by B.B. Pelletier
Hatsan’s Torpedo 155 underlever is a large and powerful spring-air rifle. This is the actual test rifle. Isn’t it beautiful?
Today, we’ll begin a look at an underlever air rifle from Hatsan — the Hatsan Torpedo 155. This rifle has a beautiful checkered right-hand walnut stock. Those Turks can really work wood!
There are two small sling swivels attached to the stock. One is in the center of the butt at the bottom, and the other is on the left forearm. Inside the loops, they measure .75″ (21 mm), which is the European size for a leather carry strap. American shooters need to be aware of the smaller size so they can buy the appropriate slings. And, given the weight of the rifle, you’ll want one. The average size of an American sling is one inch.
The sling swivels are the smaller European size. The rear swivel is under the butt.
I cannot find a serial number on the rifle I’m testing. I’ll look into this for you; because if there’s no serial number, there can be no extended warranty! The end flaps of the box carry no number, nor is there any documentation inside that has it.
The rifle is .22 caliber. The manufacturer rates the gun at 1,000 f.p.s. in this caliber, so I’ll test it with a wide range of pellet weights to check the power potential.
This rifle is BIG. And I don’t mean Diana RWS 350 Magnum big or Beeman R1 big. I mean really BIG! According to Hatsan’s own numbers, the gun weighs 11 lbs.; and on my balance-beam scale, the test rifle weighs 10 lbs., 12 oz. The variability of wood weight is what makes the weights approximate on rifles that have wood stocks.
An overall length of 47.6 inches puts the Torpedo 155 in the upper 98 percent of guns for length, but the thing you really notice when you hold it to your shoulder is the forward weight bias. Everyone will notice this from the first moment they pick up the rifle, so be prepared for it. A heavy scope may alter the balance a bit, but it will also add weight of its own.
The length of pull without the three extenders is 14.75 inches, which is the maximum I can use, so I won’t be adding anything. Like other higher-end Hatsans, the Torpedo 155 comes with the shock absorber system (SAS), the adjustable Quattro trigger and the Triopad rubber recoil pad that comes with the three spacers I mentioned.
All metal is finished with a deep black oxide, and the surfaces that are polished have a matte sheen. A brass button under the forearm and forward of the triggerguard is for unlocking the underlever after cocking. So the anti-beartrap is built into the cocking mechanism, even though the method of loading negates its need. I will get to that in a moment.
The underlever latch has two spring-loaded buttons on either side of the rifle that are pushed forward to release the lever. It takes a lot of effort to drop the lever, but it can be closed without using the latch. That makes noise, though, so use the latch if you want to be quiet.
There’s a brass button on either side of the underlever housing. Push it forward to release the lever. The lever can be closed by snapping it shut.
The underlever has an anti-beartrap mechanism built in. Once the lever is cocked, a brass button under the forearm must be pushed to release the lever so it can be returned home.
Once the lever is cocked, the brass button in front of the triggerguard is pushed to unlock the lever so it can be returned to the stored position.
Sights
The scope base on the rifle accepts both Weaver and 11mm dovetail scope rings, and there’s a scope stops that comes in the box but is not mounted to the rifle. The Torpedo also has finely adjustable open sights that have fiberoptic inserts, front and rear.
Cocking effort
I’m going to estimate the cocking effort is between 60 and 70 lbs. I’ll weigh it for you in the velocity test, but I had to cock and fire the rifle once when I was looking for the serial number and could not avoid mentioning it.
The breech
And now for the big news — the breech that puzzled me so much at the SHOT Show. Well, what it is, is simply the rear of the whole barrel. When you work the brass knobbed “bolt,” you move the entire barrel forward, giving access to the breech for loading. That’s why I said it would be impossible for this rifle to have a beartrap accident, because there’s no sliding breech. Your fingers have nothing to get caught in, because the area behind the breech in the picture is ahead of the air transfer port. Maybe Hatsan put the mechanism in just in case people let go of the cocking lever when loading the pellet, so the sear wouldn’t release the lever and slap it down on their hand. That’s a safety violation of proper airgun handling; but they’re wise to put it in, for not everyone follows safe handling procedures.
