At44 .177 for small game hunting?

[Ribbonstone]

I like the rifle....it's nothing fancy,not really pretty, but it's been a solid performer for the last 10 years (and the newer ones are a bit nicer finished that the old ones).

I just settled on a lot of shots (non-reged) at a moderate .177 power (about 16 foot pounds) as best suited to my use.   You might find more power/fewer shots more suited to your uses....or less power, more shots.

The single shot versions aren't much different in performance...are a bit more complicated internally as there is a ratching system for the simple magazines (rather than clock-spring wound plastic mags) but the basic "guts" of the AT44's remains the same.


For a guy who likes to adjusts things,,,even when they don't really need adjusting...it's a good system.

The pressurized air tube and valve are a seperate detachable unit.  IF you unscrew the air tube, the dangerous part is removed WITHOUT needing to dump the gaswhen you want to dissassemble it to adjust something like the striker, striker spring tension, transfer port, etc.  If you need to do something to the dangerous part (the pressurized tube and valve) thenyou do need to de-gas, but the rest of the rifle can rest safe and sound away from the work bench and just deal with the tube/valve.



Don't know what version you are looking at as being a good buy/low price.If it's one of the orgtinal short tube,NON QE versions....then it's 180cc'sand no factory LDC. I rather like those,even though I will have to buy an LDC for populated area uses,,,,it gives the easy option of LDC or bare barrel.  If it is the QE version, then pretty well consider the LDC as an "always there" part.   If it is the longer/larger volume air tube version,then can pretty well count on getting more shots at whatever level of power than the short tube version.

[SwampHunter]

The one I was looking at is the AT44 long, non-qe version

[Ribbonstone]

For most folks, the long tube would be a plus...it's kind of like a bigger gas tank in a car...won't make it go faster, just go a bit longer on a fill up.

QE system has the blessing of being factory original and not easily transferred to some other rifle...if anyone has a problem with being quiet, they can take it up with the maker.

Can think of a lot of lower cost PCP's that would be much worse choices as a first PCP.  Not a whole lot of surprises,  well documented fixes if you get into trouble, and have been good serving rifles long term (like 10 years).

[SwampHunter]

Actually, I wanted a shorter rifle for hauling around the woods in my pickup. And the ones on clearance are the old models without the qe system. Eventually I will get an at44 at some point, I may not like it but I want to try one. I like the crosman guns, nothing wrong with them just want something different. The flash that I ordered isn't my favorite looking gun by a long shot , but it is supposed to be light and powerful in .25 with decent accuracy. Also my two shooting buddies have a marauder and an Armada, I have a disco and my son has a Maximus so I wanted something new lol.

[Rallyshark]

I think you'll be pleasantly surprised with that Flash

[SwampHunter]

I think you'll be pleasantly surprised with that Flash

  Mr. RallyShark! Randy told me last night that I should read your posts and get with you about any questions, that you were the man to talk to about the flash.

[Back_Roads]

 Being a Hatsan fan there is no doubt one of theses days I will get "Flashed" 

[SwampHunter]

Being a Hatsan fan there is no doubt one of theses days I will get "Flashed" 

I couldn't pass up the .25 refurbished for $205 shipped

[Rallyshark]

I think you'll be pleasantly surprised with that Flash

  Mr. RallyShark! Randy told me last night that I should read your posts and get with you about any questions, that you were the man to talk to about the flash.

There are few folks on here that have gone down the Flash tuning rabbit hole   Those little guns have so much tuning potential for sure.  You'll be hard pressed to find another gun that is that light weight, and capable of so much power.  You'll find that Flash in .25 to be quite the little thumper, haha.

[Ribbonstone]

OK..that's a change from .177's...but if hunting is on your mind, likely a good change.

Don't have a Flash....do have the same basic "guts" in a different stock (pup),so do know how they work and what to expect from the normal stocked version.
A lot more energy. Pretty typically,will like heavier .22 pellet better than standard weight pellets, put out something between 30 and 38 foot pounds per shot,but not so many good shots as it's only a 165cc's air tube.
Several video reviews out there...some are pretty even handed, some are pretty bias (I swear...some folks would only say good things even if an airgun maker accidently shipped them a cow-pie).

All in all, seems that the owners generally like them, shoot well.

3 main complaints have been:
1. stock is ugly.  Well...DUH....did you order one without seeing a picture of it?  On the plus side, you'll not be worried about taking it out hard-hunting and collecting scratches.

2.Mag. doesn't rest solidly immobile when in placce.  MIne will rotate a bit,but it's rotating on center to the broew and it makes no difference I can detect (and I forced that rotation in testing).  Some have some front to back shake...my two don't.  Belive that's what the 0-ring built into the mag's clear rear face is for (it's a slack-reducer)

3. It doesn't get a lot of shots.  If you are draining +30 foot pounds of energy out of an unregulated 165cc tank,  long counts of good shots just are not going to happen. 

All in all,for more hunting and less plinking, think it's a really good choice.

[SwampHunter]

OK..that's a change from .177's...but if hunting is on your mind, likely a good change.

Don't have a Flash....do have the same basic "guts" in a different stock (pup),so do know how they work and what to expect from the normal stocked version.
A lot more energy. Pretty typically,will like heavier .22 pellet better than standard weight pellets, put out something between 30 and 38 foot pounds per shot,but not so many good shots as it's only a 165cc's air tube.
Several video reviews out there...some are pretty even handed, some are pretty bias (I swear...some folks would only say good things even if an airgun maker accidently shipped them a cow-pie).

