Most potential buyers want to purchase the most powerful air gun in the world, which does not need to be upgraded and does not require any maintenance. Apart from pre-inflated systems, there is nothing on the market more powerful than the Hatsan 125 air rifle. In this article, the reader will study the leader of the arms market more closely, find out the technical characteristics, see photos and get acquainted with the reviews and recommendations of the owners.
Legality of acquisition in Russia
The Law of the Russian Federation “On Weapons” prohibits the sale and use of pneumatics with a shot power of more than 7.5 J. The factory-made Hatsan rifle has a power of about 30 J. To circumvent the ban on import and sale, Turkish gunsmiths install a deliberately weak spring in the pneumatic , and the working one is included in the kit. In the process of purchasing a rifle in the market, the seller installs the proper kit, and the buyer receives the object of his desires.
There is no need for the owner to worry about violating the Weapons Law. Everything here is even simpler than it seems. To confiscate pneumatic weapons for ballistic examination, a court order is required, which is issued only when an administrative or criminal case is initiated. That is, it all depends on the behavior of the weapon owner.
Assortment on the market
The Hatsan 125 Sniper air rifles are available on the market in several variations. Firstly, the division is based on caliber - 4.5, 5.5 and 6.35 millimeters. Pneumatics also differ in modifications, which were produced at different periods of time with minor modifications. On the market you can find rifles with both a spring-piston mechanism and a gas spring. More and more often we come across weapons with a pre-installed moderator, the purpose of which is to reduce the volume of the shot.
Practically, regardless of the modification, the manufacturer declared the same tactical and technical characteristics for all Khatsan Sniper rifles, which, upon closer examination, do not differ much from each other, judging by the photo. Such a marketing ploy on the part of the manufacturer places the responsibility for the purchase on the future owner of the weapon, otherwise the focus of those who want to take possession of the most powerful pneumatics will be only one model.
Popular models
Turkish manufacturers produce a number of models with different characteristics.
The following Hatsan models are the most popular among buyers:
- Striker Edge 4.5mm;
- 125 E;
- 125 TN;
- Escort Dynamic;
- Escort AS;
- Strike Alpha;
- 90 TR;
- Hatsan 85;
- 70 TR;
- Escort Dynova Synthetic.
The Turkish company provides the manufacture of rifles through the full production cycle, the production process includes woodworking and casting of metal and plastic parts, production of smooth and rifled barrels. The Hatsan company has been operating since 1976 and is the most famous brand of Turkish small arms.
About goodies for owners
The Hatsan Sniper rifle has a 500 mm rifled barrel made of steel. The total length of the weapon, regardless of modification, is 1240 mm. The energy source is a spring-piston system (in rare cases, a gas spring), and charging is carried out by breaking the barrel. The weight of the rifle in the factory version ranges from 4 to 4.5 kilograms, depending on the modification. In the technical documentation, the manufacturer stated the initial bullet speed is 380 meters per second, and the effective firing range is 50 meters. Distinctive features of the Hatsan Sniper rifle are:
- stacked stock with rubber inserts;
- rubber recoil pad and adjustable cheek piece;
- sighting front sight and bar with fiber-optic threads;
- SASTM recoil absorption system.
First acquaintance with the rifle
The box in which the rifle is supplied is of very high quality, and if the buyer has even the slightest doubt about his purchase, then it is the packaging that can eliminate this negative. Inside it are: a Hatsan Sniper air rifle, an instruction manual, a certificate, a reinforced spring, a belt, butt extensions and legs for shooting in a prone position. The instructions have a complete description of how to disassemble and reassemble the rifle with high-quality photos, however, it is not recommended to completely disassemble the weapon unless necessary.
The manufacturer advises that you trust the replacement of the spring in a weapon to specialist gunsmiths, and not try to solve the problem yourself. When purchasing, many sellers offer such a service to the buyer; you should not refuse. After replacement, it is recommended to fire a couple of shots in the presence of a gunsmith to ensure that the spring is working correctly. Very often, sellers provide the buyer with information on the speed of a bullet, measuring the indicator using a special device.