To access the breech for loading, the whole barrel is rotated and pushed forward. This can work if the barrel always returns to the same position when locked closed. Because of how this works, you don’t want a scope hanging over this area where your hands have to work the bolt.
On the other hand, the whole barrel moves when the gun’s loaded! So, it’s lying loose in the gun. Only when the bolt is closed does it draw up tight and hopefully index the same every time. That can be bad if it doesn’t index in the same place every time — as in the case of the Anics Skif A3000 air pistol. Or it can be good if the indexing is always the same — such as with the M1911A1 pistol. The only way to know for sure is to test the rifle, and that’s exactly what we’re going to do.
This is certainly a different air rifle. Because I’ll probably never test each and every Hatsan model, I’m counting on this Torpedo 155 to be representative of the entire Torpedo line.
Since this rifle has both open sights and a great scope base, I’ll test the rifle both ways — with open sights and then with a scope. That’ll give me more time to become familiar with its handling, and hopefully that will mean I can see it at its best.
Hatsan has made another interesting rifle for us. The Torpedo 155 is large and powerful, have no doubt. If it’s also accurate, hunters will have another magnum spring gun to add to their wish lists.
B.B., I look forward to reading this blog in detail tomorrow. Right now we are expected some of the bad weather coming from the north so I must be brief. I do hope that you and Edith have come through this well. I think the worst was to the east of you, and it was indeed the worst. I feel for those hardest hit. There were Citizens Response Teams who drove up from the Houston area to help out (under the direction of Fire and Police, for any who may not be familiar with CERT).
Briefly, the surgeon gave me clearance to return to work, with restrictions, yesterday. That was last Thursday. About 6pm Thursday I was hit by a nasty unknown virus. For three days I had nothing but sips of water, then only a can of Ensure Plus and sips of water. Monday I got two boiled eggs, a few saltine crackers and sips of water. I managed a half day at work. I was left weakened and vulnerable but I did need to get up and move (and do something constructive). I work two more half days this week. We’re off Friday so that is a freebie, work wise.
The healing from the surgery appears to be on track, but going to take a while. I hope that you and everyone here is doing well, or at least better, considering that several have had medical issues to deal with. I haven’t been able to do much reading since last week, but I do look forward to this and future blogs.
As always, thanks,
Ken
Hang in there Ken, hope you get better soon.
Tom, Edith I had no idea of the weather in Texas I just watched some vids taken today with tractor AND trailer flying in the sky. Hope you guys are OK.
Makes the cold weather we have here (still under the freezing point at night) much more tolerable.
We don’t have the hot warm weather or the guns you guys have but we don’t have much natiral disasters either. We have snow storms in the winter but almost everyone is prepared for those and some small floodings when everything melts in spring time but that’s about it. No earthquake, no tornadoes, no hurricanes.
J-F
J-F, thanks. I can tell I am doing better if only because I have been on line for about 50 minutes. I tried a couple of times in the past couple of days and lasted less than 10 minutes.
It is hard to say. I agree about your weather and natural disasters. Here south of Dallas we have seen much winter lately (Dallas and Ft. Worth do usually have colder weather and some snow). I wore my light denim jacket as my coat most of the time, and sometimes not even that. I have found that the winters become more difficult for a lot of older people although they handled it well when younger. I also know what you mean about being prepared for blizzards and the like. Down here, there is seldom a survival kit in the truck.
Last year we had the worst drought in many decades. This year, so far, we seem to be recovering somewhat.
Everyone must deal with something, and I am aware that we have yet to endure what many parts of the world have repeatedly. It seems that only a few were injured in the Dallas storms and no one was killed. We can count our blessings.
Ken
I’m not even talking about survival kits… winter tires are mandatory from December 15 to March 1 or 15. We have snow removal equipment everywhere, the kids have (well mine anyways) haven’t missed a day of school in the last 2 years. They close the schools when there’s a lot (more than a feet) in less than 12h and there’s a lot of wind.
