Hatsan 95 has taken a turn for the worse. (Pics added on new post)

[Plekto]

I suppose my main issue is that Hatsan has been promoted as "listening to the enthusiast", "learning from the past", and all around having better quality. Part of me is biased since my first dealing with Hatsan ended in a dismal failure. Of course, others are doing quite well with theirs, which tells me it is not a lost cause. However, given that I am not the only one and the problems appear consistent, I cannot help but feel this is just another case of business as usual in the AG industry.

The thing is, that many companies think of these as kids guns or novelties and don't realize that a typical gunsmith would be hard pressed to build a spring-piston gun as the tolerances and materials required to do it right are way beyond what they usually deal with when making firearms.  That is, until they start making their guns and it hits them in the face that this is "really hard stuff".  They try their best but they simply don't have the experience or skills to make it come close to what companies like Wiehrauch and RWS make.  100+ years of experience is not just for show.  It took them decades to get it right. 

A company like Hatsan tries to expand their business and my guess is that they hit a wall.  It's not a case of poor quality so much as they simply are in unknown territory and trying the best that they can with labor and tools that aren't obviously up to the task at hand.

Now, a typical gunsmith or firearms manufacturer CAN build a PCP gun pretty easily.  And many do.  Most of the big fancy custom guns are... yep, PCPs.   Spring-piston guns are not so simple, though, and unfortunately, this reinforces that you simply have to buy from a UK or German company and not cut corners if you want one.

[Paul68]

Hatsan has been making airguns for several years, and makes everything from low end springers to high end PCP's.

[huklbery]

Hatsan has been making airguns for several years, and makes everything from low end springers to high end PCP's.

Shotguns seem to be their thing

http://www.hatsan.com.tr/escort_shotguns.asp
http://www.hatsan.com.tr/optima.asp

Unlike the crappy practice of most recognized firearm branded guns, Hatsan actually make their airguns/shotguns.

I can see Ruger, Browning et all, letting someone label chewing gum or something innocuous , but its "dang" tragic these companies have sub par QC offshore airguns being sold in big box stores under their name.

Mark

[Plekto]

Hatasan's PCPs are great.  So are their firearms.  But a spring-piston is, well, like a grandfather clock.  It takes special knowledge, tools, and skills that even a typical shop that sells and repairs watches and clocks doesn't have.  Or if we're talking about music, it's like building electric guitars and then deciding to start making acoustics.   Congratulations, you just hit a brick wall.  There's a reason Fender doesn't make what Martin makes, and vice-versa.  It might both be a "guitar" to the average person or investor in a company looking to start one, but it's really two different worlds.

IME, the basic rule is to simply avoid spring-piston airguns from a company that doesn't make them as their main business.  And to just tear out the pages and ignore them in the catalog of companies that add them in to "complete" their offerings.  Get their PCPs, pneumatic, and CO2 rifles instead - those are almost always fine.

[Tarheel]

Spring-piston guns are not so simple, though, and unfortunately, this reinforces that you simply have to buy from a UK or German company and not cut corners if you want one.

WEBLEY's are now made by HATSAN . . .

Dave

[Plekto]

I was talking about Theoben, since Webley, has been bought out by foreign debtors and is all but dead.  But they are also outsourcing some things as is RWS, so where it's made is important.