The Emperor is the moderator most big bore shooters think of first, and most of the conversation tends to center on AirForce rifles. A large share of the questions we get, though, come from owners of Sam Yang, Evanix, Gamo, AEA and other big bores who want to know exactly which adapter puts an Emperor on their rifle. In this Field Notes post I want to lay out the Emperor v3 itself and then go through the M18x1 adapters that fit it to these rifles, along with when the extender is worth adding.
The DonnyFL Emperor v3, 2 x 10.5 inches with a mono-core design.
Quick Summary
- The moderator: Emperor v3, mono-core, about 16 oz, .22 through .50, 1/2 x 20, M18x1 and M20x1 endcaps.
- More quiet: the optional 6.5 inch Emperor v3 extender.
- Sam Yang: A47 Dragon Claw and A26 Sam Yang / Seneca Recluse.
- Evanix and Gamo: A59 Rex / TC35 / TC45, A68 Rex P, A28 Rainstorm / Winchester 70-35.
- AEA and others: A103 S45 extender, A5 Slayer, A48 Bushbuck custom.
The Emperor v3 at a Glance
The DonnyFL Emperor v3 is designed for the serious high powered airgunner. It uses a mono-core design, is made from 6061 aluminum that is precision CNC machined, and comes pre-wrapped in felt and stainless steel mesh for sound suppression. It weighs around 16 ounces, has machined grooves on the outside for a secure grip, and ships with a protective red tube for transport and storage.
It is compatible with .22, .25, .30, .308, .357, .457 and .50 caliber airguns, with endcaps available in 1/2 x 20 UNF, M18x1 for big bores, and M20x1 for the FX Impact and Wildcat. The moderator does not come with an adapter, so the adapter for your specific rifle is part of the build.
Machined grooves give the Emperor v3 a secure grip for installation and removal.
The 6.5 inch extender
The optional Emperor v3 6.5 inch extender screws on to make the Emperor even quieter. On the most powerful big bores, and on short barrels where more air reaches the muzzle, the extender is the first upgrade I would consider.
Sam Yang and Seneca Big Bores
Dragon Claw .50
Sam Yangs are known to output a tremendous amount of power. The Sam Yang .50 cal Dragon Claw has M18x1 threads that let you screw on the Emperor v3, and if quiet is a priority you will want the extender as well.
Sam Yang and Seneca Recluse
The Sam Yang / Seneca Recluse Big Bore M18x1 Adapter is compatible from .357 to .457 caliber. Sam Yang uses two different barrel threads, M16x1.5 and 5/8 x 18, and the Seneca .357 uses 5/8 x 18. The easiest way to determine which you have is to pick up a bolt of each size at a hardware store and see which one threads on. If your barrel is too close to the fill probe, you will need the extended adapter version.
The A47 gives the Dragon Claw M18x1 threads for the Emperor v3.
Evanix, Gamo and Winchester
Choosing an Evanix Rex P Adapter
The Evanix Rex and Rex P share a lot with the Gamo TC35 and TC45, and there are two adapters depending on your shroud. Take the front cap off your shroud and measure the outer diameter of the threads on the cap. If it is close to 1.4 inches, use the A59 adapter for the Evanix Rex, Rex P and Gamo TC35 and TC45. If it is close to 27mm, choose the A68 Rex P adapter, which is compatible up to .50 caliber and includes a diamond knurled thread protector.
I have a soft spot for the Rex P, because back in November of 2020 I put together a run and gun tree saddle deer setup around a Rex P .50, and a compact big bore like that is exactly where a well fitted moderator makes a difference.
Evanix Rainstorm and Winchester 70-35
The A28 adapter fits the Evanix Rainstorm and Sniper and the Winchester 70-35 in .357 and .45. For the Winchester 70-35, use this adapter if your rifle did not come with a factory suppressor. If it did, we would need to make a custom adapter.
The A68 fits the Rex P when the shroud cap threads measure close to 27mm.
AEA, Slayer and Bushbuck
AEA S45
For AEA big bores, the AEA S45 M18x1 Extender gives you the M18x1 threads for an Emperor. We covered AEA fitment in more depth in our AEA adapter Field Notes.
American Air Arms Slayer
The American Air Arms Slayer M18x1 Adapter screws into the OEM shroud and lets you screw on either the Emperor or the .357 Ronin. It is CNC machined 6061 T6 aluminum with diamond pattern knurling.
Bushbuck .45
The original Bushbuck adapter has been discontinued, but we can offer a custom A48 option if your Bushbuck does not have a threaded barrel. You will need to supply three precise measurements, at the muzzle, 15mm from the muzzle and 30mm from the muzzle, taken carefully with quality instruments. Custom adapters are 6061 aluminum with four steel set screws, are not anodized, and are not refundable or exchangeable. For the Bushbuck I recommend the .45/.50 Emperor v3 with the 6.5 inch extender.
Two Important Notes
Two cautions come straight from our product page. The Tex Rex delivers air at a higher pressure than the Emperor v3 internals were designed for, so we do not recommend the standard Emperor v3 on a Tex Rex. Megaladon owners with the 15 inch barrel should not use the Emperor without the 6 inch extender. If you want to see the Emperor working in the field, our Emperor deer season field testing post is a good place to start.
Emperor v3 Big Bore Checklist
Identify your rifle and measure threads or shroud cap where asked.
Choose the matching M18x1 adapter.
Select the Emperor v3 caliber for your projectile.
Add the 6.5 inch extender on powerful rifles or short barrels.
Re-zero with your hunting slug.
Frequently Asked Questions
What calibers does the DonnyFL Emperor v3 support?
The Emperor v3 is compatible with .22, .25, .30, .308, .357, .457 and .50 caliber airguns.
Which adapter fits the Sam Yang Dragon Claw?
The A47 adapter gives the .50 caliber Dragon Claw M18x1 threads for the Emperor v3.
Which DonnyFL adapter fits an Evanix Rex P?
Remove the front cap of the shroud and measure the outer diameter of its threads. Close to 1.4 inches means the A59, and close to 27mm means the A68.
Does the Emperor v3 come with an adapter?
No, the moderator does not include an adapter, so choose the adapter for your specific rifle from our adapter section.
Can I use the Emperor v3 on a Tex Rex?
We do not recommend the standard Emperor v3 on a Tex Rex because it delivers air at a higher pressure than the Emperor v3 internals were designed for.
Final Thoughts
The Emperor v3 fits far more big bores than most people realize, and the right M18x1 adapter is what makes that possible. Measure carefully where we ask you to, match the caliber to your projectile, and add the extender on the most powerful rifles for a quieter big bore.
