Taming the AEA HP Max .35 caliber PCP Airgun. Can you bring this beast down to "Backyard Friendly?"

[@JIBREAL1967]

Ive been eyeing this one...only to suddenly find out its coming out in 45/50 👀(and I have tons of 45 ammo and an Emperor). The worlds a brighter place😎.....Great video...keep em comin

[@tylerjoseph770]

Seen the same thing, ive got the 357 max and like it and just recently got the texan 457 ss in 457 its great but only 3 to 4 shots. Thinking the 45hp max id imagine it being closer 8 shots conservative.

[@JIBREAL1967]

@@tylerjoseph770 I have the Texan in .457 cf ..in order to get more "shots" use H&N pioneer .457 round ball. (144 grains)...they work wonders...300+ Fpe. The Max in .45 would make transporting a hell of a Lot easier...back pack gun...as oppossed to 50 inches of .457.

[@MichiganAirgunner]

Iv been playing with the same gun.. I had to add a shim to the pop-it spring to get more consistent shots.. then polished the barrel.. 3 shots one hole at 50 with pellets.. still working on slugs

[@WiscAirGunners]

Awesome. Great info.

[@FarmerFpv]

AEA airguns are wonky. My challenger pro 30 cal hammered itself apart after 4 bags of AVS .3033 slugs. They use lots of hammer and valve slap to move the air rather than efficient porting. They have lots of improvement to do. I think they will eventually get there. They took care of my airgun, which I can't really complain cause they have excellent retailers like Utah airguns, The pellet shop, etc so if something goes wrong you know you won't be left hanging. Which is how it should be. Just have to be patient. Anyway, you got it pretty quiet with what you have on hand. Will definitely drop some hogs with a shot into the breadbasket.

[@WiscAirGunners]

The retailer makes a huge difference.

[@jayrock363]

So tru I've had issues with my AEAs I have a few n the retailers I deal with are on top of the issues can't complain either

[@travelcompass591]

🤠 Thank you for reporting, is very useful info. 👍I am in the process of moving near a wilderness area in Patagonia where I will not have any help. I have been lured by the PCP world (coming from firearms) and by the small footprint, design and power of the AEA HP MAX which I have not found on any other brand... at any price. Coincidentally, I like the .35 cal but I was thinking on getting the .30 cal because air saving and because the great power of that gun could make the .30 cal go fast for penetration; over 900 fps... I assumed. Since I am doing my homework on the subject, yesterday I run into a KZbin channel with two videos in Spanish where some expert Argentinian fellow who has many PCPs explained the work involved in owning FX rifles. Basically he explained all the fixings he had to do with the M3, the Maverick and the Panthera because they have so many different fine adjusting parts that all of them go out of whack or can get damaged at some point for one reason or another, “specially if you do lots of shooting”. The FXs are fine high tech instruments but it goes to say that their weakness is their complexity and also show how much more reliable a firearm is. I mean if you can’t get U$ 2500 PCP rifle to be as reliable as an AR 15 that is a clear message. So, one thing in favor of a more blunt instrument as the AEA platform is that they have less parts. And since they don't have Second Amendment in Patagonia I would not mind having to replace the AEA parts "if I can have access to them". Maybe make a list of the parts that can go wrong and buy the HP MAX only and if they sell it to me with the extra parts. Meanwhile, i am investigating the available small PCPs that claim to be powerful: FX Panthera Hunter Compact, and the Western Sidewinder Compact, both in 30 cal. Which have good reviews but are new, so the database of owner reports is very small, as opposite to the hundreds of reviews on the AEA rifles. i like the AEA designs and ergonomics best “and because of the price” there is room to buy whatever may be needed to engineer them to higher reliability… if that is possible. Any comments you find relevant will be much appreciated.

[@aizaobba]

Thank you for this video - you have answered some questions that i have had for quite a while about suppressors; very informative.

[@WiscAirGunners]

Glad to help out.

[@robertblassmann9161]

I have the 357 AND LOVE IT! and I have the Emperor. It's is very noisy if you don't run a can. With the can your good to go. I can stack 81 grain pellets at 65 yards.

[@WiscAirGunners]

That's on par with my experience.

[@robertblassmann9161]

@@WiscAirGunners I have the challenge Pro. And power up to 3200-3500psi I also have 24" challenger wood stock in .30 love this unit also. For the price, looks, function AEA has really got its Sh-- together. I wanted the .45 also but really have no use. The 357 will suit me just fine for coyote that bother my animals. I'm 100% sure this will drop one at 100+ yards and that's all I need. I'm more then sold on AEA!

[@WiscAirGunners]

@@robertblassmann9161 Love to hear success stories. Keep me posted on the coyote count!

[@braddenty503]

Hey PJ...its Brad from Florida again. Been geeking out with my "bullvenger" so I haven't been messing with u-tube. Kinda shocked as to how loud that gun is. If u listen to the "target cam" there's actually a metallic sound. Reminds me of old movies when someone shoots a "silenced weapon". I don't have the $ to play with a toy like that but I think an afternoon would do. Haha in the summer of course!

