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All Springer/NP/PCP Air Gun Discussion General => Air Gun Gate => Topic started by: SpringerForever on October 02, 2013, 10:26:26 PM

Title: Hatsan Mod 125 super magnum optics killer extraordinaire!
Post by: SpringerForever on October 02, 2013, 10:26:26 PM
With runners up: RWS 48 & RWS 54. And probably sooner than later, a RWS 56.

Here's the tally so far from just this past April listed chronologically:

UTG/Leapers 4-16x56 mil dot
Centerpoint 4-16x40 mil dot
Centerpoint 4-16x40 mil dot (RWS 48)
Optima 3-9x32
CenterPoint Optics 32mm Open Reflex Sight (red dot sight)
Hawke Sidewinder 8-32x56 mil dot
Hawke Varmint 6-24x44 mil dot (RWS 54)
Hawke Sidewinder 6-24x56 SR Pro

and the latest casualty, a:

Simmons 1x24 red dot sight

A little more than 80 rounds & two days (Tuesday & Wednesday) later & the Simmons 1x24 I bought at Walmart this past Monday nite is toasted. Here's a pic of a 'group' of six shots from its final death throes:

(https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/CLzSVwXnVJsyDAPfjaBL1JDB2mIZ0VE7HvvKQtTGBd4=w112-h207-p-no)

shot at 25 yards BRed with my Vortex spring powered Hatsan Mod 125 Sniper .25 that normally shoots 28+ FPE with its most accurate pellet. The grid & red bullseye are just over 3/4".

And here are 4 follow up shots taken immediately afterwards using open sights at 25 yards BRed:

(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/Wf_1KG_fJhgKnIZ0EkrzyG18LpXISA2a1mu620LmAjE=w227-h207-p-no)

Yes, believe it or not, that's a 3 shot 'group' on the bottom right. Shows just what this rifle, & any Hatsan super magnum I've shot, is capable of. Why 4 shots? I was finishing off a 10 shot chrony string.
Title: Re: Hatsan Mod 125 super magnum optics killer extraordinaire!
Post by: NickB79 on October 04, 2013, 02:40:26 PM
In my head I was mentally adding up the cost of all those scopes  :o

Hope you were at least able to get some of your money back on them, "dang".
Title: Re: Hatsan Mod 125 super magnum optics killer extraordinaire!
Post by: fortyshooter on October 04, 2013, 03:01:07 PM
I've had my EOTech SP2 on my Sniper 125 for over a year and no issues. They are tested on BMG .50's and seem to take a lot of
beating.
Title: Re: Hatsan Mod 125 super magnum optics killer extraordinaire!
Post by: cnjl3 on October 04, 2013, 07:38:03 PM
I have read that a good one piece scope rings rig will help keep your scope from shaking apart.
Are you using two piece scope rings?
Title: Re: Hatsan Mod 125 super magnum optics killer extraordinaire!
Post by: dancergene on October 04, 2013, 10:23:36 PM
just a thought, my rws 48 destroyed two center point scopes, then a third one went bad.  so, i ordered another hawke eclipse scope from one place, and le max quick detach med pica rings from another.  while waiting for the hawke scope to arrive i put on a dovetail to weaver adapter and attached the new rings.  just for grins i put the old cp scope on the new rings and bingo, found out the scope wasn't what was broken, it was the rings.  could not tell just by looking at them, used lock tight and snugged them down real good.  this weaver rail and new rings is like having it welded on.  i probably sent back two good scopes.  yep, the 48 is a beast, but worth it.
Title: Re: Hatsan Mod 125 super magnum optics killer extraordinaire!
Post by: dancergene on October 04, 2013, 11:35:20 PM
one little trick to try, use an old fashioned lead pencil and mark the rifle where the mounts are on the barrel and also where the scope rings are on the scope. this will tell you if the scope is moving.
Title: Re: Hatsan Mod 125 super magnum optics killer extraordinaire!
Post by: SpringerForever on October 06, 2013, 01:21:40 PM
I have read that a good one piece scope rings rig will help keep your scope from shaking apart.
Are you using two piece scope rings?

