Canadian Airgun Forum

Hello Gents,

My great wife wants to get me an air rifle for Christmas, is she great or what?

I really want a break-barrel, so I have been looking at the Hatsan MOD135. I have read some stories of the Vortex spring not shooting as hard, or losing power quickly over 500 shots. Basically very fast velocity loss.

Anyone have a Vortex to share experience? I have a Hatsan Striker springer already, its great, but this Vortex makes me wane a little.

After my (fathers gun) recent experience with a Trail NP2 I will not be buying any NP guns moving forward.

Very harsh shot cycle, power was way under claims and nowhere near as smooth as a half decent springer. All guns are different of course, but I have shot NP's years ago when they started hitting the market in mass, wasn't too impressed then and nothing has changed, in my experience anyway, YMMV

Looks like the MOD135 Vortex are around $300+tax/shipping, I would be looking at a used TX200/HW97 at that price point. Not break barrels, but both are about as good as it gets when it comes spring powered guns.

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"It's just a springer..."

Hatsan Canada, has a very limited selection. Even in their PCP Line.

The 135 is a beast, are you sure you want it? They make an Elephant rifle look small. I don't have any experience with it but I've heard from many people that the vortek versions are weaker. My guess is the std mfg gas springs aren't as strong as a coil. They could simply use a larger 10mm shaft to get that power but probably an extra amt of $ they don't want to pay?
I also agree that the price is a bit much and would consider a quality gun instead. The Weihrauch HW80 and 90 are break barrels and very nice. Less power than the 135 but worth it imo.
PCP is another option I suppose. The Crosman Maximus is pretty cheap, then a pump or however to fill it. I don't like pumping but I think I'd do it over dealing with the size/weight/cocking effort of the 135.
If she's buying then get HW90

She should get you a HW97 or HW98 - an HW77 would be second or third choice.
Chances are, if you really want accuracy and fun shooting, a magnum class rifle might not make you happy.
I do not know anything about the Hatsans except they are made in Turkey & I want nothing to do with the Middle East.

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Best Wishes
Daryl

Break Barrels don't bother me much, I have a really stiff Hatsan already. Just yesterday I put 300 pellets through it, just plinking spray cans.
I'm a pretty sizeable guy, I'd rather crack a gun off each time, than pump hundreds of times for a PCP I think.

Out of all the Hatsan dealers, Airgun Source was the most knowledgeable. They could tell me why the MOD 135 .25 CAL wasn't in Canada yet, when they were expecting to start carrying them. Instead of the rest of the Hatsan dealers just saying "We don't carry that product". I ordered from these guys before, they continue to be the nicest to communicate with.

No pumping, not really what you could possibly call recoil - my .30o Mag through to the .458 centrefires recoil.

Scuba tank of compressed air and now a large black nitrogen tank fills those for me.

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Best Wishes
Daryl