| redhat29 |
| (member) |
| 25/01/2008 20:42 |
Anyone here had any dealings with the Hatsan Escort Magnum?
|
Thinking of this as a cheap starter gun. Has anyone here got any advice? Many thanks.
| CptCarling |
| (member) |
| 27/01/2008 13:19 |
Re: Anyone here had any dealings with the Hatsan Escort Magnum?
|
They are well worth the money, although I wouldn't say its an ideal starter gun, as it can restrict you if you want to go on a driven day etc. They are fine for pigeon, clay and wildfowling and for the money can't be beaten. Much better than the Webley's.
If it were me, I'd look for a cheap 2nd hand side/side or over under and not a semi auto.
You can pick up a spanish boxlock for about the £100 quid mark.
| redhat29 |
| (member) |
| 28/01/2008 17:28 |
|
Re: Anyone here had any dealings with the Hatsan Escort Magnum?
|
Many thanks, Was looking to clay up my father's farm, pigeon and rabbit. The camo version is more 'me' so to speak.(I don't see myself as a flat cap Barbour jacket wearer, I'm more a realtree sort of person;-)) Could not justify the cost of a driven day, way too expensive for me. I have considered an o/u s/h but who knows how many shots have been through them! Sounds daft but the Webley's are made in the same factory! Rather save £50 or so and put it towards some cartridges and clays and put the practice in.
| sandersj89 |
| (stranger) |
| 28/01/2008 17:45 |
|
Re: Anyone here had any dealings with the Hatsan Escort Magnum?
|
Hatsans have a good reputation, and for the money they are very hard to beat.
Some can be cartridge fussy but a bit of experimentation will soon find you a combination that works.
Well made, tough, workhorse gun.
Jerry
| foxyforce1 |
| (member) |
| 03/02/2008 21:10 |
|
Re: Anyone here had any dealings with the Hatsan Escort Magnum?
|
Ive traded in my o/u for one of these a few months ago, best thing ive ever done.
Regards Billy
| redhat29 |
| (member) |
| 04/02/2008 20:00 |
|
Re: Anyone here had any dealings with the Hatsan Escort Magnum?
|
Mr Foxyforce,Strange one that, most people have been trying to tell me to go o/u route. Like the look of them and they feel right to me, Yet to fire one. What do you get away with target wise? (animal, clay etc..) Any advice welcome.
| Max_WW |
| (member) |
| 05/02/2008 22:55 |
|
Re: Anyone here had any dealings with the Hatsan Escort Magnum?
|
I have an Escort Magnum (28" barrel, camo), as well as various OUs and a SS.
I bought the Escort for wildfowling and vermin shooting where I didn't want to worry about getting it muddy etc. Its a great gun and has cycled every cartridge I have loaded it with, including some 24g as a test. No problems whatsoever, it cycled faultlessly even when dirty. My only comment is that it shoots much lower than all my other guns, and I'll have to play with the shims to adjust the stock angle to hopefully change that.
Despite it being a good gun though, I'd still recommend buying an o/u. If you're only going to buy one gun, an o/u will let you participate fully in all forms of shooting, even if you don't expect to do so in the near future. Go for 30 inch barrels (maybe 28" if you're short), multichoked, with 3" chambers, and you'll be able to do anything.
An o/u from a decent manufacturer should be able to handle many thousands of cartridges. If buying second hand there are unlikely to be problems buying from a reputable gunshop.
Just my 2p worth...
| Alastair_Balmain |
| (stranger) |
| 06/02/2008 11:15 |
|
|
Re: Anyone here had any dealings with the Hatsan Escort Magnum?
|
Redhat,
Did you have chance to read Lewis Potter's review (click here) which featured last March in Shooting Times? Have a look if you haven't yet as he has quite a lot that's positive to say about it.
