Benjamin Akela .177 Caliber Bullpup PCP Air Rifle: The Ultimate Blend of Precision, Power, and Stealth

For the discerning airgun enthusiast, the small game hunter, or the target shooter seeking unparalleled performance in a compact package, the Benjamin Akela .177 Caliber Bullpup PCP Air Rifle stands as a testament to advanced engineering and ergonomic design. Crafted with precision by the iconic Benjamin brand, this air rifle redefines what's possible in a pre-charged pneumatic (PCP) platform, offering a solution for those who demand accuracy, power, and quiet operation without compromise. Whether you're looking to humanely control pests, sharpen your shooting skills at the range, or enjoy discreet backyard plinking, the Akela is engineered to exceed expectations.

What makes the Benjamin Akela a standout choice in today's crowded airgun market? It's the meticulous fusion of high-performance features, user-centric adjustability, and a visually stunning aesthetic. From its handsome Turkish walnut stock to its versatile power adjustment capabilities, every aspect of the Akela is designed to enhance your shooting experience and address the common challenges faced by airgunners.

Understanding the Heart of the Akela: Pre-Charged Pneumatic (PCP) Power

At the core of the Benjamin Akela's exceptional performance lies its Pre-Charged Pneumatic (PCP) power plant. Unlike traditional spring-piston or CO2 airguns, PCP rifles operate by storing highly compressed air in an onboard reservoir. This method of propulsion offers numerous advantages that directly translate to superior shooting outcomes:

• Unrivaled Consistency: PCP systems deliver incredibly consistent shot-to-shot velocity, which is paramount for achieving tight groupings and predictable trajectories. This consistency is a primary factor in the Akela's impressive accuracy, making every shot count whether you're aiming for a bullseye or humanely dispatching small pests.
• Recoil-Free Shooting: One of the most significant benefits of PCP technology is the virtual elimination of recoil. This means a more comfortable shooting experience, reduced shooter fatigue, and the ability to maintain a clear sight picture through the shot, contributing directly to improved accuracy, especially at longer distances.
• Quiet Operation: While all airguns produce some noise, PCP rifles are inherently quieter than spring-piston models, and when combined with a threaded barrel for sound suppression (as found on the Akela), they can achieve remarkably low noise levels. This makes the Benjamin Akela ideal for backyard shooting without disturbing neighbors, or for hunting scenarios where stealth is critical.
• High Shot Count: Depending on the fill pressure and power setting, PCP rifles often offer a substantial number of shots per fill, allowing for extended shooting sessions without the need for constant recharging. The Akela’s efficient system ensures you spend more time shooting and less time refilling.

For those new to PCP, the question often arises: "How do I fill a PCP air rifle?" The Akela is designed for easy refilling using a high-pressure hand pump, a scuba tank, or a dedicated PCP compressor. This flexibility ensures that you can keep your Akela charged and ready for action wherever you are.

The Ingenious Bullpup Design: A Compact Powerhouse

The Benjamin Akela immediately stands out with its modern bullpup configuration. But what exactly is a bullpup, and why is it beneficial for an air rifle? In a bullpup design, the action and magazine are located behind the trigger, effectively moving the center of gravity closer to the shooter's body. This innovative layout results in a significantly shorter overall length compared to traditional rifles with the same barrel length.

The advantages of the Akela's bullpup design are numerous:

• Exceptional Maneuverability: Its compact size makes the Akela incredibly agile and easy to handle in confined spaces, dense brush, or when moving through treestands. This is a huge asset for small game hunters navigating challenging terrain or for target shooters in tight firing lanes.
• Optimal Balance: By shifting the weight towards the rear, the Akela achieves a natural, comfortable balance that reduces fatigue during extended shooting sessions and allows for quicker target acquisition.
• Full Barrel Length in a Shorter Package: Despite its compact footprint, the Akela retains a full-length, rifled steel barrel. This is critical because barrel length is a key factor in maximizing pellet velocity and ensuring superior accuracy. With the Akela, you get the performance of a long barrel in a rifle that's much easier to transport and wield.
• Enhanced Ergonomics: The design promotes a more natural shooting posture, reducing strain and improving the overall comfort of the user.

