by Tom Gaylord
Writing as B.B. Pelletier
Hatsan Speedfire Vortex breakbarrel repeater.
This report covers:
- Breakbarrel repeaters
- So, what’s new?
- Outside the rifle
- Pellet feed
- Trigger
- Power
- Cocking effort
- Tests
- Summary
Once more I’ll remind you that I am suspending the historical reports for awhile to catch up on several things I have been putting off. There are also many new airguns I want to test. Some tests of complex guns like the Air Venturi Seneca Aspen PCP have taken me many more than the usual three reports, and this has led to the current situation. The history section will be back soon, I promise.
Breakbarrel repeaters
Today I start looking at the Hatsan Speedfire Vortex multi-shot rifle. It’s a breakbarrel spring-piston gun that uses a gas spring (this one is a contained unit that Hatsan properly calls a gas piston) for the powerplant. It comes in both .177 (12 shots) and .22 (10 shots), and I am testing the .22.
Repeating breakbarrels are not new. They have been around since before World War II, so, close to eight decades. I’m talking about air rifles like the Haenel Model 5 repeater that I reported on in 2009. And then El Gamo (just Gamo today) made several breakbarrel repeaters in the 1960s.
The pre-war Haenel model 5 has a circular magazine holding 18 pellets.
This mechanism feeds the pellets from the magazine into the barrel. This one lacks the pawl that makes it operate when the barrel is broken down.
So, what’s new?
What is new is the fact that the modern crop of breakbarrel repeaters are reliable. They feed pellets without jamming or damaging them. That we did not have before. This success is due to the self-contained circular magazine that goes in the system to replace the hinky feeding mechanisms of the past. I guess the Gamo Swarm Maxxim was the first one we saw. I reported on the Gamo Swarm Maxxim in 2017, and it worked perfectly throughout my tests.
At the 2019 SHOT Show I noticed there were several other breakbarrel repeaters that had just come out or are scheduled to come out this year. So, like the price-point PCPs of 2018, the breakbarrel repeaters are now the flavor of the month or year. Which brings us to the test rifle.
The Speedfire weighs 6.6 lbs., unscoped, and an Optima 3-9X40 scope with rings is included. The rifle also has TruGlo fiberoptic open sights. The rear sight is adjustable for both windage and elevation, but is such an integral part of the pellet feeding mechanism that removing it wouldn’t give any advantage, so it stays put. The front sight flips up for use or folds flat when you don’t need it.
The rear sight adjusts up via a wheel (arrow) in the mechanism.
This view shows the pellet feed mechanism and rear sight differently.
The front sight folds down flat forward.
Outside the rifle
The outside of the rifle is mostly synthetic. Other than the spring tube there isn’t a lot of metal to be seen. The plastic is textured but not rough. The rubber buttpad is very grippy, which I like.
The forearm and pistol grip are slim. The pull is 14.375-inches long. The rifle balances well and is slightly muzzle heavy. The butt sounds solid.
Pellet feed mechanism
I guess the pellet feed mechanism is the big story. A 10-shot (in the case of the .22) circular magazine sits vertically and in line with the breech. When the barrel is broken the mechanism pushes a pellet straight forward into the breech. And of course that is what has to happen, but until you watch it in action, you may have a hard time understanding how it is possible. And, an automatic feed brings up a lot of questions.
1. Is it possible to double-feed pellets by breaking the barrel down a second time?
Yes. You aren’t really cocking the gun the second time because the gas piston is already cocked, but each time you break open the barrel all the way and close it again another pellet is fed into the breech.
2. Can the magazine be loaded into the rifle the wrong way?
No. Each magazine is keyed to the rifle and only fits one way.
The magazine (right) is keyed to the mechanism and can only fit one way.
3. Can the rifle be dry-fired when the magazine is empty?
Yes. The magazine has a white line on the red pellet drum that shows when the magazine is empty. It’s the shooter’s job to watch for that, because the gun will keep on cocking and firing though there is nothing to shoot.