Pros and cons of Hatsan rifles
Consumers value a rifle made in Turkey after 2000 for the following advantages:
- high-quality materials, the quality of which is confirmed by certificates;
- reliability, accuracy;
- power;
- attractive design, masking properties;
- with decent quality comparable to European and American weapons, Turkish models are cheaper;
- Innovative solutions are used in production; parts and components are produced locally.
Flaws:
- single-shot;
- insufficiently balanced;
- not a very durable spring.
The disadvantages of an air rifle do not make it uncompetitive, since it performs the functions for which it is intended.
Do you want to do everything yourself?
It is clear that a serious Turkish manufacturer has reliably mothballed its weapons, sending them for export to all countries, because it is unknown how long the Hatsan 125 air rifle will be stored in warehouses and at what temperature. What is clear is that no one spared the oil. Therefore, it does not hurt to get rid of excess lubricant before use, which can not only flow out of the mechanisms, seeping out, but also simply ruin the rigidity of the spring. For maintenance you will need to partially disassemble the rifle:
- Remove the five screws that hold the stock in place.
- Carefully separate the stock from the rifle frame.
- Unscrew the screws of the fuse and the trigger mechanism.
- Unhook the safety spring against accidental shots.
- Pull out the sear axle, the back pin and the spring with the piston.
All removed mechanisms must be wiped with a dry cloth. It is also recommended to clean the oil from the cylinder in which the spring was installed in the rifle. After that, you need to apply your own silicone lubricant, and then you can start assembling the weapon. The Hatsan rifle is assembled according to the reverse of disassembly.
Which one is better to choose?
Rifles are intended for entertainment and hunting. The company's products are known to shooters due to the combination of price and characteristics; gun lovers prefer to choose reliable and practical models of this brand, powerful and easy to maintain.
The Turkish company uses the developments of its own designers in its products. Some parts, such as the trigger mechanism, allow for a smooth trigger pull with little effort. The part allows you to achieve shooting accuracy, reduce the load on the mechanisms of spring-piston type rifles, this extends the service life of the weapon. The design of air rifles provides the ability to adjust the length of the stock to a person’s height.
Each model has a set of characteristics that are different from others. Functions can be useful in one case and useless in another, so you need to choose a pneumatic model based on where it will be used and what it is intended for. For beginners, light models with standard characteristics are suitable, for experienced shooters - powerful ones.
Often, young people and older people buy pneumatics of this type for entertainment purposes. Pneumatics can be seen in shooting ranges, training departments, and private collections. Prices for products vary from affordable to premium segment prices.
“Hatsan” pneumatic weapons are used for target shooting, improving weapons mastery, training in sports shooting, and improving skills. In the homeland of production - Turkey - weapons are supplied to law enforcement agencies. In addition, the company produces it for other well-known brands.
Rifle power: myths and reality
The initial bullet speed that the Hatsan air rifle can produce is 380 meters per second and this is a serious argument for most buyers, but not everything is as rosy as it seems at first glance. The meaning of such a statement from the manufacturer is lost for many experts for one simple reason - the weight of the bullet and its rigidity are not indicated. It turns out that the manufacturer measured the air speed at the outlet of the barrel?
Experimentally, shooters have established the range of optimal weight of bullets with which you can achieve the best results in terms of shot power: 0.50-0.8 grams. Moreover, many note the fact that the power of the shot increases as the softness of the lead increases. And if the question of choosing bullets has become an issue, then it is better to give preference to Beeman Kodiaks, weighing 0.69 grams, or Crosman Premier, weighing 0.51 grams. But it is recommended to avoid Baracuda Magnum bullets, which weigh more than one gram, since they are clearly not intended for rifles such as the Hatsan.
