Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Rimfires Hammerli

After shooting my Dad's Hammerlis, I figured I needed on of my own. They really are something!


Dad brought up a home-made scope mount for me. It slides into the dovetail for the barrel weights, so slapping a red dot on the Hammerli was a fairly simple endeavor.


With a red dot, I can shoot it almost as well as my T1x with a 10x scope (at 25yds, anyway). Here's a 5-shot, 25yd group from the Hammerli. I was shooting CCI Std Velocity ammo.

Aw, now you’ve gone and done it. How am I gonna get the image of that pistol and its potential outa my mind?

Very accurate, purpose built target 22’s. I have been shooting this 280 in our winter bullseye league for a couple of years. Lot’s of fun.

The 280 was an excellent pistol, I had a 208s for a while but it just didn’t fit my hand as well as the 280. Balanced better to me.

Dan,

What model of Hammerli is that?

Thanks,

Jerry

Mine is a 215:

I dig that 280! Did you have drill & tap it for the scope mount, or is it a special-build mount that uses the rear site dovetail? I am not that familiar with the ins and outs of the 280. After seeing yours, though, I probably need one. :-)

My father has a Benelli MP95 Atlanta, that looks similar to your 280...magazine placement, anyway. He has a Walther OSP .22 Short, as well.

Here are a couple of 50yd groups from yesterday...


I shot the lower group, then adjusted the red dot for the top group.

How would you compare it to a smith 41?

As a sporting pistol, the 41 is better.
-- The 41 actually has a safety, and the the magazine release is in a more conventional location.
-- Spare magazines for the 41 are easier to find, and they are much cheaper than Hammerli magazines.
-- The Smith 41 is still made, so parts and accessories as easier to find.
-- The 41 is easier to disassemble. On the Hammerli, the rear site (and barrel weights) needs to be removed before you can take the slide off.


My particular 41 eats just about everything I've ever fed it. I don't really remember any feeding issues with it. My Dad's 41, however, is really finicky with ammo; he says it even has feeding/cycling problems with the stuff it likes. My Hammerli hasn't hiccuped yet, either, but it has only seen std velocity target ammo; no cheap stuff.

Comparing the finish of my Smith 41 to the Hammerli 215 isn't really apples-to-apples. The 41 has a much nicer, polished finish to it. The 215 is kinda like Hammerli's "express" or "SPS" version of their 208, so comparing the 41 to the Hammerli 208 is probably a better comparison, finish-wise.


They both feel great in the hand, and they both have exceptional triggers.

I've had my 41 for over 25 years, and I just got the Hammerli in July, so I don't have a lot of side-by-side shooting time with both of them, yet. But, so far, the Hammerli seems more accurate than my 41. I've had a couple High Standards over the years that were more accurate than my 41, as well. My 41 has always been a solid shooter, but not an exceptional shooter.

I think it's fair to say that I like everything about the Smith 41 except their price and accuracy (which is still very good). They are really expensive, these days. I've seen used ones go for more than $1000 on Gun Broker. I got this Hammerli for less, and I've seen them even cheaper.

I think that's a pretty fair assessment of the two. If I could have only one, it would be the Smith.

Thank you for the detailed comparison. I’ve been tempted to jump on a couple hammerlis in the past, but never ended up pulling the trigger.

Maybe next time one comes up, I will.

DanInAlaska, I am sorry I got back so late to this.
This 280 was bought new in 1995, I bought it used from a friend who moved up to a Pardini pistol. I think it was mounted by the company he bought in from. I am sorry I don’t know more. It obviously shoots better than I ever could. Great bullseye pistol.

What about the Xesse as a hunting gun?

I am not familiar with them, so I'm not much help. I've never handled (or shot) an Xesse.

I had one (Olympica) in 22 short for modern pentathlon from 81 to 93, Never a finer weapon!!!!

I just snagged another Hammerli off GunBroker. This one is a little fancier, the 208 model. It'll be a week or two, until it gets here, but I'm looking forward to shooting it.

The "new" Hammerli arrived today. The 215 is up top, now wearing composite field grips, and the 208 is below it with the original target grips that came on the 215.




The 208 is an older model, with a safety, which was a bit of a surprise. I wasn't expecting that.

The 208s had the safety…mine was purchased in 1988. It didn’t have adjustable target grips. Very fine pistol. A friend has a 230, a really cool pistol. His has a device, that was shipped with the pistol, to tune the magazine. I wanted one in the worst way, had no reason other than it was a terrific rapid fire pistol.