Info that may help Hatsan users

[Sidelock 10]

Hello All,

 

Just thought id pass on the findings of some tests i did on a Hatsan Escort.

 

Ive used mine for 18 months now and it never missed a beat, until i changed ammo. I had been useing 30g loads by Eley. I changed to 29g loads by Lyalvale,,,Yep they wouldnt feed.

 

This happened while i was with a mate who gave me a box of winchester 32gs they worked fine, so thinking id bought a load of duff stuff i thought id break one open and have a look at its guts.

 

To cut a long storey short i reloaded a few with the same primers same powder and same shot, however the only cases i had were 70mm and not 65mm like the Lyalvale, so added a 5mm filler wad,,

They worked perfectly, so i tried a 28g load worked again, then i got realy silly and tried a 26g load, this to worked perfectly. ( all in 70mm cases ).

 

I called the shot i bought the gun from and told them the tale, the answer i got back was " Escorts dont like short cases, they leave the chamber before the bolt is fully cocked",, their gunsmiths words were " I bet when it jammed you had to pull the bolt back just a little then it would feed yes" he was right if i pull the bolt about ( 5mm) it fed fine.

 

Conclusion,,,,, Escorst arnt load picky but are case picky,,,, if youve had feed probs with an Escort try 70mm cases before you slag off the gun.

 

Ps, Anyone selling a Lee Load All in 12g as i have tooooo many to reload by hand

[The Seeker 3,048]

Or buy a Benelli and not have to worry about what case you put in it.........

[Sidelock 10]

" REMINGTON "

[airbourne 128]

went clay shooting a while back, i asked about buying some of the cheaper carts for the job they asked if we were using a escort and my son inlaw was they said they don't go well together being shorter in lenth so he had to buy the more exspensive ones fook me he nearly cryed the tight git

[Sidelock 10]

Thanks Airbourne,

seems ive have the answer to the Hatsan saga then " Load my own"

[HUnter_zero 58]

This would have saved me a whole lot of hassle a few years back. I had a Franchi AL-48 which I struggled and struggled with. Turned out to be exactly the same issue. 65mm cartridges were great, 70mm would jam every time. Sold the gun, only to find out why I had issues a few weeks later.

 

John

[Sidelock 10]

i think its the 3" chamber that does it the bolt has so far to travel, and the spent case becomes a piston to drive it, so a 65mm will bleed off gas long before a 70mm or 75mm. Think im gona try playing around with recoil spring rates, as i seldom use 3" i dont need a spring rate that will handle 3" all the time,,, lighter spring the faster the bolt will travel back and the less engery it needs to reach the sear

[charlie caller 3,654]

Or buy a Benelli and not have to worry about what case you put in it.........

quite agree, best advice for hatstand buyers is DONT

[Deker 3,450]

Sidelock

 

Any help and info is useful, but the Hatsan used to specifically say on the Box, and instructions DON'T use 65mm carts. The cart length issue is also easy to see in action. Loads are always under scrutiny for semis, and light/low recoil loads can cause issues for many semis, the Hatsan just has this and other problems as well.

 

There are of course other issues with the Hatsan by way of design, quality control, materials, etc!

[Sidelock 10]

Maybe so, but ive never had a prob until i changed loads,, and at £325 new its a throw away job, ive worked mine hard over the last couple of seasons, so if i get a couple more its erned its keep, ive saved more than that in poss damage to my coggeys, to have a top grade stock refinished to match it brother would cost a lot more then £325.. and tell me how many pigeon bashers havent bashed knocked or even dropped a gun,,,,,, so scratched a hatsan so what ,,, scratched a Coggey,,, lotsacash

[Gloop 5]

Hmmm, I bought one a few months ago. No idea what cartridges I fed into it but I started at 30 grain then made my way down to either 21 or 22 grain, can't remember which one it was. Yup thats right, 21 or 22. It cycled them no problem, not one jam from new. No idea what size cartridge it was but I may have to go and experiment to see if I can make it jam.

I would love a browning maxxus but as a price comparison I paid less than £300 for the Hatsan. Just can't justify anything else.

[charlie caller 3,654]

Hmmm, I bought one a few months ago. No idea what cartridges I fed into it but I started at 30 grain then made my way down to either 21 or 22 grain, can't remember which one it was. Yup thats right, 21 or 22. It cycled them no problem, not one jam from new. No idea what size cartridge it was but I may have to go and experiment to see if I can make it jam.

I would love a browning maxxus but as a price comparison I paid less than £300 for the Hatsan. Just can't justify anything else.

Try using it that will make it jam

[Sidelock 10]

Hello Gloop, Yes the shotload dont matter much its the case length,,,,, but 21/22g loads youd be better off with a 20bore, with such a low pellet count the 20 would give better patterns and be lighter to carry