by B.B. Pelletier
Hatsan’s Torpedo 155 underlever is a large and powerful spring air rifle.
Today, I’ll shoot the Hatsan Torpedo 155 for the first time. As you remember from Part 1, this is a huge, heavy air rifle that the manufacturer lists at 1,000 f.p.s. in the .22 caliber I’m testing.
It has a serial number
In Part 1, I mentioned that I couldn’t find the serial number. Edith looked for it and was unable to find it, either. But it’s there — directly behind the image of a pellet on the left side of the spring tube and looks like the speeding lines of a pellet in flight. Too small for old eyes, I guess. The serial number of the rifle I’m testing is 111124934.
Cocking effort
In the first report, I estimated the cocking effort would be between 60 and 70 lbs. It measures 64 lbs. on my bathroom scale. That makes this a rifle for strong men, and some will not be able to cock it at all. For most people, it’ll be a two-handed operation.
Power
Hatsan rates the .22-caliber Torpedo 155 at 1,000 f.p.s., which means it should handle heavier .22 pellets well. That being the case, I began the test with Beeman Kodiaks. This 21-grain lead pellet is considered a heavy pellet in .22 caliber, plus it’s also one of the most accurate pellets on the market. At the start of the shot string, there were several faster shots; but after the first four were fired, the rifle settled down. After that, it averaged 772 f.p.s. with the Kodiaks. The range, once the velocity stabilized, was from a low of 767 f.p.s. to a high of 779 f.p.s. — a spread of just 12 f.p.s. At the average velocity, this pellet averaged 27.8 foot-pounds of muzzle energy. That’s up in the super-magnum class for springers!
The next pellet I tested was the 18.1-grain JSB Exact Jumbo Heavy. This pellet was a loose fit in the rifle’s breech, and the results were not good. They averaged 779 f.p.s., but the spread went from a low of 669 f.p.s. to a high of 854 f.p.s. That’s 185 f.p.s., which is far too much for good results. At first I thought perhaps the rifle needed to get used to them, but that wasn’t the case. They were just all over the place. At the average velocity they produced 24.4 foot-pounds of energy at the muzzle.
Then I tried the RWS Superdome pellet that weighs 14.5 grains. They averaged 951 f.p.s., but once more the range of velocities was larger — going from 906 to 960 f.p.s. That’s a 54 f.p.s spread. This is another pellet I don’t think will do too well in the rifle in accuracy tests. At the average velocity, this pellet generates 29.13 foot-pounds of muzzle energy.
Can it do 1000?
Yeah, says everyone, but can it really do 1,000 f.p.s.? I was interested, as well, so I shot five RWS Hobbys. Here is a list of the velocities:
Shot —> Velocity
1 ———> 1,000
2 ———> 1,036
3 ———> 1,009
4 ———> 1,009
5 ———> 1,014
The average for that string is 1,014 f.p.s., which gives us an energy of 27.18 foot-pounds. And it answers the question of whether the Hatsan Torpedo 155 can really shoot a .22 pellet at 1,000 f.p.s.
Trigger-pull weight
The Torpedo 155 has a Quattro trigger; so after all testing was completed, I checked the pull weight. This trigger varies greatly, depending on how you pull it. The best (lightest) way is to get down low on the trigger blade and pull back and slightly up. Doing that, the trigger breaks at 6 lbs., 7 oz. with a lot of creep in stage two.
Break-in
The rifle’s action was noisy and stiff when I started the test. As the shot count grew some of the stiffness seemed to disappear. I think this is an air rifle that needs to be broken in over many shots. Some of the Gamos from the later 1980s and early ’90s needed 3,000 to 4,000 shots to become smooth and nice to shoot. But like the Hatsans, they were also stiff and creepy in the beginning. I wouldn’t be surprised to see the cocking effort drop back under 60 lbs. as the rifle breaks in.
Next
The next step with this rifle will be a test of accuracy using the open sights. I will get to learn the rifle’s quirks that way, and also put a few more shots on the action.
BB,
This really is a handsome gun, in my opinion. Really nice woodwork.
The main drawback I can see is the heavy cocking effort. Could this gun be built with a telescoping cocking handle to reduce effort? I’m thinking of how the extending tiller on my trolling motor works.
