GTA
All Springer/NP/PCP Air Gun Discussion General => Air Guns And Related Accessories Review Gates => Air Gun Review Gate => Topic started by: JonnyReb on July 09, 2011, 12:27:39 PM
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I only care to review those products that really impress me, and this turkish made(Hatsan) .25 has certainly done that! I wanted to share some of it's more redeeming features with those who might be interested.
The FH is a big gun, when i first pulled it out of the box i was a little concerned about the 49" length, it felt more like a blackpowder musket than a rifle, weight was not bad at all though, thanks to lots of plastic in the stock and trigger area, plus a fairly lightweight barrel and plastic muzzlebreak/sights. Finish was very good once i got all the cosmoline off the blue and although the stock is very lightweight and slightly flimsy it has a great mossy oak camo pattern on it that still is not rubbing off, Overall it's a good looking and very solidly made gun. Comes with a walther 3x9x40AO and rings.
(http://i195.photobucket.com/albums/z252/xxjonnyrebxx/008-1.jpg)
I was amazed by several things when i tried the first few shots through the walther, it was very hard to cock, and squalled like a rusty screen doors hinges. At the same time it was dieseling rather consistently, sending 25.4gr. JSB pellets out at 36ftlbs of energy on the chrony. Also i noticed little recoil for such a powerful gun and maybe most amazing of all was that it was stacking pellets open sighted at 20 yards. I started getting excited.
Mounted the factory scope up and was VERY pleased to see this gun grouping both the JSB's and also 20gr.ftt's quite nicely. This before any barrel cleaning or maintenence. The scope is also noteworthy in that it hold POI perfectly with no shift at all, and that in both my scope and others used by those on the forum, an internal eyepiece seems to begin shifting, partially obscuring field of view. Very unfortunate as otherwise it's a nice scope.
The FH is the most trouble free springer i've ever used. The turks have a fantastic system of securing the front forearm mounting screws, and in many hundreds of shots i never had to tighten them a bit. Only springer i've ever owned i could say that about. Also the FH comes with a very nice 11mm rail for scope mounting, it has several different locations for a stop pin and also has several threaded taps for stop screws. The rail also has what appears to be a picatinny/weaver mounting system but i've found that it doesn't really fit a weaver or picatinny mount correctly, leading to poor long range accuracy. This gun works perfectly with an 11mm setup though, and the new SAS recoil reduction system really seems to work well as none of the 4 various scopes i've tried on the FH have loosened or shifted at all under recoil. Not many magnum springers make it so easy.
(http://i195.photobucket.com/albums/z252/xxjonnyrebxx/010-2.jpg)
As i continued to shoot the FH, i noticed that cocking it became easier, and as it shot out the factory lube it slowed in ftlb output. It's now not really so hard to cock as it is just a long gun requiring a long reach to cock. The muzzlebreak works great as a handle and it has not loosened a bit. Final muzzle velocities ended up being around 700fps for the 25.4gr. JSB's and about 790-800fps with the 20gr. This is about 27ftlbs of energy, although when i've shot the 31gr. kodiaks i did a consistent 30ftlbs @ 675ish fps.
The trigger is a typical hatsan, fairly hard to pull, maybe 6-7lbs, although is quite crisp and consistent in let off. It has no side to side slop or play in it at all. The safety is located at the rear of the action and is a bit sloppy, loose and plastic of course, but does work fine. I've found that this is one big gun that i don't mind carrying, it seems it should weigh lots more than it does and the stock is quite slim, letting those with just medium sized hands get a good grip on it. Also the molded in checkering helps tremendously in getting some traction on the stock. It's a well thought out package.
I see this gun getting nothing but better as it wears in and/or gets tuned. The power is definitely there, in a low recoil package that makes this the perfect hunting gun, when coupled with it's accuracy. It's truly the best hunting springer i've ever used, all in a $200-250.00 package. I'd highly recommend it to anyone with interst in it's purpose. J
(http://i195.photobucket.com/albums/z252/xxjonnyrebxx/002-26.jpg)
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Great review Jeff. Thanks.
