Hatsan Model 25 SuperCharger Review

This is a Community Review of the break barrel air pistol Hatsan Model 25 SuperCharger by Steve Scialli. The author of the following review are in no way affiliated with Airgun Depot. The views expressed below are personal opinion only.

Overall Reviewer Rating

Accuracy Ergonomics Quietness Power Trigger

"Supercharger." One could trip over a handle like that...even if it were buried three feet underground. Do you think Hatsan is trying to tell us something? Naming their latest spring pistol after a horse power increasing air compressor is a bold move; and as it turns out, a deserving one. When I first read Hatsan's advertisement banner on the Mod 25 Supercharger, I discovered there was much to celebrate. Especially gripping was the mention of Truglo fiber optics, grooved cylinder top, Quatro Trigger, XRS Recoil Reduction System, and aluminum cocking aid. Each lends to a purpose built creation with a bit more personality than the status quo. Air pistols are a blast to play with. They are economic, plinking fun delivered in a compact, universal package. Shredding empty soup cans, perforating dangling tennis balls, and mowing down zucchini tubes are all fantastic ways to pass an afternoon. The standard issue BB repeater excels at these activities. So then why would Hatsan step outside the box and try to reinvent the air pistol? Because it's human nature to want more... and it's more, that the 25 Supercharger delivers. I'm all about spending a little extra if I'm going to get a little extra in return. In the case of the Supercharger though, you get a lot extra. More power, more accuracy, more quality... and more heft. This pistol flat-out delivers. It's a brutish exotic sports car among usual air pistols. Sure there are some compromises, but if you are willing to live with them, the Supercharger will deliver for the more serious air gunner. When I first laid hands on the Supercharger, I was taken back. Not only did the shear heft suggest quality, this pistol had some serious curb appeal too. The blending of metal and poly parts is purposely artful. The bluing in the steel is rich, the included alloy accessories profound, and the polymer plainly organic. And let's not forget that gold trigger, it screams vroom-vroom. Picking up the 25 Supercharger for the first time caught me off guard. It's heavier than it looks. The metal components that make up the body and engine are seemingly over engineered and appear poised to stand the test of time. In true Hatsan fashion, the Mod 25 is not a light weight, and I like it. The poly grip and cradle have great texture but the cradle is on the flimsy side. At first this tweaked me a little but as soon as I started using the pistol, it was quickly forgotten. The rest of the gun is Turkish tight. The one I got is configured for right handed shooters and putting it on is like slipping into a familiar, favorite glove. The curvaceous grip has a resting spot for the thumb and nestles nicely up against the crook of the thumb and palm. Even the trigger guard seems purposely placed, as it rested perched above my left hand pointer finger. Looking down the fuselage of the Hatsan inspires confidence. Everything lines up the way it should and all the parts seem especially sleek. Both front and rear sights are micro click adjustable and those Truglo dots work great to keep the pistol aligned properly with the target. The dovetail grooves cut in the top of the cylinder are deep & clean and accept a variety of sighting instruments. For mine, I elected to accessorize with a UTG Red Dot Sight and a BSA Scope. Both have proven worthy additions, complimenting the pistol's already able personality. The Supercharger comes with two beautifully crafted alloy muzzle breaks, a short and a long. The longer of the two threads on to assist in cocking leverage, making the effort quite reasonable for an adult (kids, however, not so much). The shorter of the two seems to be included solely to protect the barrel crown for transport. Forget trying to cock the pistol without the longer one in place. It's overly difficult. So what's it like to shoot the Hatsan Mod 25 Supercharger? In a word, awesome! Merely holding the gun in the famous 007 pose can bring a smile to one's face, it did my wife's. After all, its look is quite retro. To cock it, grasp the long muzzle break in your left hand, take that form fitting pistol grip in your right, and break the gun in half. It will take some force, but you'll be rewarded with a positive "click" when it's ok to let go. I got mine in the .22 so I'm greeted by a gaping hole in the breech each time I break it down. If plinking and paper punching is your bag, then the .177 may be the better choice. But for maximum destruction or for hunting small game, the .22 will serve you and your quarry better. Load