Review of the Hatsan 125 air rifle
These modifications do not differ in technical and speed characteristics. General characteristics and appearance: The total length of the rifle with muzzle is 1240 mm. The weight of the rifle is 3.8 kg. The barrel is rifled, its length is 500 mm, there are 10 grooves inside the barrel. The barrel coupling is steel. There is practically no muzzle chamfer as such, so it is recommended to make a normal chamfer in a workshop to improve shooting accuracy. The buttstock is made of high-strength plastic, with special ribbed cutouts on the sides for a more comfortable grip and no slipping of the hands, and is also equipped with a non-adjustable Monte Carlo cheekpiece. Let us immediately warn you that no matter how high-strength the stock is, it cannot withstand our 20- and 30-degree frosts (!) and bursts at the point where the compression chamber ends. So in winter there is a high risk of breaking the stock when trying to cock a rifle.
The rifle comes with additional attachments for the TRIOPAD stock to adjust its length; it ends with a soft rubber attachment to dampen recoil.
The plastic muzzle on the barrel makes it easier to cock the rifle (which, by the way, is not bad, considering the required force to compress the spring (more than 100 kg)) and does not act as a moderator. The muzzle is secured in tension to a technological notch to prevent it from twisting. The rifle is equipped with open sights with special TRUGLO fiber optics for better visibility of the rear sight and front sight in low light conditions (i.e. at dusk, in bad weather, etc.). The front sight of the rifle is not adjustable, but the rear sight is adjustable horizontally and vertically.
The rifle is also equipped with a combination rail for mounting a sight: dovetail (11mm) and Weaver (22mm). The bar is long, so that almost any fastener can fit on it. A stop latch is installed on the bar so that the sight does not slide during shooting. Let us add on our own behalf, since the rifle is very powerful, the choice of scope and mounting must be approached thoughtfully. Simple low-class sights on rings fly apart within the first dozen or two shots. The safety is automatic, located at the end of the compression chamber, blocks the trigger immediately after cocking the rifle. The rifle is also easy to put on and remove from the safety manually - with a slight movement of the thumb. The trigger mechanism of the rifle is made using a special Quattro Trigger technology, which allows you to fine-tune the trigger stroke to suit the shooter. The trigger is an open type and can be easily disassembled, although this is rather a minus, because When removing the stock, it is enough to accidentally touch any spring in it for it to fall apart into its component parts. It will not be easy for a beginner to assemble it, so you need to be careful with it. The trigger itself is steel. Let’s add that there are no swivels on the rifle, so you won’t be able to put a sling or a serious bipod on it (barrel-mounted bipods can be installed without difficulty).
Let's move on to the technical specifications. The bullet speed declared by the manufacturer is 380 meters per second (with a bullet weighing 0.45 g). The muzzle energy was not declared by the manufacturer, but we calculated it ourselves - 33 J. The rifle fires bullets weighing 0.69 grams (an extremely popular weight on the market) at a speed of ~ 310 m/s. HATSAN 125 really has high power and a stiff spring, which makes it difficult to cock the rifle. However, after several hundred shots, the spring begins to “sit down”, therefore, the power drops. (When we held the first Hatsan 125 with the original spring in our hands, we cocked it together, the spring inside was so stiff.). So, we have a wagon of power, but what about accuracy? The accuracy of this rifle leaves much to be desired. At 20 meters with H&N Baracuda bullets (0.69gr), the pile fell to 20mm - a good indicator. At 50 meters the pile was already 62 mm, which cannot be called a high figure. The maximum sighting range of the rifle is approximately 90-100 meters. Although getting into the bottle at 100 meters even with optics was quite problematic. Due to the high recoil and small survivability of the main coil spring of the rifle (it is enough for literally 2-3 thousand shots), it is very popular to install a gas spring (Nitro-piston) on the Hatsan 125. What is its advantage - the GP has a much longer resource (about 10,000 shots), significantly reduces the recoil of the spring and makes the shot quieter. Yes, and it’s easier to cock. You can purchase a Hatsan Vortex Type 2 gas spring on our website
Let's summarize. Pros: -price -power -popularity of the rifle, which means there is a lot of information about it (read: manuals for modernization) Cons: -heavy -at long range it’s a lot of bad, the propeller needs to be modified
In general, the 125 HATSAN is a rifle that requires a creative and skillful approach to achieve good results. No, when you take it out of the box, don’t expect to immediately hit the dimples 30 meters away. A skilled specialist will competently configure it for you and thereby allow you to realize its full potential. With a certain skill and the availability of the appropriate tools, you can also tune and upgrade your rifle yourself, guided by online literature.