Les
Les,
That would be possible. It has been done before with sidelevers.
B.B.
B.B.,
One quick question, When you test magnum guns, you test light and heavy pellets. When you do your chrony testing, when you shoot the lighter pellets through it and record the fps, and then shoot heavy pellets and record the fps, is it possible the piston seal is shot, or damaged from shooting the light pellets??? My Ruger Air Mag, after 5 shots with Gamo 7.9grains, was as powerful as my .177 Optimus….It lost MAJOR power (I’m like 100% sure it is the piston seal…..as I already replaced it)…
Your thoughts?
Thanks,
Conor
Conor…
Have you found anything you like yet? I know you were looking at a lot of different rifles.
twotalon
Twotalon,
Yes, I’m going to get the .25 Sumatra 500cc and the Hill pump…..sometime within the next month or so.
-Conor
Conor,
Anything is possible, of course, but light pellets generally don’t damage a springer. Of course you must feel how the gun shoots and decide if it is too rough with the light pellet. Remember recently I put perhaps 90 7-grain pellets through my Whiscombe JW 75 at 1,200 f.p.s.? No damage done there.
B.B.
Ok, I was just wondering.
Tom, the Whiscombe has the magic GISS system….would that make it nearly “Bullet Proof” from light pellet use….?
Pete
Pete,
No, the Whiscombe isn’t a Giss. It is the opposite. Two pistons that come together.
B.B.
I must be getting drunk… I just had a vision of something totally impractical; yet something that would look great in some odd movies…Come to think of it, Constantine did have something like it…
Take your Whiscombe piston/chamber and rotate it 90 degrees — giving you a gun that looks a bit like a cross-bow (need to work out the cocking mechanism — the GISS might be easier to cock as the linkage has to compress the pistons into the middle, which is the type of effect drawing back a crossbow string would have).. Fit a short barrel (long enough to fully utilize the available air). A scope (it won’t be long enough for open sights — unless a short peep/globe range)
B.B.,
This rifle isn’t looking so well, like the previous Hatson.
But not that Hatson should worry. There are just too many kids out there that simply want to believe those big velocity numbers. 1000 FPS – WOW!!! They won’t care if it takes a light, or PBA pellet to achieve it. They won’t write a review that provides an honest assessment of it’s accuracy, they’ll rave about HOW POWERFUL it is, and that will be all that other kids will need to read.
For the rest of us, the cocking effort is a bit much, as is the trigger weight, and the weight of the rifle itself. It’s a beast, but I wouldn’t call it a best of burden, as it won’t do much for it’s owner, since it likely won’t be accurate enough to warrant the effort that IT demands. For sure, it’s owner will become it’s beast of burden.
Victor
Victor, you have it all wrong! Hatsan is trying to help us! They know we are out of shape, so they have created THE perfect air rifle! Not only can we enjoy our hobby, but we get a great exercise program thrown in! After carrying and cocking this rifle for a period of time, a 10 meter rifle will not seem so heavy. And that long, heavy trigger pull is designed to strengthen your trigger finger AND give you a better appreciation of the finer ones!
It might be worth it for the exercise if it’ll shoot straight. We’ll have to see on that point. Somehow, I too have a hard time believing it will do very well in the accuracy dept due to the movable barrel, but I’ve been wrong before…. Can’t wait for the accuracy report! Maybe there will be a new piece of exercise equipment in my future. (“But, Honey! It’s exercise with a purpose!” 🙂 )
/Dave
I know it isn’t time yet, but I am very curious about the accuracy of the loose barrel. I do not expect much with a combination of a loose barrel AND a large powerplant, but maybe the loose barrel is for recoil compensation.
They forgot to advertise that particular innovation.
twotalon
BB,
I heard from out new shooter we met at LASSO last night. He called me by accident and before he hung up from the wrong number I recognized his voice and asked if it was him. He bought a Condor with a 18″ shrouded barrel. He says he can cover a 10-15 shot group at 25 yards with a dime. He also said he is going through a tin of pellets a week. You got him hooked for sure. Good going!
David Enoch
David,
Greg called me after he called you and we talked for a long time. I told him there will be an article on the Talon SS later this week.
