Got my 95 Vortex .22 back from Hatsan USA repair today

[GD Giles]

I got my 95 Vortex .22 back from Hatsan USA today after apparently a seal was defective. The factory repair supplied target/report says the gun now averages  828fps with a Vortex Express 13.12gr pellet. When I first got it, that report said it averaged 837fps with a Vortex Express 14.13gr pellet.  I’ve searched and I cannot find such a pellet. I can only find the 13.12 model so I’m guessing there’s an error on my initial report.

I put it though my own chrony, firing about 12” back, and using 14.3gr CPHPs this is what I got:

1 – 801.4
2 – 810.8
3 – 814.1
4 – 811.8
5 – 755,5 (low)
6 – 814.3 (high)
7 – 808.0
8 – 803-4
9 – 802.7
10 – 773.1
Av – 799.5
Ext Spread – 58.82
Std. Dev – 19.51
FPE – 20.3
It smoked a bit, as you can see on the video, especially shot #5 which sounded different too. This is my first ever chrony string so how common is it for the low and high to be back to back shots?

For now I think I’m going to leave this one open sighted and keep it as my backyard, sub 25 yard gun. Originally I was going to do that w/a 125 Sniper in .25 but I think this will do fine.

Why read about it when you can watch it! I'm working on 3D and popcorn smell-o-vision.    Smelled that smoke though.... 

[Privateer]

I expect it to settle down to mid/low 800's myself.
When shooting threw a chrony? Try to keep the line of fire as close to parallel as you can.
Angled shots can give you a false reading.
It's also easy to shoot the chrony from an off hand position.
(Don't ask me how I know that)

[GD Giles]

I thought I'd get more consistency shooting from that rest/work platform. It might have a slight downward slope to it created by the variance of thickness of the stock. I'm trying hard not to shoot the chrony. Maybe I can get a level and build up some kind of pad with rags or something to level it out. But, that was the first run of my bench set up and I'm pretty happy with it. Now I just have to find time to shoot AT something so I can start sighting it in.

[aceflier]

Just keep shooting it it should blow some of the oil they put on the seals out. When I oil my NP it has crazy variations like your string. After about 50 shots I'll run a dry patch or 2 through the barrel to clean out any oil in there. Then she smooths right on out.

[robertr]

 I shot my chrony yesterday shooting just like you are in the vid, had the barrel angled down to much and hit the back sensor, still working.
Might be good to clean your barrel often until the dieseling stops

[Privateer]

I shot my chrony yesterday shooting just like you are in the vid, had the barrel angled down to much and hit the back sensor, still working.

Welcome to the Club Fellow Chrony Shooter!!
 

Guess I need to adjust my stuff over to the left.
 

[robertr]

Welcome to the Club Fellow Chrony Shooter!!
 

Second time now, I am still in denial

[Privateer]

3rd times a charm.
Don't ask!
 

[GD Giles]

You can see the pellets hitting the center of the trap and that's a good 3-4 inches over the sensor. I could always toss a box or boards or something stable under the rest if I wanted to get that up higher, but I think it's ok?

[Privateer]

It's when you think your OK it will bite you.
I now have a rest that I KNOW will not allow me to shoot it.
 

Took nearly 3 years but I did put a hurting on one.

[robertr]

 Definitely something I should think about.

[degorovi]

Maybe Hatsan used the 14.66 Vortex Supreme pellets for the test?  Anyways, good to hear that you got your gun's main issue resolved. I have been checking airgunproshop's website for MOD 95 availability and there is none so far.

Congrats on your up and coming AT44 QE. I have the same gun in .22.   

[Gut2Fish]

Why did Hatsan USA do the repair when you purchased the gun and had it tuned at Airgun Pro?