Advantages of a gas spring
Having shot enough, the owner will quickly come to the conclusion that the Hatsan 125 Sniper rifle has too high a recoil, which not only causes physical inconvenience, but can also have a detrimental effect on the optics. After all, optics for the most part are presented on the market for firearms; accordingly, all glass in sights has a recoil compensator only on one side. But pneumatics give double recoil: the impact of the piston when the spring is decompressed sets the rifle forward, and the ejection of the bullet creates a natural recoil back.
There are few options for solving the problem here. The best option is to install a gas spring, which, in addition to eliminating double recoil, will add some power to the weapon. The cost of modernization is very low and can easily be covered by the purchase of optics - there is no need to purchase expensive devices with double compensators. There are recommendations for installing a pre-pumping system on the Hatsan Sniper, but many experts claim that this is a rash decision for a weapon weighing 4 kg.
Hatsan 125
This is one of the most common models of the Turkish brand. Having appeared on the market, the Hatsan 125 rifle quickly pushed aside its more famous competitors. Its main advantage was the ratio of high quality and power with a relatively low price. And if there were certain complaints about the first versions (inconvenient stock, low piston and clutch life), then after modification these problems were eliminated. The series includes several models, the most popular of which can be called “Hatsan 125TN”.
Choosing optics for a spring-piston mechanism
Each buyer has his own approach to choosing an optical device. Based on the price of the device, the magnification and size of the glass. All this is true, but only applicable with less powerful weapons. The Hatsan rifle is not compatible with the usual approaches of owners to purchasing an optical device. Here the priority should be the strength of the device. And in the inexpensive segment this is a huge problem for buyers.
Many store sellers, having learned that the owner of the most powerful rifle in the world is looking for optics for it, recommend taking a closer look at the inexpensive VOMZ Pilad P4x32 LS sight from a domestic manufacturer. In the photo it looks inexpressive, but it is very practical when shooting. If you need a foreigner in the same category, you can get acquainted with MakSnipe 3-9x40. These two sights are among the TOP sales in Russia and have only positive reviews among owners. However, any professional will be disappointed that the glass diameter is 40 millimeters; this is clearly not enough for comfortable shooting at long distances.
Can't do without modifications
The Hatsan 125 rifle, regardless of modifications, has one pronounced problem - the barrel locking mechanism. When cocking, you often feel the piston rubbing against the compressor. Over time, if nothing is done, the entire trunk may become loose when fractured. The problem is solved by disassembling and grinding both contact parts - first with a file, then with sandpaper.
There are also problems with the cuff in the trigger mechanism. It is recommended to simply change it after every thousand shots, as it tends to wear out. Abundant lubrication also helps reduce its shelf life, so when caring for the weapon, there is no need to fill the cuff with oil.
It is recommended to pay attention to the trigger mechanism, which constantly strives to either weaken or tighten. In the latest modifications, the problem was solved by changing the tightening system, but older versions of the weapon very often fired a crossbow even with a broken barrel, instilling fear in an unprepared shooter.
New player in the PCP market
Not long ago, the Turkish manufacturer decided to update its modified range of weapons by introducing its legend with a pre-pumping system to the market. The Hatsan 44 10 rifle was supposed to eliminate all competitors in this niche due to its many years of authority, but this did not happen. In the photo, the weapon really looks great and attracts the attention of buyers with its design, but the technical characteristics and negative reviews of many owners spoil the overall impression.
The very low safety margin of the tank, which is easily deformed during accidental pumping, causes a huge negative, because the safety of such systems should be in the first place. And the cylinder itself can only be disconnected when the weapon is completely disassembled. There are problems with the cocking mechanism, which requires constant repairs. These factors are enough to draw your own conclusions before purchasing.
