Hatsan 30 cal
Printed From: Kiwi Airgunners
Category: Technical
Forum Name: Reviews
Forum Description: Rate your airgun or pellets here
URL: www.kiwiairgunners.co.nz/forum_posts.asp?TID=1259
Printed Date: 04 Nov 2025 at 9:37pm
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 10.14 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Hatsan 30 cal
Posted By: -Ec
Subject: Hatsan 30 cal
Date Posted: 12 Sep 2025 at 7:22pm
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Hi, Anyone have any experience with large caliber Hatsan
break-barrels? I live on a 4-acre life
sentence block at the very end of a shingle road, surrounded by farmland. We had seen and heard a few possums so my
son-in-law (I live in a tiny home on the same property as my daughter,
son-in-law & grandson) got himself an air rifle and has managed to get two
so far. As I have more spare time and
the garden was showing signs the possum issue was getting worse, a few weeks
back I bought a 2nd hand .22 Gamo on Trade Me. I also picked up a cheap trailcam on Temu that arrived this
week. I set this up in the chook run
next to the feeder. This has been in
place for three nights, and now I know why the chooks have been going through
the food so quickly! The camera is showing multiple possums helping themselves
to a feed throughout the night. While I
could simply lock the feeder at night, the little buggers have also been
attacking the veggie garden and the roses. While I did have a FAL, I let it lapse in my mid 20s when
the law changed. Rather than go through
the hassle of renewing my FAL it has been suggested that I would be better off
with a 30 cal air gun to deal to them.
Also have a few wild turkeys, magpies and hares that could do with
culling as well. Looking online, it looks like the only .30 air guns that don’t
require a FAL are the Hatsan Model 130S QE and Model 135QE (basically the same gun
with different stocks) These seem very well priced but not a brand I have ever
heard of. Anyone know if these are any
good for pest control within 30 meters max and probably often up in the trees? THANKS -Ec ------------- Regards -Ec |
Replies:
Posted By: mercs
Date Posted: 12 Sep 2025 at 8:49pm
Hatsan .30 is posted under reviews. Great airgun but very heavy and difficult to use at every level. |
Posted By: mercs
Date Posted: 12 Sep 2025 at 9:22pm
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The .22 Gamo whisper you have chosen will deal with the possums in the trees. I was amongst some pines yesterday with my .25 Gamo Shadow practicing for distance at 15 to 25 yards before heading out at night. The larger pellet does limit distance. Like yours this is lightweight, mid powered and a pleasure to walk around with. Important to practice shooting at an angle upwards if spotlighting trees. When you have mastered a distance, manoeuvre to that point then take the shot. You will end up with two points on a curve where you can center the reticle effectively then experiment with some holdover. Once set I would not adjust the scope including the AO during a session, just learn to work within a well practiced range.
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Posted By: -Ec
Date Posted: 13 Sep 2025 at 12:41am
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Thanks for the info on the Hatsan - did have a "boy's look" through the reviews but didn't find it at the time. Looks like it would certainly do the job for me. Not unhappy with the Gamo but really want to ensure anything I use it on is killed cleanly. The weight is not a huge issue as it would mostly be used around the garden and trees on our boundary. Only ended up with the Gamo as it was the only .22 on Trademe that didn't need a FAL, or was too far away to go and pick up or cost much more than I wanted to pay - given that I only wanted something to "deal" to some of the pests we had around home. Apparently the gun has not had a lot of use and seems to shoot OK though I'm still getting to grips with shooting a springer consistently. I'm enjoying practicing with the gun at targets set at either 10, 15 or 25 yards. I have zeroed at 25 yards as that is supposed to be the parallax setting on the LC4x32WR scope that came with the gun. I have since also purchased a new Gamo P700 pistol and have been having a lot of fun shooting targets at 5-10 yards. I'm finding it reasonably accurate, especially as I'm currently using cheap and nasty pellets. Thinking of getting some decent pellets and having a go at the UK air gun forum 6 yard challenge. I have been looking at getting a low powered (around 5-600fps) .177 air rifle for some more serious target shooting at home. I was having a look at one of the sports shops in town earlier in the week and when I mentioned the number of possums we seems to have around the the owner suggested a 30 cal air gun was the simplest option as it didn't require a FAL - hence my interest in the Hatsan. May end up replacing the Gamo for pest control and getting a reasonable .177 for fun. Easily have room for at least 100 yards around home if I wanted. This air gunning gets addictive! ------------- Regards -Ec |
Posted By: Billbobnz
Date Posted: 13 Sep 2025 at 11:44am