I've only used 2 pc rings so far. FWIW, one of the CPs came to me used with a Hatsan Mod 125 I bought. Included with the purchase was a one pc mount but the scope was still DOA. Don't know what to make of it?
Title: Re: Hatsan Mod 125 super magnum optics killer extraordinaire!
Post by: SpringerForever on October 06, 2013, 01:27:40 PM
just a thought, my rws 48 destroyed two center point scopes, then a third one went bad.  so, i ordered another hawke eclipse scope from one place, and le max quick detach med pica rings from another.  while waiting for the hawke scope to arrive i put on a dovetail to weaver adapter and attached the new rings.  just for grins i put the old cp scope on the new rings and bingo, found out the scope wasn't what was broken, it was the rings.  could not tell just by looking at them, used lock tight and snugged them down real good.  this weaver rail and new rings is like having it welded on.  i probably sent back two good scopes.  yep, the 48 is a beast, but worth it.

I haven't had an issue with rings. Aside from occasional slippage but that's easily corrected. Simply no way that all those optics would have an issue with rings. Besides, they most often shot fine to begin with & then went to poop. An example, the Hawke Sidewinder 6-24x56 SR Pro shifted POI by almost 2" down & ~1.5 to the right during an afternoon shooting session 3 weekends ago. Confirmed by my brother who test shot it for me immediately after the sudden POI shift. Prior to the sudden POI shift it was shooting ok. And all the optics had POI shifts from shooting session to shooting session. Not to mention they don't track worth a darn.

I'd never used scopes prior to my reintroduction to AGing this past April & at this point I've pretty much lost all faith in them. At least on any magnum or super magnum AG.

But thank you for mentioning the possibility & offering advice.
Title: Re: Hatsan Mod 125 super magnum optics killer extraordinaire!
Post by: SpringerForever on October 06, 2013, 01:35:54 PM
one little trick to try, use an old fashioned lead pencil and mark the rifle where the mounts are on the barrel and also where the scope rings are on the scope. this will tell you if the scope is moving.

That's an excellent tip! I'll definitely file that one away for future use.

I normally mount all my scopes with the rear ring dead center on the scope tube so it's pretty easy to see any slippage. Plus, I look for adhesive from the ring tape. If the scope slips in the rings the ring tape adhesive becomes visible.
Title: Re: Hatsan Mod 125 super magnum optics killer extraordinaire!
Post by: JR on October 06, 2013, 02:37:22 PM
I have a CP 4x16 on my 125 Sniper and I'm kinda wondering how long it will last to be honest, I put 200 shots through the gun before putting it on though just to get the worst part over with. My take on the magnum springer's is that a good 2pc set of rings is better than a 1pc setup. I think the 2pc doesn't transfer all that shock to the scope, I also try to keep the scope as low as possible, duno just my thought on it. I also try to keep the crosshair adjustments as close to center as I can, it does require a shim once in a while but it seems to help save scopes. When the adjustments are extreme to one side it doesn't have a uniform tension on the reticle and a lot of scopes that I have seen broke over the years were sighted in at the extreme ends of the scope adjustment. This also includes big bore center fire rifles.
Title: Re: Hatsan Mod 125 super magnum optics killer extraordinaire!
Post by: SpringerForever on October 08, 2013, 01:56:09 AM
I have a CP 4x16 on my 125 Sniper and I'm kinda wondering how long it will last to be honest, I put 200 shots through the gun before putting it on though just to get the worst part over with. My take on the magnum springer's is that a good 2pc set of rings is better than a 1pc setup. I think the 2pc doesn't transfer all that shock to the scope, I also try to keep the scope as low as possible, duno just my thought on it. I also try to keep the crosshair adjustments as close to center as I can, it does require a shim once in a while but it seems to help save scopes. When the adjustments are extreme to one side it doesn't have a uniform tension on the reticle and a lot of scopes that I have seen broke over the years were sighted in at the extreme ends of the scope adjustment. This also includes big bore center fire rifles.

Yup, on zeroing optics as close to their optical/mechanical center as possible. It's something I've always done. Even delayed mounting a scope because I didn't think I had the 'right' UTG compensator mount.