The only thing I would point out, as others have said, is that a semi-auto might be fine for solo shooting, pigeons etc, but in all honesty a good second-hand o/u will allow you to shoot in the company of others, without your constantly receiving funny looks of concern over the safety of your gun/whether it's loaded etc.
Take Max's advice. Get an over and under for the time being — buy the Hatsan when you become a pigeon decoying/wildfowling/solo rough shooting specialist.
Alastair.
| redhat29 |
| (member) |
| 07/02/2008 12:14 |
|
Re: Anyone here had any dealings with the Hatsan Escort Magnum?
|
Thank you Alistair.
I'm looking more towards pigein/Rabbit/ clay shooting solo as clay clubs at the moment are out due to cost. I will however take up the odd course run by my local gunshop. Quite reasonable at £35 for 50 shots. I'm not a Barbour jacket wearer with an 07 plate Range Rover type person earning £100k a year with a hipflask, I'm more of a Realtree clad, 54 plate L200 warrior type person on about £16k a year with a flask of coffee. Not trying to upset anyone here so please take no offence. Just pointing out that poor people like to shoot too :-)
Flags are available to show the gun is unloaded and will use one on a regular basis. In my eyes there should be no discrimination against such things. We are all pumping lead wether it's a perdy or a Turkish banging stick.
I'm not against going for o/u, I just like the fact that the Hatsan should take the rough with the smooth at the cost of a reasonable o/u sh gun. Still would appreciate more input. Thanks to all who have replied up to now.
| Max_WW |
| (member) |
| 07/02/2008 23:15 |
|
Re: Anyone here had any dealings with the Hatsan Escort Magnum?
|
Quote:
I'm not a Barbour jacket wearer with an 07 plate Range Rover type person earning £100k a year with a hipflask, I'm more of a Realtree clad, 54 plate L200 warrior type person on about £16k a year with a flask of coffee.
Redhat, I know you're not looking to offend anyone, and I've got no issue with what you say, but I think your view of what social class has what gun is colouring your judgement more than it needs to.
If money is a prime consideration, as it is for most of us, surely it makes less sense to buy a gun which, like it or not, is more limited in where it can be used?
That said, if you buy the Escort, I'm sure you'll love it and have some great shooting.
Max
| redhat29 |
| (member) |
| 08/02/2008 00:52 |
|
Re: Anyone here had any dealings with the Hatsan Escort Magnum?
|
Quote:Quote:
I'm not a Barbour jacket wearer with an 07 plate Range Rover type person earning £100k a year with a hipflask, I'm more of a Realtree clad, 54 plate L200 warrior type person on about £16k a year with a flask of coffee.
Redhat, I know you're not looking to offend anyone, and I've got no issue with what you say, but I think your view of what social class has what gun is colouring your judgement more than it needs to.
If money is a prime consideration, as it is for most of us, surely it makes less sense to buy a gun which, like it or not, is more limited in where it can be used?
That said, if you buy the Escort, I'm sure you'll love it and have some great shooting.
Max
Hello Max,
I get what you are saying and you put it well but could I please explain my actions. I was trying to get over to everyone what sort of person I am, (bus driver,Terrace house,Ex country lad short of brass etc...), It was not my intention to have a pop at anyone. Life is way too short to do that. It just seams to me from reading the press etc... that there are a minority who frown upon those who go for the 'cheaper' end of the market when it comes to guns whatever type it is. I'm an airgunner and my current combo only cost me £120. It is enough to 'bunny bash' at close range, but the press and airgun forums think if £800+ isn't thrown over the counter, then it is worthless! So 'Gun Snobbery' exists in most disaplines.
I have yet to see this type of thing on here yet thank the lord. I hope this continues.
I also build and operate R/C model trucks. There are two main brands, Wedico (mainly metal and very expensive), and Tamiya (body panels plastic and better detailing and value for money).Knives are drawn at model shows all around the country arguing the toss about which is best. I prefer to build 3 Tamiya trucks to one Wedico and not have the worry of replacing bits if I have an accident. The Wedico lads cringe if anyone goes near one of their rigs.
