Design features of the Walther Dominator 1250 FT air rifle

The Walther Dominator 1250 FT rifle model is designed using the PCP system. This type of pneumatic weapon is equipped with an air pre-pumping system. One of the main features of the rifle is the installation of a special gearbox, which ensures stabilization of the bullet’s flight speed regardless of the gradual decrease in the pressure level in the cylinder.

The initial speed of the bullet does not decrease due to maintaining pressure in the accumulation chamber before each shot. As a result of this, we can talk about improving the accuracy of fire.

Structurally, this model has much in common with the Walther LG300 Dominator rifle. It was here that such a functioning scheme was first implemented and tested.

The trigger mechanism is driven by compressed air, which is previously pumped into a steel cylindrical tank. The magazine is presented in the form of an eight-round rotating drum-clip. The feed mechanism operates on the principle of a so-called sliding bolt, as a result of which the projectiles are fed directly into the barrel.

Compressed air, which is pre-pumped into the tank, can be used to fire 100 shots without additional recharging.

At the same time, the maximum muzzle energy of the weapon is kept at 28 J, which significantly expands the range of its operation.

The reinforced stock made of high-strength plastic has a double-sided cheekpiece, so the rifle will be equally comfortable for left- and right-handed shooters. The forend and gun grip are made in compliance with all ergonomic rules, so you can very easily control the shooting process and choose the most comfortable position.

Specifications

Walther Dominator 1250 FT rifle

The design features of this variation of the weapon ensure the maximum initial speed of the bullet. In this case we are talking about an indicator equivalent to 300 m/s. The 4.5 mm rifle is equipped with an eight-round semi-automatic drum.

An improved and expanded tank allows you to create a pressure of up to 300 atmospheres. Working together with the gearbox allows you to fire about 100 shots with a stable speed and accuracy from one injection. It should be noted that the gearbox used was specially designed by the designers for this particular model.

The procedure for pumping air into the tank can be carried out under any conditions. This issue can be resolved by using a special high-pressure hand pump. Unlike spring-type air rifles, this variation of the weapon can be used over a fairly wide temperature range - from -30 to +50 degrees.

Rifle equipment

This model of air rifle is equipped with a fairly powerful optical sight with a side wheel and parallax adjustment. The presence of this element allows you to hit targets located at a long distance without much difficulty.

In addition, the weapon comes with a bipod and a sound moderator. Using a suppressor is a vital necessity when hunting game.

When purchasing, be sure to require a weapon passport, warranty card and quality certificate. With the help of such documents, you can troubleshoot problems that were caused by defects in production.

Video review of the Walther Dominator 1250 FT air rifle, equipment:

The case, made of high quality plastic, deserves special attention. This element is also included in the basic package of air guns. It should also be noted here that the high-pressure pump required to replenish the tank with air will have to be purchased separately.

What is included

Unfortunately, the Hatsan Dominator 200S air rifle is only available in standard configuration. In addition to the weapon itself, the box also contains the following items:

• additional spring - to increase power;
• bipod – designed for zeroing an optical sight;
• instruction manual - a useful book for beginners;
• warranty card - for 3 years or up to 3000 shots;
• repair kit (spare parts) – cleaning rod, wrench, screwdriver;
• weapons passport - this is where the performance characteristics are located.

Yes, the equipment looks quite sparse for a weapon costing 15,000 rubles. Many owners note that it definitely lacks at least a simple optical sight. Ideally, you should also put several spare backplates in case the standard ones break. We can only hope that the manufacturer will listen to the opinions of customers and release several more sets.

Design features

The rifle barrel is made of special weapon steel. Its internal surface is distinguished by the presence of special rifling, ensuring maximum stability of the bullet's flight. When making the outer part of the barrel, manufacturers resorted to bluing, thanks to which its top layer was not subject to negative corrosive effects.

Cocking and reloading is carried out using the so-called bolt action.

A standard automatic safety lock ensures that spontaneous firing is blocked, making the operation of the weapon as safe as possible.

The trigger mechanism can be adjusted to suit the individual needs of the shooter. The presence of a sound moderator allows you to ensure the quietest shooting possible.

Pneumatic weapons with an air pre-pumping system have their own characteristics. When the trigger is pressed, the firing pin hits the firing valve. Subsequently, it opens and the compressed air is released from the tank. It is the incoming air masses that push the bullet out of the barrel.

Explosion diagram of the Walther Dominator rifle

It should be noted here that if the pressure inside the tank is too high, the fire valve does not open for long. Accordingly, the bullet speed cannot be maximum. Subsequently, the air is consumed and the valve opens significantly more, resulting in a gradual increase in speed.

The tank is recharged in two different ways. So, this issue can be resolved by using a special pump. Outwardly, it is very similar to a conventional pump, but at the same time it has higher performance. In addition, you can use a high-pressure cylinder for these purposes. The filling speed in this case will be slightly higher.