He has been reading this blog a long time. Just didn’t know I was B.B. Pelletier when we met at LASSO.
B.B.
Unfortunately Hatsan hasn’t learned it’s lesson yet concerning spring piston air rifles.The highly anticipated “Quattro”trigger is just another 6lb.turd and if a master spring rifle shooter is able to get groups under 1 inch at 20 yds.,I would be shocked.Personally, I will take a Diana/RWS 48 at a stock 20 ft.lbs.,add an after market power kit from Jim Maccari,and combined with the T06 trigger at less than 3 lbs.,put these Hatsans to shame.
I would like to know how in the world a “barrel clamp bipod” (included w/ this rifle) works on an underlever?? The underlever seems to leave no room for it to work.I’m perplexed how this could function.
Frank B,
Interesting question. Although the “barrel clamp bipod” (included w/ this rifle) is listed on the PA site as a feature there is no mention of it in the manual.
Can’t imagine how a barrel clamp bipod would work on an underlever.
kevin
Yes Kevin….very curious arrangement would be necessary i.e. above the barrel? I think I have tried that with the Airforce bipod.It is harder still to imagine cocking this Bow of Herculese with it attatched,much less account for barrel harmonics being affected.Hmmmm??
There is supposed to be a modification that can be done to the Quattro trigger to improve it. I personally have not done it, I have only read about it. It involves replacing (I believe) 2 of the stock trigger screws with longer ones of the same thread size. The person who did this claimed it made a noticeable improvement, but did not measure it with a trigger gauge, so take it FWIW. I don’t know if that modification affects the function or safety of the trigger.
Nathan,
Yes the factory screws are definitely too short. Replacing them is probably the way to go. But I test airguns as they come from the factory, because that is what the customer gets.
The firing behavior is heavy recoil but no harsh twang. The rifle feels solid, so the SAS is working. The is a lot of mechanical noise when cocking and the shot is loud, but sudden.
B.B.
Whats the firing behavior like BB? Buzzy, twangy harsh? Is there a lot of mechanical noise?
Is it the same action as the Model 125/135/WFH?
Bipod,
I’ll show the bipod in Part 3. Obviously it is meant to hold the rifle during shooting and obviously it cannot clamp to the barrel of this rifle. That’s what happens when people who write the manuals don’t have a career, they have a job. Aren’t all rifles breakbarrels?
B.B.
LOL……boy am I gullable. 🙂
The power helps with certain types of hunting if the accuracy is there. It sure isn’t a all day shooter! I would probably make an extension to help with cocking if I owned one. However, there is no excuse for a heavy trigger……..none. It is a nice looking rifle.
Mike
Hi All,
Just dropping by to say hello…
Very interesting rifle.. I too, am not personally interested in such a beast, but I can see it as a survival rig, IF the accuracy can stay under 1-1/2 inches with 10 shot groups, at 50 yards. Good news that it likes the 21 gr Kodiak for velocity spread.. let’s see how they group.
But, personally, I’ve got a few Benji pumpers in my survival stock… I figure I could fashion leather seals easier than making a new spring:-) and I’m just a little guy.. lugging that beast around and cocking it, is just too much for me… but I can see some folks going for the beast instead… one heavy duty cock, instead of multi-pumps slapping away the game..
Really, I think one is better off with a Marauder PCP and a hand pump, as their “survival” rig.. and I’ve got that set up too:-) …
..AND way too much .22 rimfire, 30-06 and 7mm rem mag ammo in my safe, to believe it’ll ever get so bad, I’ll be using an air rifle to survive on… but heck I’m ready for anything.. I think:-)
Hey ya’ll, don’t forget we have some great FT matches coming up out west here… The Western States Championships on June 29th, 30th and July 1st. And then the AAFTA Field Target Nationals on Sept. 28th, 29th and 30th. Both events will be held at the Josephine Co. Sportsman Park, 7407 Highland Ave., Grants Pass, OR. 97526.
Our website has the registration forms http://ashlandairriflerange.com/
or email me: wayne.burns@naturalyards.com
Wacky Wayne Burns,
Match Director,
Ashland Air Rifle Range
Wayne,
I’m proud to know you.
Not sure you’re aware but I’ve followed your FT progress and am in awe.
