AEA HP dovetail dimensions...?

[Tyno]

Hi there,

(I do hope this is the place to post this question, didn't seam to fit in any topic).

I wanted to ask, if anyone here who owns a AEA HP Max .35 could take a measurement of the dovetail-rail length. The seller doesn't provide any dimensions on the website and I was wondering if my dovetail-mounted scope would fit on it. I would guess that any other AEA-HP series would have roughly the same dimensions so any input is appreciated!

The following dimensions would be awesome to have: The length of the 'back' dovetail, the length of the magazine-gap in between and the length of the shorter 'front' dovetail. The height of the Magazin above the rails would also be really interesting.

Thanks a lot!

 

[MrP]

Ok here is what I get. Did not use calipers…

Front rail 5 cm. Rear rail 9.5 cm. Gap: 1.8 cm. Mag projects 1.8 cm above the base of the rail.



Let me know if you want pics or any more info about the design / construction or whatever. I’ve been tinkering with this gun for the last couple of months and I’m enjoying it

 

[Tyno]

Thanks! That helps a lot!

Well looks like i got to buid/buy an adapter for my scope then... but still got 3 months to do that; until the preordered AEA arrives

 

[MrP]

You are welcome. I’d be interested to see what you come up with for your scope mount. 


i am surprised you have to wait three months for a pre-order. I see it is generally in stock when I look at US shops. Is it not possible to order from these shops where you are located?

 

[Tyno]

Well I'm from Germany and we need a specially modded version, which has less power, to not be considered a firearm. It was only released a few weeks ago, shipping at the end of August

 

[MrP]

Got it - that makes sense. What is the power / velocity limit in Germany for a gun like this?

 

[Tyno]

We are limited to 7.5 Joule; well not a lot, considering it's a 200 Joule in the original version.

 

[MrP]

That is a pretty big difference. I guess you’ll be looking for lighter weight projectiles, I wonder if anyone makes non-lead pellets in .357? I imagine you’ll get a lot of shots per fill, and it will be pretty quiet. 


This may be a crazy idea but one person was successfully shooting 3-D printed pellets. Maybe not appropriate for most people’s needs but if you ever felt like getting a little flatter / higher speed trajectory, that’s one way to do it I guess. Might work for casual target practice / plinking tin cans. I have no idea if any kind of plastic slug can be stable in these circumstances!

 

[Tyno]

With the standard lightweight diablo-pellets it should still get 60-70 meters per second. But plastic pellets sound interesting, I'll look into it!

Ah one more thing, if it isn't too much trouble: I noticed from some pictures, that the barrel (shroud?) seams to be higher then the front dovetail... Could you measure how high that step is and maybe post a picture of that section? Thanks in advance

 

[MrP]

I used a caliper for this measurement and got 1.35 mm for the height you’ll have to clear. Call it 1.4 to be safe I guess.



I don’t know what it’s like to cast your own projectiles in Germany but there is a mold maker in the US who can make ~60 and ~70 grain wad cutter molds. accuratemolds.com



Their molds are expensive but apparently very well-made. I’ve never ordered one from them but I’ve sat there on more than one late night with one of these five or one of the slightly heavier 85-95 grain molds in my shopping cart …

 

[Tyno]

That's awesome, thanks a lot for the pictures and measurements! Looks like my 60mm dovetail to picatinny adapters might fit there quite nicely

Regarding plastic pellets... I know someone who owns a injection molding machine, so that is very interesting 

 

[Xaekia]

 

[Xaekia]

You can still use low profile rings. I bought some stupid chinese cantilever mount called funpower choped out the middle crossbar to make it a set of rings. Had to mount it slightly out of my length of pull to fit the mag but still comfortable to shoot. Most of my stuff i end up having the turrets hover the breech/magwell but this guy is just before the well. Mags fit with like a mil or so of clearance.

 

[Xaekia]

That is a pretty big difference. I guess you’ll be looking for lighter weight projectiles, I wonder if anyone makes non-lead pellets in .357? I imagine you’ll get a lot of shots per fill, and it will be pretty quiet.


This may be a crazy idea but one person was successfully shooting 3-D printed pellets. Maybe not appropriate for most people’s needs but if you ever felt like getting a little flatter / higher speed trajectory, that’s one way to do it I guess. Might work for casual target practice / plinking tin cans. I have no idea if any kind of plastic slug can be stable in these circumstances!

Plastic slugs work but id recommend not using em. I used .216 dia plastic slugs on a 22 and almost ruined my crown (not an fx crown, the barrel crown) because of the constant buildup an having to clean it away. Think of how a lead slug/pellet leads the barrel. Now imagine what a much easier to scratch plastic might do to the barrel and crown. Shooting wise sure they shoot good but you gotta clean like every 60ish shots or more.

 

[Xaekia]

Also be careful with rail adapters. The dovetail rail on these is really soft an scratches very easy. Super soft metal. Not gold soft but still soft.