hatsan 95 .22 Loctite void warranty ?

[Methuselah]

Methuselah, this was the second 95. First one had a defective safety. This one wouldn't group. Kind of left a bad impression. Hatsan gets pretty good reviews generally and I expect they make a good gun but the two examples I received just didn't measure up. Hopeful the Walther will be a good one.

JimR,

With only 11 posts, I read them all ... was wondering what was the issue with the safety, shipping damage, not cocking properly?

Irrelevant now - and yes, gist of what your saying is bad first impression, now bad 2nd impression and you HAVE put in some work.  Just getting out and trying to put 50 rounds into better than a 5" group close up is work, frustrating work at that.  Understood.  Given the circumstances of your 11 posts, I agree with your reasoning to send it back.  I am going to go down on record also saying you did read the reputation on these though, and it is not unexpected to get one, or more, of these 95's and 125's lacking in the QC department.

I'm saying that not to rib you but because others who do as you did to seek out the reputation and develop expectations on these gun models need to know ahead of time not everyone will get a good one out of the box.  Most need barrel cleaning, maybe all.  After cleaning, most will take time and rounds fired to stop dieseling, and some may even have a few detonations.  THEN, it is my opinion you have no better than a 50/50% shot at getting a 125 that won't have issues either soon or certainly later on, maybe somewhat better odds on the 95's.

These lower-end Hatsan's can be very good and accurate guns with some extra work.  There are folks reporting doing work on them and getting good groups at 50 yards.

So anyway, it's understandable if you bought it hoping to get a good one but knowing if you didn't you could return it.  I doubt anyone would hold that against you in the slightest, me included.  Just know that these can be very good, very decent FPE guns with some work, and if you are not too soured on your first introduction to these, perhaps it would be worthwhile to peruse the classified and try to find one that has had the QC work done after-the-fact (tuned)?

I only posted because others considering the purchase of these 95's or 125's should know they do have a chance to get a good one, and that if they are willing to tinker with it, they have pretty good odds they will have a really good, powerful, accurate shooter built like a tank for well under half the price of some top-end alternative guns.  And make no mistake, even if you spend 5x more on one with a stellar reputation there are going to be some that left the factory with QC issues (though the percentages of that will be decidedly lower).

Sorry so long a post.  I hope whatever you decide on getting it turns out to be something you get enjoyment out of!  BTW, Walther is made in the same factory as the one you have... .

Welcome to the GTA Jim!

[GD Giles]

It's discouraging when a product is touted as being 'the best under $200' and you get a lemon. So that means they're not ALL the best. How many/what percentage of people get one, have a problem, then come here and ask about it explaining their problem? Who knows. How many/what percentage of people get one have no issue with it and come here to say 'hey I got one and it works great'? Who knows but probably far fewer than those that have problems. In theory, my 95 being a refurb and then failing on me has been repaired at least twice via factory service and that doesn't include the factory tune job I paid over $100 for. Personally it stings a bit more when you've done the research, poured over reviews both written and videos for hours, make your best informed choice and end up w/a dud. That said when it comes to someone asking me, 'what should I get for $200?' I'll tell them what an awesome gun the 95 is, when it's working right.

[Methuselah]

It's discouraging when a product is touted as being 'the best under $200' and you get a lemon. So that means they're not ALL the best. How many/what percentage of people get one, have a problem, then come here and ask about it explaining their problem? Who knows. How many/what percentage of people get one have no issue with it and come here to say 'hey I got one and it works great'? Who knows but probably far fewer than those that have problems. In theory, my 95 being a refurb and then failing on me has been repaired at least twice via factory service and that doesn't include the factory tune job I paid over $100 for. Personally it stings a bit more when you've done the research, poured over reviews both written and videos for hours, make your best informed choice and end up w/a dud.

Glen,

If many of these leave the factory with at least one QC issue, and you pay that factory extra to go over it - well, I'm not sure I'd feel comfortable saying you should have the same expectations when they didn't get a substantial percentage of them right the first time.  Understandably, if your issue is not wanting to void the warranty you are in a Catch 22 situation - you made a respectable decision.

Some refurbs (notably I believe Umarex) are just returns with new packing and a 10 second is it all there looksee.  I believe this intentional to save costs thinking a lot are returned because the end user didn't want it, didn't fire it enough to settle it down and break it in, mounted the scope right away and it broke (maybe they didn't even know and just concluded it was an inaccurate gun), and even if it had an issue that effected accuracy, one person returning it due to 1" groups at 15 yards doesn't mean the next person who gets it will not keep it thinking that isn't too bad.