Your first deer still brings a smile to my face since it brings back so many good memories.
I miss your frequent postings here but want you to know that this old friend appreciates your infrequent postings but mostly appreciates your long distance friendship.
God bless.
kevin
Well, Howdy hey Kevin!
We’ll actually meet face to face someday… soon I hope! I’ll try to post more often. I always enjoy the read, but rarely have a few minutes to make a post these days… busy time for the raised bed business too. And I don’t have much of value to add to most articles anyway.
Bench rest is really helping my field target game, by giving me confidence to hold outside the kill zone. I’ve learned a lot about how much a pellet can get blown and what the landscape looks like for different holds. It’s also made me go through a lot of barrels to find one that can shoot the elusive 250/250 – 25X… still searching of course:-)
Wacky Wayne
OH MY GOSH!! I brought up today’s blog and right next to the article picture of the Hatsan is a picture of the fully automatic Evanix Max bullpup (for $1,700). What a magnificent beast it is. Would dearly love to see one in action.
-Chuck
B.B.
It seems today I’ve discovered a good filler for shooting bags 🙂 I contacted a company that makes quality 6mm softair ammo and they seem to have lots of balls that don’t just pass their quality requirements – a little smaller than 6 mm or not absolutely spherical (seems they make them on ball bearing equipment, judging by the plant).
It’s heavy, it’s uniform, it looks cool and it’s humidity resistant. And they almost wanted to pay me for taking 5 more kilos of their “waste”. Well, one man’s waste is another man’s resource – it all depends on the point of view. I must spread the word among pellet people.
News on my project – trigger and cocking parts are already polished and hardened, now they wait in line to be chemically treated. Safety, shafts and smaller bypass controll parts are ready, I’m going to take them this week from the lathe guy. “Square” (I always start murmuring King’s “You’re So Square” when I see their blueprints 🙂 ) receiver and bypass are being made. I don’t know but that seems to be something’s going right in this life.
duskwight
Duskwifght,
that is great news!
Edith, Air Venturi should look into this filler for their bags.
So the project is coming along well at this point. Well, you paid for it in the beginning!
Are you excited? 😀
B.B.
B.B.
I try my best not to be excited – life dislikes excited people and is always ready with a lemon slice for those whom excitement makes to loose focus 😉 Instead I try to make myself to feel satisfied – just like putting another check mark in a long list, you know – samurai way.
This Saturday I’m going to make yet another mistake: I signed in into 25 m benchrest competition, “The first of spring” match. My old shillelagh springer (after a good overhaul – re-filled gas spring, seal, seal skirt, changed screws) against Ataman M2R and Steyr LG100, and Anschutz PCPs – I’ll be glad if there would be enough other springer die-hards to form a competition class – or I’m going to face a very miserable defeat 🙂
duskwight
Yeah you are kind of in for it with benchresting a springer. But springers are more fun, and it’s ultimately about the shooter anyway. You can also practice the samurai ethic: “Anger is a luxury no man can afford.” (Or any strong, distracting emotion.) You might also want to see the movie Ghost Dog: Way of the Samurai. Young man is the victim of racial violence. In response, he turns himself into a modern samurai working as a contract killer. He’s definitely no joke. In his spare time, he reads old samurai books about how one should meditate on all forms of violent death such as being dropped over a cliff or cut up with swords or just about anything you can imagine. This is supposed to remove any expectations or source of disappointment…. 🙂
Matt61
Matt,
I can quote “Hagakure” or just take it and read from there – it’s in the bookshelf to the left of me within hand’s reach. GhostDog is one of my favorite movies, so I guess we can understand each other quite well 🙂
duskwight
Duskwight,
Alright! Go for for it. I’ve followed your posts about the rigs you’re building and I’d love to see you do well in the bench rest game. We have a few bench rest spring gun die hards out west here too! Good LUCK!!
Keep us posted and I’ll watch for your scores on the BR forums too.
Wacky Wayne,
Match Director,
Ashland Air Rifle Range
Duskwight. I think I look forward to your updates on your pellet gun project almost as much as B.B.’s blog. I would be eternally grateful if you sent a proto type or one of the early production models to B.B. to evaluate. I don’t think you could ask for a better recommendation if it works out the way we all want it too. We all know that B.B. will give it the evaluation it justly deserves. Bye the bye, do you have any thoughts on production dates?