The numbers are right where they should be. The gun specs for 800 fps with a Hatsan main seal shooting 13.xx grain. I don't know if they still use slightly undersized seals but that is the main issue that when tuning people purchase after market seals to correct. The seal from Airgun Pro's tune may have prematurely failed but was undoubtedly the correct after market seal that people use. It would produce a slightly higher fps. Then again, a crony is not exacting. It will vary reading from outdoor to indoor, lighting change etc. To be 20 fps slower using a grain heavier pellet and different crony certainly sound right and about as exacting as it gets.

If you can shoot well with open sights then your all set. I can but am not nearly as fast or accurate as with a scope. If you decide to put a scope back on wait for the smoking to stop and gun to settle in.

Vortex only has the two pellets in .22, express 13.xx and the supreme 14.xx.

[SteveP-52]

For what it's worth, Hatsan Vortex pellets are actually made by H&N...also why they're now a distributor of the H&N brand.

[Old Corps]

For what it's worth, Hatsan Vortex pellets are actually made by H&N...also why they're now a distributor of the H&N brand.

Yep, and the Beemans' as well. At least the Crow Magnums are.

Ed

[Airgrabber]

Glad to see you got it back and everything is working well.  Look forward to seeing your update on the improved accuracy now that you have a stable velocity.  I understand it may be a while for the gun to settle and decide how it will shoot consistently.

[Juliet_Bravo]

Glad to see you got your rifle back and it appears to be shooting without any more issues.

Your video serves as a great proof of concept for your DIY pellet trap too.  Not sure if you intentionally placed it in front of a window, or even thought about it for that matter, but certainly a ballsy move...well done!  If my wife caught me doing that, I would only be able to make moves without the ballsy part. 

[Yogi]

Congratulations Glen.  You certainly had a major ordeal, thanks for sharing.

Now you need to order a second set of stock screws; front and back, new piston seal, cleaning kit, and tool set.
Send a few wet patches down the barrel.  Then a few dry ones.  After a while the smoke will clear.
How are you stock screws holding up?  If anything, a bad piston seal and 40% less velocity should not make your stock screw back out.
Have you ever tried Vibra-tite?  I understand it is significantly better than Loctite.

-Y

P.S. Unless they explicitly said that they cleaned the barrel, after your experience, why would think that they did it?
Who would think that a brand new air gun, never been fired, needs a barrel cleaning more that most air guns with 10,000 pellets down the cute.

[GD Giles]

"Why did Hatsan USA do the repair when you purchased the gun and had it tuned at Airgun Pro?"

That surprised me too. As a guitar tech if I do work and it fails I want it back to A-make it right and B-learn from the circumstance so it doesn't happen again. I'm learning every day that the AG business is nothing like the guitar business. AGPS talked to me and determined it was a warranty issue so they sent me to Hatsan USA. If that's SOP for them, ok. I don't feel they treated me bad or anything, just not the way I would have done it but that's ok.

I don't know how long it should take this gun to settle in. I had already fired about 600 pellets through it before it broke so in theory the only new part is a seal. Does that have to settle? I'm looking forward to getting back to the indoor range this Sunday and sighting it in. I'll how long I can tolerate shooting it open. I might go ahead and pop and Optima back on it. I'm saving the UTG for the AT44 on the way.

I've put 100's of pellets in that trap and will even set it up that way when my PCP gets here. Knowing who would have to do the repair work I really take my time to make sure it's going to be ok. If you noticed, those pellets were hitting dead center on that trap.

Yogi my goal is to just keep it stock if I can. I mean if it starts shooting itself apart then I guess I'll have to do something. With only firing 10 shots the screws are tight. We'll see Sunday when I put a lot more down range. The forestock screws have always been rock solid tight. It's always just been the one screw at the back of the trigger guard that's given me fits.

[John in PA-Tuner]

Try firing a couple heavier pellets through the rifle to help get the excess lube burned out of the compression tube that's in front of the piston.
Something in the 16 or 18 grain range should work. As far as your chrony readings go,its very common for your high and low shot to be one after the other when your rifle is still dieseling . I don't know if its the extra heat that the diesel shot makes but its very common for the next shot to be very low. Good Luck, John