Started off with the UTG compensator mounts but since they're non-adjustable & only available in 10", 17", 20"(?) & 2?" I've moved on to the Hawke adjustable compensator mounts instead. Lower profile than the UTGs too.

I normally arrive at optical center by using the turret method - total # of revolutions then divide by 2 - but I've gone so far as to check the results of the turret method using a v-block (vee-block) & it's always been quite close with the elevation almost being spot on but the windage a little off. Don't mind the windage being off that much as I'm usually having to correct for that anyway when I start zeroing on paper.  I normally use a laser bore sighter to get the gun on paper. Since my backyard 'range' is only 25 yards that's what I zero at but I'd prefer something closer to 40 yards & might eventually zero for 40 yards anyway using one of the ballistics programs to calculate the drop at 25 yards for a particular pellet.

Good luck with the CP. I think you definitely helped its longevity by 1st breaking in the gun a bit. I know that all my super magnum Hatsans jumped around like crazy when new but then settled down. So I can just imagine what a scope would go thru at the very beginning of that process.
Title: Re: Hatsan Mod 125 super magnum optics killer extraordinaire!
Post by: SpringerForever on October 28, 2013, 03:56:55 AM
Add another casualty to the list:

Bushnell Banner 6-18x40 AO

Broke this one in 3 shots! Yeah baby!!! My scope killer extraordinaire is continuing its 'winning' streak! The scope is an oldie but, apparently, a baddie. Made in Japan too. What's odd is that another Bushnell Banner 6-18x40 AO Japanese held up fine for the few shots it 'suffered' thru before I gave it to one of my brother's. I guess I should've given him this one instead. What's really 'funny' is a very oldie but goodie, very cosmetically challenged, Bushnell Scopechief 3-9x32 Japanese is doing just fine. So far. At less than a 5th of the cost of the Hawke Sidewinders I have. Go figure? Very, very sweet shooting scope. Even if it's blurry on 9X at 25 yards. Doesn't affect accuracy one bit tho.
Title: Re: Hatsan Mod 125 super magnum optics killer extraordinaire!
Post by: haertig on October 29, 2013, 01:02:31 AM
With the number of scopes you've killed, I'd recommend switching to pneumatic air rifles if you want to continue using scopes, or switch to aperture sights if you want to continue using springer air rifles.  Continuing on your current path of optics and springers does not make sense to me unless you're a self-mutilating masochist with an unlimited bank account.
Title: Re: Hatsan Mod 125 super magnum optics killer extraordinaire!
Post by: SpringerForever on October 29, 2013, 01:38:52 AM
I'm definitely no masochist! But I am stubborn. :-)

And I definitely don't have an unlimited bank account! Which is why I've resorted to trying to find some oldie but goodies made in Japan scopes at reasonable prices. Mostly on eBay.

I had never owned a scope before I took up AGing again this past April so it's definitely been a learning experience. Expensive too!

I really like the simplicity of open sights but I can't maintain consistent POIs under varying lighting conditions. At least not with the current setup on my Hatsan Mod 125s which is a notched rear sight with a fiber optic front sight. I've been shooting almost exclusively BRed at 25 yards & I can actually shoot very tight groups with open sights at that range but the problem I've been having is with my sight picture changing ever so slightly with changing lighting conditions. Enuf so that my groups shift. Just yesterday I shot two shots touching each other then the light changed & my next two shots, altho also touching each other, were on a different area of the target. I ended up with 3 two shot groups with the varying lighting. Here's a 10 shot group I shot this past Saturday with open sights BRed at 25 yards with my new remanufactured Hatsan Mod 125 Sniper .25 Vortex:

(https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-wlbbM_6moqQ/Um86dbDzgFI/AAAAAAAAAkA/lFlFiWxqvaY/s330/Hatsan+Mod+125+Sniper+.25+Vortex+10+shot+group+BRed+25+yards+open+sights+.jpg)

Not exactly my best effort. But at least the lighting was consistent enuf for me to obtain consistent grouping. The inner white square is 1/2". Screwed up 4 of the 10 shots. The one at 6 o'clock was definitely the result of pushing the rifle down slightly as I shot. The other three may have been due to a slight failure to maintain a proper sight picture. I have a tendency to stop focusing on the front sight.

