Hatsan 125 5,5mm hunting

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David365

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May 31, 2024
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Hello everyone, some time ago I posted about my Hatsan 125 in 5.5mm caliber. The Vortex is pressurized to 150 bar, which gives around 28 ft-lbs! The air rifle is incredibly accurate, hitting can-sized targets even at 80 meters. It has low recoil and is quiet. I also made two glide rings on the piston, which prevents it from getting damaged during cocking. In my area, there is no power limit for air rifles, and hunting with air rifles is legal.


I have a question: is my air rifle suitable for hunting wild pigeons at around 15-20 meters? I've never done this before, and I want to do it humanely and quickly. I also don't know what type of pellets to use. I get very good results with Crosman Pointed 14.3 grains, although JSB Jumbo 5.5 also flies well, but it seems to me that the Crosman pellets give me better accuracy. I'm not sure if they are suitable for hunting because they are very hard, which might not be ideal. JSB pellets, on the other hand, are softer and should deform more upon impact, which would cause cleaner kills.


I don't have much experience with the effectiveness of air rifles, but I've heard that around 12 ft-lbs is great for pests.


My main question is whether my air rifle is suitable for such purposes, and what pellets I should use to achieve the greatest damage and quickest death for the pest.
 
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.
 
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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.
 
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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.
 
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Accuracy is a funny topic. Currently you're impressed by hitting a can at 80 yards, but competition shooters will hit a dime or nickel at the same distance.

When trying to dispatch pest, shot placement means the world. You should pick the ammo that is the most accurate in your airgun above all else. Aim for the brain or for the heart to deliver a clean kill.
 
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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.
 
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gimmick pellets are just that. All the plastic tipped pellets are useless.. JMHO. domed pellets are the best overall for accuracy and energetic transfer.. break barrel air rifles do not kill by shock.. rather bleed out, or shot placement. Yes some expansion may happen but not enough to waste accuracy and consistency. That being said many may disagree.
Barrel quality plays much more of a roll than anything else.. snug fit and nice choke will make most domes shoot excellent groups.

change the two front screws on that Quattro trigger and adjust it to a solid 1 lb predictable break.
 
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