J-F
J-F, I understand. Although I am from southeast Texas I have lived in the northeast and north central Tennessee. Not the worst winters where I lived but definitely a need to stay prepared. You remind me, though. My first trip into New York harbor was by tanker ship. Chunks of ice the size of Volkswagen beetles brought shipping to a stand still for three days. The company management could not have been pleased, but at the time that didn’t even occur to me. I just enjoyed living in the harbor and taking in the ambience for three days.
Drats, that “we have NOT seen much winter”. I suspect you caught that, but I didn’t want you to end up laughing too hard 🙂
Ken
Ken,
Ah, yes! Ensure! I remember times when I thought it was a malted milk treat! But after a couple days or weeks of eating nothing, everything tastes great — even those saltines.
Healing takes longer than we think. And time slows down for the person on the mend. But things do and will change — they always do. So keep on hanging in there and enjoy the little amount of work you can do. A time will come when you’ll be back at it and remembering those days of long naps fondly! 🙂
B.B.
Ken, good to hear your recovery is progressing. Godspeed.
BB, Wow! The weather sure took it’s toll on the surrounding areas down there! You and Edith must have a good connection with the Mighty Weather Master! This Hatsan is a beast, proportionately, and I agree with Ridgerunner that it’s going to need every pound. I don’t like super magnum spring guns, but with the apparent quality of the stock and some other things in the pics like the bolt handle, the brass lever unlock button, and the underlever latch at the muzzle, this looks like a good rifle to just have. Hope it shoots. Interesting that it has no serial numbers.
ka
KidAgain,
A tornado come up from the south, headed for our area. Then, it was forced to take a quick detour, go around our city completely and then head on over to continue its path of destruction. It literally curved around our town, touching nothing here. Truly amazing!
Just talked to Rachel at AirForce Airguns (which is located in Arlington), and they saw clouds forming across the street from their building…touching down & then going back up. They never got hit by a tornado and no one at the plant had damage to their home…but their neighborhoods did see some damage.
Edith
Awesome! I saw some footage of tractors and trailers being flung around in Lancaster, which oddly enough is the name of my hometown in CA.
ka
Is there such a thing as too much rifle? Can a rifle be too big? This one is to me. I hope it’s accurate but honestly I wouldn’t want it if someone gave it to me. It does seem to look nice and be well made so maybe to hang on a wall but to shoot… No thanks, I’ll pass.
When an airgun maker is listening and is working with someone who knows what he’s talking about we get the Crosman line of PCP and the Bronco, when they only see the hype and big velocity numbers you get huge springer rifles that are long, heavy and hard to cock.
Why don’t they make a smaller, smoother, slower version of this rifle? THAT I would buy.
J-F
J-F, it looks like Hatsan may offer one that is somewhat lighter in weight and power plant. The MOD 100X Torpedo comes in at almost 2 pounds lighter and is rated at 800 fps in .22 caliber. It looks very much like Torpedo 155.
I know B.B. has other fish to fry, but I would like to be able to compare the two rifles at some point.
Must sign off and consider some bed time. The predicted storms have hit to the north of us so far but we may yet see some in next few hours.
Ken
Hatsan sells a huge amount in Turkey itself, and in Eastern Europe and big powerful magnum guns are what they seem to want! So naturally that’s what Hatsan makes. Even the smaller springers, like the 60s are still sizeable rifles, indeed the 60 is, I believe rated at over 20fpe at full power. They have however responded to new demands, the Quattro trigger was made as sales to the West came back with complaints about the pretty awful triggers. Bar the odd disaster (such as the oversize .177 barrel bore BB commented upon) I rate Hatsan as one of the manufacturers of the future. There are a number of firms making airguns in Turkey now, Hatsan, Kraal (licensed copies of Gamos) and at least one other.
J-F,
They do make a smaller, slower version of this big rifle. In fact they make several of them. Maybe after I get some experience with some other models from this brand I will test one of them.
B.B.
