Best of the Best Page 18

Donald's ARIAKON SIM-4 conversion to .22 cal pellet gun
This particular project started life as a ARIAKON SIM-4, military look-a-like paintball marker. A copy of the U.S. military's M4/M16/AR15 type firearm. The paintball marker comes with a .50 caliber barrel. I machined a barrel bushing for the interior of the .50 cal barrel to hold the HW 16 MM O.D., .22 cal. match barrel. The stock aluminum bolt was replaced with a brass bolt. The way the Ariakon is designed the CO2 gas flows through the bolt to the projectile, I kept that design in this project. The brass bolt is thicker and seems to absorb some of the chill from the flowing CO2. The original valve system was discarded and a new valve system was designed to facilitate easier gas flow. CO2 being considered a slow gas, the idea of the new valve system was to allow more room for expansion, using more brass as it is a denser material and seems to absorb the cold from the CO2 better? I have no concrete figures to prove that statement, so the reason for the question mark. A new hammer and cocking system was developed so that the gun could be loaded but not put in battery at the same time, probable safety factor in my mind. The gun is also equipped with a trigger block safety. The receiver are in two parts, they were far from true. So they had to be milled true. The open sights that came with the marker lacked a lot to be desired. They didn't allow for accuracy, a gun that can't hit what you are aiming at is worthless. So I milled a flat top on the upper receiver, machined a riser block and added Picatinney rail for scope mounting. Initial testing shows decent accuracy off hand and getting right at 20 FPE with EUN JIN heavies. As seen in the photos I was using the "Air Source" CO2 bottles. But I found that using the 3.5 ounce buld bottles increased performance and looked nicer also.

Stanley Oneil's 2240 Collection
Friendly Persuasion - Crosman Custom Shop 2300 with Grips by Rick, Trigger By Grant and Brass by Art

Mac-1 - Crosman 2240 with a Mac-1 Bugblaster, Grips by RB, Brass by Art, Muzzle break by Gil

Shiny - His original 2240 - Grips by RB, Muzzle break by Larry R, some Brass by Art, Elbow grease by Stan!

Lucky Punk - Crosman Custom shop 2300 with Grips by Rick, some Brass by Art, Trigger by Grant, Muzzle break by Larry R

Custom Carbine 2250