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If your going to go with a hatsan, I would go for the .25cal over the .30 I received my hatsan .25 days before going into lockdown back in 2020 and it was a weapon on feral cats, possums, rabbits etc.. and even a wallaby. I passed it on to a young friend of mine in Dunedin who is still shooting rabbits and possums and he took a small goat with it a while back with a clean head shot. What ever calibre you choose, you will need to spend alot of range time linking away to learn the full ballisc curve of the pellet to comfortably take down game at what ever range but that is just the joys of air gunning. If you do end up with a hatsan with a vortex piston, if you have a failure with the piston I amoung others have the equipment to rebuild the piston. (The seals in my vortex gave out after about 500+ pellets) |
Posted By: -Ec
Date Posted: 15 Sep 2025 at 9:06am
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Hi Mercs, How well does the red dot work on this gun at night? Napier Hunting & Fishing has a Hatsan 30 cal with red dot at the moment and as I do need to go to Hastings in the next week or so, thought it might be worth the look ....  ------------- Regards -Ec |
Posted By: mercs
Date Posted: 15 Sep 2025 at 10:32am
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I was surprised that it did work, I have only practiced on targets. I had someone else using the Cree spotlight set on high so there was plenty of light. In my opinion this rifle will destroy any scope air rated or not. This model red dot appears to be indestructible, Stealth brand $80. Rifle comes out for fun, 10 shots is my limit, kicks like a mule, extra padding on my shoulder required. The fixed sights also work well for me at 15 - 20 yards. Airgun Depot had their list of the top 5 most powerful break barrels airguns of which I own the first 3. The Sig Sauer is easily the most accurate among these. 1 .30 Hatsan model 135 (heavy and kicks) 30 ft/lb 2 .22 Gamo Swarm (kicks and trigger is not ideal) 29ft/lb 3 .22 Sig Sauer ASP20 (heavy but effective) 21ft/lb |
Posted By: Billbobnz
Date Posted: 15 Sep 2025 at 10:43am
Interesting on durability of the red dot. I found this on Aliexpress with what looks like references for range on the reticle for sorting out ballistics. https://a.aliexpress.com/_mtfDYxj . |
Posted By: -Ec
Date Posted: 15 Sep 2025 at 8:10pm
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I don't dislike the Gamo - other than the cheek rest being too low for the scope which makes it difficult to ensure EXACTLY the same position behind the scope each time. I do have a slip on pad with different size inserts that will hopefully solve that. The SAT doesn't seem too bad - but then I have never done a lot of rifle shooting before this. It seems reasonably accurate when I get everything right. Maybe I will keep the Gamo and buy a Hatsan 30 cal as well - just coz I can. Why not have the most powerful break-barrel air gun in the world. Nearest house is over 2km away so not as if I am going to annoy anyone with it. Also looking at a couple of cheap springer 177s on TradeMe at present- and another spring air pistol. This is getting addictive  ------------- Regards -Ec |
Posted By: nunga
Date Posted: 15 Sep 2025 at 8:24pm
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I would go for the Hatsan .25 over the .30. I have .25 and it is powerful enough to take goats out to around 30 yards. I have shot many no problems and the .25 have a way better pellet choice over the very limited .30 range. ------------- 2nd place HP springer - WFTF World Championships 2014 |
Posted By: Loud_Whisper
Date Posted: 16 Sep 2025 at 11:04pm
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Another Hatsan .25 owner here confirming that power is pretty reasonable. I chrono'd mine again today with about 8-10 shots all between 669 and 674fps, so around 27fpe. (Jsb hades) You should be aware they need some tinkering to make shoot nicely and are a bit of a "project gun" Definitely a labour of love more than a reliable workhorse. Have taken possums and a wallaby with mine, though to be honest my gamo .22 Mach 1 IGT (23fpe) has actually been a more effective hunting rifle - it's lighter and I can aim it more easily, and I find it slightly less hold sensitive (but still very hold sensitive) and I wish I had a FAL to get a PCP.. If you're coming to AKL in the near future, you'd be welcome to pop in and put some pellets through my Hatsan QE135 .25. |
Posted By: -Ec
Date Posted: 17 Sep 2025 at 12:42am
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I've decided to go with the 30 cal Hatsan - more for fun than anything else. The 22 Gamo is fine for the pest control I need to do around here. Dropped a hare from about 25 yards with clean head shot yesterday afternoon, then missed a possum from around 15 yards last night and then again two more tonight. Much harder shooting in the dark with torch clamped on the top of the scope. Should have nailed all three possums but rushed the shots. Also looking at an old rusted Chinese 177 that will need stripping down and rebuilding as a bit of a project as well. Thanks for the offer, but I'm unlikely to be anywhere near Auckland for quite some time. ------------- Regards -Ec |
Posted By: JasonEdward
Date Posted: 18 Sep 2025 at 7:48am
Yeah but refer the wee note at the bottom of your posts. Mere mortals like me might struggle to achieve your "no problems".