Walther 1250 Dominator pneumatic superlatives

Often, the demand for a particular product is created by the manufacturer himself. They convincingly explain to us that we need this product and it’s generally unclear how we lived without it until now. That is, “supply creates demand.” With the Walther 1250 Dominator rifle, everything was the other way around, according to the classic, time-tested pattern of “demand creates supply.” And time has once again shown that this scheme is correct - the Dominator almost immediately became one of the most popular PCP rifles.

The predecessor of this model is considered to be the Umarex Airmagnum 850 (the Walther company is part of the Umarex holding). On the one hand, it is strange that a CO2-powered gas rifle has evolved into the PCP-airgun. On the other hand, there is nothing strange in this: the principle is the same, the only difference is in the source of the compressed gas. So, soon after the release of the Airmagnum 850, craftsmen began to convert it into a PCP. Perhaps today in Ukraine and Russia you can more often find a converted version rather than an original one. It is quite logical to use a tank that is charged with compressed air yourself instead of purchased carbon dioxide cylinders. In addition, the compressed air in the PCP tank is not as sensitive to low temperature as CO2.

Pneumatic weapons with pre-pumping (Pre-charged pneumatic or PCP for short) have been known for centuries. An air gun with replaceable tanks for compressed air was described four centuries ago in one of the French books on artillery. And the guns of the Austrian border guards, similar in design, firing without smoke, fire and almost silently, were a frightening legend among the soldiers of Napoleonic army.

The essence of the system is quite simple - when you press the trigger guard, the striker hits the combat valve, which opens and releases a portion of compressed air from the reservoir, pushing the bullet out of the barrel. High pressure in the tank provides a very, very decent speed. But not uniform - with high pressure in the tank, the firing valve opens for too short a time, so the shot is not fired at maximum speed. As the air is consumed, the combat valve opens more and more, and the speed of the bullet increases accordingly. Further, at a certain pressure range in the tank, the system operates smoothly and provides maximum speed. Well, subsequently the amount of compressed air becomes insufficient and the speed drops. The above-mentioned area of ​​uniform bullet speed is called a “plateau,” and it is precisely its size that professionals and amateur airgun settings compete for.

The Umarex Airmagnum 850 was renowned for its barrel quality. The Walther 1250 Dominator, with the same excellent barrel, has gained popularity as a rifle that, without additional adjustments, as they say “out of the box,” gives such a plateau that many other models are available only after radical improvements. The secret is in the design of the gearbox, which was previously used by the manufacturer in models for sports shooting. Of course, out of hundreds of shots from one tank, stated in advertising materials, only 60-70 can be considered high-quality, but this is a very good indicator.

Another convenience is the 8-shot drum. Many people think that the drum in PCP rifles is an unnecessary complication of the design, but it’s convenient! It is human nature to strive to see the result immediately, so after each shot, willy-nilly, you reach out to look at the target. And if the entire drum is shot “in one go,” the picture becomes clearer—you can immediately see not only the accuracy, but also the accuracy. And you don’t always have time to catch a wounded animal with a single-shot rifle.

Of course, 60 shots is enough for hunting, but for sports shooting or checking the results of the next upgrade, this is clearly not enough. So you have to recharge the tank. You can do this manually using a special high-pressure pump. Outwardly, it resembles an ordinary tire inflation pump, but try to pump up at least 20 atmospheres with such an ordinary pump (for reference: the pressure in the tires of a passenger car is 2 atmospheres). It is unknown who will “die” first, you or the pump. A special pump for air rifles allows you to create a pressure in the tank of up to 300 atmospheres. True, with a certain skill, an inexperienced “jock” is unlikely to pump up to 250 atm, since the force applied to the pump will exceed body weight. Such exercises are certainly good for health, but hand tremors persist for a long time after them. Therefore, it is better to take a high-pressure cylinder with you to the shooting range (either a branded one, or one from a scuba tank, only with a special adapter), from which the rifle tank is refilled in a matter of seconds. The cylinder itself can be refilled by the same divers. If taking with you a fairly large and heavy container with a supply of compressed air is problematic, you should think about purchasing a replacement tank for your rifle.

Naturally, for a weapon that allows you to hit a target at 100 m, an open sight is clearly not enough. The requirements for the strength of optics for PCP rifles are low, since they have practically no recoil. The “native” Walther FT 8-32x56 sight does not cause any complaints from shooters, except that at maximum zoom you can notice a slight blurring of the picture. But such a magnification for pneumatics is only needed so that the shot target can be examined without leaving the firing position, and it copes with this remarkably well. It is also encouraging that the Germans use coated glass lenses in their sights rather than plastic ones. The Walter sight weighs 1.15 kg.

In addition to the sight, the Walther 1250 Dominator FT kit includes a bipod, a case and a sound moderator (muffler). The latter is not necessary at all to give the rifle a “killer” look. The Dominator’s shot is quite loud, and the “silent” mode will allow you to preserve the charm of hunting with pneumatics and not frighten the game with the sound of the shot.

As a result, the manufacturer initially provides shooters with everything that a rifle is usually supplied with during operation. Which is both convenient and profitable.

Denis Gnatyuk

Purpose

Considering the great power potential of the weapon, this rifle model can be used for various purposes. In most cases it is used for plinking or precision shooting over long distances. Sometimes this model is used for training shooting. In addition, the rifle can be useful for hunting. However, for this, it is recommended to first install a muffler so as not to scare away all the game in the forest.