As for the Hatsan, it looks to be going the way of the 125th. It’s so disappointing when something that looks so innovative on paper, turns out to be a dog in reality. I was looking at an exploded picture of the trigger, and just by the shear number of parts, you would think Hatsan had another Record on their hands. Such is the advertising side of our sport. Thanks for another great review B.B.
Titus
Titus,
Thanks for the confidence, but don’t forget, duskwight lives in Moscow. Sending airguns back and forth across international borders is like juggling meat in a lion pit!
I am happy is he posts pictures and tells us how his gun shoots.
B.B.
Titus,
First of all – thanks for your support. I wish to see my project advancing as much as you do and I’m glad that people share my interest. I feel great when I realize that the thing I’m doing is only part for myself – but for all of you as well.
B.B. already owns a prototype, it’s his trusted JW75. The first time the idea hit me was when I was reading this blog – so, you all know the inspiration quite well. Mine is closer to Whiscombe’s fixed barrel models and I wish I could be able to mimic JW’s quality and engineering – but the root of all that is B.B.’s gun.
B.B.’s photos started the project. I was fascinated. I studied them – pixel by pixel and was surprised how simple and clever it was. As I was waaay stupid that time, I just shrugged my shoulders and told myself “Phew, this simple? I would shoot a copy of that in 6 months!”. heh… Almost 3 years from that date I’d say – “You really needed a good slap that time boyo – to get all this out of your head”.
As for now the whole production is 1 piece, errr .5 piece – and I don’t know if it’ll work at all, only tests will prove or disprove that. If it works – I want to play with this thing myself first. Howard Hughes way, you must know it 😉
I’m afraid sending any wild stuff like that to the US is not a great idea at all from the point of view of the law, both sides of the ocean. On the other hand – if someone has hands and equipment enough – I can send him blueprints, that’s just sharing ideas, no violation and nothing wrong with understanding, numbers are universal.
Anyway, if and when it’s done – I’ll provide you with a detailed report on its development: inspirations, data mining – technologies, solutions etc, some early sketches – trust me, you’d rather see them with an empty stomack – then some preliminary vector designs, production, details and, of course, complete view and testing, B.B. style – shots, quality, user impressions, groups, etc.
duskwight
Duskwight.
Although we all dream of something we would like to see or do, few of us ever carry our dreams to completion. You, my friend, are a man who dreams big, and then when the ideas come, seem to be as tenacious as a bulldog. An expression my Mother often used. I did not realize you had based your plans on B.B.’s Whiscombe JW75. I have never seen one up close, however, I followed B.B.’s extensive velocity tests with great interest. After marvelling at the picture of the gun, I read up on all I could find on this amazing man. Another man with big dreams, and something wonderful to show for it. It would be a shame that political borders would prevent us from sharing in your dream, but this seems to be the way of the world today. Although it is much easier to travel to Moscow today then before perestroika (not sure if this is the correct meaning ), there is always the matter of obtaining enough funds for the trip. Always an excuse. Keep up with your efforts. I am sure the end result will provide you many hours of shooting pleasure. But above all, the self satisfaction you receive knowing you did it.
Titus
Again, Hatsan has nothing to fear. If I wanted to make money with my own brand, I can base my product line off of Hatsan springer’s and call my brand, ManChild Airguns, and tell my potential customers that my airguns are among the most substantial of anything else in the market.
ManChild Airguns – When only the most substantial will do!
Victor
ManChild eh? I like it. After learning how to sharpen knives (although not at my current level under the tutelage of FrankB.), I considered opening Beast Sharpening Services, complete with a logo of an enormously befanged creature springing towards the viewer. But after my multiple free promotions, nobody wanted to pay money…
Matt61
Can this trigger get any worse? Heavy, creepy, and inconsistent? Too much competition out there for me consider this one.