4. Can the rifle be loaded singly?
Sort of. The magazine is an integral part of the loading process and must be involved. If you want to load the magazine with just one pellet, it is very easy to do. Just remove the magazine and only load a single pellet. That’s very easy. I have already done it. But know that to load into the breech, the pellet has to be in the magazine.
5. Is the safety automatic?
Yes. Otherwise the rifle would be cocked, loaded and ready to fire the moment the barrel is closed.
6. Can the safety also be set manually?
Yes.
7. If I load the magazine into the rifle after cocking will it still shoot a pellet?
No. The magazine has to be in place as the barrel is broken open to load a pellet into the breech.
Trigger
The Speedfire has the Quattro trigger that adjusts for the pull weight of stage one, the point of second stage engagement and the second stage pull. I will no doubt adjust it for you as I test. I can tell you at this time that the trigger feels pretty good.
Power
The Speedfire is rated at 20 foot-pounds in .177 caliber and 21 foot-pounds in .22 on the Pyramyd AIR website. The manual rates them at 18 foot-pounds for the .177 and 20 foot-pounds for the .22. Either way they make for good hunting rifles, as long as they are accurate. We shall see.
Cocking effort
Gas springs and pistons used to be a harbinger of hard cocking, but that has changed. Hatsan says the Speedfire cocks with 30 pounds of force and the few times I’ve shot it so far I have to say that’s about right. Of course I’ll measure it for you.
Tests
I plan to test the rifle for accuracy at 10 meters with the open sights and with the scope at 25 yards. Naturally I will install the scope and comment on its position, relative to my head on the stock, because of the height of the feed mechanism. I basically want to know whether the Speedfire is convenient/comfortable to shoot.
Summary
I am not a fan of breakbarrel rifles that repeat. Most of that stems from seeing them fail in the past. This new batch seem to work very well and if they are accurate too — why not?
Now don’t start harping on me, but Hatsan also sent me a Proxima rifle, which is another breakbarrel repeater to test. Like I said, I have a lot of things to test for you. The Proxima has been out since the start of 2018, but I haven’t tested it yet.
I know there is a lot of interest in breakbarrel repeaters among our readership, so my goal is to test each of these that I see this year as if I was making the purchase decision.
B.B.,
From an engineering standpoint, it’s an intriguing piece.
It will be nice to see if it has accuracy in addition to reliability. =>
Take care,
dave
B.B.
Going back and re-reading this piece reminds me that, as you have said many times,
we are currently in “the Golden Age of Airguns”!
Personally, I think that’s awesome, and I look forward to more new designs and more replicas of classics.
On a somewhat-related note, I picked up a Daisy Buck BB gun from a local sporting goods store.
My sole reason for the purchase was price; it was on super-sale, even with tax, less than $14 out-the-door.
As I’ve commented in the past, I wanted a BB gun all through my early years, but Dad wouldn’t go for it.
So in my 50s, I got a Red Ryder 70th Anniversary Edition; it fits me well, and holds a 3/4″ at 5 meters;
hence, I thought my BB gun itch was finally scratched.
However, my lovely wife (seen in the background, our wedding pic at the edge of the Grand Canyon),
decided she really liked the Red Ryder, so it is now hers. *shrugs*
I even offered to buy her a pink one, but she didn’t go for it. =)~
Anyway, the little Daisy Buck has become a “dave fave.”
It only chronographs at 260 fps (versus 300 for my wife’s Red Ryder), yet also holds 3/4″ at 5 meters,
but I have to work harder to get it, with that 11″ LOP.
With all the more sophisticated and costly airguns I have, why do I like this little BB gun so much?
Because deep inside 60-year-old-dave still resides little 6-year-old-dave;
and each time I take this thing out in the backyard to plink at cans, leaves, and twigs on the ground,
I can feel little 6-year-old-dave smiling and telling me, “This is the gun Dad should have gotten me…
…now you need to shoot it a bunch, to make up for lost time.”