Richard
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I guess I better stop lollygagging and ship my. 25 to ed lol
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Great honest review. I found pretty much the same with mine. The scope is a bit heavy, and I must agree that the stock is a bit hollow and cheesy feeling. I can't wait to get my scope back and check accuracy.
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Hey Thanks fellas ;D
Bradyman, your dead on that scope IS heavy. I switched it for several but settled with a fixed AO leaper 3x9x32 and 2pc mounts and i swear it knocked a pound off from the factory setup. Bet when you get yours back and dial it in you'll be impressed. J
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I love my .25 WFH and have consistently made shots out to 60 yards on groundhogs & muskrats. HOSPs at 40 yards aren't safe either.
I had to recrown the barrel and had a BSA 6x24AO scope left over from powder burner that I put on it with a UTG solid mount - great combo. Mine loves H&N FTTs also.
For the stock I got some self-leveling sidewalk caulk and injected some into the mounting holes for the recoil pad. Put a little in and set it on the right side for 24 hours. Same thing for the left and then the bottom. Really makes a difference in the feel and was only about $2.
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Hey 912, just curious but does the FH take down a groundhog sized critter at those ranges? I'm just questioning penetration as the ftt's in my gun at 790fps(chronied) has trouble with squirrels... They drop faster with a .177 ???
Amazing but i've had the cheap factory scope mounts on for several hundred shots. It only has a single clamping screw per side and i'd NEVER have thought it would hold on this gun. But it does. Must really be something to the "SAS" recoil reducing thingamajig, it seems to work. Just got in a 30mm 4x12 scope from airscopes.com for the FH but don't even want to mount it as the FH does so well with the little leapers. Still very impressed with this gun. J
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I haven't had issues with any runoffs. Just last weekend I had a muskrat at 50 yards that spooked and toddled off down the hill behind the barn. He stopped and raised up for one last peek at me at 62 yards and I sent an FTT right through his neck just below his skull. He was dead before he hit the ground.
FTTs in mine are moving right around 780-790FPS. Haven't even opened it up for a tune yet but did borescope it to make sure there wasn't any poo-poo left in the compression chamber from the factory.
I cut about 1/2" off the end of the barrel because there was a step in the rifling that was causing it to not group well when I first got it. Hated to lose the front sight but had to do something. Also choked the barrel just a bit which seems to have helped my groups.
While I was at it I tweaked the trigger group - would love a Quattro but this gets the job done. I have some bronze for a new trigger blade and a couple ideas for the sears that I would like to try and see if it helps, just haven't made the time...
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Sounds like you've got a couple good projects in store for the FH, make sure and post of them as you go please. Glad to hear that about your success with medium sized game, not sure why i've had some flukes but am more confident after hearing your experience.
I did get some predators ordered from PA last night, i hope they really make a difference with small game, i know accuracy won't be an issue. J
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Lemme know how the Predators do. Wouldn't mind trying some for myself. Cocking force is a bit too much for a plinker but I love it for hunting and those would definitely fit the bill !
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I have Hatsan 125, same like your FH (just different name). I have fitted him with nitro piston and I done quattro trigger tuneup. Now is a different rifle to shoot, I get better groups and much less recoil. It's now 855fps with JSB Jumbo exact rs.
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Hey put in, welcome to the gta! 855 out of a .25 is SMOKING! Especally with those 25 grain pellets. Thats about what mine did while it was dieseling and i was really hoping it would stay that way. Glad you've joined us. J
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Thank you. Sorry JonnyReb, I didn't mentioned that mine is 22cal. I meant same like yours just for rifle, but caliber is smaller. Anyway, I'm very satisfied with rifle performance, I can hit a rabbit with no problem on 100m. Originally it had 950fps with spring, but I have manufactured NP with less power just bcs I think that 850fps is just enough.
Also, mine has Quattro Trigger, much much better trigger than older version. I think it's several light years ahead of Crosman triggers and even GRT.
In Serbia, Hatsan rifles are not considered for good rifles (bcs Germany is close, so Diana is no1) but I consider it to be very good rifle with good price range.
P.S. Just to mention that I manufactured NP by myself, it's not Crosman or Theoben or something else. And also... JonnyReb, I like your nick bcs I had always preferred General Lee's army ;) and sorry for my language mistakes, after all, English is not my mother tongue :D
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Any pics of the conversion process? I have a spare gas ram and a lathe so I was thinking of trying the same thing...
