Testing the "new" Haenel Suhl 312

[AirScopes]

So I took the Haenel Suhl 312 I just bought out to the 10 meter range and sighted in in 3 shots. Then reeled off 25 shots in a hole that just got a little larger here and there till it was raggedly 3/4ths round off-hand, seated. A nice smooth shooter, easy cocking, sweet trigger. Must have been lubed as it is smoking, but no real diesel smell. Quiet as a staple gun. Then I pulled out the chrony and shot a ten-string. dev. 9, low 608, high 617, sd.3 ave 613. Feels like there is some recoil damping, but I don't think there is.

I think this was a good deal... Must be overlooked?

Richard

[lizzie]

Wow- sounds like a nice-shooting gun.

[AirScopes]

I'm pretty happy with it for $200 shipped. Looks like it'll be easy to strip down the stock and do something fun!

I've had some trouble finding any real info on it, but I did find this which makes sense to me: "They used a multiple spring/rubber buffer recoil-suppressing system"... and this is a nice feature: "A 'sleeve' breech permits direct access to a curious loading tray, formed by cutting away the top half of the barrel, and automatically seats a pellet when the breech is closed."

More info on a translated page here:

http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=ru&u=http://airgunlib.ru/page.php%3Fid%3D203&ei=0_97TrnCIubL0QHX6vTmDw&sa=X&oi=translate&ct=result&resnum=8&ved=0CEcQ7gEwBw&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dhaenel%2Bsuhl%2B312%26hl%3Den%26client%3Dfirefox-a%26hs%3Dnxc%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:en-US:official%26prmd%3Dimvns

Apparently it is interesting to take apart!

Richard

[RedFeather]

Very popular Cold War guns from what I've heard.  Almost sprang for one, myself, although they don't come up that often.  Sounds like you got a great deal, too.

[AirScopes]

I see a bunch of them on the eGun.de, but they never seem to come up as "international shipping". It is like they are hording them! I'm gonna get something off that auction site yet!

I like what having the 312 has done for my collection -- my signature seems to be maturing ;-)

Richard

[SAADE]

Richard:
"Suhl" is the name of the region in Germany where the Haenel gun works was located.

Quote from BB of Ags:  "The Haenel Company was founded in 1840 by Carl Gottlieb Haenel. The company originally produced military weapons, then sporting guns and later airguns. The company was sold around 1890 and the Haenel brand name has changed hands many times since then. Haenel airguns were most recently made by Suhler Jagd-und Sportwaffen GmbH, in Suhl, Germany. Waffentechnik in Suhl currently has control. Identity of the company itself and all of the records were lost when the firm was integrated into the communist state-run firearms industry in the late 1940s. Therefore, accurately dating and identifying every Haenel airgun is not always possible.
Haenel guns are all stamped with the Haenel name and model number. The 1926 catalog only lists the Models I, II, III, and IV air rifles and no air pistols. The 1937 catalog lists the Model 10 and IV ER and VR, and four air pistols including the 28R and 50.
The Luger-style Model 28 air pistol and the Model 33 air rifle are Haenel´s most famous models. Designed by Hugo Schmeisser, of sub-machine gun fame, the Model 33 was the basis for the later Haenel 49, 310, 400, 510, LP55R and the Anschütz 275. The Schmiesser brothers worked at the factory for about twenty years.
Haenel had been noted for exceptionally high quality, but standards seemed to almost vanish under the state-owned operation. Quality improved some after the unification of Germany.
The key reference on post-WWII Haenel airguns was compiled by Ernst Dieter (a pseudonym) (2002), a former top engineer at Haenel: Luftgewehre und Luftpistolen nach 1945 aus Suhl und Zella-Mehlis."
 

[AirScopes]

SAADE,

Yeah, I knew about the Suhl as a location, but hadn't seen this other stuff. The Anschutz is another I have some feelers out on, but I have to start thinking about when it becomes redundant... I am really liking target guns right now.

Thanks for the info!

Richard

[SAADE]

Oh brother...Anschutz next? $$$ Can a Steyr rifle be far behind?

Only the best eh Richard? Sounds great!

[AirScopes]

I got an offer on one that I am having a really hard time turning down. a 2002 side-lever mini for $500 in nice condition. I see them around for $800+ It is missing the rear sight, which is a significant loss, but I happen to have a rear diopter that is not in use...

I don't know about "only the best" but I definitely like having had a varied experience with guns... and it isn't always the expensive ones that I am most pleased with.

Richard

[AirScopes]

SAADE,

Did you see? I did get the Anschutz too... now someone is offering a Walther LG55... oy...

Richard

[SAADE]

Your my hero Richard, can I borrow the Sidelever Mini this weekend, you have too many toys to play with. LOL

[AirScopes]

What do I do when I run out of room in my signature for guns I want to list?

Richard

[ronbeaux]

Maybe an Anschutz 250 recoiless 10M with peeps??

[AirScopes]

ronbeaux... you trying to get rid of that? I meant I don't have any more characters to add guns to my signature here on GTA... maybe that means I have to stop buying them.

Richard

[crayfish]

Haenel 312 is still a good rifle. I have had same one long time ago. I was crazy and sold her.

[redone1992]

sounds like a nice-shooting gun

[AirScopes]

Redone, I think it is pretty fantastic. I'm curious to take it apart and look at the recoil reduction as it is not something like there is on the RWS54 or FWB300... I'm all stocked up on my target guns now just before winter and no shooting outdoors...