Hatsan 125 5,5mm hunting

Once, a friend of mine who shoots with an air rifle recommended Crosman Red Fire .22 pellets to me. These are very sharp pellets weighing 16.7 grains. Their skirts are plastic and seal the barrel, while the tips are made of zinc. I used to have these pellets, but I used them in much weaker air rifles for hobby purposes. The hard, sharp tips penetrated targets like metal sheets extremely deeply. The impact force of these pellets was enormous. Their accuracy at 15-20 meters was sufficient to hit a pigeon. However, what matters is expansion in the target, not penetration. My friend claimed that these pellets were extremely humane and good for pigeons at 15-20 meters with an air rifle of around 10 FPE. Since I have the option in my store, I'll buy a pack of these pellets and also purchase JSB Hades .22. I'll let you know the results when I manage to shoot something with these two pellets.

I want to add that in my area, we don't shoot pigeons just to kill them; the meat also matters, and such pellets should be a good solution.

Greetings to all.

I must admit that I am aware of what this air rifle is capable of. Its pellets can penetrate a board about 4.5 cm thick, if I'm not mistaken, and a solid board at that. I have never used it to deal with any pests, but I believe it is not suitable for very small birds like starlings or others of similar size due to its excessive power. The shots I will be taking are aimed exclusively in safe directions. These pigeons mainly sit in the trees in my orchard, so I am not worried about where the pellets will go. The maximum shots I will take will be at a distance of about 15-20 meters. Although the air rifle has considerable power, I don't see the point in shooting at longer distances.

A while ago, I shot my first wild pigeon. I have to say, I'm in shock. I used my Crosman Red .22 pellets, which I bought about 10-15 minutes ago at a store near my town. I approached the wild pigeon to a distance of about 9 yards. Yes, the shot was from a very close distance, but I hit it around the chest area. The pigeon flew about 5 yards after being hit, then dropped dead. The pellet went right through it and hit some leaves on a tree a few yards behind it. At first, I thought I had missed it. I'm going to prepare something from it today, haha.


Best regards.

I understand, I was curious about those pellets, especially since my friend recommended them to me. They aren’t accurate at long distances, but at 15 meters I can hit a pigeon in the chest. However, yesterday I used different pellets, namely JSB Hades .22. After shooting a pigeon, I heard a loud bang and it fell dead. It wasn’t even aware that I had killed it. This time the pellet didn’t pass through it. Crosman Red Fire pellets might be good for pigeons, but the precision of the shot seems to matter more than the pellet itself. As I mentioned, hitting a pigeon with those incredibly sharp and hard pellets went straight through it; the pigeon flew a few yards and then dropped dead. Today, I’m going to try to shoot a few pests off my roof. They sit there in groups of 10-15, covering my roof in bird droppings and scratching it with their claws. Maybe if one or two fall, those birds will finally stop perching where they shouldn’t.
Regarding Hatsan and the brand in general, it is worth noting that these air rifles are not particularly expensive, so we shouldn't expect miracles from them. However, Hatsan spring-powered models, such as the 95, 125, and 135, do have several flaws that need addressing regardless of the model.

Firstly, the build quality is a concern. Hatsan air rifles are often produced quickly and without sufficient attention to detail. The finish leaves much to be desired, and the bluing is of poor quality; interestingly, older Hatsan models had significantly better bluing. Another issue is the hardness of the materials used. While the barrel and cylinder are hard and durable, many screws, such as those for the stock and other components, are made of low-quality steel, which can cause problems during disassembly.

A particularly odd issue is the transfer port in the cylinder's air outlet hole. This is a poor design choice because it can loosen during shooting. If the barrel is broken, it can damage the breech block and loading port (I encountered this problem with a Hatsan 90). Therefore, it is necessary to secure this part with strong thread locker.

Another issue is the presence of metal shavings and other contaminants from the manufacturing process. In my Hatsan 125, I replaced the piston seal with a Zepto seal (the original is made of inferior material and often damaged). I cleaned every part with gasoline and had two guide rings custom-made for the piston, one near the seal and the other at the rear of the piston. This is essential because a Vortex gas ram at 125-150 bar can damage the piston and cylinder due to excessive metal-to-metal friction (I experienced this with two air rifles). It is rather strange that Hatsan itself releases Vortex models with maximum pressure.

I also filled the hollow stock with fiberglass to dampen the sound and lubricated the air rifle. Only after these modifications was I able to shoot accurately and at long range. Hitting a can from 80 yards is immensely satisfying, especially without optics, as the can is practically invisible at that distance. For the price, Hatsan is a good air rifle, but it's best suited for those who enjoy tinkering and tuning their equipment.