As for PCPs, Nope! Not going to happen. The closest I'll come to a PCP is my newly acquired Crosman 1400 .22 pump air rifle. Sweet shooting rifle! And so easy too! Gives me a taste of what it would be like having a PCP. But for right now it's strictly my super magnum springers & pump air rifles.
Title: Re: Hatsan Mod 125 super magnum optics killer extraordinaire!
Post by: SpringerForever on October 30, 2013, 03:18:39 AM
I've had my EOTech SP2 on my Sniper 125 for over a year and no issues. They are tested on BMG .50's and seem to take a lot of
beating.

I don't know how I missed your post but I did.

Very nice optic! But I just priced it & holy smokes is it ever expensive! For that kind of money I'd just as soon spend just a little bit more & buy a SWFA SS scope. Altho I like the compactness & quick sight picture capability of a red dot/reflex optic I'd rather have a working fixed power scope or better yet a working variable power scope. Would definitely like to get a SWFA SS because they're great values, have a great warranty & CS &, most importantly, are rated for 50 cals (& supposedly AGs).

Thank you for sharing.
Title: Re: Hatsan Mod 125 super magnum optics killer extraordinaire!
Post by: Nathan on October 30, 2013, 10:52:59 AM
Back in 2003/2004 there was a airgun publication done online called Addictive Airgunning. Some of you older shooters may remember this. There was a guy named Wayne who tried lining his scope rings with epoxy on a RWS model 48 he claimed broke 3 scopes and a BAM B-21. He claimed it kept even non airgun scopes from breaking. I have a pdf copy of that issue on one of my computers. Send me a PM with a e mail address Springer,  and I'll send it to you and you might give it a try. What have you got to loose, but another scope and a few dollars for some epoxy.

P.S. I have never tried it myself.

Nathan
Title: Re: Hatsan Mod 125 super magnum optics killer extraordinaire!
Post by: SpringerForever on October 31, 2013, 01:22:51 AM
Nathan, just sent you a PM.
Title: Re: Hatsan Mod 125 super magnum optics killer extraordinaire!
Post by: SpringerForever on November 02, 2013, 01:28:21 AM
I wrote too soon about the

       "... very oldie but goodie, very cosmetically challenged, Bushnell Scopechief 3-9x32 Japanese is doing just fine."

Not so fine anymore. It only lasted ~100 shots before the reticle broke. Happened just today. And I had high hopes for the scope. First scope that, believe it or not, reliably tracked. I so wanted it to succeed for that reason alone! Reliable tracking from a scope less than a 5th of the cost of a Hawke Sidewinder! Imagine that! Oh well ...

On to the next victim ... errr ... I mean candidate. This one is another oldie & (very) hopefully a goodie made in Japan Tasco 4-16x40 AO. Very nice looking scope considering its age. Almost afraid to put it on the scope killer.

Don't know what I'll do if this one fails. I really like the simplicity of open sights but I just don't have the eyesight for it.

With that in mind, I've got two more victims in mind: an Aeon 6-24x50 & a SWFA 10x42. Both sellers claim the scopes will survive on a super magnum but at this point I'm more than just a little skeptical. Neither will offer a refund if the scope doesn't. Just replacement. I guess at worst I'll be getting a new scope every month or so. And I'll get plenty of additional practice diagnosing scope issues, re-mounting & re-zeroing scopes. I'll be able to do it my sleep! So long as it doesn't lead to scope nightmares, I'll be fine with that. :-)
Title: Re: Hatsan Mod 125 super magnum optics killer extraordinaire!
Post by: SpringerForever on November 16, 2013, 10:57:33 PM
For those that haven't ever seen a broken wire reticle here's what the broken reticle on the Bushnell Scopechief 3-9x32 Japanese looks like:

(https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-hqIFdyoPwrU/Uogvrp_eNqI/AAAAAAAAAnE/86vEErSWVI0/w755-h670-no/Bushnell+Scopechief+3-9x32+Japanese+Left+90.jpg)
Title: Re: Hatsan Mod 125 super magnum optics killer extraordinaire!
Post by: SpringerForever on November 16, 2013, 11:06:04 PM
Wonders of wonders!

