HNGD - Hatsan Mod 25 SuperCharger

[ashf9999]

Well Pellpax have just delivered my .22 Hatsan mod 25 SuperCharger air pistol. I got it as they recently had an offer on the .22 version @ £75; otherwise I’d have probably ignored it. Reviews I’ve seen have been mixed. Its been out for a while (at least 13 years), but this is the first time I’ve handled one.

It’s enormous.

Very much like a modern take on the BSA Scorpion in terms of size. That said, handling also isn’t too bad with this one either. It’s quite an improvement over the (modern) Hatsan-made Webley Typhoon break-barrel - though I’m comparing that from memory, as mine is an early one and somewhere in the roof. Trigger is apparently a Quattro; let off is decent enough given the price. It’s got the safety that’s positioned Gamo-style, so in front of the trigger. Apart from the heft, pistol ergonomics are good. The grips are very much in the Tempest style (so it’s definitely R/H biased with a thumb shelf on the left), but it also has the finger grooves on the front strap and a slightly rubberised feel. I don’t think it’s the type of material that’ll degrade though, which is encouraging.

Shooting is interesting. Out of the box it was shooting high and left - this was with neither a mod or the barrel cocking extension fitted. The Typhoon had a push-on plastic affair. It’s threaded metal with this - bit like a skinny muzzle brake. Initially I tried a Huggett Atom mod, but quickly switched it to a steel Parker Hale. This has very much tamed the muzzle flip, but taken the overall length to 24”. I haven’t weighed it yet, but as the base pistol is knocking on the door of a couple of kilos, it’s a beast. The P/H makes it fractionally muzzle-heavy, which is no bad thing with the way this shoots.

Be aware the barrel thread has a slight ‘shelf’, so if the mod doesn’t have an undercut it won’t thread on tight to the muzzle. The Atom didn’t, the P/H does.

Cocking is a swine - not from the spring tension, but the barrel pivot screw is clamped up so tight, plus it needs a goodly whack to overcome the wedge detent. The pivot bolt has a keeper screw. No idea as to velocities, but fair to say it wallops things well at 10m.

So all in all I can see it as being a fun plinker, or suitable for (very) close range dispatch.

[TonyL]

Enjoy your new pistol. It sounds fun.

It'll be interesting to hear how things go as it runs in. I wonder if the solid detent becomes a little easier or if it's worth backing the hinge boot off one notch and stripping, cleaning and lubing the detent, although it might be the layout and spring tension that makes it so firm.

[EricP]

The early version, the Mod 25 without the adjustable trigger, was my first springer pistol. It was powerful and looked like something out of Star Wars, but I found it was a pig to shoot one handed.
I sold mine, but have been tempted by the supercharger variant.

[ashf9999]

Enjoy your new pistol. It sounds fun.

It'll be interesting to hear how things go as it runs in. I wonder if the solid detent becomes a little easier or if it's worth backing the hinge boot off one notch and stripping, cleaning and lubing the detent, although it might be the layout and spring tension that makes it so firm.

I’ll see if I can slacken off the pivot a bit yes. No idea why they use a slotted pivot bolt, but a Phillips for the keeper screw.

In terms of the detent, it’s overflowing with grease. Whether there’s a burr inside not helping, or whether they’ve fitted one of Tinbum’s springs behind the wedge, I don’t yet know. Fingers crossed that bit is strippable.

Will let you know.

[Waddy]

I’ll see if I can slacken off the pivot a bit yes. No idea why they use a slotted pivot bolt, but a Phillips for the keeper screw.

In terms of the detent, it’s overflowing with grease. Whether there’s a burr inside not helping, or whether they’ve fitted one of Tinbum’s springs behind the wedge, I don’t yet know. Fingers crossed that bit is strippable.

Will let you know.

I bought a nearly new Hatsan & the detent was very stiff, so stiff it damaged the barrel pivot bolt ! It turned out that while the detent had grease in it there was also a lot of rust & a huge lump of swarf from the detent retaining pin hole.

Once the swarf & rust were removed, then lubed & put back together it was fine.



.

[Shed tuner]

I've always thought there was a gap in the market for a modern BSA scorpion type pistol - looks like you have found it.

Reasonable price, decent trigger, big, brutish and loads of power. Sounds perfect

[hwtyger]

I had 1 years ago. Did 9j(legal here). It was impossible to cock so heavy. Shot well though. Nice ergonomics. But prefer my Diana LP8s. Enjoy yours.

[NewPaul]

I’ve got one but haven't shot it for the longest time, I’m now inspired by this thread to get it out. I used to shoot it regularly at my old club/range and I would consistently whack spinners out at 25yds. Very accurate, hard to cock and a beast of a size for a pistol.

[ashf9999]

I’ve got one but haven't shot it for the longest time, I’m now inspired by this thread to get it out. I used to shoot it regularly at my old club/range and I would consistently whack spinners out at 25yds. Very accurate, hard to cock and a beast of a size for a pistol.

Looks like backing off the pivot bolt by 1 ‘notch’ has improved things no end regarding breaking it. Lockup is still tight, but bearable.

Thought I’d up the weight a bit more by sticking an eby rail adapter and a 551 type (Milbro in this case) sight. God it’s fun…



I may get round to removing the iron sights - rear appears to be a Phillips screw, and front a grub screw. Only slightly annoying thing is the arrestor plate that’s held on by 2 screws (visible just in front of the rear irons). The screw holes are further back than the dovetails, so you can’t just remove the plate and use the integral arrestor stud in any mounts, as they won’t reach the holes. Still, the sight has not affected the balance of the pistol.

[Waddy]

Pellpax have got three of these on a bank holiday offer at 79.99 atm.


Is this pistol coming to the bash ? It'd be interesting to compare it to my .177 SMK XS26 which is a similar size, power & price, but doesn't have anything like the excellent Quatro trigger.




.

[TonyL]

Stop talking about this keenly priced, fun sounding, big handful of a pistol. Sounding far too tempting!

If you do manage to get to The Bash and bring it along, could I have a go please, Pauly?

[NewPaul]

Stop talking about this keenly priced, fun sounding, big handful of a pistol. Sounding far too tempting!

If you do manage to get to The Bash and bring it along, could I have a go please, Pauly?

As you’ll have seen on The Bash thread Tone, I won’t be attending but all being well and Neil being able to put on a July Bash, I’ll bring it along then.

[les allam]

A fellow club member as a super charger,I will have to ask for a go with it next time he brings it to the club.
I’m a big fan of the bsa Scorpion and Diana LP 5 Magnum so will be interested in how it performs.
Les..

[TonyL]

As you’ll have seen on The Bash thread Tone, I won’t be attending but all being well and Neil being able to put on a July Bash, I’ll bring it along then.

Cheers, Pauly.