Ah, shooters, we are a nostalgic bunch.
Sorry for the long ramble, blessings to all who read B.B.’s blog,
dave
Dave,
I know about 6-year-old Dave. Little BB lives inside me and has been directing my steps most of my life.
Nostalgia is what this blog is all about. If we aren’t remembering the past we are making more memories for the future.
B.B.
Amen to that, B.B.! Keep up the great work! =>
Dave,
No need to say your sorry.
The little six year old in us should never be permitted to fade away. So many of our fellow travelers are not blessed with that most excellent ability to play well! You are among those of us, the doubly blessed, still have with you a Mrs. Thedavemyster who apparently has a little girl of six still in residence!
North Rim?
shootski
Thanks, Shootski!
Yes, I’m very blessed with an awesome wife. =>
We got married on the South Rim at a place called the West Rim Worship Site,
which is just a bit to the west of the Bright Angel Lodge.
Thanks again. =D
B.B.,
Breakbarrels are not in my area of wants/needs but testing almost always has educational nuggets.
Outside the rifle second sentence:
The plastic is textured by (but) not rough.
reads better that way.
shootski
shootski,
Got it. Thanks,
B.B.
Do not care for how high the repeater mag sets at all.
Didn’t notice how bad it was till I looked at how high the scope is mounted.
I agree with Gunfun 1 it looks top heavy to me
in comparison the Haenel 5 was much neater looking
will make interesting reading however.
Very ingenious but I bet you could mount the scope lower if the barrel folded up and the mag was on the bottom.
Bob
Why not. Good idea. Have the barrel break to cock the opposite way.
B.B.,
Interesting. That feed mech. is crazy high. I know in the past you have said that something like this can be above the bottom of the scope objective lens and that it does not affect scope view. That front sight is interesting. A semi-globe, I guess you could call it? Nice on the flip up or down. Innovation.
Good Day to you and to all,…….. Chris
BB,
LOL! That is one clunky looking mechanism. It likely works fine, but it looks more like a proof of concept than a production model. It is also looking like it is very close to copying the Gamo design.
Now the Haenel design looks to be quite interesting. I think someone from Gamo has one.
I will be interested to see how this rifle compares to the Gamo Swarm. The one I have works well. It is pellet sensitive, some don’t group well at all. But, two that do well are the RWS Super H-Point and the Predator Polymag.
The Gamo is the first Gas Spring rifle I have owned.
Mike
Mike,
So tell me — what do you think of the gas spring? The one in the Swarm is very tame and well developed. There are others than aren’t as nice.
B.B.
I like it. It was a little stiff at first but it is better now. Maybe I’m just getting use to it. I like the Swarm well so far. I will see if it holds up over time. I don’t shoot it all the time as I mainly bought it for hunting in cold weather or when I think a quick second shot might be handy.
Mike
B.B.
How are you supposed to cock the rifle with the front sight up? Is that a metal pivot pin that it swivels on?
Some interesting ideas went into this gun. Lets hope the engineering is up to the task.
-Y
Yogi,
I don’t understand your question. What does the front sight being up or down have to do with cocking the rifle?
Yes the front sight does rotate on a metal pin.
B.B.
B.B.
Where do you hold the barrel when you cock it?
I usually hold it out by the barrel end, right where the front sight is.
-Y
Yogi,
Oh, gotcha! Well, I have already cocked the gun and it wasn’t hard, so I did it again with the front sight up to see.
It’s easy enough to cock while holding behind the front sight, but I can also put the sight between my index and middle fingers when I cock. There is no problem.
B.B.
BB,
Golly Gee Whiz! If that Haenel was all original it would be a perfect addition to my collection! I just adore that feed mechanism!
RR,
Haenel model 5s are out there. Just be prepared to spend big bucks for one.
B.B.
BB,
Oh, I am certain of that, most especially since I would want one in working, “unmolested” condition. It would probably be cheaper to just design and build a new one.