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nunga wrote:Posted By: JasonEdward
Date Posted: 18 Sep 2025 at 7:49am
Yeah but mere mortals like me might struggle to achieve your kill rate. Refer wee note at the bottom of your posts.
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Posted By: kruzaroad
Date Posted: 18 Sep 2025 at 9:09am
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Have you checked for poi movement with torch on? |
Posted By: -Ec
Date Posted: 18 Sep 2025 at 9:32am
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Hadn't thought of that! - will do some testing once this horrendous wind stops. The possums are coming to feed from the chook feeder - see picture from my trail cam. All the shots I've missed were unsupported standing shots and I know I rushed them. Yesterday afternoon I relocated the feeder so that I can now sit against the fence and use the chook run fence for support so should have a much more stable shot. The hare was a supported standing shot and as he was unaware I was there I had plenty of time to take the shot.  ------------- Regards -Ec |
Posted By: kruzaroad
Date Posted: 18 Sep 2025 at 9:49am
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Yeah do that 👍 I use torch on scope and as soon as the torch goes on, its weight changes poi. You might want to make or buy a shooting stick. Give you a more stable shot. That cheeky bugger needs a pellet and diced into cubes and feed back to the chickens. Thievery outright lol |
Posted By: -Ec
Date Posted: 18 Sep 2025 at 11:03am
Some nights there are at least 4 that come down for a feed. One at 8pm another around 10:30pm and a mother an her not so little baby at around 2:30am - thought the chooks were going through their food rather quickly!
 My torch is very small, but reasonably bright and mounted on my scope all the time. Can't recall if it was there when I last zeroed in, but it would have been on the scope when I got the hare.  ------------- Regards -Ec |
Posted By: kruzaroad
Date Posted: 18 Sep 2025 at 11:21am
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I went for a picatiny scope mounted rail and a quick release mount. Even then if i put it on the wrong slot poi changes. Hopefully the new shooting position will help. Maybe you should put out grain in a good shooting position too. Id guess that they are hard pressed for food and once trees start the spring budding they will be less likely to return after you shoot a couple, but then again free food isnt to be sneezed at ny a possum. |
Posted By: -Ec
Date Posted: 18 Sep 2025 at 12:05pm
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I do have a larger, brighter torch and scope top mount, but that is on the son-in-law's 177. The neighbor did say there are a lot of possums around at the moment and he is thinking or running a trap line in the trees along the stream on his property as he has seen quite a few walking across the paddocks across from there when feeding out in the evenings. I do have a night vison scope on order which will hopefully make life more difficult for the possums who are the main pest around home. Don't see too may hares or rabbits. The neighbor and his sons keep the hare numbers down with a 17 hmr. See quite a few rabbits in the evenings further along the road but none down our end. Lots of turkeys further along the road too but they seldom come down our end. Did have a couple hanging around the chook run a while back but haven't seen any since I took out the tom with the 22 a couple of weeks ago. Mostly want to knock the possums over to give the garden a chance. Last year had one snap one of the daughters standard roses - hence her buying the 177 for the son-in-law for xmas LOL. Do need to spend some time trying to knock over a few magpies - they are cunning little buggers but there are a few too many around here at present. Regards -Ec ------------- Regards -Ec |
Posted By: kruzaroad
Date Posted: 18 Sep 2025 at 1:25pm
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The bug man on 1zb had someone ring with the same problem with possums and roses years ago. He recommended mixing up a leaf spray strength of fish fert and spraying it on. 22 or 177 the magpies and set the .30 for close range. Not very often your over 20m from a possum and thats if your standing out a bit. |
Posted By: JasonEdward
Date Posted: 21 Sep 2025 at 11:37am