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Sorry, I have just this one picture.
Before assembling AG, I sanded the piston bcs it was not very smooth. Also I have tuned it with moly paste. Now is 855fps average with spread less than 10. This air rifle is natural for NP conversion.
I'm little angry bcs I can't modify my raven with NP, and I can't tune it just a little. Raven make more sound than my Hatsan 125 :(
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well Put-in did a conversion on mine hatsan 125 also, but we forgot to take pictures of the process. tuned the trigger also, its a sweet shooter now, with avg. speed of 750 fps in 22 with 14,3 JSB exacts, but my barrel is shortened and I believe thats the reason for less velocity. Ill have to put some more pellets through her, then chrony it again.
(http://img801.imageshack.us/img801/4383/imag0485x.th.jpg) (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/801/imag0485x.jpg/)
(http://img718.imageshack.us/img718/2128/imag0486d.th.jpg) (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/718/imag0486d.jpg/)
(http://img546.imageshack.us/img546/511/imag0487.th.jpg) (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/546/imag0487.jpg/)
(http://img585.imageshack.us/img585/732/imag0488.th.jpg) (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/585/imag0488.jpg/)
(http://img844.imageshack.us/img844/7225/imag0489s.th.jpg) (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/844/imag0489s.jpg/)
(http://img703.imageshack.us/img703/8132/imag0490p.th.jpg) (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/703/imag0490p.jpg/)
and new addition to ag family :)
(http://img694.imageshack.us/img694/9750/imag0491w.th.jpg) (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/694/imag0491w.jpg/)
(http://img88.imageshack.us/img88/7956/imag0492fn.th.jpg) (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/88/imag0492fn.jpg/)
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;D 8) Very cool Put-in, i'm partial to Lee's boys too, actually have a decendant who, as the story is told, rode with Lee for several campaigns because his horse looked identical to Traveler, Lee's hoss. Supposedly he was kept close to draw fire ;D The family still has his sword. Pretty cool. Very impressed that you made your NP and don't sweat the language mistakes because i couldn't find any :D
Stefan a pleasure to have you join us on this thread, am absolutely impressed with the beautiful stock on your gun, i SO wish we could get them here in the U.S. Thanks for those pics, i really am getting more and more impressed with my turkish guns, the walther and a webley, i think one of those AT44's (pneuma) is somewhere on the horizon. ;) Jeff
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Lemme know how the Predators do. Wouldn't mind trying some for myself. Cocking force is a bit too much for a plinker but I love it for hunting and those would definitely fit the bill !
Affirmative on the Predators, they are just as accurate, at least at 25 yards, as my other JSB's. They will probably become the only pellet i use so long as they shoot it well at 50 yards and beyond. Don't hesitate to give em a try.
Just want to say also, that when i tried the predators i was glad to feel the gun was really breaking in nice, no more rusty screen door sound when i cock it, everything feels smooth ;D I'm maybe into 500 shots at this point. J
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Stock is handmade, for a left handed shooter, from walnut.
you will be quite pleased with at44 :)
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I have the problem where an internal eyepiece is obscuring my field of view. Can someone please help me with this issue?
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Can you be more precise? Internal eyepiece? Is your scope bad? If so switch it out.
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I have the problem where an internal eyepiece is obscuring my field of view. Can someone please help me with this issue?
That is a pretty common failure on the scope that came with those. If it is under warranty still Umarex will replace it.
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Is it easy and fast getting it replaced?
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Does your scope look like this?
If still under warrenty send the scope back. My scope did this twice, on the second time Umerax sent me back a red dot which is still working.
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I had mine replaced twice. It is not that bad. I had to pay shipping to umarex both times. But they pay shipping back to you. The second replacement I got was a rws scope. They were out of the walther brand. It is still holding up.
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Yes thats exactly what happened to my scope.
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well, WFH has one *(&^ of a recoil. Try to get Nikko Stirling Gold Crown/Airking series for that. Or, Hawke HD, from what I've heard they can stand that blast. too.
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Great review