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Education / Training Hatsan model 25 Supercharger breakbarrel air pistol: Part 1

Hatsan model 25 Supercharger breakbarrel air pistol: Part 1

by Tom Gaylord, a.k.a. B.B. Pelletier

Hatsan model 25 Supercharger breakbarrel air pistol
Big and powerful — Hatsan’s new model 25 Supercharger breakbarrel spring-piston air pistol is different.

Before I begin, I want to remind you that there will be at least one more Christmas gift recommendation list coming this week. I read all the comments you made and see that several readers have the same thoughts as I about what stuff would make good gifts.

Today, we’ll begin our look at Hatsan’s model 25 Supercharger breakbarrel air pistol. The pistol I’m testing is serial number 0812 29728 and is in .22 caliber. This pistol also comes in .177 caliber.

Priced right!
My first observation must be that this pistol is certainly priced right! At $130, it’s priced below all the competition — of which there is very little. Given the advertised power — if this pistol can deliver decent accuracy — it will be a best buy!

But you know me. Money means nothing if the gun doesn’t deliver. That’s what this evaluation is all about, isn’t it? So, I’ll put it through its paces to see what kind of pistol you can get at this price.

The gun
The breakbarrel pistol is rated to produce 600 f.p.s. in the .22 caliber I’m testing and 700 f.p.s. in .177. That puts it at the top of the spring gun list for power. It has a conventional coiled steel mainspring and a screw-on barrel extension that serves as a cocking aid. Believe me — you’re going to need it because this pistol is a real bear to cock! I’ll tell you how hard it is in Part 2.

Hatsan model 25  Supercharger breakbarrel air pistol broken open
The pistol is broken open to cock its powerful spring.

The gun is for right-handed shooters, only. The rubberized grips have a raised thumbrest on the left panel, which makes it perfect for righties, but uncomfortable for southpaws.

The pistol has fiberoptic sights, front and rear, and this is one time that I’m glad for them. The sight radius is so long, and I don’t expect the accuracy of the pistol is going to be that of a target gun, so it’s good to have sights that allow you to just point and shoot. I will note that the red tube in front doesn’t gather the light too well, so it will be darker than I would like it to be.

The sights are fully adjustable, and I do mean FULLY. The rear sight adjusts in both directions with crisp detents. The elevation wheel has bold numbers, while the windage adjustment relies on a lined scale to let you know where you are. But it doesn’t end there! The front sight also adjusts for elevation with a wheel of its own! And that, too, has very crisp detents. The owner’s manual shows a 6 o’clock sight picture that’s impossible to achieve with these sights. So, sighting-in the gun and shooting for accuracy should be interesting.

Hatsan model 25  Supercharger breakbarrel air pistol rear sight
The rear sight is fully adjustable. Note the short 11mm dovetails in front of the sight.

Hatsan model 25  Supercharger breakbarrel air pistol front sight
The front sight adjusts up and down with a wheel in the sight base. This photo also shows the shorter muzzle cap instead of the cocking device.

A very short set of parallel 11mm grooves atop the spring cylinder permit the installation of a dot sight. You can mount a scope by selecting an offset mount, such as the one from Leapers.

The pistol has the Quattro trigger, which adjusts for both pull weight and length of travel. The image in the owner’s manual is a generic one, and the screws that are shown are actually in a different place on this pistol — but you get the idea quick enough.

Big pistol!
The model 25 is big and heavy. It weighs nearly 4 lbs., which is quite heavy for a handgun. Think about shooting this one with both hands, because you’ll probably have to.

With the grip in your hand, the spring cylinder is over an inch above, which should lead to some interesting recoil. While I don’t normally like to make comparisons between guns, I must say this one does remind me a lot of the Browning 800 Express pistol I tested for you a few years back. The model 25 even has the same recoil-reduction system the Browning has — where the spring cylinder slides on rails built into the lower receiver. But the Quattro trigger and adjustable front sight is found only on the model 25.

Overall evaluation
This is a big, black spring pistol. There are a lot of synthetics on the outside of the gun, but it all looks tough enough to do the job. It certainly isn’t much different than other synthetic guns these days.

I’ve fired the pistol a couple times so far and noted that it’s hard to cock and the trigger seems pretty good. The breech is very tight, which I think bodes well for accuracy.

The firing behavior is quick and jolting. There’s a definite forward jump when the gun fires.

