Hatsan Escort semi-auto. 3"

[bullmastiff 610]

I'm currently looking at getting an Escort Semi auto 3" Magnum in camo and left handed. My local Gun shop has one in for £475, which seems to be the going rate for the Magnum, Camo, in left hand. They are holding it for me for now but I've got to get back to them about it.

I did a search on them and have seen quite a few topics from people suggesting their going to buy an Escort 3".

 

I was just wondering how you've been getting on with them? Have you still got them?

Do you wish you had saved more and bought a Brand name gun Secondhand?

Are they what you expected?

There seems to be stories of reliability issues with them, either they work well and are the perfect gun or they jam constantly and cause nothing but headaches. so have you had any troubles?

 

The trouble I'm having is I want a Camo'd semi-auto in left hand, that will take Magnum cartridges, mainly for Foxes but also duck and Geese but the nearest guns to the Hatsan are nearly double the money. The closest I could find was a Benelli for £750.

 

Any help you could provide would be appreciated,

 

All the best

 

Luke.

[mally 832]

Stay clear of them mate there shite, there's one here if you want one for £100 can't give them away second hand!!. Mines been back to edgar brothers 5 times with faults a total of 5 months in total in just 3 years...

[macberran 2]

Have a 20 magnum I bought for my 2nd oldest, stock was shorter. I am trying too find time too take it back. It has jammed from the word go.Does not matter size or make of shell. Once when holding it it just went off! lucky it was pointing at the sky, made me jump though. Steer clear and save fot a Beretta or Benelli.

[bullmastiff 610]

As I said I would prefer a brand name gun but just can't afford one, my wife is pregnant with our second child at the moment, so I'm on a really restricted budget.

Maybe I'll have to go with a cheap O/U then, I'll contact the gun shop.

 

Thank you for the replies.

 

Luke.

[Steve McHardy 2]

As I said I would prefer a brand name gun but just can't afford one, my wife is pregnant with our second child at the moment, so I'm on a really restricted budget.

Maybe I'll have to go with a cheap O/U then, I'll contact the gun shop.

 

Thank you for the replies.

 

Luke.

i know im probobly leavin myself open for abuse here but ive had a 3inch mag escort for bout 3 yrs i cracked the fore end by over tightening the end cap but that is the only problem ive evar had its never jammed on me once no matter what shells i used from 28g clay busters to 56gm fox killers i know the evidence is overwhelming against but i got mine new for 300 an it was a bargarin, even my mates love using it on clays and they shoot o/u's all the time. i must have the only good ever made.

[doyoufeel_lucky@hotmail.co 0]

ive had mine for under a year, brand new and i was impressed, i had heard so many bad things about them so iwas a little worried but the dealer said the new ones have been good as gold. ive gone through loads of 32 gram shells and had no problems at all. i got mine from helston gunsmiths in cornwall for £350 with the extension tube.

yeah its cheap, but its also cheerful to go with it

[billbroon 9]

Ive had mine for 2 year and never had a problem and its had hundreds of catridges through it. Just keep it well cleaned and oiled it will be fine.

billy

[SportingShooter 0]

As I said I would prefer a brand name gun but just can't afford one, my wife is pregnant with our second child at the moment, so I'm on a really restricted budget.

Maybe I'll have to go with a cheap O/U then, I'll contact the gun shop.

 

Thank you for the replies.

 

Luke.

i know im probobly leavin myself open for abuse here but ive had a 3inch mag escort for bout 3 yrs i cracked the fore end by over tightening the end cap but that is the only problem ive evar had its never jammed on me once no matter what shells i used from 28g clay busters to 56gm fox killers i know the evidence is overwhelming against but i got mine new for 300 an it was a bargarin, even my mates love using it on clays and they shoot o/u's all the time. i must have the only good ever made.

Mine is the same, shot a good 20 3" High Performance Steel through it the other night, but the evidence against them is overwhelming.

 

Seems to be about 3/10 are good 'uns.

[bullmastiff 610]

Right after the initial panic and some searching I found a lot more info on the main problems with the Escorts.

Apparently the older models (some are still being sold as new still) were designed for a very minimum of 32g cartridges, so smaller carts don't produce enough pressure to cycle the gun properly. This can be overcome by having the Gas port expanded slightly and keeping the piston clean also the 'O' ring breaks frequently with larger loads.. The newer models have this sorted now and can (apparently) cycle cartridges down to 21g and up to ( I think) 56g.

The other major worry is sometimes the chokes can 'undo' and come loose due to shoddy thread cutting, and if not noticed then can cause barrels to bulge or in the worst case explode. I don't know if this problem has been rectified on the newer models but apparently it only becomes loose over a lengthy period of time, so a simple check before the start of the shoot to ensure it's tightened will solve this.

