Are you one of those who thinks a gun that doesn’t use powder’s just a toy? Silly you. Our friends at Pyramyd Air are working hard to dispel that persistent myth. In fact they’re sending Foghorn a .50 cal air cannon that’s charged with a freakin’ SCUBA tank. How much fun will that be? Watch this space for the full review. In the mean time and on a slightly smaller scale, HatsanUSA wants to let you know that air guns are serious bidness, too. Case in point, their new break barrel 125 Sniper Vortex. Press release after the jump . . .
HatsanUSA Inc. has released its highly innovative 125 Sniper Vortex. These high-velocity vortex air rifles allow users to shoot from long distances with serious power and precision. Not only are they perfect for pest control and target shooting, but they are sure to change the common misconception that airguns are nothing more than gimmick.
Available in .177cal (1250fps), .22cal (1000fps), and .25cal (750fps), these single-shot break barrel airguns use Hatsan’s advanced Vortex Gas Piston technology. This powerful system, completely built in-house, is designed to propel heavy weight lead pellets at incredible velocities by utilizing a pressurized gas piston in a break action style barrel.
The benefits of the Vortex Gas Piston System are extensive. Airguns fitted with this powerful system can remain cocked for long periods of time without causing any spring stress or damage to the gun itself. They can also produce more consistent power between consecutive shots and have longer lifetimes compared to conventional spring powered airguns. Additionally, gas piston power eliminates most vibrations created from the oscillation of heavy springs, thus providing users a shooting experience which is both quieter and smoother.
The 125 Sniper is also fitted with Hatsan’s Shock Absorber System (S.A.S.) that significantly reduces vibration, and an integrated sound moderator is fitted in the muzzle break. On the other end of these ambidextrous designed rifles is Hatsan’s TRIOPAD® butt system. This unique system utilizes a heavy-duty rubber recoil pad and three stock spaces to allow maximum recoil absorption with up to four different length of pull options. All of these advanced features work together to make the 125 Sniper Vortex one of the most quiet, yet powerful, airguns on the market.
All 125 Sniper Vortex models also feature Hatsan’s fully adjustable 2-stage Quattro Trigger system, soft rubber inlays on the forearm and grip for better feel and control, a scope rail mount, and a micro-adjustable rear sight and open front sight both with Truglo fiber optics. They include a 3-9 x 32 fully multicoated Optima scope and a Hatsan shoulder sling.
The MSRP of the 125 Sniper Vortex is $418.00
125 Sniper Vortex
- Vortex Gas Piston break barrel action
- Available in .177cal (1250fps), .22cal (1000fps), and .25cal (750fps)
- TRIOPAD® butt system for maximum recoil absorption and three TRIOPAD® stock spacers
- Precision rifled barrel for accuracy
- SAS Shock Absorber System
- Fully adjustable 2-stage Quattro Trigger
- Micro adjustable rear sight and open front sight both with Truglo fiber optics
- Manual safety and automatic cocking safety
- Fully Adjustable Elevation Comb
- Large muzzle break for easy cocking of the rifle
- Integrated sound moderator inside muzzle break
- Scope mount rail and mounted scope stop
- Ambidextrous design
- Includes 3-9×32 fully multicoated Optima scope, shoulder sling, and bi-pod
About HatsanUSA Inc.:
HatsanUSA Inc. gives U.S. customers the first opportunity to purchase Hatsan airguns, known and respected throughout the world for their premium Turkish craftsmanship, quality, and hard-hitting performance direct from Turkey.
www.hatsanusa.com
https://www.facebook.com/HatsanUSA
DANG! I imagine we’ll be seeing these in the Biathlon in the upcoming Winter Olympics?
Bookmarked it. I want me one of these! My third favorite WO event, after Hockey and 4-man Bobsled!
they’re sending Foghorn a .50 cal air cannon that’s charged with a freakin’ SCUBA tank
Oh crap! Nick’s gonna go all “No Country For Old Men” on us. We are doomed.
Very deadly at extremely short range.
I would imagine.
While rather unknown, truly high-powered air rifle have been around for hundreds of years. The current crop is rather impressive, especially chambered in 9mm, .45, .50 and the like.
For those who aren’t familiar with what these guns can really accomplish…
http://www.quackenbushairguns.com/index.html
For those who can’t wait for Dennis to build you one, you can buy a Sam Yang or one of several others that are mass-produced and capable of similar results. Check out the high quality arms out there at http://www.pyramydair.com/
Awesome. The air rifles that Lewis and Clark took with them on their expedition were similarly powerful, not little kids Daisy BB guns by any stretch of the imagination.
Wasn’t the Lewis and Clark air rifle general issue to the Austrian army at the time?
They were far, far too expensive for general issue. Their military use was limited to snipers, the theory being that the absence of smoke or noise would allow the rifleman to remain in place to perpetrate more mayhem. I don’t recall what country it was, but some adversary of the Austrians had a policy of executing airgunners on the spot if captured.
The little French corporal was supposedly so afraid of a stealthy assasin that he gave the order. So the story goes.