If you're wondering, "What's the best compact air rifle for hunting or target practice?" or "How can I get a powerful air rifle that's easy to carry?", the Benjamin Akela's bullpup design provides a compelling answer, delivering high performance in a highly portable form factor.

Craftsmanship Meets Comfort: The Turkish Walnut Stock

Beyond its technical prowess, the Benjamin Akela is visually striking, largely due to its handsome, crafted Turkish walnut stock. This isn't just about aesthetics; the choice of material and design contributes significantly to the rifle's performance and the shooter's experience.

• Premium Aesthetics: Turkish walnut is renowned for its beautiful grain patterns and rich color, lending the Akela a classic, upscale appearance that sets it apart from synthetic stock alternatives. It's a rifle that looks as good as it performs.
• Durability and Feel: Walnut is a robust and stable wood, providing a solid foundation for the rifle's action. The natural warmth and tactile feel of wood enhance the shooting experience, particularly in varying temperatures.
• Adjustable Cheek Piece: A critical ergonomic feature, the adjustable cheek piece allows shooters to customize the stock to achieve perfect eye alignment with their chosen optics. This adjustability is vital for consistent sight picture, leading directly to improved accuracy and reduced neck strain over long periods. "How do I get a comfortable cheek weld with my scope?" The Akela's adjustable comb solves this precisely, accommodating a wide range of shooters and scope heights.
• Fixed with Adjustable Comb: The stock provides a stable, fixed platform while allowing for fine-tuning of the comb height. This ensures that the shooter can adapt the rifle to their unique physical requirements for optimal comfort and performance.

Pinpoint Accuracy & Whisper-Quiet Performance: Barrel and Sound Suppression

At 1000 feet per second (fps) with a .177 pellet, the Akela is not only powerful but also engineered for exceptional accuracy. This is primarily attributed to its high-quality barrel and thoughtful design:

• Rifled Steel Barrel: The Akela features a precision-rifled steel barrel. Rifling imparts a spin on the pellet as it travels down the bore, stabilizing it in flight. This gyroscopic stability is fundamental to achieving pinpoint accuracy, ensuring your pellets hit where you aim, shot after shot.
• Threaded for Sound Suppression: A significant advantage, the barrel is threaded, making it ready to accept an aftermarket sound suppressor (often referred to as a "silencer" or "moderator"). When combined with a suitable suppressor, the Akela can achieve a remarkably low noise signature, making it one of the quietest options available for backyard plinking, pest control, or discreet hunting. "What's the best air rifle for quiet backyard shooting?" The Akela, with its threaded barrel and PCP system, is a top contender.
• Optimized for .177 Caliber Pellets: The .177 caliber is a popular choice for airgunners due to its flat trajectory, high velocity, and availability of a wide variety of pellet types. It's ideal for precision target shooting and effective for small game and pest control within ethical ranges.

Intuitive Control & Customization: Features for the Shooter

The Benjamin Akela is packed with features designed to provide shooters with maximum control, efficiency, and adaptability:

• Adjustable Trigger Shoe: The ability to adjust the trigger pull is a hallmark of a high-performance rifle. The Akela's adjustable trigger allows shooters to fine-tune the pull weight and travel to their exact preference, eliminating creep and promoting a clean, crisp break. This level of customization is crucial for achieving peak accuracy and provides a significant advantage for precision shooting. "How do I improve my air rifle's accuracy?" Often, a properly adjusted trigger is a key part of the answer, and the Akela provides this capability.
• Smooth Side Cocking Lever: The side cocking lever offers a smooth, intuitive, and reliable mechanism for cycling the action and preparing for the next shot. Its ergonomic placement makes for quick and easy operation without breaking your shooting position.
• 12-Shot Rotary Magazine: Efficiency is key in any shooting discipline. The Akela's 12-shot rotary magazine allows for rapid follow-up shots and reduces the need for frequent reloading, keeping you focused on your target. This high capacity is particularly beneficial for pest control or during competitive shooting scenarios.
• Power Adjuster Knob: Versatility is a defining characteristic of the Akela. The integrated power adjuster knob allows shooters to easily dial in the rifle's power output. This means you can reduce power for quiet backyard plinking or maximize it for hunting small game, optimizing performance for specific tasks. "Can I adjust the power on my air rifle for different uses?" With the Akela, the answer is a resounding yes.
• Picatinny Mounting Rail: The integrated Picatinny rail provides a universal platform for mounting your preferred optics, such as scopes or red dot sights. This robust rail ensures a secure fit for accessories, allowing for extensive customization to suit your specific shooting needs and preferences. While the Akela does not come with open sights, the Picatinny rail ensures you can easily add the best optical solution for your vision and shooting style.

Who Benefits Most from the Benjamin Akela .177 Bullpup?

The Benjamin Akela is a versatile air rifle that caters to a diverse range of users, making it an excellent investment for various applications:

• Small Game Hunters: With its power, accuracy, and quiet operation (especially when suppressed), the Akela is an ethical and effective tool for humanely harvesting small game such as squirrels, rabbits, and pest birds. Its compact bullpup design is perfect for maneuvering in hunting blinds or dense woods.
• Target Shooters & Plinkers: The precision rifled barrel, adjustable trigger, and recoil-free PCP system make the Akela an outstanding choice for competitive target shooting or casual backyard plinking. Its consistent performance ensures a rewarding experience for shooters looking to hone their skills.
• Airgun Enthusiasts Seeking Premium Performance: If you're an experienced airgunner looking to upgrade to a high-performance PCP with premium features, the Akela offers a compelling package of craftsmanship, adjustability, and reliable power.
• Shooters Prioritizing Quiet Operation: For those who need a discreet air rifle for pest control in populated areas or simply prefer a quieter shooting experience, the Akela's threaded barrel and inherent PCP quietness make it an ideal solution.

Why Choose a Benjamin Air Rifle? A Legacy of Excellence

When you choose a Benjamin Akela, you're not just buying an air rifle; you're investing in a legacy of American craftsmanship and innovation. The Benjamin brand, a division of Crosman, has been a cornerstone of the airgun industry for generations, renowned for its commitment to quality, performance, and durability. Their long-standing reputation for producing reliable and accurate airguns gives shooters confidence that their Benjamin Akela will perform consistently for years to come. This heritage of excellence ensures that every Benjamin product, including the Akela, is built with the user in mind, providing tools that are both effective and enjoyable to operate.

Caring for Your Benjamin Akela: Ensuring Longevity

To ensure your Benjamin Akela .177 Caliber Bullpup PCP Air Rifle maintains its peak performance and longevity, a few simple care practices are recommended. Always use high-quality .177 caliber pellets. Regularly clean the barrel to prevent lead fouling, which can impact accuracy. Store the rifle in a dry environment to prevent rust, and ensure the air reservoir is kept at an appropriate pressure, avoiding extreme low or high pressures during extended storage. Consult the user manual for detailed maintenance guidelines specific to the Akela’s PCP system.

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Benjamin Akela .177 Bullpup PCP Air Rifle Specifications

Feature	Detail
Brand	Benjamin
Model	Akela
Caliber	.177 Pellet
Capacity	12 Rounds
Action Type	Lever
Power Type	PCP (Pre-Charged Pneumatic)
Velocity	Up to 1000 fps
Stock Material	Turkish Walnut Hardwood
Stock Features	Fixed w/ Adjustable Comb
Barrel Type	Rifled Steel
Barrel Finish	Black
Receiver Finish	Black
Sights	Picatinny Rail (for optics)
Trigger	Adjustable
Weight	7.71 lbs
Safety	Lever
SKU	BPA77W
UPC	028478153745