The latest & greatest victim ... err ... candidate is holding up! At least so far! +370 shots so far! Absolutely amazing! And the scope is ... drum roll ... a

                                        Tasco 4-16x40 AO Japanese

Couldn't resist! Yeah, I know, a whole lot of exclamation points! What can I write? I'm very, very pleasantly/happily surprised that this scope is still going strong. And still at approximately a fifth of the cost of a Hawke Sidewinder.

It tracks accurately!

It holds zero during a shooting session!

It holds zero between shooting sessions!

I think (I hope) I've got a winner!

Might be a bit premature but I bought another one off of eBay. Hopefully it holds up as well.

Or maybe I just got lucky? Only time will tell.
Title: Re: Hatsan Mod 125 super magnum optics killer extraordinaire!
Post by: SpringerForever on December 16, 2013, 10:47:19 PM
The Tasco 4-16x40 AO Japanese is still going strong at 650+ shots!

Quite amazing!

It still tracks accurately!

It still holds zero during a shooting session!

It still holds zero between shooting sessions!

Might finally have a winner here!
Title: Re: Hatsan Mod 125 super magnum optics killer extraordinaire!
Post by: SpringerForever on January 04, 2014, 12:58:55 AM
Just another update.

900+ shots & counting for the made in Japan Tasco 4-16x40 AO scope bought off eBay for a 1/5th of the price of a Hawke Sidewinder!

And that's on a true super magnum! A Hatsan Mod 125 Sniper Vortex .25. Peak FPE has been 30+ with JSB Exact King 25.39gr pellets.
Title: Re: Hatsan Mod 125 super magnum optics killer extraordinaire!
Post by: triggerfest on January 04, 2014, 04:17:02 AM
Could it also be that the Vortex gasram is more friendly on scopes compared with a spring in the 125 ?

I'm considering a Hawke Panorama on the 125, this scope is made with one tube and has a glass edged reticle...
Title: Re: Hatsan Mod 125 super magnum optics killer extraordinaire!
Post by: Topend Yobbo on January 04, 2014, 04:19:43 AM
Sounds like your on a winner mate , good luck.
Do you have a little fenced off scope graveyard in your back yard? ;D
Title: Re: Hatsan Mod 125 super magnum optics killer extraordinaire!
Post by: Trigger man on January 04, 2014, 05:16:12 AM
And I definitely don't have an unlimited bank account! Which is why I've resorted to trying to find some oldie but goodies made in Japan scopes at reasonable prices. Mostly on eBay.
There were "dang" few Magnum AG's ten years ago, so it's not surprising that you destroyed vintage glass ill-suited for such trauma. I noticed one candidate missing from your collection... a Beemans Blue Ribbon (a scope specifically designed for AG abuse).

About the leapers.... what exactly failed, and what was Leaper's response?

Interesting read...

https://www.pyramydair.com/article/They_asked_for_it_Leapers_scopes_July_2005/23

-kenny-
Title: Re: Hatsan Mod 125 super magnum optics killer extraordinaire!
Post by: Nico5999 on January 04, 2014, 03:28:22 PM
On my Hatsan 125 I have a Leapers UTG 3-12x44 SWATIRMD True strength scope.  It busted the first one but I sent it back and the new one is holding up nicely.
Title: Re: Hatsan Mod 125 super magnum optics killer extraordinaire!
Post by: JR on January 04, 2014, 05:22:41 PM
I think the ram guns and tuned spring guns are easier on scopes just because the shot cycle is a little smoother. I have a CP 4-16x44mm on my 125 Vortex and a Trail XL and both in 22 cal and have been ok so far. If a gun had a bad seal or shooting light pellets so the piston hit I can see it jarring the scope harder. A stock out of the box spring gun has extra movement and vibration that can kill the best of scope. Even a scope built for springer's can fail, sometimes you can pick the best of everything and something breaks, just how it is.
Title: Re: Hatsan Mod 125 super magnum optics killer extraordinaire!
Post by: SpringerForever on January 07, 2014, 12:55:16 AM
Could it also be that the Vortex gasram is more friendly on scopes compared with a spring in the 125 ?