It seems quite a few guys on Pigeon watch have them as a knock about guns for shooting from a hide or 'rough shooting' and are finding their working fine now with whatever cartridge they feed it?

 

I'm still in two minds over this gun but can't find a left handed gun to suit as I really don't like shooting with O/U's.

[billbroon 9]

Right after the initial panic and some searching I found a lot more info on the main problems with the Escorts.

Apparently the older models (some are still being sold as new still) were designed for a very minimum of 32g cartridges, so smaller carts don't produce enough pressure to cycle the gun properly. This can be overcome by having the Gas port expanded slightly and keeping the piston clean also the 'O' ring breaks frequently with larger loads.. The newer models have this sorted now and can (apparently) cycle cartridges down to 21g and up to ( I think) 56g.

The other major worry is sometimes the chokes can 'undo' and come loose due to shoddy thread cutting, and if not noticed then can cause barrels to bulge or in the worst case explode. I don't know if this problem has been rectified on the newer models but apparently it only becomes loose over a lengthy period of time, so a simple check before the start of the shoot to ensure it's tightened will solve this.

It seems quite a few guys on Pigeon watch have them as a knock about guns for shooting from a hide or 'rough shooting' and are finding their working fine now with whatever cartridge they feed it?

 

I'm still in two minds over this gun but can't find a left handed gun to suit as I really don't like shooting with O/U's.

I fire 30grms through mine no prob, but its funny u say about the choke because mine does come slack, a just make sure its tight before i start firing.

billy

[HUnter_zero 58]

As I said I would prefer a brand name gun but just can't afford one Luke.

 

 

Hi Luke, I might be a little too far away BUT..... my mate has one which he purchased new. He has shot it once or twice with little more than 20 rounds thought it. As far as I know he has had no issues with the gun but did say he was going to sell it as he uses his U/O and wants space for another C/F rifle in his cabinet. I'm guessing he would want around £200 mark for it. If you are interested, then you can try before you buy and I'll sort a clay shoot out. Just thinking it might help you out a bit thats all. (The gun is black, 3" mag)

 

John

[Deker 3,453]

As I said I would prefer a brand name gun but just can't afford one Luke.

 

 

Hi Luke, I might be a little too far away BUT..... my mate has one which he purchased new. He has shot it once or twice with little more than 20 rounds thought it. As far as I know he has had no issues with the gun but did say he was going to sell it as he uses his U/O and wants space for another C/F rifle in his cabinet. I'm guessing he would want around £200 mark for it. If you are interested, then you can try before you buy and I'll sort a clay shoot out. Just thinking it might help you out a bit thats all. (The gun is black, 3" mag)

 

John

 

 

Just like the one I bought for my lad about a year back......that lasted around 40 cartridges before the barrel decided to let go ..... the whole story is documented on THL.

 

Yes...I'm still bitter and twisted...I was stood next to my lad when it happened and I'm lucky to be alive, these things tend to stick in your mind!!!

Edited September 26, 2009 by Deker

[HUnter_zero 58]

Just like the one I bought for my lad about a year back......that lasted around 40 cartridges before the barrel decided to let go ..... the whole story is documented on THL.

 

You get what you pay for. I'm not a fan of semi-autos at anytime, IMHO the guns are more hassle than the worth in three shot. I can load my SBS and let loose four shots before I can reload a semi and let of six shots.

 

John

[morgan the moon 0]

The only problem i had with my 3" semi auto camo is the the clip broke.

fired over a thousand rounds with out a problem.

part sent back to me from edgar bros within a few weeks.

you get what you pay for.

[bullmastiff 610]

My apologises for taking so long to reply.

Hunter Zero, I'm after a left handed gun preferably in camo. All I do is rough, hide and Roost shooting now so would prefer a gun to blend in. As I don't do any driven shooting anymore I care not a dot how other people perceive the guns ' modern camo look'

I've noticed a big difference when waiting out for nervous Rabbits/pigeons with an uncovered air rifle and one wrapped in a scrim net (I'm sure they recognise the shape?). This is fine for laying out with a rifle, scope and plenty of time but not so for a shotgun, where snap shooting is the norm. Hence the want of a 'camo' shotgun.

So thank you very much for the offer but I'll have to decline.

 

Deker, I'm sorry but I can't find your previous post about the exploding barrel. Do you think it could of been caused by the choke issue I mentioned earlier? or do you think it was a serious flaw in the barrel?

 

Thanks again for the advise everyone.

 

All the best

 

Luke.

Edited September 29, 2009 by bullmastiff