Hatsan Mod 135 Vortex QE

I wouldn't buy this as my first rifle, or even my third. A high-velocity .22 or .25 will do about the same number on game. If you are an experienced break-barrel gunner, you are sure to find it a satisfying addition to your collection.

Pros
Elegant - heavy - accurate and massive. It sure is a handful of rifle. It's gorgeously detailed, and a real pleasure to shoot. It has relatively little recoil, probably because of its substantial heft. I have not had it out hunting, but I put a tin of pellets through it on the range. It will reach out and ring heavy metal targets intended for cartridge guns. For small to medium game, I have no doubt it would be an International Harvester. It is nicely quiet as well.

Cons
Compared to .177 and .22, there are few pellets made in .30, and stock has been very variable. Ammo is also several times the cost per round compared to smaller calibers. I was only able to obtain one brand, and bought the last four tins I could find. Luckily, the rifle shoots like gangbusters with my pellet of choice. This is no gun for casual plinking. For one, the cocking force is heavy, and is tiring after about 10 rounds. This is a game rifle. Sight it in and treat it as such.

I've used for years to protect my livestock. Good gun. After a few years it quite shooting. No place to be found to do repairs.

Pros
I'd give it a five. Loved the gun had it for years. Unfortunately it's stopped shooting. It's out of warranty. Can't get any information bout how to get it fixed.

Great air rifle - but piston failed Bought the 135 EQ .30 cal about 3 years ago. Loved it. But a month ago - the nitro piston failed with less than 500 pellets through it. Out of warranty, I sent it to Hatsan USA. Got a quick response. They said that the most common reason a nitro piston fails is because if you store it muzzle up - like in a gun rack - piston cup oil will leak down the piston rod and soften or weaken the piston bladder - causing it to fail. I had never heard of that before. So be aware. Store it on its side or the other end up.

Pros
Great air rifle - lots of power

Cons
Make it a springer - other than that - a great airgun

Pros
This is one amazing hard hitting air rifle. I installed the UTG 4-16X44 30mm Scope, AO, 36-color Mil-dot on the gun. Then tested a lot of different pellet brands and gr weights to finally settle with the most deadly accurate pellet out to 80 yrds. That pellet is the Exact King Heavy Diabolo 33.95 gr. 42fpe. After shooting about 50 pellets through the new gun "I call the break in period" I then cleaned the barrel very well to dislodge any lead deposites to then truly start to site the gun in. I placed my gun in a rifle lock to ensure no movment. At 25 yards / 5 shot test cover all 5 with a dime: At 35 yards / 5 shot test cover all 5 with a nickle: At 35 yards / 5 shot test cover with quarter and so on....At 80 yards which I stopped at because after that I do not beleive I would shoot anything past that I noted my grouping was still very impressive with an average 2" x 2" pattern. Every gun is different keep the barrel clean and try lots of different pellets. Have Fun & Happy Shooting!

Cons
None!

Again, it’s a heavy cocking mechanism and a heavy gun but well worth it.

Pros
With a beautiful figured walnut stock and the weight and feel of a real rifle, this thing is impressive. Yes, it’s a heavy cocking mechanism but once you pull the light, crisp trigger and see the power it has, you’ll forget all about that. Just put more behind your target than you think there should be or you may find a hole in something you didn’t mean to put a hole in. It’s not, in any stretch of the imagination, a first time pellet rifle for your kid. This is more like, I’m tired of .177 and want to quietly lay down some heat in the back yard. If you’re a healthy, strong person, I would highly recommend this pellet rifle.

Cons
This is unapologetically powerful and I wouldn’t change a thing.

This GORGEOUS rifle is both beautiful and powerful. This is the kind of rifle you pass down to the family. I don't see why this wouldn't stay in the family for generations and at $300 bucks it's well worth it.

Pros
I'm writing about the MOD 135 Vortex QE in .22 caliber. First of all, this gun is GORGEOUS. The walnut is striking to look at and if any of you are guitar or bass players, you'll appreciate the feel and look of a good piece of walnut in your hands. Everything is perfect on this gun. It's a precision piece of equipment. Personally, I LOVE the open sights it comes with. I've never been a scope kind of guy because I don't shoot long distances and they are just a pain. The open sights that Hatsan makes are my favorite. They have fiber optic, easy to see markers, and a dial for both windage and elevation which are very precise and also nice to look at. If you are a hunter, then the .22 is for you. This rifle is precise, and POWERFUL. I could easily see you taking down a small to medium size animal quickly and with dignity. The weight for a rifle like this feels just right. The VORTEX piston is crazy strong. Cocking takes muscle but easy to load.

Cons
Too powerful for me as a plinker. This is a hunter's rifle. If you want a backyard plinker, look elsewhere. If you plan to go hunting, this is it !!!

It's 4 ft long and weighs just under 10 pounds. You'll want a STURDY carrying case. Probably not appropriate for young boys or girls to use.

Pros
Of course, I agree with most of the comments about power, build, weight, etc. At first effort, the cocking IS more difficult than EXPECTED. But with experience, it becomes easier. The recoil--while not at all painful or intolerable, or even an issue--is more than expected at first. More than any 22 LR. I'll emphasize that this gun weighs as much as a Garrand, M1 battle rifle. And more than many high powered hunting rifles. So, with the cocking process and its weight, this is not the most convenient gun to CARRY in the field for repeated use. But it IS very powerful for what it is. And, all thing considered, is worth the efforts involved in using it for hunting. It's also very fairly priced for what it is. Only time and use will reveal how durable it is. So far, I'm a very happy buyer/user.

Cons
Larger sling swivels. Include a sling which is appropriate for this gun.

In order to hunt alligators, game animals, furbearers, squirrels, and non-migratory game birds (except Eastern Turkey) here in Texas, air/arrow guns need to be of a "Pre-charged pneumatic: an air gun or arrow gun for which the propellant is supplied or introduced by means of a source that is physically separate from the air gun or arrow gun." See https://tpwd.texas.gov/regulations/outdoor-annual/hunting/air-gun-arrow-gun-regulations for more info.

Pros
Easy and quick reload.

Cons
Big bore model is not considered a "lawful means" here in Texas for: alligators, bighorn sheep, javelina, mule deer, white-tailed deer, pronghorn, and turkey (except eastern turkey) etc.

This is a gorgeous gun and as my only big bore airgun it leaves me wanting very little aside from more ammo to shoot. While it may be a bear to handle during extended shooting, its reaffirming weight does a great deal to combat the recoil and uneasiness of ones hands after a few dozen shots. I would never recommend it to someone unable to manage the heft and cocking effort, but for those who can and are looking for a step up from smaller calibers or simply addition stopping power for larger small game at the sub 30-40 yard range it cannot be beat in my opinion.

Pros
Fantastic affordable stopping power with beautiful Turkish wood

Cons
Unwieldy for the less fit among us(let's face it big caliber+big gun=really heavy gun)

Buy it, you won't regret.

Pros
Very powerful. The 30cal will go through a 2x4

Cons
It's a bit heavy and the 30 is pretty hard to break barrel load but it's worth the effort.