The pistol is very tight. I can tell it’s going to loosen up a bit after a break-in, but that’s the way it should be.

Discharge noise is low for a spring gun of this power. It’s not quiet, but I think it could certainly be used in a backyard without scaring the neighbors.

Hatsan — forgive me, but…
I just have to say this! When I look at this pistol I cannot help but wonder what a nice carbine it might make. If it were put into a stock with about a 14-inch pull and if the barrel was lengthened with a cocking aid extension to about 16 inches, this might be a wonderful little plinking gun. It has all the power you would ever want in a plinker; and if it was a carbine, I don’t think it would be too difficult to cock for most adults. The rear sight could be moved forward to give the proper eye relief, and I think they would have something pretty special.

51 thoughts on “Hatsan model 25 Supercharger breakbarrel air pistol: Part 1”

    • fablan,

      The 34P Pro Compact is made in .22 caliber, but Pyramyd AIR doesn’t appear to list it. If you want to buy one you should call their sales team at 888-262-4867. They can often get things that are not shown on the website.

      B.B.

    • fabian,

      While the gun may be available in .22 caliber in Germany and other places, it’s not imported to the U.S. by Umarex USA, the official importer of RWS guns. That’s why Pyramyd AIR doesn’t carry it…there’s no one in the U.S. who can supply it.

      Edith

  1. BB

    Looks like the semi-recoiless systemis is the same as that on the vile Typhoon pistol ( ‘thing’ would be a better description, also by Hatsan) that Webley sold, and still sells which you reviewed some while back. I loathed it then. Will it be any better here I wonder? Reminds me of a BSA Scorpion, big impressive but a real handful to fire accurately.

  2. Wow,at 600 fps in .22 “rated” that is quite a humdinger.The grip layout reminds me of the Webley Tempest,which I’ll admit I never mastered shooting accurately.The inclusion of recoiling rails IS interesting and I would guess quite necessary.The sheer scale of it is reminiscent of the BSF C20 but the BSF even without recoil rails was a sweet plinker with a balanced behavior this one left behind in favor of POWER! Pretty nice price for what it is,a lesson we all had to learn.

  3. I want to pay Pyramyd and you,Tom a compliment.I just recieved the Christmas catalog,and after reading through it I am really impressed! The inclusion of several articles from you (with Edith’s help I’m sure!) made it a cut above.Everything about it exibits the quality and furthering of the hobby itself
    that Pyramyd does so well! It really stands out in this world that’s just after your money…….thanks for that. FB

    • Frank,

      The catalog was Edith’s baby all the way. She scheduled me to write those articles six months in advance and reminded me as time passed.

      I agree that a catalog like this looks good and is worth keeping for awhile. We will be doing more of it.

      B.B.

      • I agree you outdid yourselves with the latest one and I love the format for the pellet array. Now we need to get pyramyd to offer it in a spreadsheet and keep it up to date price and pellet size. It would be great to be able to on the fly sort for different criteria.

        Thanks again Edith & Tom

        • J-F,

          Have you asked Pyramyd AIR to send you a catalog? I just asked them if they will mail them to Canada, and they said they will. You can request a free catalog here:

          /contact-us

          Use the drop-down menu for the subject line to “Order catalog.”

          You can also download the full catalog from their website:

          /product/pyramyd-air-airgun-catalog?a=3175

          Edith

          • You know I actually never did… I just realized I never had an order shipped to my house. If only PA would ship airguns to Canada 🙁

            I’ll write to them when I get home.

            Thanks,

            J-F

    • Yes, the catalog was great. I read a number of articles instead of just breezing through the lists. In addition to B.B.’s articles, I want to point out for other readers, Josh Ungier’s very interesting contribution. The best part for me is where his wife, who doesn’t know anything about shooting, takes his Ruger 10/22 and repeatedly hits a 2 inch diameter pipe that Josh has set in the ground 150 yards away. She says that doing this is similar to shooting a laser which she does for her work as an eye surgeon. I thought this was all-around illuminating.

      Matt61

  4. “When I look at this pistol I cannot help but wonder what a nice carbine it might make.” EXACTLY! Where are the carbine spring guns? It is nearly impossible to find a spring gun that comes in under 43″ in length that isn’t designed for the 10-yard range. I don’t expect magnum power from a short spring gun, but if a pistol can too 700fps, why can’t anyone make small, light carbine? If there were a spring gun at 700FPS that was 38″ long, weighed 5 lbs, and made ~700 FPS in .177 with lead (think QB78), I know I would have it on my wishlist. Maybe it does exist, but I haven’t found it yet.