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Possibilities for increasing power

This nuance worries many people who purchased the Hatsan Dominator 200S air rifle. However, it is worth reminding our readers that the use of weapons without a license, the power of which exceeds 7.5 J, is prohibited by the administrative code. However, many owners prefer to carry out certain procedures to increase muzzle energy (it is possible to prove that the weapon is more powerful than stated in the weapons passport only by conducting an examination):

1. Replacing the standard spring with a reinforced one. The part is included in the kit for this purpose, since a rifle that exceeded 7.5 joules of power would turn off buyers. Carrying out the procedure yourself will not be difficult. It is enough to only partially disassemble the rifle (instructions will be found later in the article).
2. Trimming the trunk. A very controversial way to increase power, since it will be immediately noticeable by a representative of the law. However, from the school physics course we know that at the moment of movement along the barrel, a friction force acts on the bullet. And the faster it flies out, the more energy it will save.
3. Use high-quality lubricant. After purchasing a rifle, it is recommended to completely depreserve it (remove factory grease). Then you need to select a high-quality oil composition (preferably imported) and use it to lubricate the barrel. The friction force will decrease, which means the power of the shot will increase noticeably.

Of course, there are other ways to increase muzzle energy, such as using better gaskets. However, not every owner will be able to carry out such a modification. And new gaskets are quite expensive.

Disassembling the Walther Dominator 1250 FT rifle

When disassembling the rifle, you must first detach the stock, which is secured with one screw. Then the rod is disconnected from the trigger mechanism. After this, you should remove the rubber. To do this, simply unscrew the two fastening bolts located in the box. Moreover, one of them is disguised as a filling.

The next step is to dismantle the side cover of the box, which is attached with two screws. Then the bleed valve on the rubber and the rear plug with rods are removed. After this, the valve spring and stem along with the seat are dismantled.

Then the gearbox is removed and the cocking handle is unscrewed. Here you need to take care of dismantling the store translator. After this, the hammer clamp plug is unscrewed and the spring is pulled out.

The most problematic aspects of weapons

According to reviews, the Walther Dominator 1250 FT belongs to the category of rifles that do not require frequent repairs or significant modifications. If we talk about typical breakdowns, then we should focus on the design features of the rear plug assembly and the combat valve. In the latter case, the fact that the locking spring is installed is too weak.

Certain inconveniences can be caused by the lack of pressure adjustment and a large amount of dead volume in the bypass. All this ultimately leads to an increase in the consumption of air reserves during operation.

7.5J valve on Walther Dominator 1250 FT

These problems are eliminated by installing a new tank plug with a safety valve. Also, during modification, you can resort to replacing the seal ring, the striker spring, or by removing the ball from the bypass.

Which optics to choose for this model

The requirements for the strength of the optics used will not be too high. This is due to minimal recoil and some design features of the weapon. Given the sufficient firing range, installing additional optics is a vital necessity.

Shooting from a Walther Dominator 1250 FT rifle at a distance of 53 meters without a rest is shown in the video:

The standard optical sighting device has good performance characteristics. Despite this, at maximum zoom there is a slight blurring of the image. The advantages of a standard optical sight include the fact that the lenses are not made of plastic, but of coated glass.

Design

The main design feature of the Dominator is its trigger mechanism, which uses a fundamentally new Quattro Trigger system developed by the Turkish. Its essence lies in the fact that the owner can adjust the rigidity of the trigger himself, based on individual preferences. This allows you to increase the accuracy of shooting at long distances when using an optical sight.

Another feature of the model is the Monte Carlo telescopic stock, suitable for both right-handed and left-handed people. If desired, the owner can adjust its position - there are 5 positions for this. In addition, you can completely remove the stock if it gets in the way by unscrewing just a couple of bolts. This feature also allows owners to carry out external modifications to the rifle, replacing its massive plastic parts with wooden ones.

The use of fiber-optic threads can hardly surprise anyone now, but such a sight is still much more convenient than a classic rear sight and front sight. Moreover, the luminous dots in the Dominator are not too wide - about 1 millimeter, which allows you to aim even at the smallest objects from a long distance. In addition, fiber optics are one of the best solutions for shooting at dusk.

Well, the last design feature is the polymer from which most of the rifle is made. Many criticized her for using cheap plastic in the production of her weapons, which dries out in the sun and gets scratched at the slightest mechanical impact. Apparently, the company listened to customers and decided to use a high-quality polymer in the new model, which is no longer characterized by these problems.

Advantages and disadvantages

The use of an expanded tank allows you to create a pressure inside it equivalent to 300 atmospheres. In addition, the built-in gearbox has a positive effect on improving the operational potential of the weapon. This model of pneumatic weapon is characterized by maximum firing range and accuracy, as well as extreme reliability.

Regarding the shortcomings, these include the fact that plastic elements were used to create such a rifle. All this ultimately entails a characteristic rattling sound when fired. It should also be noted that periodically there is a need to refuel the air tank.