They seem to have two basic power plants for their springers, it would be a good thing in my estimation for internal parts to have such a shared linage. The 1,000fps & 1,250fps in .177 cal, like several have noted the basic 1,000fps in my case the MOD 95 is about my limit for cocking. Hopefully someone younger than me buys a 1250fps that I can try, I’m convinced its going to be outside of my comfort zone.
Tom, does the Hatsan Torpedo really have cocking effort in the 60 pound range?
Great review, as always. Thank you very much
Pete
Pete,
I’ve cocked enough spring guns to know where the effort is, within about five pounds in this range. I will weigh it and report in the next part.
B.B.
Tom at $250.00, the Hatsan Torpedo is an outstanding bargain. Walnut, very clever moving breach/barrel loading system. I just thought the comment of 60~70 pounds cocking effort could be a misprint. No such luck. I can not cock the Patriot, so sadly will have to pass on this delightful airgun.
Thank you,
Pete in California
B.B., I am glad this Hatsan is a .22 caliber. Testing the .177 probably does offer much about a rifle in all of its calibers (as with the 125 TH), but I think springgers that offer so much power are better suited for hunting and for hunting I think the .22 is better. I don’t think mice and other prey so small need so much power, even in .177 (as you have written: accuracy, fpe, then fps).
Ken
Hello B.B. and Fellow Airgunners. O.K., another Hatsan to test. However, this baby is a real beast. With a 4x12x40 Hawke Airmax I would mount, we are looking at 12 lbs. Evan if this rifle does produce good results, it would not be something I would carry in the field. My HW 97 in .22, with the Hawke scope, comes in at 9 lbs. And it is plenty heavy for me. Perhaps as Ken suggested, the 100X Torpedo would be a little more hunter friendly. I guess with a strap attached, the 155 Torpedo would make it tolerable for an hour or so. I would most likely be bag resting it at a range. I really would like to see Hatsan become a contender. Just because this is a beautiful rifle, with, on paper, a decent trigger. Just by looking at the diagrams, the quatro trigger looks to have a fair amount of adjustment. Although it didn’t show on the 125 you tested extensively a week or two back. Then there is the matter of the sliding barrel. Just maybe Hatsan could be one step ahead of the rest of the field? We shall see.
Titus
Hatsan have recently brought out out yet another underlever, the Dminator, which does have a sliding breech loading port.
Uh, no.
twotalon
Actually, the weight may work in the rifle’s favor. It may help tame some of the recoil. How long is the actual barrel? He hasn’t mentioned it yet, but is this trigger as bad as the one on the previous Hatsan? I personally am not in the least interested in magnum springers, but I am curious about the Dominator. Maybe they got it right with it.
Hi, I had the opportunity to inspect the Hatsan Torpedo some years ago. The barrel is almost as long as its outer sleeve.
Thanks, BB, for undertaking this test. I like big, powerful airguns and they certainly have their uses, but I’ll have to take the side of the, “I don’t need another huge airgun” view… It might be nice to try out, but I already have enough big, heavy airguns now. I find myself gravitating toward my smaller, lighter, easier to shoot guns.
Hope everything ifs well at the Gaylord house!
/Dave
/Dave,
Thanks for asking. The tornado went around our twon so we saw where it was, but missed any damage. A nearby city — Arlington — got pasted, though.
B.B.
I will leave these big boys for the younger guys. For fun I shoot a mild springer, if I need more power to send something to the promised land, out comes the PCP.
Certainly this has changed over the years, I was a bigger and faster is better springer guy for many years.
My current favorite companion is an HW50 original version. No safety, wonderful Rekord trigger, chopped and shrouded barrel (for the easiest cocking possible), thin finger groove stock, with JM internals. Wears a Leuplod EFR and handles like a Winchester 92.
Makes more power than an R7\HW30S and every bit as pleasant to shoot with a better balance between the hands. Very sad that these are no longer made.