[@WiscAirGunners]

Big cal+short barrel=lots of air to push the pellet!

[@OH8STN]

Excellent no nonsense video👍👍👍

[@travelcompass591]

🤠 Hi, thank you for the testing. Its been a year since you did this video and now the Donnyfl Yokosuna is out. If you could test the Ronin+Extender compared with the Yokosuna we will have the last word for 2024 😊

[@WiscAirGunners]

Unfortunately I do not have this particular airgun in my possession any more, so I cannot test that for you. I did use a Yokozuna on a slightly less powerful .357 and it did pretty well. If you want to shush a .357 slug first airgun, the Emperor is still king in my book.

[@travelcompass591]

🤠 Thank you for your response, that is very helpful 👍@@WiscAirGunners

[@slayerarrow]

not impressed with groups , nice video .

[@WiscAirGunners]

Thanks. I show the groups I shoot. It's unregulated, and I don't compensate for that as I hadn't had enough time on the gun to have that data.

[@jamesd.5940]

I’m messing with my .30 and with low power spring and 2800psi down to 1800psi it’s much tamer beast

[@WiscAirGunners]

Great Intel. Thanks!

[@jeffalessi]

Hi, Are you shooting out of a open basement window? Thank you for sharing the video!

[@WiscAirGunners]

I was, yes. And you’re welcome.

[@adventuresinblackduck9539]

Good information.

[@WiscAirGunners]

Thank you.

[@bbeavers99]

Do you happen to know what the barrel thread size is for the moderator? Thanks for the informative video.

[@peteralexben]

if you listen good to you ,its better to get a long barrel ,with a smaller moderator .instead a short barrel with a long big moderator ,more shots per fill with the longer barrel at a lower pressure. same output

[@WiscAirGunners]

That's how the math works out. Or is it physics? Either way...Thanks.

[@alex15318]

Hola accidentalmente se cayó mi rifle AEA Challenger pro .25 y se descompuso la parte que se dobla (folding adapter)me gustaría saber si la puedo comprar con ustedes vivo en LA California avísame gracias

[@deverdoo5228]

Any idea when AEA is going to have a lot of rifles back in stock? I'm sure you dont but just thought I'd ask

[@WiscAirGunners]

I think they are making and shipping as fast as they can. But I don't know anything specific.

[@mikepi660]

Thank you for your time,,, Excellent,,

[@WiscAirGunners]

Thanks for watching!

[@quachha1363]

I bought this one today I try to put air in the gun with the compressor but it’s doesn’t work I see the air gauge doesn’t move did I do something wrong or the gun I just bought 1 day broken!?

[@WiscAirGunners]

You may have to cock the gun to seal the valve so the air can build pressure. Some airguns don't like to be filled, from empty, by a compressor.

[@quachha1363]

@WiscAirGunners just realized my comp was only 200psi. I called a compressor guy in the area, and he said that I need one that can put out 4500psi. So I'm waiting for that to arrive. Thanks for your reply!

[@WiscAirGunners]

@@quachha1363 that would do it.

[@jamesd.5940]

They’re fun but you guys wanting them to shoot heavy slugs, they will, and they’ll tear themselves apart

[@gmanneod8085]

Nice job PJ. Looks awesome.

[@WiscAirGunners]

Thanks!

[@bretlawson924]

Good video. Not surprised at the noise level for what the rifle is. I didn't hear you say a velocity number so I backed into 746 fps based on 100ft-lbs energy, is that about the velocity you are seeing? Obviously this rifle is an 50 yard or less shooter based on that velocity (my opinion) as the energy would drop way off after that. Good looking unit though, would make a nice truck gun or blind shooter.

[@WiscAirGunners]

I went back to check noted. It was just about 800, depending on where you are on the shot string. It's not regulated.

[@ogboppitybop9123]

dont calculate something u have never used 1 shim with a 110 gr i got 192 foot pounds.108 yards with range finder shot on a old brake rotor the slugs evaporate at that distance im havimg trouble trying to shoot 170 yards accurately i think i can with a muzzle break! with no mods stock this is a 130 foot pound airgun but it will hit 240 foot pounds max with a hand load for sure

[@WiscAirGunners]

@@ogboppitybop9123 Thats a big increase!

[@LG-bi8cv]

What do you think about the sound if i put a emperor and a extension? I need to make it backyard friendly... Cool video thanks!

[@WiscAirGunners]

It reduces the sound substantially. The Emperor can take it down a bit more. Backyard friendly is such a subjective term. You have over 150 fpe of lead heading towards the target. Just the backstop noise is significant. If you have a big back yard and/or your neighbors don’t care I think you’d be ok.

[@bayonne]

Have you tested any NSA or other slugs in this .357 gun? I would like to know the sweet spot for the appropriate size grain slug for the balance of power and accuracy. Thanks in Advance.

[@WiscAirGunners]

I did not. Sorry.