  5. B.B. –
    I agree with your comment about this big pistol making an interesting low powered carbine. I’d just like to add my observation that, with the forward placement of the trigger and pistol grip, it’s only about a buttplate away from being a bullpup. Your thoughts on that?
    – Jim

  6. BB, different topic, sales suggested I write to you here.

    I bought your book a few years ago, and have had a pair of .20 cal R1’s since the 80’s. Who would you recommend currently for tune/supertune? I tried contacting the references in your (fabulous) book, but with no success.

    • Zee,

      You must bear in mind that most airgunsmiths are doing it as a hobby, so they come and go. The book was published in 1995 and I would expect most of them to be flushed out by now.

      Paul Watts is the nest-known name for tuning spring guns today.

      Kevin, how does Zee contact Paul?

      B.B.

    • Zee,

      Paul Watts is the guy if you want the best tune for an R1. He’s very busy which means if you’re in a hurry find another tuner and get less than the best.

      Best way to contact Paul Watts is on the phone. Prior to calling him I strongly suggest that you read through his website paying special attention to the tune options and prices for getting an R1 tuned. Please do yourself a favor and read the FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) section on his website.

      Here’s Paul Watts phone number and hours of operation:
      (901) 465-9772 Monday-Saturday 10:30AM-6:30PM (Oakland, Tennessee time)

      Here’s his website address:
      http://www.springgunning.com/

      kevin

  7. I’m not much for break barrel pistols, but this one looks interesting! I agree with the carbine suggestion, but for a short, handy little springer it’s hard to beat my HW57. Underlever, funky loading port and all, one of my most accurate springers, and the easiest to shoot! No, it’s not for sale… 😛

    /Dave

  8. Hatsan CEO: “Hey, I have a great idea! We can make a right-hand only pistol so that we alienate 20 % of the worlds population.”

    Minions: “Ah, Sahib, now we see why you are CEO.”

    • Chuckj,

      I am sure we will soon see left-hand grip panels available as after-market accessories (adequately priced, of course)… and that’s when the minions will pay a tribute to sahib!

  9. Well, this product let’s the big dog bark.

    Victor, as a matter of fact, the David Tubb move of locking down the right arm that I observed took place in prone while he was preparing to shoot a 1 mile target. (He hit it.) If memory serves, I think his book claims that his right elbow is raised quite high for offhand. I’ll check. But that doesn’t mean he didn’t find the pocket you describe beforehand. Can you give an anatomical description of this pocket which is mentioned any number of places? Is it between your deltoid and bicep? If you go further in to the centerline, you’re on the bulge of the deltoid. Further than that and you’re on the collarbone. Incidentally, Clint Fowler also told me that for his Nathan Hale trophies, he raised the elbow just about as high as it would go.

    Kevin, yes, I favor the forward elbow on hip position which is one of the few things I learned on my high school rifle team. TwoTalon, you’re right that it requires twisting and feels weird initially. But it does seem to provide support, and now it feels quite natural. And the elbow doesn’t necessarily have to be on the hip, just on the body. On the other hand, Clint Fowler is definitely of your opinion. He shot before resting the front arm on the body was allowed and never made the change. In part, this seemed to interfere with raising his rear elbow. Note that in the pic of the week, the torsos are significantly twisted and the rear arm is down. Also Clint claimed that supporting the arm on the hip or body was a disadvantage when shooting in the wind. His three Nathan Hale trophies, he said, came when there was relatively high wind.

    Kenholmz, the position of the thumb for the forward hand when it is reversed can go on either side of the forend. I’ve seen both.

    ed, I’ll take that as a +1 for the Challenger.

    Matt61

    • Matt,
      The “pocket” is between deltoid and pectoral. The other style/place is shooting “off the shoulder” or “off the arm” which requires a crescent buttplate (ideally with hook) and a good bit more drop. Lest you think it sounds silly, check out what the Schuetzen type rifles could do and look at how they were constructed; they were probably the ultimate in offhand shooting machines.

