How to split an HashMap in Java

Do you have to use HashMap?

TreeMap is really good for this kind of things. Here's an example (note that 0, 50, and 99 are map keys, not indices):

TreeMap<Integer, Integer> sorted = new TreeMap<Integer, Integer>(bigMap);

SortedMap<Integer, Integer> zeroToFortyNine = sorted.subMap(0, 50); // toKey inclusive, fromKey exclusive
SortedMap<Integer, Integer> fiftyToNinetyNine = sorted.subMap(50, true, 99, true);

You'll basically need to iterate over the entries in bigMap, and make a decision as to whether they should be added to smallMap1 or smallMap2.