[@surreallife777]

Confused. This would also be helpful for your viewers because I’m sure that I’m not the only one trying to figure this out. Maybe you could do KZbin show on program. I don’t know which model airgun I should purchase the AEA Max or the AEA SF series. I am mostly going to use it for marksmanship If you could answer these questions it would help a lot. I’m from Vancouver Canada. - Caliber is probably the most difficult thing to decide. I’m leaning towards 25 caliber maybe 35 caliber. I’ve seen a test where at 20 yards at 70 foot pounds with a 25 caliber had more penetrating power compared to 30 caliber by about 4 inches more penetration. - - On the other hand I saw another test where someone was testing the HP max 35 Cal and and other AEA 40 cal and the 35 cal m penetrated more sheets of metal compared to the 25 caliber. Again this is a close distances like 10 yards. So it’s confusing. - Which model airgun would be capable of killing larger game like hogs or small deer that say 50 yards to 100 yards? I don’t want the animal to be injured and suffer. - What’s the advantage/difference between purchasing the HP Max and SF Series? - In terms of marksmanship and penetrating power at 50 to 100 yard distance which AEA airgun and caliber would you personally purchase, the HP max or the SF series? - Which barrel size do you recommend for my needs? The SF sniper is probably too long for me so either the 10 inch or 13 inch would be better. I might consider the SF sniper series with the longest barrel if you strongly suggested I purchase it. - What happens to the accuracy and penetrating power at 50 yards compared to 100 yards using a 25 caliber compared to a 30 caliber? I know the larger the caliber pellets drop off more in terms of difference. Thank you.

[@WiscAirGunners]

There is a lot to consider with your questions. If, as you say at the outset you are using the airgun for marksmanship, then a .22 or .25 caliber will be good choices. I've yet to encounter a semi-auto airgun that can beat a sidelever or bolt action airgun in a head to head and dollar for dollar match-up. So if I'm looking for an accuracy oriented air rifle for target shooting semi-auto action would not be my first choice, and I'd probably never go over .25 cal if I wasn't hunting or shooting competition at 100 yards. Then you are talking about hunting. That's a different beast all together. Now you need to consider projectile type. I don't know too many people who are hunting deer with pellets. That's usually big bore slugs, and I suspect the tests you are referencing may be slugs. If I was taking a shot on a deer over 50 yards I would want to make sure that the slug was going to pass through both lungs. I'd be picking up a .457 caliber airgun, and I'd shoot something that will exhibit minimal mushrooming on impact. The use cases of medium to large game hunting and backyard shooting necessitate the ownership of multiple different airguns. I don't think there is any way around that. If you are considering an air rifle for hunting, make sure you are knowledgeable about the regulations of the areas where you will be hunting. One other note...In general a longer barrel can produce more velocity with less air used, and at the same power level will be quieter and easier to moderate.

[@surreallife777]

@@WiscAirGunners Thanks. That was very helpful. Good luck.

[@sunkingram5324]

I have this gun, But need a moderator. As of now what is the best one at the smallest length in your opinion?

[@WiscAirGunners]

There’s the Emperor or the Great Kami. I guess the Emperor with an expansion chamber too. The smallest I’d go is the Emperor if keeping it short is the priority. You can add a chamber later if you want.

[@sunkingram5324]

@@WiscAirGunners gotcha thanks, I have the emperor for my texan but man it defeats the purpose of a compact gun. Thank you.

[@catherineharris4746]

If Donny FL actually made their moderators like the actual silencers are made, they'd be real quiet.💡It may have something to do with legalities why they don't😕 when i opened my Ronin up i was very disappointed with how they make them, it's actually a gimmick😢

[@WiscAirGunners]

My experience has been different, but thanks for commenting.

[@alanmalcheski8882]

I saw a video where it drops the decibels from 88 to 78. Yeah that one is definitely a gimmick. It's directing the sound more than dampening it, so the shooter hears less, but there's still a lot of sound going down range.

[@akseminole]

I've read, though I don't know the truth, that airgun moderators are less efficient than firearm moderators due to the difference in pressure and temperature as well as gas volume. Essentially, the airgun is dumping a Lot more gas out of the barrel to produce the energy at the lower pressure than a firearm with similar energy at higher pressures. But also, there was something about how the higher pressure and temperature gasses were easier to disrupt. Again, I don't know if this is true, but dealing with more gas volume does "sound" like a plausible issue vs firearm moderators.

[@amazingairguns6350]

PJ you are shooting 100 yards why are you not resting the gun properly why don’t you have a sandbag at the end of the stock near your shoulder. Are you trying to make that gun look bad or not as good as it does shoot so you don’t harm your FX Airgun’s fake accuracy. For what reason could you have not trust that God properly at 100 yards what could possibly be

[@SilverShadow2LWB]

He is shooting the gun how many of us do pest control. If all you are going to do is punch paper then get all the gadgets you can to make up for ones lack of control to keep a firearm steady.

[@notos3]

Is the .35 cal the 357 or 9mm when I go to order it gives me the choice .30 .35 .45 .50 which is the 357/ 9mm

[@WiscAirGunners]

The .35, 9mm and .357 are all the same airgun, it depends on who has it listed

[@notos3]

Thank you I'm kind of new to the airguns my first was the Hatsan flash .22 cal time for a more powerful upgrade

[@WiscAirGunners]

@@notos3 Good luck!