Hatsan 125 or RWS 34?

[jbersuch]

I am looking to get a good .22 air rifle. I have been looking around and was going to get the Hatsan 125 Vortex gas sniper. I read a lot of good comments about the RWS 34. Which do you think would be a better choice? Really just looking for a good accurate rifle to plink, shoot birds and squirrels around our new place, and snakes at the lake while fishing. Looking to spend a max of about $300.

[RayinNH]

I no nothing about the Hatsun. I really like my RWS 34. In fact you would need a pry bar to get it away from me. You'd need to hit me on the head with it as you wouldn't get enough leverage by prying.

[HARRYMPOPE]

i have a 125 in .25.It was rough before i had a gas ram and a tune done on it.it is a powerhouse very few spring/gas ram rifles can aproach.Unless you just need raw power go with a 34(its also more acurate).Much better quality and easier to work on if you choose to.Also the 125 is a giant airgun,the 34 much more nimble.My 34 in 22 is a very accurate rifle with ample power for pesting to 50 yards.

[Ithaca Gunner]

The RWS 34 is the standard classic. They come ready to go, are accurate and powerful. Why buy a lesser gun you have to have tuned and end up spending the same or more than buying a good gun from the start? Get the RWS 34 and be happy.

[HARRYMPOPE]

Exactly. The 125/135's shoot close to 30 FPE in 25 caliber .Mine with the tune and gas ram cost me $375 total and i'd do it again. A theoben eliminator (the only other breakbarrel to come close) is $700 to $1200.I dont get near the accuracy of the 34 out of it though. It is 1.5"-2" at 50 yards and good enough for a raw hunting gun. Its a big difference when I hit the feral pigeons with 20 FPE at 50 yards as opposed to 8 FPE out of a 22 caliber model 34.they just go down hard.

[jbersuch]

I have looked around and I think I will go with the .22 RWS 350. I have always wanted to get a RWS.

[HARRYMPOPE]

Not a bad choice,I had one in .177 that shot well.the Diana 48 is another I really like.if you didn't care about power as much the Weirauch HW30 is an amazingly accurate rifle. The 22 caliber Weirauch rifles seem fussy and like bigger pellets though.no big deal but you wont typically find them locally. A Weirauch or dianawerks/RWS should be getting you half inch groups at 25 yards.

[NuJudge]

I have had a RWS 34 .177 for 15 years, with complete satisfaction. I've never had a squirrel or other critter get away after getting zapped by it. Ranges were out to 15 yards. A lot of the time I use very old RWS lead match wadcutters, although some of the time I used pointed RWS pellets. I've even shot skunks with it. Accuracy is not match quality, but then it is not a match gun. It is relatively quiet, enough so to not upset neighbors.