    • Matt61,

      we were taught to keep our arm up, but with air-rifles, I tended to drop my elbow, just as Tubb describes (i.e., locking in my position). I believe that what I was taught is correct, but sometimes a shooter needs to experiment to find what works best for them. If I were teaching a group of new shooters, I’d teach them exactly the same things that I was taught. The variances that I applied probably wouldn’t work for others, but the correct fundamentals would be the best place to start.

      BG_Farmer is correct about how things change when using a hook butt-plate. The use of a hook butt-plate changes a lot of things because it also allows you to use gravity in a slightly different way.

      For prone you want the butt position so that the rifle’s recoil is directed straight back. This is what Mr. Tubb achieves with this ritual because it positions the rifle further in.

      Victor

    • Matt61,
      I think that relaxing your butt arm has become more popular because it is more consist ant to repeat and causes less fatigue over a long match. When “building” a position it must be consist ant, tension free, and balanced to yield good results. If your position causes you to try to hard you will be at a disadvantage fo sure.
      As for Challenger vs. Edge I have no experience with the Edge but I see plenty of Challengers on the podium at junior sporter matches but very few Edges even on the firing line. I think that Crosman makes their rifles more available to most of the junior clubs. BTW the three 2009 Challengers I have will hold the 10 ring with descent pellets all day long.

  10. This gun reminds me of the Mark1, and the similar power claim. Hope it’s much better then it. I am wondering when more nitro piston guns will become available or even introduced. Hope everyone had a happy holiday.

  11. Edith,
    I heard from Ariel today. Apparently she didn’t need to contact me because she got enough info from you after our exchange on the blog. She says that it is one of the items on their list for next year, to redesign the functionality of the wish list. I can live with that. There are probably a few pellet brands I can do without to bring my list inside 50 items for now.
    -Chuckj

  12. Hi BB,
    I will be interested in how well your pistol shoots. There have been a few that got close to 10 fpe with this pistol. Mine was about a 6 fpe gun. I have read that some think that the model 25 is the same gun as the Browning pistol. They have the same recoil system. The Browning has am I grips. The cocking aids are different.

    I agree with you and others that this gun would make a nice carbine if they make the advertised power and if they would eliminate the recoil reduction and make the barrel about 6″ longer. I would have made mine into a carbine if it had made a little more power.

    David Enoch

  13. I just bought one from Pyramyd I like it I also have the Browning 800 which is simular it has great power,I wish they could utilize the piston system, like Benjamin will introduce shortly to ease
    the cocking,the steel cocking aid does work,sometimes when I cock it I worry that it may come
    apart,but so far it is holding up nicely.When I chrony test it I,ll be able to compare the power I think the Hatsan is a little more powerful than the 800, using real tin cans to compare,it penetrated
    two steel heavy soup cans and though one side of a third and left a deep dent.It’s not the type to use all day but for hunting pests it works fine.I remember Air Rifle Heradquarters in the sixties imported the Wisho 55N a carbine type of rifle that was advertised at 750 fps in .177 which was
    very powereful then.
    Now they can get over 600 fps in .22 and a in a pistol no less nowdays, I also remember how .22 caliber was downgraded the.177 was pushed hard to sell even by Beeman and all the others,I am
    glad the .22 again is rising in use.I’ll never forget the picture of the 55N being shown hitting the
    water with the caption, What a .177- 750 fps air gun could do to a can in the water.” I wished
    Ihad bought one then,They are very rare in the shows I have gone to.
    I would like to see Tom post about the older forgotten air guns of the past,such as the Crosman six
    single action pistol,Benjamin Rocket, The Schimil Luger co2m,Webley Premier etc.

  14. Hi BB

    I’m new to airguns only started shooting this summer. I started out with a .177 CO2 pistol (Walther CP88 6″) and added the Hatsan Model 25 in late September. Couldn’t find any reviews but I took a chance on the .22 cal Model 25. I’m a long way off from being an expert but I am very pleased with this gun. I like the adjustable sights and I add the Hawke-HM17025 3/8 to Weaver Rail Adapter so I can mount a Walther Multi-Reticle Sight. The low profile of the Hawke adapter allow it to remain in place when i don’t want to use the red dot sight. Right now I am using Crosman Premier pellets, I get some nice groupings with Crosman Premier .22 Cal, 14.3 Grains, Domed pellets but not consistently. I have gotten better in the few months I have been shooting but I’m not good enough to say the pellets causing accuracy issues. I would be interested in recommendations so I hope part two has some testing of different pellets.