I do like the idea of the peep sight, however it was rather poorly executed. As for the pistol grip, it is very well executed but they should have left well enough alone. Both of these modifications were likely done by two different owners. One had the patience and skills to do a nice job. The other just wanted the job done.
Then there is the recap…
Yes, I am certain one that would satisfy me would be VERY expensive.
B.B.
Looks a little strange, but I won’t judge her till I see how she tests out for you. Who cares if she is ugly if she can cook!
That said, I’m more interested myself in the new Gamo’s Swarm Maxim 10X Gen II you reported on at the Shot Show. I still don’t see if listed on PA’s site under “new” guns. I just think Gamo may have the jump on everyone and I do liked the way the “tucked” the new magazine down more (with open site!).
Doc
Just me but I would think a feed from underneath or even the side for the pellets would be the way to go.
If it is accurate and not too hold sensitve, I mite overlook some of the pellet factory on top.
Don
Don
Check out Bob’s comment above. He’s got a interesting idea. Make the barrel cock the opposite way. Then the feed mechanism could be under the barrel.
Who says a spring gun has to cock down. Just turn the gun upside down with Bob’s idea to cock the gun. I like the idea.
Guess I did not catch that, Bob has a good idea. The only negative might be a scope getting in the way for a cocking grip. Same with a pumper. On my Dragonfly I grip the scope to pump it. So far no issues.
Don
Don
I pump my pumpers the same way by H leave ng the scope and stock of the gun with no problems too.
My thought was also the cocking linkage might get close to the scope when in full cock position. Maybe not but possibly. But a bug buster scope would solve that issue.
GF1,
Where would the linkage/cocking arm, factor into that design (barrel cocks upward)? Instead of pushing the piston back to latch the sear (conventional break barrel),…….. you are going to pull it? Just asking.
Chris
Chris
Read the comment I just made to Don.
But it would be like flipping the cocking linkage 180°.
Benji-Don and Gunfun1,
Sorry for coming to the party late. But has anyone thought of doing a magazine fed multi shot side lever cocking air rifle? That would eliminate the linkage and vertical height problem.
Siraniko
Siraniko
By magazine fed do you mean a rotary spring loaded magazine like the Marauder’s use or something else?
Or do you mean something like this. I will be getting one soon as they get released. I hope they’re accurate. But I thought no it will be a nice relaxing gun to shoot.
/product/air-venturi-tr5-multi-shot-target-air-rifle?m=4682
I would like the TR5 with the rotary spring fed clip over the stick fed clip they use. But still the TR5 is a cool gun.
GF1,
A lot of features for the low end. 5 position, lever load, adj. trigger,….. and even an adjustable butt pad. I do not care for the looks of the downward slanted rear stock. Just looks wrong, but probably provides a sighting function.
Chris
Chris
What’s that saying. “Form over function”.
Well maybe it should be the other way around. I like the looks of the TR5.
I like the tactical look. And just realized something. All my pcp’s are black guns.
But I do have something in store for my Gauntlet by probably next weekend that some might like. And no it’s not the tactical look. 🙂
GF1,
I just thought it was interesting that they took a slanted approach as opposed to straight or off-set straight. Innovation.
New “top secret” project ehh? What sort of butchery do you have in mind (this) time? 😉
Chris
Chris
Got wood for the Gauntlet.
It’s a thumb hole stock from a QB series gun. Going to take a little modifying for the 13 cubic inch bottle to work with that stock. Oh and that roo. Going to put my 22 cubic inch regulated HPA MAC1 bottle on when I do the stock.
Here’s the gun that I got the stock from at Archer for 60 bucks. A little high maybe but if the stock has grain like the one in the link from PA I’ll be happy.
/product/beeman-ar2078-co2-thumbhole-target-rifle?m=4068
And another thing. That stock should bolt right on a QB Chief with no modifications.
GF1,
Looking forwards to seeing the end result.
