New Hatsan 87 QE Vortex .22 -- Initial Impressions Not Positive

[Shawn_D]

Y'all,

I purchased a Hatsan 87 QE Vortex .22 from PA and received it a couple of days ago.  I use my "real" firearms and my cars like they're supposed to be used -- I fire them and I drive them and they show commensurate wear.  I also buy stuff used, so my girlfriend wasn't surprised when she saw my new air rifle and said "Oh, you bought a used one" when she saw the Hatsan.  The thing is, it ain't used.  It sure looks it, though.

The rifle is definitely new, as it was sealed in a heavy bag.  However, there were a number of items immediately noticeable straight out of the bag:

• There is a bright 3/16" unanodized spot on the shroud
• The breech face on the barrel is unevenly machined and finished
• The breech seal o-ring is gouged
• There is casting flash all over the stock, trigger guard, and adjustable cheekrest (enough to cause cuts if one is not careful)
• The stock's finish varies from matte to shiny, especially at the rear

I'm not overly concerned about the o-ring and casting flash, as those are easily rectified.  However, there are a couple more features inherent to any 87 QE Vortex that bother me:

• The adjustable plastic "iron" sight at the rear of the barrel is very flimsy and flexible -- I can't see how this will hold zero
• The safety is pulled backwards (towards the shooter) to disengage

I want reliable iron sights so I can engage targets at close-range or near-vertical while using the scope (aftermarket -- UTG 3-9x40AO on see-thru rings) for longer engagements.  I can fabricate a new metal rear sight or modify another metal iron sight to fit, but I don't know if I want to go through the effort.

As for the safety, not noticing this operation is on me.  It's not readily obvious from the pictures on the Hatsan websites (Turkish and US), nor is it obvious on the PA site.  The Model 95 safety is shown clearly on those sites and I assumed its operation (push forward to disengage) would be the same on the Model 87.  Pushing forward to fire seems more intuitive from a human factors perspective, and my other rifles with a fore-aft safety are push forward to fire.  My concern is what's called "negative transfer" in human factors, causing me to operate the safety in the wrong direction.  FYI, negative transfer has been a historical problem with aircraft design (look at the history of F-104 ejections after the seat was changed from downward-firing to upward), and it can be noticed even in something as simple as operating a parking brake in a car (if I drive my one car with a foot parking brake for a long period without driving my hand parking brake cars during that period, I will try to engage the non-existent foot parking brake in my hand parking brake cars).

What are your thoughts on these issues?

BTW, I've cleaned the 87's bore, but have yet to shoot it.  I don't want any issues with trying to return a "used" air gun to PA.

Thanks in advance,
Shawn

[GD Giles]

Welcome Shawn, I'm just down the Atlanta highway in Columbus.

Man, the saftey on my 95 works the exact opposite of what you're saying and it that's not right that's reason enough for me to send it back along w/all the other issues. Sorry you got one that's not right.

[SteveP-52]

Just the issues you described in the breech with uneven machining and gouged seal may likely give you issues even trying to shoot it as it may not seal right and might screw up any new o-ring you put in there. More than enough reason right there to return it.
Just my 2 cents but I'd call PA and explain everything to them just like you did here..there's just too many quality issues considering what you paid to be ignored in a brand new rifle.

[Geoff]

push to release trigger safety is also what seems natural to me.  I do have a pull to release rifle and do not like that design

[Shawn_D]

Thanks for the inputs, Y'all.  I'll give PA a call so we can work out an exchange.  I guess I'll be doing yet more research!

Welcome Shawn, I'm just down the Atlanta highway in Columbus.

I noticed that on another thread you commented on.  I commented on one of your YouTube videos the other day (I'm ShawnD1027 on there).

[GD Giles]

I remember that! I hope they get you hooked up w/a good gun. My 95 lays down the smack pretty good in .22.