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Seems many believe the .25 is more accurate than the.30 or at least it is a little easier to shoot straight without knowing the rifle really well. You are finding this out yourself. Kruza is an expert on holding over and under with springers and pump air rifles because he likes to learn the ballistics of his rifles and apply that learning to shoot animals rather than use a ballistic calculating scope. Listen the these guys and learn to shoot the difficult rifle you have chosen and only then can you reliably shoot those possums rather than rely on lucky shots. Good on you for asking for and getting good advice. Bad on you for ignoring the advice but hey, you've learnt they were right. 👍🙂 so now, my friend, it's time to follow that advice. |
Posted By: RangerPete
Date Posted: 21 Sep 2025 at 12:56pm
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Hi Ec, Welcome to the forum. Ja, air rifles are very addictive, welcome to the club 😂😂😂 As you might be gathering from other members, there are many better hunting options then the .30cal Hatsan. The .30cal Hatsan is a beast. I don’t own one my self, but I can tell you they 1- eat scopes. 2- weigh a ton 3- have a limited selection of pellets in the .30cal. To me the big Hatsan is a “nice to have” toy. If you want something to do pest control with, there are better options, but if you want a .30cal , just because u can, then ur on the right track 👍🏻 It’s worth mentioning that no break barrel, under lever or side lever air rifle (springer) requires a FAL, you can own as many as u want in any caliber u want, so I’m not sure why people u have been talking to are even mentioning a FAL…???? If you are new to springers and looking for more range time to get more accurate, research the “artillery hold”, it can make a big difference to shooting springers. Another thing to know about air rifles, is every barrel is unique. What that means is every barrel will have its own preferences when it comes to pellets. Just because gun A likes these pellets, dosent mean the next one that came off the same production line will like the same pellets. What that means for us as air gun owners is that u have to test lots of different makes, models and weights of pellets in every gun, until u find “the one” that that barrel likes. Don’t under estimate the huge difference that just changing pellets will have on the group size! For many of us that’s part of the fun of getting a new air rifle, spending some time with it on the range and finding out which pellets it likes. There is a huge variety of .177 and .22 pellets to try, less in the .25s and very few in the .30cals. There is also a lot to talk about when it comes to accuracy of pellet shapes and designs… 🤔 For get about “hunting pellets”, generally round head pellets are the most accurate. Power is nothing with out accuracy, as an example a 30cal 30FPE hunting pellet from a hard to shoot rifle, shot through a possums shoulder, can’t compare to a light little .177cal 12FPE pellet from a sweet shooting little rifle, shot through a possums brain 😉 Which IR scope have u ordered? I’d be very interested to know how it holds up on ur springers, maybe do a review on it for us. Pete. ------------- Walk quietly, but carry a big stick. |
Posted By: nunga
Date Posted: 21 Sep 2025 at 1:50pm
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I wouldnt put your expensive night vision gear on the hatsan. you are just asking for trouble. unless they say it is rated for it. which i doubt very much it will be. ------------- 2nd place HP springer - WFTF World Championships 2014 |
Posted By: JasonEdward
Date Posted: 21 Sep 2025 at 6:03pm
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I think the only reason i would talk firearms/i.e. PCPs on this forum is because the hardest thing for me with a decent springer like my Diana and HWs is they are by definition bloody heavy so they CAN shoot straight with all that springy recoil. PCPs suit me because I'm not a great shot and PCPs are light and as easy to shoot straight as a .22LR. Springers require much more expertise/practice to shoot straight ESPECIALLY when shooting critters in the field without that stable rest that makes shooting targets child's play in comparison. I'm simply not good enough or strong enough to hold my quality scoped springers still for long enough to shoot them reliably from a standing position with no rest. Sadly though, both getting and keeping a FAL for PCPs AND the cost of PCPs is high. The other bonus of PCPs? Used quality springers have never been cheaper. |
Posted By: JasonEdward
Date Posted: 21 Sep 2025 at 6:12pm
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[QUOTE=kruzaroad] The bug man on 1zb had someone ring with the same problem with possums and roses years ago. He recommended mixing up a leaf spray strength of fish fert and spraying it on. 22 or 177 the magpies and set the .30 for close range. Not very often your over 20m from a possum and thats if your standing out a bit. Spot on Kruza. You've explained how to best sight in his capable rifle for exactly the owners needs. I know I've always been interested in owning exactly the lovely rifle he has bought (except in .22). But heavy in both the .30 caliber projectile and the rifle weight that comes with a decent .30 rifle means it's kind of a special air rifle and has special needs that require understanding for the rifle to thrive - just like some of our lovely children. |