Let’s see KJW use one.
I think that’s a lock.
I believe that’s in the works.
One of the biggest benefits is that ammo costs next to nothing and you can shoot it everyday that you can’t get to the range.
I am interested in the version that shoots .22 caliber pellets. I rarely see a rabbit hop away from .177 caliber (7 grain) pellets leaving the barrel at 1000 fps. The .22 caliber (14.3 grain) pellet leaving the barrel at 1000 fps must be that much more effective for taking down all manner of small critters.
Anyone have any idea if the .22 caliber (14.3 grain) pellets would promptly drop larger and/or more robust critters such as muskrats, squirrels, woodchucks (ground hogs), and racoons? If so, that would make one fine survival rifle. You never have to worry about running out of propellent or primers. And you could purchase 20,000 pellets (a lifetime supply for survival purposes) for next to nothing. Finally, it has to be rather quiet which is a real bonus if you want to avoid drawing attention to yourself.
I just found a vendor selling .22 caliber pellets (14.3 grain) for $0.0118 per pellet. Thus 20,000 pellets would cost $236. That is hard to beat.
I’ve said it any number of times. My .177 Cal. Crossman from wal mart would supply me with camp meat all day long if the need arose. Quieter and cheaper than any non suppressed firearm. And cheaper than any suppressed firearms.
In our neck of the woods, beavers can cause extensive road damage. The town highway superintendent gets a nuisance permit from the Department of Environmental Conservation and I believe he uses a Beeman .22 cal and head shots. Not exactly high end equipment. The neighbors are clueless.
Oh, I didn’t think about beavers. They can easily weigh over 50 pounds. I imagine a critter that heavy either requires a head shot (as you stated) or a more substantial rifle/caliber.
Squirrels for sure. My Crosman Titan GP .22 nitro drops even feral cats on the spot with headshots. And I think it’s much slower than 1000 fps. But very quiet.
http://www.pyramydair.com/
All sorts of airguns in .22 with very similar ballistics to a mid-power .22LR – except powered by compressed air.
(No, I’m not a shill. I just have a few air guns.)
this is a toy. look at “Pcp” guns over 22 cal. ive got a .25 pre charge pneumatic that keeps RIM fire stuff in the safe. plus they’re near silent.
No, it’s not a toy, and it doesn’t require canisters to function.
If I’m going to get an air gun, I want one that operates without multiple trips to Wal Mart.
If I want a gun that needs me to buy stuff for it to make it work, I’ll use one of the ones I already have.
Plenty of handpumps available for 3K PSI guns. Also, SCUBA compressors are cheap surplus…
For those of you ignorant about modern airguns there are many adult spring and “nitro” piston air rifles that are more than adequate for dispatching game up to coyote size. In a survival situation many of the 25 caliber air rifles are more than ample for taking deer sized game at close ranges with head shots. Bison have actually been taken with large caliber pre-charged pneumatic air rifles. These aren’t “Red Ryder” BB guns. Some custom made pre-charged pneumatics generate in excess of 700 ft.lbs of energy. It’s not about knock down power, it’s shot placement. Look it up
I was wondering about this. What is the heaviest projectile that a single pump (break action if you will) rifle will launch with a muzzle velocity of at least 900 fps?
I have no idea if it is practical or if such a rifle is available, but I would love one that launches something along the lines of a 35 caliber projectile weighing at least 125 grains at a minimum of 900 fps muzzle velocity. With one pump, not in a pre-charged configuration.
Nothing out there like that I’m aware of and if it were the cocking effort would be horrendous, Some of the more powerful spring piston and nitro piston rifles require up to 50 lbs, of cocking effort, that would get tiresome very quickly.
There’s several air rifles that can take down a buffalo.
http://www.quackenbushairguns.com/index.html
Thank you for the link 16V … I’ll check it out.
I cant WAIT to see the article on the .50. I previously did some research on large bore huge power air guns and have always been fascinated.
Hatsan’s shotguns are nice too.
The only problem I have with these rifles is the workout you get–and the soreness the day after–from a range session.
The thing I didn’t understand is why it needs a massive shoulder pad and a shock absorber. I mean, it’s just a .22 and .22s have negligible recoil. Anschutz makes a spring gun that is a competition target rifle, so the vibrations can’t be all that bad.
Spring piston and nitro piston air rifles can kick about like a 223 in an AR platform or worse, I have a Walther 25 caliber Falcon Hunter that kicks more like a 243 out of a lightweight deer rifle. Spring and nitro piston air rifles kick in 2 directions, back when the gun is fired and forward when the piston reaches the end of it’s travel. If you want more information about modern air rifles look up Pyramydair.com go to AirGun Academy, it’s a blog but Tom Gaylord who is the moderator knows more about airguns than most people know about themselves.
If they want to know more about themselves, they can call the NSA.
Springer type air guns are surpriseling rough on scopes, too.
I’d love to see a review on the crossman marauder. They’ve recently released a new version with some changes to the valve system and trigger. Available in .177, .22, and .25, the former two use 10 shot magazines and the latter uses an 8 shot magazine. Bolt action repeaters with fully adjustable match-style triggers, shrouded and integrally baffled barrels.
