Air Arms Air Arms HFT 500 - upgrades

[cavedweller]

I acquired a AA HFT 500 <12 from a forum member a week back and set about creating my personalized version of this airgun.
I currently own 3 of these AA platforms which are all very similar. I also have owned the AAS510XR but it was a left side, magazine loading only model so i sold it for things that are right hand feeds. Why? because in Field Target those big parallax wheels interfere with left side loading.

First order of business was slipping the gun into an Aeron FT Chassis that came with a AA S500 XS carbine model I bought from another forum mbr... I'm using the OEM laminate HFT stock the HFT 500 normally comes with on my AA S 500 XS long version.
I have another AA S500 XS in carbine length which now lives in a GRS field target stock.

Then i changed the AA quirky fill fitting to a Foster QD .... easy peasy.

Added the Rowan slip on moderator adapter but i should have ordered a black adapter but ohhhh well.

Screwed on a Weihrauch moderator... phffft.

Mounted an Element Titan 3-18x50 FFP MOA IR scope on it with 34mm Sportsmatch inf adjust rings.

Added the Rowan 8 shot rotary "right side loading" mag - simplifies old finger fumbling in .177 during HFT matches.

Hopefully this weekend i'll get things zeroed up and post some current pictures.

Last pic is not the current HFT500 but my AA S500 XS - which is to give you an idea of the finished product.... the HFT 500 is much shorter.

Of interest: found it odd that the HFT 500 is a 2700 psi fill and all the other AA S series are 3000 psi fills? guess it has to do with regulated verse not regulated.

 

[Ranchibi]

That's GORGEOUS! Nice mods and YEMX is tickled with the MAC USFT he purchased from you!

 

[Kgphotos]

Great idea. I think that will be awesome with the shorter HFT 500 in place. I wish that Aeron made a chassis to fit the Crosman Challenger 2021. I think that chassis paired with a HFT Challenger from Airgun Revisions would be a terrific rifle for me.
Kenny

 

[cavedweller]

That's GORGEOUS! Nice mods and YEMX is tickled with the MAC USFT he purchased from you!

Yemx has joined an exclusive club

 

[cavedweller]

Great idea. I think that will be awesome with the shorter HFT 500 in place. I wish that Aeron made a chassis to fit the Crosman Challenger 2021. I think that chassis paired with a HFT Challenger from Airgun Revisions would be a terrific rifle for me.
Kenny

For giggles I’ll pull my Aeron off and try a fitment on my HFT challenger - ya never know; just drill a chassis bolt hole ?

 

[Kgphotos]

For giggles I’ll pull my Aeron off and try a fitment on my HFT challenger - ya never know; just drill a chassis bolt hole ?

It would be great if it was just an easy mod. Please let me know what you find out.
Kenny

 

[Ranchibi]

Yemx has joined an exclusive club

Yes he has thanks to you!

 

[cavedweller]

Yes he has thanks to you!

I finished set up and zero on two of the AA 500’s today the HFT 500 even at <12 ftlbs shooting AA10.3 or FX10.3 @720fps is clearly a more accurate gun than the AA 500XS carbine using the same pellets at 890 FPS.
Some kinda cool voodoo going on in the HFT 500 barrel. Or maybe I actually need to clean the carbines barrel .
I probably won’t get around to setting up the AA 500 XS long Version for a full comparison until next week.

 

[cavedweller]

I finished set up and zero on two of the AA 500’s today the HFT 500 even at <12 ftlbs shooting AA10.3 or FX10.3 @720fps is clearly a more accurate gun than the AA 500XS carbine using the same pellets at 890 FPS.
Some kinda cool voodoo going on in the HFT 500 barrel. Or maybe I actually need to clean the carbines barrel .
I probably won’t get around to setting up the AA 500 XS long Version for a full comparison until next week.View attachment 474651View attachment 474652View attachment 474653

All 3 are rocking and rolling!
One of my favorite adds to these guns is the Rowan Engineering 8 shot rotary loaders - right side loading at that.

 

[cavedweller]

Great idea. I think that will be awesome with the shorter HFT 500 in place. I wish that Aeron made a chassis to fit the Crosman Challenger 2021. I think that chassis paired with a HFT Challenger from Airgun Revisions would be a terrific rifle for me.
Kenny

It wasn’t a fit

 

[Kgphotos]

It wasn’t a fit

Bummer. Thanks for checking it out and letting me know.
Kenny

 

[tstrever]

Those are some impressive guns you have.

 

[cavedweller]

Those are some impressive guns you have.

Thanks

 

[Jaxjax]

I been eyeballing the HFT 500. Things I like are the barrel retention system, single shot. 3 grub same as RAW, No shroud which I like. Are we stuck with 12fpe or can we get to 20 ? Ive had some AA dreams lately as my old .22 AA s400or 410, can't remember in a Cocoran custom T-hole stock would hit a tablespoon swinger at 110 tards seemly every time at from my kitchen table.