Posted By: kruzaroad
Date Posted: 21 Sep 2025 at 7:02pm
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Pcp are definitely a superior rifle to springers, Jason. Target shooting,hunting they pretty much have it. Im sure many springers are now unused memories, since pcp became what it is The only reason i sujested it as just possum gun is my is 1322 is set short range for birds. I dont touch the scope from 10m to 25m as.it gets less..sharp or slight blur either end but works fine. But it allows me to concentrate on just shooting. It still takes out other things. But a dedicated gun is nice. My thought anyway. |
Posted By: -Ec
Date Posted: 21 Sep 2025 at 10:27pm
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Yeah - my 22 will be my dedicated hunting/pest control gun. Mostly for possums within 25 yards. Need to practice on paper to work out hold-overs for longer ranges before trying for the magpies. The 30 cal will mostly be for target shooting. I believe there are at least another 10-12 Hatsan 30 cals in the area so there may be an opportunity of a meet up sometime. Once I am comfortable with the 30 cal it will be fine for limited pest control from a fixed location. I have also just brought up an old rusty 177 on Trademe that I intend to restore. Will need complete stripping cleaning and rebuilding. While the stock looks OK from the pictures I will strip it back and refinish. Not expecting to much from this gun but it will be a fun project. I also have some of the dry moly paste on TradeMe on the way - it cost over 3 times what the gun cost! I may look a a quality 177 at some point, but for now I have enough to keep me busy ------------- Regards -Ec |
Posted By: mercs
Date Posted: 22 Sep 2025 at 10:18am
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Airgun spring, cylinder, piston and seal lubrication is well covered on the web with differing techniques often to suit local conditions. Generally the manufacturers get it wrong. I will start a new Post where we can explore what works with products available in New Zealand.
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Posted By: -Ec
Date Posted: 22 Sep 2025 at 11:30am
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I've watched many of the vlogs on the TbT channel plus a few others on YouTube. I saw an old 177 spring gun in Palmy on TradeMe and decided that if I could get it cheaply I would do a complete strip down and re-build - just for the fun of it. No real expectations but will take before during and after pictures as I work through the process. I do have a very basic chrono so I will get before and after readings as well. Should be an interesting journey. ------------- Regards -Ec |
Posted By: Pauly5
Date Posted: 22 Sep 2025 at 11:37pm
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You should read the $100 Gun city Air chief challenge some of us did. The goal was to see if we can turn a pigs ear into a silk purse. I think we managed to get a pigs scrotum, but no purse.
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Posted By: kruzaroad
Date Posted: 23 Sep 2025 at 5:54am
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Least the stuff out of pigs scrotum shoots strait and at lest one will hit the target. 🤣 |
Posted By: RangerPete
Date Posted: 23 Sep 2025 at 4:22pm
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Hi Ec, I’m Hamilton guncity, looking at a second hand Hatsan 135 carnivore .30cal for sale for $599 🤔 ------------- Walk quietly, but carry a big stick. |
Posted By: Billbobnz
Date Posted: 23 Sep 2025 at 11:08pm
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Hahahahahaha I may regret that idea of that contest.....! |
Posted By: kruzaroad
Date Posted: 25 Sep 2025 at 8:41am
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Nah i was fun bb. Made a great scope holder for the night vision i had, after i gutted it Barrel is still attached to a post on shooting range and i use the compressor and air gun to to muck around with reject pellets. In fact it was more useful apart than as a gun. Got my money worth out of it. Still waiting for someone to show any massive improvements in accuracy. Anybody new to site look up the $100 challenge to see what we're on about and NEVER BUY YOUR KID A AIR CHIEF JUNIOR TARGET AIR RIFLE! You will put them off shooting so fast you'll wonder what went wrong |