Chris
Chris
Yep me too. 🙂
I think getting the stock to shape for the drop down bottle adapter and bottle will be the trick. Won’t be much wood left in the bottle part of the stock.
All I can say is I got my fingers crossed. Remember I’m not no wood worker.
Siraniko,
Think just the multishot system on the:
/product/feinwerkbau-p75-biathlon-air-rifle?m=2947
It is however a PCP but I think it could be made to work on a breakbarrel and most certainly on an underlever combo cocking loading mechanism.
Oh HECK! Why bother!
The DARK SIDE CALLS!
And it works perfectly just like the Anshutz and the Air Arm’s Biathlon trainers.
shootski
GF1,
Ok,… so,.. we are redesigning the cocking motion of the conventional break barrel to accommodate a high, clunky looking pellet feeding/loading mechanism/magazine? I do admire free thinking and innovation,… but something seems backwards with this concept. Single shot loading would be under, not on top. The gun would need to be flipped over.
All in all, interesting. We have us some great thinkers here. Who knows how many great ideas we have tossed around here on the blog,…. only to have an airgun company pick them up and refine them? I will bet that B.B. has a “rough” idea on that,…. maybe?
Chris
Chris,
I still think a break barrel or multi-pump gun could be easily charged with a battery. The new small and light battery drills have the power to cock a spring gun many times before it needs to be recharged. Remember the old spring guns with the crank.
I don’t know where they come from but a whole keyboard of faces just showed up on my tablet. I don’t like it when it updates like this without asking me.
Don
Don,
I guess that I missed any conversation about any battery cocking theory. Not a bad idea. More gear though. Yes, they are good. We use battery drills and impacts all the time at work. They do last a long time. Something like that would be good for someone with a disability.
Tablet issues?,…. You are asking the wrong guy,… trust me! Geo is the resident “puter” expert. 😉
Chris
Don,
Tablet? I have several. Paper pages. Cardboard backer. Pen or pencil works fine.
Ok,… maybe we are not talking about the same kind of “tablet”.
Like I said,….. NOT the person to be asking,….. 😉
Chris
LOL… thanks for the comment 😉 Haven’t really had anyone take me up on it though.
Geo,
Well, what you are able to do here is often enough to get people on their way. My laptop had been running slow and acting stupid last week so I checked for updates. There was one. Took 3 hrs. to run and “failed” at 99% complete. Did again and took about 2 hrs. and was ok. Then on restart, it took another hour to complete. Now all seems fine, but that was ridiculous. I had nothing else open the whole time.
Chris
Chris,
FYI, Microsoft is updating Windows 10 twice a year. Once in the spring (March) and then again in the fall (September). These updates basically reinstall the whole operating system. The file download is huge at approximately 4 gigabytes. So if you don’t have really fast internet it can take hours for the download and then one plus hours to install. You can verify which version you currently have by going to “settings” and choosing “system”. The latest version is 1809 (Sept 2018). These big updates can take months before you receive them. This is probably good because when they first come out they are buggy and it takes a while for MS to fix the bugs. Basically, the users are beta testers for them.
Your issue with the computer running slow can be caused by adware, malware, or viruses. Even if you are running an antivirus, it won’t detect a lot of the adware and other junk that you get from just browsing the internet. Go to https://www.malwarebytes.com/premium/ and download the free version of Malwarebytes and run a scan. Also, go to https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/download/windows/ and download ADWcleaner and Junkware Removal Tool. Then go to https://www.ccleaner.com/ccleaner/builds and download the portable or slim version. This is my go to tool to clean the temp files and junk from a computer. A failing hard drive can also be a cause for slowness.
Probably more information than you wanted, but hey, I can’t help myself sometimes. Hope you find some of the info useful and it helps with your slow computer issue.
Geo
Geo,
Already running the 1st and 3rd, per your recommendations. Will do the 2nd. Overall, it is fine for what I do. 1809 is it. I am pretty sure the speed I have is pretty minimum. Not like cable service in the city, as I live about 12 miles from the nearest biggish town. I think,… due to infrastructure, the country has less high speed capabilities.