As of yet, no one has explained to me WHY I should get an o/u instead of what I see as more practical in my 'green to the game' eyes.
No offence meant and none taken on my part regarding earlier posts. Up to press, I have only heard good reports about Hatsan's. Now I can't wait to get one and hopefully be classed as 'one of the guns'. All are as equal as the next. It is only a hobby at the end of the day. I just want value for money and to continue as cheaply as possible. Is there anything wrong with that?
I genuinely thank you nice people for your assistance. I hope to repay this in some way soon..
| CptCarling |
| (member) |
| 08/02/2008 08:50 |
|
Re: Anyone here had any dealings with the Hatsan Escort Magnum?
|
I think your comment of the Barbour-wearing, range rover driving, purdy-totting shooting man is actually rather offensive and has no place on this or any other shooting forum.
The question you asked has been answered honestly by a number of people (including myself) and has given you some options to think about.
As many of the answers have said the same - a good gun, but maybe not the right starter gun - this could posibly tell you something.
Even on a rough shoot, a semi-auto would not be the best option. And I will explain why:
Even if there are 2 or 3 of you having a walk about, a semi auto is still, in my view, not the best gun to use. Ok, you can get a flag to stick in the breech to show its empty, but are you going to unload the gun and insert the flag every time you climb over a fence? Can you check to see if the barrel is clear from obstructions - something practically everyone I know does, every time the get a gun out of a case, crosses a fence, loads their gun?
Can you stand talking to your fellow guns in total confidence that your gun is empty? You may be able to, but other guns CAN NOT see that its empty if you have forgtten to bring or insert the flag - and lets be honest, its another thing to drop/forget/lose.
A semi-auto has 1 barrel, with whatever choke is in the end. A S/S or O/U has 2, each with potentially a different choke so you get a wider choice (by 100%) of what barrel to use 1st - choked first for a incomming bird, open one for a closer bird. With a semi, you are restricted.
My advice, as always, is visit a gunsmith or clay club and try out a selection of guns. If however, your heart is set on a semi-auto, then nothing will change your mind. Although I suspect you'll be looking for a 2nd gun pretty soon!
As for your comment about barbours and range rovers, let me enlighten you a little.
I own and run a 1000 acre shoot. I drive a G reg Daihatsu Sportrack, with a split roof that leaks, rust and permenant water leak. I dont have another car, that's the only one. I dont own a purdy, I do own a barbour, its very tatty and the dog sleeps on it, My 'Contry Pile' is in fact a semi detached house in need of renovation, I did not have the shoot passed down to me, I worked bloody hard to afford it and work even harder to run it, I dont employ a keeper as I and 2 others carry out those duties. I would love to have a 54 plate L200, a Purdy and clean barbour, but cant afford it. So your somewhat out-dated and class-inferior statement is not only offensive, but also mis-placed.
I wish you well.
| Blade |
| (member) |
| 03/03/2008 10:35 |
|
Re: Anyone here had any dealings with the Hatsan Escort Magnum?
|
I have got a Beretta 686 as well as an Escort - the reason I bought the Escort was for a bit of rough shooting when I didn't want to risk damaging the Beretta. The Escort shoots fine, never had any problems with it cycling or anything but several things have come loose on it (incl the stock)- it's nothing that a few basic tools and a bit of time can't put right and it has never affected the way the gun shoots, maybe cause i have kept on top of it at all times. In terms of quality it does 'feel' cheap when moving from the Beretta and parts of it have lost the finish off them, noticabley the loading slide that has lost all its finish of it - yes it is a cheap gun and it does show in the handling and the finish so don't expect anything else but it still shoots well and never gives me any problems - if you want a nice gun to feel 'proud' of don't get one but if you want a gun that will take all the knocks and bashes that you can hand out to it, and don't mind a tatty looking (but reasonbly shooting) gun then you could do a lot worse than an Escort.