I'm considering a Hawke Panorama on the 125, this scope is made with one tube and has a glass edged reticle...

Could be ... but that hasn't been my experience.

I've been shooting my Hatsan Mod 125 Sniper .25s almost exclusively. NPSS & Vortex. I bought the NPSS version used & received it 6/1/13 & I've had the remanufactured Vortex version since 9/25/13. The latest optics damage has been on one of those two AGs. And the NPSS is rather 'weak' for a super magnum, 'only' outputting 25-26 FPE currently. Which, unfortunately, is where my latest & (not so) greatest Vortex (replacement for the 1st one) has dropped to. Probably due to the typical OEM piston seal. I installed a JM/ARH piston seal in the NPSS & it's doing fine as far as holding/maintaining FPE over time. My NPSS has always been in the 25-26 FPE range. I use the JSB Exact King 25.39gr pellets almost exclusively & all FPE #s are based on those.

But I'm pretty sure that any optic would 'die' even sooner on my favorite .22 super magnum, a coil sprung powered Walther Talon Magnum (AKA Hatsan Mod 125). Altho I haven't shot it much since I received it on 7/1/13. Also bought this one used &, surprise to me, refurbished but it's a powerhouse & I got it for a great price so I've got no reason to complain. Nicer looking too in terms of the bluing than the Hatsans I've had. Not that it matters to me. I've got 310 chronied shots thru it & ~350 total shots but I haven't shot it since 9/8/13. Just addicted to the .25s. Even tho, right now, it's my most powerful super magnum at ~28 FPE. Kinda sad.

Did briefly convert the NPSS back to the OEM coil spring & the FPE jumped to 29+ FPE with the JSB Exact King 25.39gr pellets! But I quickly converted right back to the NPSS. Honestly, didn't even give it enuf time for breakin but I thought I already had my powerhouse .25 in my Vortex. Just a bit premature & I might convert it back to the OEM coil spring if I can't get the Vortex sorted out.

I'm actually going 'backward' in my scope selection. Bought my 1st optics when I took up AGing again last April & I went 'big'. And illuminated. Right now I'm at the stage of selecting only relatively low magnification non-AO/non-PA (Parallax Adjustment) scopes with simple duplex or 30-30 or something similar reticles. I've decided I don't want to deal with the extra complexity of the AO/PA scopes & illumination. I think for my purposes both are unnecessary. But I might change my mind. At least about the AO/PA. Kinda too early to tell. FWIW, weight has never been an issue for me so it's not something I even consider when selecting a scope. I'll note it but it doesn't factor into my selection process.

Most of the optics I've owned have been single tubed. And at least 5 have had glass etched reticles. Doesn't matter any more for me. 1st criteria now is: Was it made in Japan? Everything follows from that. Unless I can get a scope real cheap :-) & then I'm willing to take a chance. At worst, it stops working on my super magnums & I get a replacement/refund. Preferably a refund.

Good luck with your scope choice.
Title: Re: Hatsan Mod 125 super magnum optics killer extraordinaire!
Post by: SpringerForever on January 07, 2014, 01:14:04 AM
Sounds like your on a winner mate , good luck.
Do you have a little fenced off scope graveyard in your back yard? ;D

Thank you for the encouragement.

And, nope, no scope graveyard! :-)

Luckily I've been able to return a few for a refund & I've given the others away to brothers who know about the issues I've had with them.