Thanks,…. Chris
Hey Chris,
When people tell me that their computer is slow, I ask them “do you mean its slow when on the internet, or when opening documents or pictures?”. Most times it’s when they are browsing the internet. Slowness while browsing the internet is usually due to the service providers speed, not the computer itself. You can test your download and upload speed at this web site: https://www.speedtest.net/
My experience has been that cable is the fastest at up to 100Mbps, followed by DLS (provided thru the phone lines) at 6 Mbps down to 1.5 Mbps, follow by satellite at 1.0 to 3.0 Mpbs. Cable always tops anyone else for speed but is not available in many out lying areas. Unfortunately, most of the internet service in our country is very poor. I am lucky to have Charter cable but my computer hardware is twelve years old, so I don’t get fastest speeds. My speed is currently 13 ms ping, 38 Mbps download, and 10 Mbps updload. Mbps means megabits per second and 8 bits = 1 byte.
Oh, and the best speeds will always be with an Ethernet cable connected directly to the modem. Wifi will usually be slower and less stable.
If there is anything I can answer for you, please don’t hesitate to ask.
Geo
Geo,
Just ran a speed test on my 5g and it is 52.8 Mbps down and 16.69 up!
I use it to power my secure Wi-Fi Hot Spot and dumped all the other providers that we’re eating me out of house and home…not to speak of all their fees, rule, outages, slowdowns, and the added taxes on every provider. We have some good deals on big data packages so I hope it doesn’t dry up. If it does I’ll just go back to Old Sparky and HAM it up again!
shootski
As it goes. Simple but effective is what I always say.
Why even go there in the first place.
Geo,
Thank you for the continued support. Using your link,…. Ping 57 ms, Download 1.66 Mbps, Upload .2 Mbps, Jitter 4 ms. My local Century Link/Spectrum test was similar.
I am not sure the local infrastructure is capable of more. I stay corded to the Modem as the laptop never moves. Test was done with nothing else open.
Like I said, for the limited stuff I do,…. surf PA, surf the blog, make comments and surf the net in general,… it works.
Only a pure guess,… but I suppose “download” would be like viewing a site. “Upload” would be like posting a comment or submitting ordering information?
Chris
Chris U,
That was more of a rant than a question on the tablet. You can’t beat a paper tablet. Hard to blog with paper though.
Has the weather let you out with your Red Wolf lately. I have saved some money for a high end gun and thinking Daystate, FX, and RAW. I really like the RAW bench rest model. Not sure what caliber I want yet either, they all have the pros and cons.
Don,
I have not had the RW out. The weather has been nothing close to good enough. I work four 10’s and the 5th day is pretty shot with other things. For me, it comes down to the luck of the draw of Sat. and Sun., unless taking time off, which then is a Thurs. or Mon. as I dislike a mid workweek day off.
On saving and getting something higher end,….. there is no shortage of offerings. For me, I have to like the looks of something and then comes the function and fit of course. If going for something with a tactical look, looks becomes less of an issue. Keep us posted as you start to narrow things down more. In the mean time, do your homework and dream. 😉
Chris
Don,
I just viewed this video at Pyramyd AIR yesterday. This is a pretty impressive airgun, but a bit expensive at $2100. Tyler demonstrated that this RAW HM1000x is capable of less than 1″ groups at 93 yards. Check it out. /video-details/raw-hm1000x-lrt-25-cal-air-rifle/530
Geo,
Nice. I have not seen, (nor looked for), much on these. Quite impressive. The stock has some impressive features. It would be nice if they had “sculpted” it more, especially at the trigger grip end. Overall,.. bit “boxy” for me. Thanks for the update.
Chris
Geo,
I have been keeping an eye on that gun and watched the video, thanks. I am hoping B.B. does a review on the gun soon. I am not in a big hurry and will take my time on this one.