    I like the articles in catalog, loved the “Airgun bloopers” article you wrote for the Holiday catalog, I have learned a lot from your Airgun blog and Paul Capello’s “Airgun Reporter” just wish there wasn’t such a wait between between his reports.

    David B

  15. Isn’t it gratifying when someone listens to what you write? Hatsan’s new tactical 25 carbine is pretty much just as you described. I think a screw-on compensator/Faux suppressor would have been a nice touch as a way to handle the cocking aid, but at least they made something. I remember trying to do likewise with my Webley Typhoon… and there were just so many problems from the moment I removed it from the plastic stock. This looks good to go, right from the box. I hope it lives up to the expectations.

  16. I have been researching air pistols for some time trying to find the right fit for my purposes. I believe I may be locking onto the Hatsan Model 25 Supercharger based on its fps for .22 cal. I am interested in purchasing a scope along with a laser, however; not knowing the pistol or having seen it in person, I am left to wondering. Cost is a big concern, as I am on a limited budget, and with the pistol costing $129.99 that doesn’t leave a lot of room for the scope and laser. Either a combo of the two, or purchasing each separately, but having the ability to attach both to the gun would work also. Obviously something along the lines of the BSA Optics Illuminated Red/Green/Blue Dot Sight, Laser & Flashlight, Weaver Mount @ $135.99 would be a gunners dream. Opting for the combo split of say the CenterPoint 1x25mm Multi-TAC Quick Aim Sight, Weaver-Style Rings @ $59.99 and the Gamo Lser and Light with 1″ Scope Mount @39.99 makes the total less, but finding something that’s more in the $60 range for both would be more palatable. I’ve seen the NcStar 1×40 Red Dot Sight with Built in Red Laser/Quick Release Weaver Mount (DLB140) at Amazon.com for $56.02 however; I do not see where Pyramyd AIR carries it. Is there something just like it at the same price point that Pyramyd carries. Looking forward to shooting varmits in the yard. Any help would be appreciated.

    • Richard,

      First, you need to read the entire test. If you haven’t yet, here is the final part, with links to all the earlier parts:

      /blog/2012/12/hatsan-model-25-supercharger-breakbarrel-air-pistol-part-3/

      NCStar scopes are known to be the cheapest scopes around. They probably work okay on .22 rimfires, but of any scope is going to fail of a recoiling air pistol, that would be the most likely. That’s why they are so cheap.

      This pistol generates about 7 foot-pounds of energy at the muzzle. So the range will be quite limited for pests of any size, like squirrels. Twenty yards would be the max, because the pistol isn’t that accurate, plus the power would be too low. Why not use the open sights, since you aren’t going to shoot it that far anyway?

      B.B.

      • I’ve read the review of the Hatsan Model 25 (which is very in depth and covers everything one would want to know about this pistol), and my primary reason for considering this pistol is the fps rating. Although it tested at an average of 535 fps (at best), this is better than say the Crosman 1322 Pumpmaster Classic .22 cal (rated 466 fps) or the Beeman P17 .177 cal (rated 410 fps), both pistols for which I was considering. My primary goal for an air pistol is to shoot opossums and armadillos at a range of approximately 20 yds – 30 yds maximum. (sometimes the armadillos walk right up to you). I have a Gamo Whisper .22 cal with a 39×40 standard reticle air rifle scope which shoots at 900 fps with PBA pellets, but I need a pistol to replace my Crosman American Classic Model 1377 (.177) which no longer pumps. I also have a Crosman 1008 Repeater (CO2), however; I don’t like buying CO2 cartridges only to shoot 3-4 times and then have them go bad the next time I need to shoot it. I would prefer not to get another multi-pump like the 1377 as when I want to get a second shot off, I can’t tell the varmint to hold it while I pump it 10 times! I want to be able to pump once, load and shoot. My Gamo is fine during the day, and on those occasions when I plan to take the gun out to shoot a varmint, but on those occasions which spring up on you, I need to be able to get to a handy pistol, pump, load and shoot before the varmint disappears. Is there a pistol that you would recommend based on the parameters that I have displayed above? My preference would be a PCP, however; I’m not into robbing a bank to get it, and with the sequestrations that the White House has implemented, my budget would be $130 or less. As always, your assistance would be greatly appreciated.

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