To ready the Hatsan Dominator 200S Carbine for shooting, grab the cocking handle at the end of the cocking lever, unsnap it from it retaining fitting at the end of the barrel, and pull it down and back until latches with two tiny clicks. If you hear only one click (as I did the first couple of times I loaded the 200S), the breech block will slide out of the way, you’ll be able to load the 200S, but you will not be able to release the anti-beartrap mechanism that allows you to return the cocking lever to its original position. So you want to hear two clicks . . . got it?
The breech opening has a low cut only on the right side, favoring right-handed loading.
Next, stuff a pellet into the aft end of the barrel, and here is where we discover that, while the Hatsan Dominator 200S Carbine is designed with an ambidextrous stock, the cut of the breech opening is decidedly biased toward the right side of the receiver. As a result, I think that left-handed shooters will find that they will either have to (A) roll the 200s to the left so that the breech opening faces to the left or (B) learn to load this air rifle right-handed.
This is the anti-beartrap release lever.
After loading the pellet, press the anti-beartrap release lever in (toward the receiver) and return the cock lever to its original position. Turn off the safety by sliding the lever toward you and squeeze the trigger. At about 10 oz. the first stage comes out of the trigger, and at 5 lbs 5.5 oz the pellet goes down range. The shot goes off with a pop that is typical of underlever spring-piston air rifles. It is not dead quiet, but, in my opinion, it is pretty neighbor-friendly and is not the kind of sound that is likely to attract unwanted attention.
The Hatsan Dominator 200S Carbine is a relatively heavy rifle – 9.7 lbs – so it doesn’t dance around a lot when it goes off. In addition, the Hatsan company says that it is equipped with a patented Shock Absorber System that reduces shock and vibration. In all honesty, I can’t tell you how – or even if – this system works, but I can tell you that the Hatsan Dominator 200S Carbine is a pleasant rifle to shoot.
The Hatsan Dominator 200S Carbine launched 15.9 grain JSP .22 pellets at around 590 fps for about 12.29 foot-pounds of energy (It’s also available in .177 caliber, which I did not test.). At 32 yards, I was able to put five .22 Crosman Premiers into a group that measured 7/8 inch edge to edge. That works out to .66 inch center to center.
In the end, I really liked the Hatsan Dominator 200S Carbine. I think it will serve a lot of airgunners well, and it hits a real sweet spot on the price/performance curve.
Til next time, aim true and shoot straight.
– Jock Elliott
Jock,
I am suprised that a $310 airgun weighing almost 10 pounds produces only 12.29 foot pounds of energy. I’ll take the Benjamin 392 any day: half the price, lighter, better accuracy, all wood and metal, produces 14 foot-pounds of energy, and is made in the good old USA–not Turkey! Otherwise, I enjoyed your review.
Miguel Jose
I’m with you 100% on that one Miguel!
Greetings Jock! Thanks for your review. Will you be able to let me know the scope manufacturer and model that is mounted on the Hatsan Dominator 200S Carbine? It appears to be a good set-up for this airgun. Thanks,
Steven Griesmaier
sounds like the gun has a seal problem. it should be pushing those pellets at 700 and change
odd. i would think it’d be more than that? the 125 sniper in 25 cal puts down 30 FPE. I was looking for an underlever vesion of the 125 sniper (which sorta looked like the domi, BUT hatsan lists it as 100 fps less in 25 cal, and in 22 cal its 200 fps less!) but even still, it should be pushing way more than that? do you think you got one that was detuned for the UK with their 12 ft/lb requirement? does hatsan even do that?
Zero2005,
I don’t know. I simply report the performance as I observe it.
Sounds like its a neutered version version. for anyone looking of basically a 125 sniper, but under lever instead of break barrel, the torpedo 150/155 is almost the same thing (the powerplant is the same, the stock and cocking mechanism is about the only difference stated by hatsan) ~30 FPE from a 300$ gun is amazing. i ended up getting the sniper in .25 cal. definately a hammer, but needs some minor tuning (lubing, honing, cleaning).
Hi Jock– I’m wondering what the trigger adjustment range is, as I’d prefer to get it down to around 2 lbs.
This must be the old gun the newer ones get 800 fps with 22 cal so a 22.59 fpe with the 15.9 pellets , way more than you could ever get from the Benjamin 392 Another thing you have to remember if your hunting most game are not waiting around for you to pump up 8 pumps and all that slapping noise from the pump . The hatsan is one cock and load and your ready to fire again you can get off 5 shots by the time it takes you to pump up 8 times and load the 392 . And who wants to walk around with one arm twice the size of the other because of all the pumping its just not worth it I don’t care if they give it away it will never beat the Hatsan .