Don
Don,
RAWs are in short supply. I do want to review one as soon as I can.
B.B.
Benji-Don,
What about looking to some of the small builders for comparisons on what is possible:
http://www.mac1airgunshop.com/mobile/Category.aspx?id=1824 Or:
http://www.thomasrifles.com/home.html
Tim, at Mac1, has some interesting builds currently in work and will build to your specifications and also provide his years of experience building World Class Benchrest Airguns. I think he has some new and REALISTIC concepts.
shootski
Shootski,
Thanks for the “custom” links. Like window shopping at the local Lamborghini dealer. 😉 Fine looking stuff there, especially at the Thomasrifles site. I do like me some refined. I dare not even think about venturing/looking into the competition stuff. I know me,…. and also know that I have 0% need. 🙂 Fun to look though.
Chris
Shootski,
I have not shot in any competition in years. I used to shoot in black powder matches many years ago. I held my own but was not the best. I enjoyed it at the time.
If I planned on shooting in competition I would definately go with the best I could get. I have too many other interests to put in the time it takes to consistently be that good.
I have a .22 caliber Marauder with an after market barrel that is very good. I am looking for a step up from that. I should consider Mac1, Tim’s guns are not too much more than what I am looking at.
Don
Don,
You can’t really go wrong with Tim; I consider him to be one of the Salt of the Earth types that are such a rarity to find these days. One of Tim’s custom builds has been on my list for a while but I can’t find the excuse I need to justify it to myself just yet. I also don’t formally compete now…but that could always change once again. If he has a stock manufacturer’s rifle, or one you supply that is a known shooter, his tunes always make them better. If you have the pieces of silver a custom Benchrest gun built by Tim for your wants would bring you Joy. Isn’t that what we want when we shoot.
Notice I’m selling not just you but myself on this idea, Lol!
shootski
Benji-Don
I too have wondered why not use a battery to cock a break barrel. A lower power break barrel, say 750 fps shouldn’t be that bad. You are correct, batteries have came a long way (small brushless motors too).
Doc
I’ve honestly wondered for years why there aren’t lipo or nimh powered pumps, springs, etc onboard.
Chris
So what if it’s under.
We are not talking about single loading.
And even if we are how hard is it to flip the gun upside down to load or cock. ???
Maybe of interest to some,… as we are talking about magazines in general,…..
https://www.pinterest.com/vcrtrinity/airgun-magazines/
33 “Best” air gun magazines,……..
Chris
B.B.,
I know you were distracted, at least for a moment. You know the Proxima is an under lever, not a break barrel. I do look forward to your putting it through it’s paces. It weights in at 9.3 pounds, which is somewhat more than a pound difference over the Synergis weight. I wonder how these two will compare, although I know they are different (in weight and price for sure and I expect in other ways).
~ken
BB and Fellow Airgunners
Although I’ve never owned a Hatsan, I have always admired their efforts to be at the cutting edge when it comes to designing a new type of airgun for the masses. I’m going to admit up front I am not a fan of the multi shot spring piston airgun. They seem just too bulky for my tast, however I can appreciate the technical hurdles they had to jump before they reached a workable model fit to sell to us eager consumers.
How many of you guys are growing tired of the arctic low that seems to have plunked itself over a vast area of Canada, and the US? Until 2 weeks ago it looked as though we would breeze threw this winter with nary a trace of snow, or extreme cold. This made for some great outdoor winter shooting which I took advantage of at any opportunity. Although my comments have been non existing for a while, I always enjoy reading about the wealth of airguns, and airgun products you have featured since Shot Show. I have, and will always be a your most loyal reader.
Ciao
Titus
Titus,
No you’re not! I’m his most loyal reader! You want to fight about it?! 😉
As I was just commenting to BB, I myself am not enamored with the new multi-shot sproingers. I would however enjoy plinking with an unmolested Haenel Model 5. Of course I am the kind of guy who prefers his metal machined rather than stamped and his wood to be walnut. Plastic has it’s place, but not as the main components of my airguns.
