GTA
Airguns by Make and Model => Hatsan Airguns => Topic started by: GD Giles on December 04, 2015, 07:18:50 PM
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Man oh man... this is such a shooting pleasure compared to my Crosman's trigger. The last 2 pellet guns I purchased were Chinese and very low end.. Cheap Shot... that's me. ;) I think my research paid off big time and I feel confident is was worth the extra $107 or whatever for the Factory Bulletproof tune job Airgun Pro Shop did on it. This thing shoots like butter and it hits hard. I received a Hatsan Service Test form and the data states over 10 shots with Hatsan Vortex Express 14.13g pellets the average muzzle velocity is 837 fps and energy is 22 ft lbs. Using a 3-9x40 scope at 10 yards it grouped at 0.182 and the other half of this report paper is the actual target.
After a quick visual inspection and picking Styrofoam packing balls off the gun I grabbed the CPHP's and headed out the backyard with my target/pellet trap I made. At 20 yards I couldn't even see the bullseye by eye, shooting open sights for a while before I scope it, so I moved the target up to 10 yards. Bear in mind that I've not really shot anything in decades because my other guns just didn't inspire me to shoot. So I was getting 2 inch groups at 10 yards open sights low light as it's late afternoon in Dec. I really didn't care because it was just fun shooting. I'd shoot a bit, walk up and see what I was actually hitting, walk back and shoot some more, etc.
**** I only relay this portion of the story to serve as a warning to others. Please don't berate me or wag a finger at me; I know what I did was wrong and I'm very remorseful for it.**** :( :-[ :'( On one of the trips up to the target I saw a squirrel about 10 yards beyond it off to the side of the yard. I checked the bucket, went back to my shooting spot and sighted the squirrel best I could in the low light. I caught his profile, aimed center mass and fired. The thump of the impact was very loud. I'd never heard anything like that in all the squirrels, birds or rats I've shot with my .177's in the past. Squirrels are living in my attic and that's one reason I got this gun, but.... He jumped up and ran a bit into the base of some hedges. I heard him rustling a bit and it stopped. So I walked to where I saw him enter, grabbed a stick on the way to pull him out and I saw his tail. Then the rest of him. Eyes open on his feet looking at me. Ok, not as good a shot as I thought it was so I have to follow up. I have no pellets on me so I walk back, grab a pellet, load it and walk back down. At this point I'm 5 feet away, take aim at his head and miss. I'd never shot anything with this gun at 5' before, or even 20 yards. He squawked and ran under the fence into my neighbor's yard under the bushes. I couldn't see him or retrieve him. I'm certain he's dead but it really, really bothers me I got caught up in the excitement of a new gun and took a shot I shouldn't have without spending more time with the gun and in better light. Again, I don't need a scolding; I know it was wrong and I only share this to warn others about my mistake. Take the time to get to know your gun before you hunt/pest. :(
I felt so bad after that I put a few more pellets into the target and called it a night. I probably shot 40-50 pellets over all. Looking forward to easier cocking. The only flaw I can find on the gun is the top of the safety has the bluing scraped off a tad. No biggie. This gun is miles, MILES better than the last two I owned/shot. I can't wait to spend more time with it and get to know it (and get new glasses so I can see better) so the next time I line up a squirrel I will know where the shot will be placed better.
I also noticed that the CPHPs fit kind of erratically. Some tight, some loose. Is that normal?
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good deal on the new rifle. the 95's seem to shoot nice.
I imagine many of us have succumbed to taking a shot we regret, I know I have.
Once you get it sighted in and have some time with it you can be more certain of where the pellet will strike.
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Been there done that. :-[
Glad you're happy with the rifle, love mine as well.
Ed
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I also noticed that the CPHPs fit kind of erratically. Some tight, some loose. Is that normal?
I have that issue as well. Some fit right in like it was meant to be. Others i have to push. If someone can chime in on this and let me know if they'll both shoot the same id wanna know before using one of the irregulars to take out a pest.
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Cphps are budget pellets that have a wide size variation . If they shoot ok, you might want to invest in Crosman Premier pellets in the cardboard box, which will be much more consistently sized, and should shoot more consistently. Other quality pellets include JSB, H&N, Air Arms, and RWS.
Have fun!
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Congrats on the new rifle, Glen!
Your observation of the bluing scraped off a tad on the safety is interesting to me. I bought a refurb'd Hatsan too, and that is the only blemish I have found on mine as well. A friend of mine, and another GTA member (Butch) picked up a refurb'd Hatsan, and guess what the only blemish is on his? Yep, the bluing on the safety.
Makes me wonder if in addition to he "R" engraved on the breach, this is how Hatsan signifies a refurb'd rifle?? The top of the safety is where ours is scraped off, and that's not the area your thumb makes contact to engage/disengage the safety.
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That is interesting. I mean it affects the gun in no way whatsoever.
I realized in my narrative above I mentioned going to the bucket and that might sound weird. :) I made an indoor pellet trap and being that I had no other target other than a coke can I blasted about 10 times, I got it and set it up as a target. Here's a video of that:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5D4g57ObUWc# (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5D4g57ObUWc#)
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Glad to hear that you like it! The good thing about picking up the cheap guns first is that it makes you appreciate the 95 that much more. I picked up a Crosman NP Shockwave as my first break barrel air gun. Its not a bad gun but I ordered my first 95 not long after. I haven't picked up the Shockwave since!
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I guess I feel like I have a real gun again. When I had my Diana from age 11 or so to grad school, it was small for me in grad school but it was a real gun. The low end Chinese stuff just felt that way and shot that way. I'm not saying my Hatsan is a Diana but it sure feels, looks and performs like quality.