Hatsan Nova Star .... REALLY??

[Long_Gun_Dallas]

 

I have been through it with this gun. After a year on and off, I've gotten it pretty close to dialed in, and shooting well. with a .22 and .177 barrel.... VERY close.



I just finished up some tweaks and adjustments, with a full disassembly. aside from taking the bottle off the gas block.... Go to slap it back together, and it WILL NOT go back together straight. The bottle is pointed up at the barrel, and I can't get the shroud on..... HM, ok. On inspection, the bottle is mounted to the gas block crooked! Very crooked.

Apparently, that's how it always was. The gas block was not trued or squared up at all. Not even close! The bores and threads on both sides are QUITE crooked. A 12 year old could do better. And on such an expensive gun....



Also, I tried everything to get the bottle off the gas block to make sure the bottle adapter wasnt bent somehow (it wasnt). But I could NOT get the gas block off any way. No amount of vices, wrenches or prybars cut it. Nothing short of hitting it with enough heat to make the bottle hot, and STILL had to take a hammer to it. Hatsan through and through. If you don't have to use a hammer, it's not a Hatsan. Seriously, my sortie is the same way.



So, In order to get this pile to go back together right, I'm going to have to square and face the gas block. Their solution was to mount the receiver tube to the valve a bit crooked. That's where that slop in the gun was coming from The whole receiver, barrel, action, and everything mounts to the top of the valve birdcage, BTW. Via two set screws. That little birdcage is the only thing that holds the front and back half of the gun together..... in case anyone thinks about resting the bottle on anything ever. Or installing a sling or bipod on the bottle....

DONT  Also, don't ask me how I found out

 

[Butch]

I have one also and have fixed and repaired many things. Have you had the problem with the rear oring popping when firing a shot? I mean where the 2 grub screws hold the bottle to the gun. I have changed the HDD, repair the poorly machined hammer and trigger Sears, and the barrel. The gun in general is not a gun to have. 
it is very accurate now but, if I knew then what I know now I would have never bought the gun. Even if it was $100. 
JMHO. 

Butch

 

[Long_Gun_Dallas]

I share the sentiment. I have not had the orings pop on mine, but I almost immediately detuned it after finding out about the debounce mechanism. And that it was basically gouging and destroying people's receivers. 



I wonder if it was blowing due to the valve's design in the first place.... the numerous ports... so they dont have to worry about it's orientation axially. And use the same valve housing on many guns. I have to wonder if yours wasnt aligned just so... that the ports were competing and causing a massive pressure spike.... My barrel port wasnt even close to being lined up. It was forward of the TP a good 2mm, and also was not clocked correctly either.



Have you removed the little weight from your trigger group? I don't even know why that was there to begin with... makes the trigger very mushy

 

[Butch]

As far as the trigger group, I left everything the same but cleaned and polished everything. The HDD did gouge up me receiver and ALOT of work later got it straightened out. And I got lucky to find a good one piece HDD from a AT44 that has taken care of that problem. Just so you know I ordered another HDD from Hatsan and it’s the same 2 piece junk now the is found in the NovaStar. 
My barrel port was forward also. I did open the TP up along with the barrel port. The gun is a very good looking gun but that is all it has going for it. 

Butch

 

[Odoyle]

It most certainly isn't a slightly more polished KRAL...

Nor a modern CHINESE made PCP either...

It's a HATSAN and that's to be expected and that's why they are significantly cheaper than most guns in their class except the Chinese that has better machining and engineering believe it or not...

Hatsan should outsource their manufacturing to China then maybe better overall fit...

 

[hitech]

It's really a shame that there's that many issues with that rifle. It's a really nice looking gun and the stock looks quality, at least from the pictures i've seen. Hopefully you can get some of the issues sorted out, but dang, sorry you are having these issues. I was really interested in one of these, but I'll probably just keep looking. Also interested in the Kratos, but being that it is a Turkish product as well, I probably won't buy one of those either.

 

[Jayson]

They should just focus on making stocks and leave metal work and assembly to someone that cares to improve! There is no excuse for consistently under performing, just a lack of culture! Sad

 

[Long_Gun_Dallas]

Glad you got it working for the most part, Butch. I would recommend removing that weight. I put a small wire in to hold the two pins from sliding out. But with the gun together, they can't, anyhow.

For $900 you would not expect the number or severity of issues with fitment mostly, but also the design and function, and finish. But apparently that is acceptable business practice for hatsan. Even the grip was not comfortable. My stock has been cut and re-finished. The finish they use is also probably literally the cheapest option they could find. The factory cut was super rough, too. 



As for the Kratos, I would not hesitate to get one if I were considering. Their refinement is worlds apart from these hatsans.. I've heard a lot of very good things, unsurprisingly. I do believe crosman had a 5 year warrantee, too. And are very stand up when it comes to customer service/support. Also. Crosman does a good job of keeping replacement parts on hand if they're ever needed.



For anyone wondering, I got the hatsan as a backup bottle gun to my fx crown. I got what I thought was a real good deal from Hatsan themselves. %45 off. Little did I know....

I already faced the block and have the receiver perfectly in line with the bottle now. But I did break the valve trying to figure out the issue. So, waiting to see if I can get a replacement. 

 

[Long_Gun_Dallas]

Little update on this. I did get a replacement valve, and the new one is steel instead of brass, so I can once again feel comfortable using a bottle mounted bipod.