Hey Tom, in the picture of the open bolt, there appears to be a small slot headed screw. It’s right below the “oily” end of the barrel in the picture. Any idea what it’s purpose is? Looking at the design, it would appear that when the bolt is closed, it would be close to resting against that screw. Could that screw be a way to add or adjust tension on the bolt when it’s in the closed position to help with barrel “lock up”? The screw looks to small to fix the action to the stock.
Nathan,
I think that is what that screw does. It’s certainly in the right place for it. The owner’s manual doesn’t mention it.
B.B.
I can’t wait to see the rest of your testing. I’m really tempted by the new Hatsan guns BTW. Hopefully they’ve made some worthwhile improvements and changes.
BB,
Question of general nature: I’m sure this has been asked before…when you do a review, since this blog is sponsored by PA, is it feasible for PA to put a direct link to that review in their information section or review section of the item you reviewed? That way when I’m shopping for a new air rifle I can go get the trusted, professional review of it rather than rely solely on customer reviews to make my decision? And a side benefit would be directing new blog readers to your blog site.
-Chuck
Chuck,
I link the products on Pyramyd Air’s site to the blog stories. I just haven’t gotten around to linking today’s blog to the Torpedo, but I will.
Edith
Edith, can you mention to the powers that UPS Ground would be most welcome as an option. FedEx and FedEx Ground can not find us out here, change drivers often, and leave stuff half mile away on the rural road. When if they do find us, do not have our gate code even though we have called FedEx four times..and I am clueless what the new PA Beta format is for or does..
Thank you !
Pete
Pete,
UPS just isn’t gonna happen. Personally, I’m glad. But I think a lot depends on your local UPS/FedEx office and the drivers for your location. Both UPS & FedEx are great here in Texas. In Maryland, UPS was terrible. I remember that one of our Airgun Letter readers told us that every rifle box delivered to him at his store in Hawaii had tire tracks on it.
Our UPS office in Maryland refused to ship airguns for us after a while because they said their home office did not ship firearms. We asked their home office, and they said airguns were allowed. The manager/supervisor of the local UPS office was the fly in the ointment. When UPS was on strike on time, FedEx started up it’s delivery service, and we jumped at the chance to use them. We’ve never regretted it. On the whole, our personal experience with FedEx is much better than UPS.
Also, I don’t know what you mean…PA Beta format. Are you talking about the new website? If so, what don’t you like or what do you find confusing?
Edith
Edith,
Being 22 miles from the FedEx Ground and 25 miles from FedEx distribution centers is just too much for our remote 225 addresses in our canyon to send their truck to. FedEx Ground drive their own vehicles. They may be independent contractors. FedEx lose money on each package because they are out here so very seldom. Postal Rural Route carrier, Bob, can not come to our house per Postal Codes because we are over a half mile from our mail box ( it is 3 miles..). But, we are more than happy to drive to town for other errands twice a week to pick up a carton. UPS is here every business day for UPS ground and have the same drivers for decades.
As you mentioned, each area and customer has issues. And some customers, as we all experience, are a real pain.
As to the new PA web site, I just like the original one very much. I guess I do not want to learn a new lay out. By the way, 200K Californians have moved from California since 2010. Of those, 79K moved to Texas. Any questions? I was stationed at Kelly AFB ,San Antonio, in 1952 with the 80th AF Air Police. And we all loved San Antonio.
Best regards,
Pete
Pete,
The new site is still being tweaked. However, it offers so many benefits over the old site that I think you’ll learn to love it. The ability to sort the search results by so many different attributes is a huge benefit. It’s easier than having to plow thru lots of unrelated & unwanted listings.
I won’t lie to you…it was hard for Tom & me to get used to it. But we finally did. Also, just about the only complaints we get about the new site are from people who have shopped the old site. People who are new customers and have no experience shopping on the old site frequently send us compliments on the layout/design of our new site. It’s hard to get used to something so radically different. But it can be done. Humans are highly adaptive 🙂
Edith
If someone is available for the package, no problem…
But a few years ago UPS changed their policies to:
After three delivery attempts the item was immediately returned (no five day — come in and pick up — margin); except on mandatory signature required items. As a side result, this meant that rather than finding a notice on my door for stuff that didn’t require signatures, I’d be lucky to find a package left on the step where anyone could take it (and with no notice, I’d never know it had been delivered) since the driver decided not to bother with the three delivery attempts at all.