Interestingly enuf, relatively recently, one of my brother's got to experience 1st hand what it's like to shoot with a Hawke scope on a Hatsan Mod 125TH .177 which is an absolute laser at 25 yards. When the scope is working properly. Heck, I'm being too harsh. 'All' that happens is that the POI shifts during a shooting session. And between shooting sessions. Not exactly confidence inspiring. Coupled with the delayed turret adjustment corrections even less so. But, hey, they were free! Zero dollars for, not one but two, Hawke Sidewinders so he'd better not complain! :-) Just kidding. If I had the 'guts' I'd have used them both for target practice.
Title: Re: Hatsan Mod 125 super magnum optics killer extraordinaire!
Post by: SpringerForever on January 07, 2014, 01:24:27 AM
And I definitely don't have an unlimited bank account! Which is why I've resorted to trying to find some oldie but goodies made in Japan scopes at reasonable prices. Mostly on eBay.
There were "dang" few Magnum AG's ten years ago, so it's not surprising that you destroyed vintage glass ill-suited for such trauma. I noticed one candidate missing from your collection... a Beemans Blue Ribbon (a scope specifically designed for AG abuse).

About the leapers.... what exactly failed, and what was Leaper's response?

Interesting read...

https://www.pyramydair.com/article/They_asked_for_it_Leapers_scopes_July_2005/23

-kenny-

Don't know what you'd call the Tasco currently on my Hatsan Mod 125 Sniper Vortex .25? If it isn't vintage I don't know what is?

Leapers lost zero. Got a free replacement. And it's currently on a coil spring powered Hatsan Mod 125 Sniper .22 I gave to one of my brother's. Shot just enuf to confirm zero before giving it to him but that was it. Did warn my brother to not be surprised if it failed. And I gave him a LNIB made in Japan 3-9x?? Tasco as a backup. He hasn't even shot it yet. Been too busy with hunting season & his other weapons.

Another brand I'll never put on any of my guns.
Title: Re: Hatsan Mod 125 super magnum optics killer extraordinaire!
Post by: SpringerForever on January 07, 2014, 01:32:20 AM
I was reminded by one of the posts of my experience with a Hawke Varmint on a RWS/Diana 54. For those not familiar with the AG it isolates the recoil from the shooter but not the scope & it's a very, very accurate springer as a result. Couldn't shoot it worth a darn with the Varmint tho. Both went to a brother. Didn't much like the RWS/Diana 54 anyway. Or the RWS/Diana 56.
Title: Re: Hatsan Mod 125 super magnum optics killer extraordinaire!
Post by: mpbby on April 28, 2015, 12:08:35 PM
Springer, I hope you're doing fine with your recent scopes.

Nevertheless, what do you think about trying the Diana ZR mount?

As I am learning since April/2013.., scopes on springers suffer from 'vibrations' and 'recoils'

As far as I know, gas ram would not have 'vibrations', just 'recoils'.  So, the ZR mount could be the solution.

With coil springs, you will always have more or less 'vibrations', but if the 'recoils' become "almost zero", I think it could help a lot.

 
Title: Re: Hatsan Mod 125 super magnum optics killer extraordinaire!
Post by: SpringerForever on April 28, 2015, 02:09:39 PM
mpbby, I don't know that I'm 'buying' the idea.

The 1st time I saw it, I instantly wondered about recoil in the other direction. Didn't even bother posting about it tho. But I know others have.

Just doesn't make much sense to me to only address recoil in one direction & then on top of that potentially aggravating recoil in the other direction! Essentially: backward spring/ram recoil, forward piston impact recoil & then forward scope mount recoil. That looks like a triple recoil to me. Am I wrong?
Title: Re: Hatsan Mod 125 super magnum optics killer extraordinaire!
Post by: mpbby on April 28, 2015, 04:36:17 PM
I really hope you are.

I'm with the 350 disassembled waiting for a brand new oem trigger housing; so, I could not start trying the ZR about 'repeatability'.

By now, as I was also suspicious about that spring position.., all I have is a fantastic explanation about the way the ZR should work.

Please take a look at the answers to my 'comments' at this link.

http://www.ctcustomairguns.com/hectors-airgun-blog/a-high-speed-analysis-of-the-way-the-zr-mounts-work (http://www.ctcustomairguns.com/hectors-airgun-blog/a-high-speed-analysis-of-the-way-the-zr-mounts-work)

If you buy the 'free floating' idea .., besides to consider the built in droop compensation effects to your rifle, be alert about the free height from the mount base surface and the rings' bottom (without precision, about "2+" mm in TOTAL); if the scope has more than this (below the vertical turret and the tube wall), its lower part will touch the mount base an it will behave as a 'seesaw' (you would have to shim both rings).