a pellet and straighten the pistol out. You'll be rewarded by a solid "snick" as the wedge shaped breech mechanism locks the critical joints in place. Slip your hand into the tailored grip, and look down the cylinder aligning the Truglo sights. The pad of your pointer finger may just fit perfectly onto the contoured trigger face, mine did. The trigger's first stage take-up is just the right length, and has just the right amount of resistance. It stops abruptly in the right place too, as it snuggles up against the second stage stop. The second stage pull is acceptable, if not a little heavy and a little long. But that's likely for safety reasons, so I'm ok with it. One thing is for sure, the minor demerit doesn't seem to throw accuracy. This pistol shoots perfectly straight with the right pellet. Creep your way through the short second stage and the shot releases predictably in the same spot each time. BLAM! "This is no BB repeater," I chuckled to myself. Its shot cycle is more reminiscent of a 17th century flintlock pistol, smoke included! My pistol did produce some smoke for the first 20 shots or so. Then light dieseling carried on until I made it past the 500 shot mark. My suspicion is that Hatsan's XRS-Recoil Reduction System really tames this beast, because it slings lead down range with authority and precision. The sliding action is said to absorb some of this recoil, but the whole thing takes place too fast for the eye to detect. It really is quite comfortable to hold through the shot cycle, but the pistol does kick in your hand. It is very powerful, and you can feel that energy when you shoot it. I've dubbed mine the "hand cannon." Shooting lead pellets, Hatsan promises 600 fps in the .22 caliber. My .22 did not meet those velocity claims once all the excess lubricants were burned off. 500 + rounds into the game it came close though, averaging 590 FPS with 11.9gr RWS Hobby's. That's not to say it's soft on power. This pistol is producing a whopping 9.74 FPE with the 14.5 gr RWS Superdomes. That's more than necessary for humanely taking small game. If you need to transfer a little more energy into your quarry, the RWS Super H Point will also deliver. It mustered 9.60 FPE six feet from the muzzle and should surely shock your target. What's more impressive is the consistency, likely contributing to the superb accuracy that this pistol is capable of. Across most of the pellets I tested (16 in all), extreme spreads spanned just a few feet per second. Compared to a rifle, a pistol often sacrifices some power and accuracy. Power, we know the Supercharger has, but unless you can manage its point of transfer, this strength is useless. I'm happy to report that even from 20 feet away and with open sighs, .60" to .70" inch groups are not difficult. Throw on a red dot at that range and they'll shrink to .25" with the right pellet, mine did. When I first started shooting the Supercharger, my plan was to keep things in prospective and stay focused on what most BB repeaters and spring air pistols are good at... close range shooting. As I became more familiar with mine though, something changed and I got more and more comfortable threading lead long down range. For this review, I spent the majority of my time shooting at three distances; 30', 45', and 60'. I also spent time playing with a UTG Red Dot and BSA Scope. Both work wonders to bring out the full potential locked within this pistol. I found the red dot ideal for fast target acquisition at closer range and I found the 2x scope better for lining up the perfect shot at greater distances. Either way, each could assist you in easily producing some startlingly superb groups. Surprised at the results, I decided to up the ante and move things out to 45'. To assure precision, I affixed the BSA scope to a UTG offset mount and then to the pistol's 11mm rails. As it turns out, this was the right move. The Supercharger continued to amaze, boasting .33" CTC and .49" CTC groups. Thoroughly pleased with the way things were going, I moved things out to 20 yards. I would have moved them out even further but my 37 year old eyes did not agree with the arrangement. For anything longer, I believe a 4x plus scope would have been beneficial. As for the 60' groups, wow! Reflecting on the day, I pondered this 20" wonder, and all its versatility. Want a quiet, compact, accurate, and powerful gun to take into a tree stand during deer hunting season? How about something less intimidating to get the wife and kids started on? Or perhaps you just want that cool looking, James Bond ray gun resembling hand cannon? The Hatsan Supercharger is the sports utility vehicle of spring air guns and I can't wait to take mine out again. Steve Scialli
July 18, 2012 Helpful Links:

• Hatsan Model 25 SuperCharger Air Pistol
• Hatsan Air Guns
• Expert Airgun Reviews