my “E-max” .457 a few weeks ago from The Pellet Shop. I have been shooting and testing ammo every day since I got it!! The trigger was “gritty” and had a lot of creep. I called around and looked online but didn’t find any thing on how to fix the problem. I decided to dive in and see what was causing the creep and grit I was feeling. The seer on the hammer is 1 mm long and roughly finished. I removed .40 mm fron the length and polished the face to 1200 grit. The metal is EXTREMELY hard. This will take some effort and skill. I have been a professional goldsmith for 25 years, so I felt confident to grind and finish the surfaces. If you attempt this you must degas the gun and be careful removing the safety Mechanism. There is a detention spring and ball bearing that will shoot 20 feet!! You’ve been warned… lol I applied premium ptfe lube and the trigger is crisp as an early spring morning.. I’ll attach some pics. I have made 3 shots touch at 55 yards and had 1 inch groups at 100 yards. I am refilling after every shot. I have tested 15 different projectiles. I have gotten great results from NSA 196 gr hollow point. Griffin 220 and 250 dish base HP have been the most consistent. I love the Griffin ammo. Super clean and consistent. I checked several and they measure.457 inches on the money. Highly pleased with the quality and service I’ve gotten from The Pellet Shop and Griffin Airgun Ammo. I’m using an Element Helix 6-24 optic.

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[Lewis]

Thank you for the excellent writeup and pictorial. Was the trigger notchy or creepy from the factory? Did this change the amount of creep? Did you test the weight of pull before and after? I am just looking to find out what specifically changed.

 

[Moses888]

Wow. good work

 

[AaronCap]

Thank you for the excellent writeup and pictorial. Was the trigger notchy or creepy from the factory? Did this change the amount of creep? Did you test the weight of pull before and after? I am just looking to find out what specifically changed.

The trigger had a lot of creep/travel. It was gritty and would stop and start before the shot would break. Polishing and removing some length from the seer results in less travel and a smoother trigger. The majority of the trigger weight on this gun is a result of the trigger spring, which is pretty heavy. it did not reduce the trigger weight very much if at all. The weight never seemed like the problem. It’s the travel and the grit and unpredictability that comes along with it. That’s all gone now.

 

[bearair]

Great write up and very nice work on the pics and the trigger job itself.

 

[AaronCap]

Great write up and very nice work on the pics and the trigger job itself.

Thanks man.. I’m happy people are seeing it.

 

[AaronCap]

This happened today!!! 3 shots at 100 yards with E-Max .457 Griffin 250gr. Dish Base Hollow Point. 250 Bar fill.

 

[RM.510bigbore]

Wow impressed with the accuracy!!!!!! What's the barrel like? Any leading? I hate heavy creepy triggers.... Glad to.see.that you have the skills for some major triggers improvement s. Good work and better shooting

 

[AaronCap]

Thanks Reed, I think the barrel is the best part of the gun. It has polygonal rifling. Multiple flat surfaces instead of lands and grooves. I shot it into my pool and recovered the slug to inspect. It had uniformed and prominent rifling marks on the projectile. I clean the barrel with Hops and a patch after 50 or so shots. I put a paper towel in the breech to contain the solvent. It gets clean rather quickly.

 

[Deleted member 25487]

groups like that will make that a fine squirrel rifle
I have the .58cal

 

[AaronCap]

All that would be left is the ears and the tail!!!

 

[AaronCap]

Did a little testing at 100 yards today!! Went pretty good…

 

[RM.510bigbore]

Well I'd say that's a excellent barrel for sure. No leading and accuracy!!!! AEA made that barrel right.. My Lother Walther barrel on my Texan leaded horribly until I hand lapped the barrel.. I like the design on the AEA element max.. Good work my friend

 

[AaronCap]

Well I'd say that's an excellent barrel for sure. No leading and accuracy!!!! AEA made that barrel right.. My Lother Walther barrel on my Texan leaded horribly until I hand lapped the barrel.. I like the design on the AEA element max.. Good work my friend

Thank you sir. This gun has a lot of potential and I’m just getting started. It just needed a little fine tuning. Gonna shoot at 150 next. That will be interesting…. I have a few other ideas on how to make it perform better. I’ll keep posting as the mods unfold.

 

[bearair]

That looks pretty nasty at a 100 yards! That water jug exploded lol. Heck you could actually shoot a block of gel with that type of accuracy. Do you fill to max pressure? A good reliable trigger makes all the difference.

 

[AaronCap]

I was amazed to get it that tight at 100. Moving out to 150 next. I’ve been filling to 250 bar. The 250 grain stabilizes the best at that power. I have heard other guys say they are filling to 220 bar with lighter ammo. The trigger makes a huge difference. Now, I’m just playing with the hammer spring to see if I can fill to the max and adjust the shot pressure. We shall see…

 

[bearair]

My 45 hp max and m50 seem to do better with a 36-3800 psi fill as well.

 

[AaronCap]

My 45 hp max and m50 seem to do better with a 36-3800 psi fill as well.

Yessir.. I am going to modify the gun to shoot slower at full charge. It’s either gonna be great or I’ll mess it up completely…

 

[bearair]

Good luck. From your results I wouldn't change a thing. You GOT a winner.

 

[Chief55]

I’ve been filling to 250 bar. The 250 grain stabilizes the best at that power.

I know this is a bit old but it is a very good article and I would like to know what you have had for velocity/FPS with those slugs and that pressure if you have measured it. I just got a AEA Element Max .457 so this is very helpful for me. Great info Thanks.