UPS has our gate code, so we need not be home to sign for anything. We also have two dogs. UPS should send stuff back if a person can not sign off within three delivery attempts, With the price of everything, especially fuel, I would do the same if I were a carrier.. we sure are adrift vs. the very interesting Hatsan Torpedo discussion. Yes, and I am one of the problems..
Pete
If anybody has delivery issues, i would have the tracking number in hand and call UPS at 1-800-742-5877 and ask for a superintendent. Explain what has occurred, and that it has occurred before. If you have those tracking numbers, it would emphasize you are thorough ( companies like thorough people..). UPS or any company worth their salt, will immediately go to work and work with the local delivery office and have a little chat with your UPS driver. Yes, he will be upset with you. So ? I doubt if the problem ever occurs again with that driver. Here are some facts that I was told several years ago by a UPS person. It is out of date because the dollar value has slid ( Grin..) The average UPS driver makes $70K per year. Then according to how difficult the route, base plus per package/per address.. Plus medical, retirement, and other perks. It is a very desirable job for a person without a college degree. Drivers make more money than many with a BA. You have every right to demand a proper delivery carrier. Simply, just take out your anger at the company. You will sleep like a baby.
Cheers,
Pete
Ah, but UPS /used to/ hold the packages for five days to allow the recipient to come in to the office to pick it up… THAT is what they discontinued a few years ago — leading to such problems as having to contact them (via a flaky web site or phone number) to ASK the package be held (often this request gets acted upon on the second delivery day meaning the item finally gets pulled and held on the third). OR the driver just leaves the package unannounced.
Pete,
If you’ve been with us for very long you should see we go adrift a lot. That’s what makes this blog so appealing to many of us. We never worry about being off topic, we just learn to scroll past. However, I know I learn a lot from reading off topic comments.
-Chuck
Thank you, Chuck, for the feedback. Indeed, at the 60mm Telescope ( Astronomy ) Forum , we drift off subject even into how to bake sugar cookies.
CS ( That is ” Clear Skies” )
Pete
Checked with the local UPS Store, and he said that they charge $5.00 per package to accept a UPS shipment. I did not ask if that would include FedEx or USPS.. Should have asked. Anyway, that $5.00 is what my local UPS Store would charge for an occasional package, but not if you were a company that receives many shipments per month. The $5.00 quote, apparently, is what my local store would charge and that price is not a UPS Store nationwide rate. That would be a terrific savings to a person that can not always be available to sign off on a delivery. Plus, with the cost of fuel today, running over to a local UPS counter to pick up a package, and at time most convenient, sounds perhaps something to check with your local The UPS Store ( if you have one…duh…)
Pete
Besides limiting the “compare products” to only five at a time (I remember last year when the old software let me put up something like 20-25 different pellet tins in one comparison table, from which I then whittled down the ones I decided were not desirable).
Wulfraed,
I forwarded your comment to the IT department. Turns out that they are aware of the limitations of the product comparison feature and are working on a fix.
Edith
Edith,
Yes, now I see that you do link them. That is good! One of my shortcommings: if it’s not in huge red lettering right in front of my face I won’t see it, and if it is I still won’t see it 20% of the time. 🙂
-Chuck
I read it too fast and first got “Hatsan Torpedo 155 underwater air rifle”
Nitpick time. 3/4″ (.75″) isn’t 21mm. It’s 19mm. 21mm is just about 13/16″.
Well, this rifle’s a beast, but it’s my kind of beast (on the surface). I’m partial to under-levers. Let’s just hope it’s accurate, otherwise it will just be another door-stop, or pillar. The air-gun world needs more accurate guns, and not just more beasts. Of course, that’s just my opinion.
Finally got to the range today with the Bronco Target Gun.
I was very pleased with it. To compare it to my other springers, I shot at the same Shoot-N-C targets at the same distance (25 yards). My other springers are scoped, but I was using the target sights on the Bronco.