-D
I’m ambivalent about PCP (pre-charged pneumatics) because I don’t want to tethered to a $400 carbon fiber super high pressure tank and a dive shop.
Can anyone tell me how many thousand hand pumps it takes to pressurize a big PCP?
+1
all a big PITA and look at the price of the few Evanix SEMI AUTOS….$2500 plus….who wants single shot or bolt action with 10-13 round rotary mag (except to avoid the dreaded breakbarrel) ?
you have to shell out $1000 for the red Shoebox ™ compressor they carry, which is nothing more than 1. a motor and 2. Two hand pumps in tandem (i.e. one compresses at same time other intakes, and vice versa at whatever RPM the motor generates).
And alot of patience, it takes awhile to fill a small tank (such as the $400 carbon fiber ones for both PCP and CO2, typical for paintball and PCP air guns).
or you could arrange a fulcrum device from plywood for mechanical advantage, and might as well set up for 2 hand pumps, one for each hand.
otherwise it’s $3500 or $5000 plus for a typical scuba compressor, look at Amazon… many have been killed compressing scuba tanks despite the scuba tank being underwater in a water tank (for cooling and absorption of shock of any explosion). Any failed weld, connection, overcharge+failed safety/pressure disc and it’s ‘Jaime Want Big Boom’.
Tell Nick to hollow out the base of the .50 projectile removing 30-50 or more grains from it’s 330 total on a lyman or mini lathe or modded hand drill: big improvement from 700 fps (highest setting) I bet.
PCP guns have a high entry cost, but yeah the ammo savings obvious.
Do not get any breakbarrel gun except for SHTF and rare/occasional hunter/plinker.
The big push is for ever faster velocities, such as .177 at 1450 fps from breakbarrel. This probably makes for unstable pellet flight, thus lowered accuracy. 1000/1100fps for .177 should be fine, we have a nonjacketed, segmented geometry, weak, easily compressable lead pellet that can’t stand too much..
air guns are probably more sensitive to exact bullet diameter and in any batch of pellets, you’ll have several too large or small and if you film in slow mo, you can see them tumble end over end or wobble and thus go flying off target. find the best brand and model for your specific barrel through trial and error.
Do you have a cite for those “many” folks killed filling SCUBA tanks properly, in a tank, because I’ve found precisely none? The few times tanks (non-fatally) explode, they were expired, treated to the point of crystallization, or filled more rapidly than standards tell is safe. All of which is the stupidity of the idiot class, and has nothing to do with those who have removed their craniums from their rectums.
Surplus SCUBA compressors are less than $500 if you know how to shop. You don’t have the vaguest of clues about how any of this actually works IRL, so how ’bout learning something or shutting TFU?
I have shot and purchased one of these in .25 & the first one had to be returned as it had a breech problem and could not group at 35yds. I am getting replacement this Friday.As to what this is good for hunting well just compare the FPE max for this gun in vortex piston is around 26-27 FPE where as a 22 short develops around 70 FPE. So whats it good for well you might drop a cottontail out around 75yds or so but in real use it is a good 50yd field hunting gun for critters up to racoon size. The good thing about this gun is it is relatively quiet at around 94db, but it sounds more like a nail gun and i have not tested how it sounds downrange however i think it is quiet for any air rifle. I have not shot the coil spring version, but the gas spring has a very manageable kick and a much better shot cycle than any coil spring gun i have shot. The trigger out of the box felt like it was around 4lb but it was very manageable and broke very predictably and was not an issue and i am pretty picky when it comes to trigger quality. Ok so you can replace the limited screws and take this trigger down around 2.5lbs but if you try you need to know that taking it lower is NOT safe and these triggers are extremely sensitive to adjustment. For those of you out there that who think that replacing the limiting screws with the set screws is inherently dangerous why then does the Webley patriot sold in the US have the set screws with the exact same trigger. for those of you who don’t know Hatsan makes that rifle also, but changing any thing on an air rifle is dangerous if you do not know what you are doing! So the gun at 9lbs is heavy and if you are like me its getting 2lbs more in scope and mounts & laser and that’s kind of heavy for a field hunting rifle though i dont mind it. Other drawbacks to the rifle in my opinion is the hybrid mounting rail with poorly placed slots and a useless scope stop. If you are thinking about getting a Hatsan rifle and plan on mounting anything less than a large scope you need to seriously look at the mounting rails and have the mounts and scope you are going to use on hand as the scope and rings that come with the gun are garbage and i did try the scope in some good rings and it had horrible adjustment lag worse than a Daisy 4x costing $9 and the bipod is only good for gun display and while you can use the sling as it has spring clips it would be noisy hunting and should be replaced with a European 3/4″ leather sling which BTW is what it is made for that’s ok with me but might be not to others liking. Every air rifle has drawbacks of one sort or another and in my experience they all need something changed and require a lot of research to find the right one for your needs. happy hunting.
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