All in all, seems that the owners generally like them, shoot well.

3 main complaints have been:
1. stock is ugly.  Well...DUH....did you order one without seeing a picture of it?  On the plus side, you'll not be worried about taking it out hard-hunting and collecting scratches.

2.Mag. doesn't rest solidly immobile when in placce.  MIne will rotate a bit,but it's rotating on center to the broew and it makes no difference I can detect (and I forced that rotation in testing).  Some have some front to back shake...my two don't.  Belive that's what the 0-ring built into the mag's clear rear face is for (it's a slack-reducer)

3. It doesn't get a lot of shots.  If you are draining +30 foot pounds of energy out of an unregulated 165cc tank,  long counts of good shots just are not going to happen. 

All in all,for more hunting and less plinking, think it's a really good choice.

OK..that's a change from .177's...but if hunting is on your mind, likely a good change.

Don't have a Flash....do have the same basic "guts" in a different stock (pup),so do know how they work and what to expect from the normal stocked version.
A lot more energy. Pretty typically,will like heavier .22 pellet better than standard weight pellets, put out something between 30 and 38 foot pounds per shot,but not so many good shots as it's only a 165cc's air tube.
Several video reviews out there...some are pretty even handed, some are pretty bias (I swear...some folks would only say good things even if an airgun maker accidently shipped them a cow-pie).

All in all, seems that the owners generally like them, shoot well.

3 main complaints have been:
1. stock is ugly.  Well...DUH....did you order one without seeing a picture of it?  On the plus side, you'll not be worried about taking it out hard-hunting and collecting scratches.

2.Mag. doesn't rest solidly immobile when in placce.  MIne will rotate a bit,but it's rotating on center to the broew and it makes no difference I can detect (and I forced that rotation in testing).  Some have some front to back shake...my two don't.  Belive that's what the 0-ring built into the mag's clear rear face is for (it's a slack-reducer)

3. It doesn't get a lot of shots.  If you are draining +30 foot pounds of energy out of an unregulated 165cc tank,  long counts of good shots just are not going to happen. 

All in all,for more hunting and less plinking, think it's a really good choice.

I thought that the .25 may be better suited to what I am looking for at the moment as hunting season will be here soon again, after talking with you though I am going to have to have one of those AT44 eventually!
   Glad to hear you like your pup, I agree with you 100% on the reviewers, honestly I don't trust any of them! Yes it is an ugly rifle, I'm probably gonna spray some camo on it so it's harder to see how ugly it is lol. From the members here though I have heard alot of good things about them and they are one of the lightest .25s that has decent power, that I have seen anyway. I figure if it's ugly enough to scratch up, accurate enough to hit that cambells soup gold badge at 50y, has decent power and is reliable...it should be a great little hunting rifle!

[Ribbonstone]

Considered the .25.  Don't find myself reaching for the .25's as often as I though I would but my uses aren't the same as yours.

[SwampHunter]

Considered the .25.  Don't find myself reaching for the .25's as often as I though I would but my uses aren't the same as yours.

I do have a disco still for close range stuff, it just isn't very accurate at the speed it is currently shooting. I'm hoping to get that straightened out too but haven't had a chronograph. I should have one in a few days though, along with the flash sometimes this week. When I get it all I will start a new thread because I'm sure I will need help lol

[gendoc]

There are few folks on here that have gone down the Flash tuning rabbit hole   Those little guns have so much tuning potential for sure.  You'll be hard pressed to find another gun that is that light weight, and capable of so much power.  You'll find that Flash in .25 to be quite the little thumper, haha.

i agree !!
i have the .25 flash and its a powerful night hunter with sightmark photon xt NV
doing flower bed and garden critter extermination.
it likes the 28gr ben domes better than the jsb 25's......
armadillo's fold with the ben domes 

[Rallyshark]

Funny you said you were going to camo it, I just did this today!  I will do the scope later, and I'm not sure if I'm going to do the stock or not.  I used the Mossy Oak Obsession camo shotgun wrap on it   You can remove the wrap if you want, and it doesn't look that bad if you take your time. 

[gendoc]

looks good !
now you need to hydro the stock 

[SwampHunter]

That looks awesome!!

[gendoc]

i see that hatsanusa is offering a wood stock version of the flash now.....
wonder if next will be a camo syn ??

[Rallyshark]

looks good !
now you need to hydro the stock 

I may wrap the stock, buy I don't think I'll spend the $$ on hydro dipping it.  I mean, it is a Flash after all.  That wrap does pretty well, especially if you use a heat gun.  It conforms to curves without too much trouble.  I use that gun for hunting only, which is the reason I decided to do a little camo on it.  That camo blends VERY well.  I set it on the ground earlier, and it just looked like an empty stock sitting there,lol! 

That looks awesome!!

Thanks!

i see that hatsanusa is offering a wood stock version of the flash now.....
wonder if next will be a camo syn ??

I kinda doubt they'll offer a camo stock.  It seems they only offer that kind of stuff to the European market usually for some odd reason? 

[gendoc]

my son owns a custom cabinet shop and he is very good with detail finishing (painting) stuff.
he took his .25 flashpup and painted it all desert tan after several steps of preparing the wood & metal surfaces. it looks very nice and if you set it down and walked away from it in the woods, you might not find it...it blends perfectly.