Hatsan Escort semi-auto shotgun is tough, rugged and affordable

This Turkish-built semi automatic has a price that gets it talked about

Overall rating:

85%

Hatsan Escort semi-auto shotgun

Overview:

Pros:

The price. And the fact that replacement parts are easily obtained

Cons:

You could find a Beretta or a Browning more reliable

Manufacturer:

Hatsan

Price as reviewed:

£369.00

This product is featured in: Turkish shotguns – definitely worthy of consideration and here is why, Second-hand super semi-auto shotguns, and Guns for pigeon shooting for under £500.

A Beretta or a Browning might be a bit more reliable than this Hatsan Escort semi-auto shotgun – but the Hatsan costs a third of those two.

However the Hatsan is dependable and you won’t find it hard to get spare parts when you need to. Problems can usually be fixed quickly. Add to which, if you haven’t forked out a lot for the gun in the first place, you won’t get nervous about every little scratch or dent your gun gets. Another point in favour of the Hatsan Escort semi-auto shotgun.

Hatsan Escort semi-auto shotgun

Tough and rugged kit

If you’re thinking: “I’ve seen this shotgun before” then you’re probably right. It’s not entirely new and in fact it has been arriving in the UK in various forms for about a decade and several thousand have already been sold. The manufacturers have been constantly tweaking the design.

A number of changes have been made – there’s now a bolt release system that’s integral with the feed plate.

To release the bolt you simply push the centre of the floor plate. The gas piston has also been modified as too has the connection between the action bar and its magazine loop.

A useful safety feature is the addition of a magazine cut-off button that allows you to remove a chambered cartridge but leave the other two in the magazine. On a practical level this means that you can cross a stile, gate or other obstacle without having to completely unload the gun.

Keep it clean

As with most gas operated semi-autos the smooth cycling of the gun is largely down to it being kept clean so that all the parts move as freely as possible. By their very nature, gas autos get dirty by the exhaust gas from the cartridge but they will work better if oil is smeared on the piston assembly.

Motor oil is best because it’s designed to take higher temperatures and does not burn away as quickly as light gun oil. It will get dirty, but can easily be wiped off and renewed. Because it doesn’t burn away as quickly, it also helps prevent carbon building up on the piston and other moving parts.

The gun used here has a synthetic stock and fore-end with 28in barrels but one major feature of the Escort is the number of different versions it comes in. You can pick barrel lengths from 24in to 30in, wood or synthetic, camo patterned and 3in or 3.1/2in chambers.

The gun comes with a standard magazine capacity of 2 + 1 but they are also available to firearm certificate holders with extended seven shot magazines. The gun can also be had in a true left hand version.