To me, both cases - now it becomes known your reputation is on the line and what comes next is going to be based upon what the company feels needs to happen to protect said reputation.  In the first case, I've heard a lot of good things about Hatsan's factory warranty repairs.  In the second, I can tell you first hand it is Umarex's policy to blame the gun owner and make up stories they think will cast doubt to at least try to keep people from attributing the issues to a failure on their part to honor their warranty obligations.

So I think your situation is different from Jim's.  Also, I think Hatsan's going to take good care of you   I also  feel compelled to say that I think your odds of getting a better shooter would have been improved if you had it sent directly to a reputable tuner.  If he got a bad one it would go back for warranty replacement (and you wouldn't have had to hassle with that), if not it's on the tuner to make you proud.  Not only that, but maybe the tuner would be willing to carry your warranty?

That said when it comes to someone asking me, 'what should I get for $200?' I'll tell them what an awesome gun the 95 is, when it's working right.

It's a free country Glen, but I've got one with issues too and while what you say is true, I think it equally informative to just say many have QC issues, so if you are not prepared to work on it, you need to evaluate it before it is no longer returnable for refund.

The factory was willing to look at mine (on my dime for shipping) under warranty.  I declined, so my story is one of "can I fix it".  I think your story as written is fair, but unfinished until you get it back and see if they fixed it right and got it shooting well.  I would hope at this point they will see how it groups and if not exceptionally well, replace the barrel until it does or offer you a new bulletproofed gun!  Yes though - you are entitled to tell your story as-is!  Like I said though, I don't think your story is finished yet...

[GD Giles]

Oh, I got it back and it's shooting fine. For now. I AM encouraged though. I'm also busy; it'll be weeks before I can get the scope back on it and try zeroing it in again.

[SteveP-52]

Pick anything you can buy: cars, electronics, air rifles or anything else, there's always the chance you'll get a poorly made or bad one. I like to call them Friday items...it was a Friday, the people in the plant are only looking forward to the weekend and get a little lax on the job. I have a Mod 95, got mine brand new and yep, it's had minor issues. The front and back stock screws got loose. I'm one of the lucky ones that cleaning and loctiting fixed it. I also have an Edge springer with a slightly oversized barrel that will only take certain head sized pellets. I have a Crosman Optimus a friend gave me that he'd only had 2 months and said it shot lousy...they do with broken springs. You can go read in any Gate on here and find guys that have issues, even in the higher end rifles. Pick any brand and any price range and someone's probably gotten one with problems.
I'm sure everyone on the forum has their own personal story of a lemon or 2 with air rifles and they do tend to be fickle little beasts but hopefully people don't get put off by a brand or a model because they got one of those Friday rifles. Even after seeing the guys that have had problems with the Model 95 would I buy another one? Absolutely! They're a great rifle for the price and unfortunately, they're like anything else you can buy...sometimes you're gonna get a bad one even though every one of us wishes they came perfect and never a problem.

[JimR]

Methuselah, to answer your question, the first 95 would fire even when the safety was engaged. You read all my posts so I won't rehash. I realize anything mechanical is subject to fail and I'm not here to bash Hatsan or any other brand. Simply, for me, the best route was to return it. I already had disappointment and felt i would never truly be happy with it. I don't really care to "tinker" anymore. I'm sure those that enjoy doing so can make almost any rifle a good shooter, just not my interest.

[Methuselah]

Methuselah, to answer your question, the first 95 would fire even when the safety was engaged. You read all my posts so I won't rehash. I realize anything mechanical is subject to fail and I'm not here to bash Hatsan or any other brand. Simply, for me, the best route was to return it. I already had disappointment and felt i would never truly be happy with it. I don't really care to "tinker" anymore. I'm sure those that enjoy doing so can make almost any rifle a good shooter, just not my interest.

Thanks

On my 125 the tally in tools and supplies is up to almost $300, but most of it will work on my three other airguns as well so I certainly respect your choices.

Hopefully the Walther Terrus will be better out of the starting gate

[GD Giles]

My dad would say the bad stuff was made on a Monday because everyone was hung over.

[JimR]

Or on Friday, everyones in a hurry to get started on a hangover