My thoughts on the weather? I am sick of rain. I do not have any problem with it being cold right now, after all it is winter. Last year was the wettest year in recorded history in my area with the exception of Noah’s little rain storm. So far this year is shaping up to be a soggy one also. If I wanted rain I would move to Seattle.
R.R.,
“There is Another…”
with apologies to G.L..
shootski
Shootski,
Sorry Dude, it went right over my head. EEAAOOOWWW!
R.R.,
Star Wars.
Darth Vader’s line; There is another (with The FORCE)
G.L. (George Lucas)
Enjoy you day!
shootski
Ah, I see said the blind man as he tripped over the stump.
Why not mimic the firearms industry on this sort of mechanism? They have it dialed in. The pellet is too fragile for mechanical handling, they need to loaded in to shells that are really barrel extensions. They eject, so need to be loaded in to magazines. the breach needs to be timed by the breaking of the barrel, and would have a neutral, ejection, loading , cocking stages.The detent will be integrated to secure the lockup of the mechnism. The gun knows if it is cocked or not, so has modes, cocked, loaded, empty, uncocked, loaded, empty, I think firearms do this now?
Those look like nice designs, but fragile?
I bet they work just fine, but careful in the field..
Best, Rob
Rob,
Ain’t this thing klooged enough? You think you would have trouble seeing around this chunk of plastic now, just wait until you add all of that.
The robustness in the field is indeed something that should be given serious consideration. Gamo did such. If you should happen to have issues in the field with the Swarm Maxxim, you can quickly detach the magazine assembly and you have a Hornet Maxxim.
Personally, I still prefer the Haenel.
B.B.,
I figure you have seen the discussion on the plunger head of my Daisy Model H, if not you may glean some insight or at least get a good chuckle from my bumbling. Bug buster had a good idea you may need to use to extract the button on your plunger head if yours is welded in as solid as mine was.
/blog/2019/02/air-venturi-seneca-aspen-25-caliber-precharged-pneumatic-air-rifle-part-3/#comment-434367
Don
Don,
I am aware of your conversations with Bugbuster, but I wouldn’t say I have been following them,. I get so many messages to read each day plus test guns and write the blog that I really can’t afford to pay attention to most of them.
It’s Saturday and I spent the morning working on Michael’s Diana 27, which I have now fixed. Does that illustrate the sort of life I have? 😉
B.B.
B.B.,
Well, you are a modest fellow, but you don’t miss much. So glad you got the Diana working. I sure hope they keep the Diana reputation on the new guns.
I plan on getting the Daisy Model H functional, but not up to original reliability. The gun has gone through three generations and 100 years of shooting; it is worn out. Yours deserves restoration. I have not even checked out the barrel yet. I bet it is so worn that modern bbs will be ok. I wish my old buddy would take it back, but he has no one to pass it on to.
Happy a Trails
Don
Everyone,
I was just reading “The Air Gun from Trigger to Target” and got sidetracked by something on page 14 that sounded like a diesel-ignition blackpowder rifle. It isn’t really, the author may have misunderstood the patent description
So, for anyone who is interested in the very beginning of cartridge designs, I found this somewhat recent blog post: https://freemycollection.com/?p=784&title=the-first-cartridge-a-history-of-jean-samuel-pauly-and-his-inventions
Here is a full scan of the patent documents, which as far as I could tell in only one hour does not exist in any search engine results
Guess I have to retract that initial analysis of Samuel Pauley’s 1814 invention. Just read his improved patent #4026, in which he was much more clear about how that was to work. So the Cardews had it right, it really is a diesel-style compressed-air ignited blackpowder cartridge
The ‘syringe’ is basically a short-stroke spring piston powerplant. Piston diameter somewhere around 1/4″, stroke about 1/2″
The very first breech-loading cartridge used a springer as a ignition system