Cavaman, modern shooting practice suggests it’s all in the stock. I overcame my cheap inclinations to pass over the $1500 stock for my Anschutz for another one costing $500 more. Hopefully, you got value for the extra money that you paid. Now it’s time for your daughter to do her thing. I sometimes wonder if my difficulties shooting on my team were due to a certain amount of intimidation by such an awesome piece of equipment. Probably not…
PeteZ, that visit to the Trinity site sounds fascinating, but I would be a bit concerned myself. Doesn’t radioactivity take a long time to decay–much longer than the time since the atomic detonation? I understand that the great mathematician John Von Neuman contracted his fatal pancreatic cancer at age 53 from a visit to an atomic testing site in the Pacific. Now, there was a loss. I’ve heard it said about him by a physicist that there are two types of physicists in the world: There’s John Von Neuman and there’s everyone else. Reading about him is very entertaining. Frightened his math professors by coming up with solutions to all the unsolved problems that they introduced by the end of class. Photographic memory of literally everything that he read forever. On his deathbed, he entertained his brother by reciting the first few lines from every single page of Goethe’s Faust. Not sure what was going on in pre-WWII Hungary to produce the parade of geniuses like him, Edward Teller, and others. Still when it comes to contracting cancer, I would actually put my well-being on a plane with John Von Neuman and stand clear.
Incidentally, there was a recent film about a quest by Japanese monks to visit the Trinity site. According to their version of Buddhism, the great evil and suffering of the atomic explosions could only be compensated for by bringing the original flame back to the site of its origin and closing a cosmic circle. Without this, global annihilation was certain. Apparently, Hiroshima or Nagasaki has maintained a flame from the original atomic blasts. So, their plan was to take it back to the original test site. Disembarking in California, they undertook an incredible hike, covering up to 100 miles a day, through Death Valley and other desert terrain. This was all filmed in a documentary, and they gathered all sorts of unlikely supporters along the way. Ultimately, the military rolled back the base gate for them, and they were able to return the flame to the site of the blast. As a result, the cosmos has been restored to balance and we can rest easier…or so we hope. 🙂
Matt61
Matt61
We carried a meter. The radiation left at the site is about 2x natural background. Flying to Denver is much more ‘dangerous’. Carrying rocks of Trinitite in your pocket much worse.
Many signs at Trinity saying no political or religious activities at all. It’s also in the welcome brochure. Don’t know about the Japanese monks; presumably they arranged things in advance.
PZ
That 155 looks like the Winchester 1100 I got 18 months ago.It has the sas system an quattro trigger . at the time it was only inn 177.But I also bought the Winchester 22x as set. Same exact system as the 177 1100 only differance one is under lever one is break barrel.I ordered both from PA ,I didnt know those guns were made in Turkey.If I had known that I would not have picked those two would much rather picked a Wiehrach or tx 200 or diana 48/54 or the centenial 34 see where Im going with this (ha ha) The Hatsan rifles shoot strong,but i cant seem to feel any love for them. I love my R1s and whole lot of other German and English made springers I own .I bought a Turkish Webely 2yrs ago shot it 20 times and seal broke. took it back to dealer they cant get a seal to fit, every seal doesnt compress air (they had gun apart they slid spring/piston/seal down compression tube while finger over hole it just drops down fast) that is my problem now.One other Turkish gun a tomahawk i own,cocking lever sherard off, where it pushes piston to trigger sear and that part cannt be bought. To fix that the dealer ( not PA)offered me a 177 tommy for $175 to fix mine.Oh i had 250 pellets through that tommy when the barrel lever broke. Im not saying that Hatsan are junk ,but they are over sprung . There are many magmun springers that are a beast in their own right. Is there room for more bigger more heavy magnum riffles .I dont know but Hatsan think so.I would be more impressed if Hatsan made a springer that is simular to Bronco (size,weight,trigger and cocking effert) with Hatsan power technology.Is that even possible.Back to the Hatson 155 that stock is nice ,every Hatsan I seen had beautiful wood, well they are hunting riffles to me. I can hit a large laundry jug at 150ft 10 out of ten (is that good) with my Turkish riffles
Hi,
I have a client who wants to advertise in your website. Please email me back.
Thanks,
Elizabeth
Elizabeth,
This blog is owned by Pyramyd AIR and doesn’t accept advertising from other sources.
B.B.
Elizabeth,
I will contact you via email.
Edith Gaylord