I take 30 shots at each target. This gives me a possible score of 300. The other guns produced scores of 285 (Crosman XT) and 259 (Beeman RS2, .177). The Bronco shot 264. These scores don’t mean much to anyone but me (my Daisy 856 shot a 281), but they give me a yardstick to measure my own and the guns’ performance. I haven’t tried my Daisy/Winchester 600X recently, but both it and the RS2 could use some additional scope adjustment.
It took me awhile to get the peep sight adjusted. It wanted to shoot low and to the right. I went through three targets and 90 rounds before my POI matched my POA.
So, I put 120 rounds of 7.9 gr. Cabela’s wadcutters through it. I brought a variety of pellets, but didn’t want to change pellets while setting the sights.
Here are my impressions: This is a gun that could truly be shot all day. The cocking effort felt like it was about half that of my RS2 (and probably was).
The stock allows the shooter to quickly gain a repeatable sight picture. It felt good in the hands.
The safety took a little getting used to. It goes on automatically when the gun is cocked, but cannot be reset once the gun is discharged, until the gun is cocked again. This means that the discharged gun cannot be put away or transported with the safety engaged.
You may ask, “why would you need to apply the safety to an uncocked, unloaded gun?” It is just a safety practice I have gotten into the habit of doing. An unloaded, uncocked gun with the safety indicating it is in the “fire” position appears exactly the same as a loaded, cocked gun with the safety disengaged. This is the only design feature I would change.
There is a minor modification I want to make. The targets I shoot are black, with a red bullseye. It was difficult for me to see the black front post against the black target. I am going to paint the rear of the post white so I can see it better.
The trigger took a little getting used to. It is so much lighter than anything else I shoot! I really like the two-stage, two trigger arrangement. I’ll admit I ripped off a couple shots unexpectedly until I got used to it. Once I got past stage one, it almost seemed like I could fire it by thought!
I wanted to shoot this gun at 25 yards to compare it with my other guns I shoot at this distance. But I bought it primarily as a trainer for my grand children who will shoot it at 15 feet to 10 meters. I wanted a gun with sights that are similar to those used in the competitions they shoot in. I realize I will have to reset the sight for shorter ranges, but will mark the settings for the different ranges (I”ll use different color paint markings for the different range settings).
I am glad to report that I found no interference from the screws holding the front sight on, as was discussed yesterday. Looking through the bore (from the breech end) I could see nothing penetrating into the bore. The gun did not appear to be shooting as if anything was interfering with the pellets passing through the barrel. If it had, it would have been simple enough to remove the screws one at a time and shorten them with a Dremel tool.
Les
Taking into consideration the weight of this Hatsan,and the weight of the scope,the artillery hold for this gun will have to have two wheels under the forearm of the rifle instead of a hand. Which brings me to a question is this rifle the heaviest air rifle you have ever reviewed,or are there other bigger ones? P.S. I try to keep in good shape but it seems that any rifle that weighs more than 6 or 8 pounds are difficult to shoot offhand and even on a bench rest with artillery hold tend to make ones aim wobble.
Primo,
I have shot air rifles that weigh 14 pounds. They were field target rifles that are usually shot in the sitting position. Ten pounds is considered about rifle for an offhand rifle, unless it is a schuetzen with a hooked buttplate. then they get up to 14 pounds. That is for offhand work. They are hard to carry but hold much steadier because of the weight.
B.B.
You don’t want to examine my gun cabinet…
The RWS m54 is listed at 9.9lbs on PA; add 1.5lbs for scope, rings, and Weaver adapter/stop. — call it 11.5lbs (leather sling adds some).
I think it outweighs my HK-91 (at least, with empty magazine — 20rds of 7.62NATO and a scope will bring them close together). May even outweigh my Browning A-Bolt II Varmint (the model with the epoxy laminated /wide/ stock) {Disgusting, I just found the receipt for that — bought July 1995, finally fired at a range last summer… 15 years between purchase and sighting-in}