Luckily, I bought a Hawke 4x32 simple model that fitted easy.

As I have some legal restrictions (Brazil) to scopes "bigger" than 4x32, my ('POI shifting' endless nightmare) current hopes are in this "life vest" mount.

Mr. Tom Gaylord (B.B.) at Pyramyd Air / Airgun Academy has promised he will do the ZR review (deeper than he did on March 6), but he is a very busy guy, and we don't know when.
Title: Re: Hatsan Mod 125 super magnum optics killer extraordinaire!
Post by: SpringerForever on April 30, 2015, 01:33:57 AM
I still don't like the idea of introducing a moving part into the equation. Just something else to fail. And I've had enuf aggravation chasing down scope issues that I'm not about to introduce another variable into the equation.

Good luck with the ZR mount & your 350.

RWS 350? The one in your signature? If it is, one of my brother's has got a T01 (yeah, it's old)  in .177 & it has had an old made in Japan Bushnell Elite 3200(?) 4-16(?)x40(?) mounted on it that is still going strong. He bought it new & I don't believe it's been used on anything else. It's mounted directly to the dovetail with 2pc rings. In other words no droop correction. Absolutely no issues with the scope. And talk about some nice glass! Very, very nice. So clear! And so forgiving of eye relief. Turned out the 350 had a broken spring so I replaced it for him with, I believe, a Vortek kit. Still, even with the broken spring the FPE was ~23 with its favorite pellet. I think it's at ~25 FPE with the new spring. Or at least it was. It seems that Vortek springs weaken over a relatively short time. Or is that considered break-in?
Title: Re: Hatsan Mod 125 super magnum optics killer extraordinaire!
Post by: mpbby on April 30, 2015, 12:20:51 PM
Since brand new, April/2013, the 350 learning curve has about "17" k rounds.

Main springs' performance is still an area I'm confused..

About broken oem springs, Diana told me that "3-4" k rounds would be the "normal" lifespan expectation. According to the supplier's site (Schneider/Germany) it would be a 3.1 mm wire = 0.122".

The last oem springs had exactly the "weaken over a relatively short time" syndrome.  Just to pass the idea, starting about "21+" fpe and dropping to "15+" after "1-2" k rounds. They didn't break, just shrunk about 2-".

I'm about start trying a Vortek drop in spring with 0.128" wire.  Also with a top hat, although .. "another variable into the equation".

About scopes, and regarding 'POI shifting', Hawke's customer service has suggested 3 features = mono-tube + glass etched reticles + coil spring at the erector tube (instead the usual leaf spring).  If you search for 'coil spring' at their site there are some Endurance models that match.





Title: Re: Hatsan Mod 125 super magnum optics killer extraordinaire!
Post by: SpringerForever on April 30, 2015, 08:22:29 PM
Found out the specs on my brother's made in Japan Bushnell scope on his 350: 5-15x50 AO Elite 3200. Just in case you or anyone is interested. If so,  try eBay.

Turns out I was mistaken about the RWS 350 .177 T01 having a broken spring. It's original spring is still going strong. It's his RWS 48 .177 T01 that had a broken spring. I'm pretty sure that my brother didn't have anywhere close to 3-4K rounds thru his 48 when I replaced the spring. No idea how many rounds before it broke because he never checked it. It wasn't until I pulled it apart for some general maintenance that we discovered the broken spring. Replaced with Vortek kit.

I was also wrong about the 350's FPE. Originally had it at ~23 FPE but it's actually closer to ~17 FPE with it's favorite pellet, the JSB Exact Heavy. Strangely enuf the 48 is actually more powerful, shooting it's favorite pellet, the RWS R10 at almost 19 FPE. Spring in the 350 is probably tired? Real tired. :-)

Good luck with the 350.

Thanks for the scope selection tips. AFAIK all the Hawke scopes I tried had all the features listed. Didn't make any difference tho. At least not with my Hatsan super magnums.