AEA HP Max .375 experience and opinions

It's good. I like it. You have to buy a better magazine. I found JSB pellets shoot the best and I'll be sticking with those. I feel now it was the best buy for the money I've had in a long time.

AEA HP Max series looks interesting. My only question is " will it fit your specific needs ". The 357 Max will have limited shot count and the ammo is expensive compared to other calibers. It won't be as powerful as the Bulldog, so it seems to fall into a niche, not quite powerful enough for big game but a overpowered for small game. Check Utah Airguns, they may offer a limit warranty. As already stated, the AEA HP Max offer great value, but, only if it fits you specific needs/purpose. I have a 357 Rainstorm II fitted with a Lane regulator, great gun and i wouldn't want to sell it, but, I don't shot it much for the reason listed.

I am also looking at the 30 cal?? but i have seen some very bad reviews in the last couple of weeks air leaking bolts not staying closed ect? i like the size i have a recluse that shoot 1" @ 100 with 8 shots and a uragan 30 thats 1/2 @ 100 but they are just to big a gun for me and i am sure the aea wont even close? fyi paper p

I have a aea challenger 30cal that shoots great, really like the gun ,but both of my magazine face plate covers broke and and can not get replacement ones Its been a year , I wanted to buy one of the semi autos but if those mags have the same problem , the covers just broke in half , dont know if this is a common problem or not , ,I have crossman, fx,hatson,umerex mags and never seen this

I just got one. Have been posting at GTA a bit. Mine had a not-so-slow leak right out of the box. Tech support was truly excellent and I fixed the leak simply by removing and reseating the tank.


This thing is indeed an odd beast with the high power valve and spring and a barrel not long enough to really take advantage of it. But short and powerful is what I am looking for and this hits that spot dead-on. 

I will state the obvious and say that it is very very loud. Makes a stock talon P sound quiet. I am waiting on Bin Tac to tell me if the longer shrouds of the longer guns will thread onto the HP max, and am hoping to get a longer shroud that I can add baffles to. The shroud screws right off without any grub screws or set screws so having a second longer shroud with baffles could be swapped out with the short stock shroud in just a few seconds. one way or another I need to install some sound moderation on this ASAP and am trying to figure out how to approach that with the tools and materials I have.


The gun I have indicates on the side that there are two springs, and you can use a lower power spring with a max fill of 3600 psi instead of 4500 like you need for the heavy spring. No “power wheel” but easily swapped springs or added washers to tighten up springs is the way to tune this it seems.

It's good. I like it. You have to buy a better magazine. I found JSB pellets shoot the best and I'll be sticking with those. I feel now it was the best buy for the money I've had in a long time.

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Can you point me to a good alternative magazine that would work in a 357 HP max?



also, I just received a mold from MP molds for some stubby round nose 96 grain slugs. I have no use for an air gun that I have to constantly buy expensive projectiles for. So for me a new mold will always be part of the cost of a buying a gun in a new caliber.



Note that the magazine that came with my gun can only fit projectiles less than .49” - (they had told me .59” when I asked) which means heavier NSA slugs (that work well with this gun I am told) will have to be loaded one at a time. I’m going to 3-D print a single shot tray so I have that option as well.

Looking forward to hearinf anybody else’s experiences or tips. 

Overall the gun is simple and well constructed and it also feels like with a little bit of polishing and lubrication it could be made into something even nicer.

MrP,

.468" depth max internal on the one's I just created. These are the .357 variant. prototypes just sent to davidsng. He should have them in the mail by this Saturday. I can probably clearance the cover for a bit more room or even the case bottom to get the needed room. My top covers are 2,82--3mm thick. I think my mag shells have about the same depth of thickness so there could be room gained.

In what way is the 3d print a couple posts back an improvement over the stock magazines? Is this to fix other issue with the clear plastic shattering at sub zero?

MrP,

yes I have tested the mags in my freezer at 0 degrees for 16 hours. pulled it out and immediately flexed and twisted it.





no issue with cracking noises of ill effects. lids bent with no ill effect. granted weren't easy to flex as well at almost 3 mm of solid material. I print with PETG. it has a manufacture claim of going down to -40 celsius with no issues as well. I have also lightened the spring torque by one gauge smaller wire than original. The center post in mine is also close to double the original ones as well.

the prototypes should arrive to the guy that got it all started today. So, we should have news on them soon.

For anybody who is using a 357 max there are some parts to replace.


I received the following upgraded parts from Bin Tac today along with a breech o-ring. 




the o ring falls out of my calipers at about 11.9 mm. The thickness of the ring is around 1.95. 


when I tried a 12x2 oring it did not work -too tight - so I am wondering what will happen when i install this one. 


the other parts are a replacement for the faulty gauge adapter thread insert and (to my surprise) I was also sent what appears to be a new poppet and (maybe) sealing surface. Not sure and waiting for an explanation from Bin.