Hatsan carnivore. .30 To buy or not to buy?

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I've done some gunsmithing on numerous Hatsan's, and here's my opinion on them. The built quality of these rifles is not the highest, to put it mildly. Tool marks all over the place, burrs and even metal splinters from the machining process that are left inside the guns are not uncommon. Recently I took a AT44 apart, and it had metal splinters inside the pressure tube! And that was not the first time I've seen that. On one side, it's to be expected when you see the price tags on those things, but it is something I always warn people for. The tolerances on the parts leaves much to be desired also, and the choice of materials used has amazed me many times. The use of soft brass on parts that are exposed to lots of movement or tension, will eventually cause wear and tear. Unfortunately often sooner than you'd like.

I owned a few myself also, and one looked a whole lot better than the other. My personal experience with Hatsan's, is that you have to be lucky. Personally, I'd save up a little longer and get something better, or look at a second hand A-brand. Alternatively you could look at a .25 cal. Crosman or at another new player in town, Kral Arms. I've seen them up close, and the look amazing, specially for that price!

http://kralav.com/en/
 
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Oh, don't get it twisted, they're accurate, but after dealing with FX and AA the shortcomings (finish and material) of the Hatsans become blatantly apparent. I just rather dispense with having to gunsmith a rifle for optimal performance (not that good at it yet 😒) and save up for a brand that's Gucci out the box. Wasted a lot of money with lesser quality brands trying to get a grasp on good accuracy and finish. I watched that guy from Air gun Hunter Extreme a lot...his reviews almost made me buy the Gladius...until I saw my neighbor smacking acorns at 50yrds with a FX royal 400.
 
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"Tn_airgunner"I just put one on order before the sales ended. And I've leaving on a trip soon so I wanted it in, in time to take it hunting with us
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I think if you have appropriate expectations, you will be happy. One could always save and pruchase a more expensive anything but the benefit of lower costing air rifles seems over looked, in my opinion. Ive had 6, including the .30 BT65 Carnivore. I had intensions of doing a bunch of modifications but then wanted to see what could be accomplished with basic tuning. Im not sure Ive seen and brand without its faults. My experience with customer service at Hatsan has been excellent. 

Some lubimg, polishing, tightening and spring adjustment, turned this rifle from shooting pretty well out of the box to as well as I could shoot. This was my first rifle shooting to 100yd+ amd within tat first session even, obtaining several sub MOA groups. There are some basic things you can look for if not shooting correctly, and certainly there are some good tuning options. Baxter (bwalton) was kind enough to share some things I could do on my own. In the end, I had an 80fpe for one full mag with a less than 190bar fill that was very accurate. I never could get it to shoot 50gr JSB accuratey, however. At 50yd, compared to my Mrod, it was just a bigger one hole group.
 
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I'm not expecting to get the top quality gun from a Hasan. But I do know I'm going to get one heck of a Hasan from Baxter. I would love to have a Flex or EVOL but at the second time a .30 is not an air rifle I am going to shoot all the time. So I would rather pay basically half the cost of those and still get an accurate powerhouse. Finish doesn't matter to me cause it's a hunting gun not one that I need to be pretty. As long as its accurate and powerful ill be thrilled.
 
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"Prouzy"
"Tn_airgunner"I just put one on order before the sales ended. And I've leaving on a trip soon so I wanted it in, in time to take it hunting with us
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I think if you have appropriate expectations, you will be happy. One could always save and pruchase a more expensive anything but the benefit of lower costing air rifles seems over looked, in my opinion. Ive had 6, including the .30 BT65 Carnivore. I had intensions of doing a bunch of modifications but then wanted to see what could be accomplished with basic tuning. Im not sure Ive seen and brand without its faults. My experience with customer service at Hatsan has been excellent. 

Some lubimg, polishing, tightening and spring adjustment, turned this rifle from shooting pretty well out of the box to as well as I could shoot. This was my first rifle shooting to 100yd+ amd within tat first session even, obtaining several sub MOA groups. There are some basic things you can look for if not shooting correctly, and certainly there are some good tuning options. Baxter (bwalton) was kind enough to share some things I could do on my own. In the end, I had an 80fpe for one full mag with a less than 190bar fill that was very accurate. I never could get it to shoot 50gr JSB accuratey, however. At 50yd, compared to my Mrod, it was just a bigger one hole group.
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Exactly! I'm not saying they're all bad, but with some TLG you can turn an inexpensive PCP into something really decent! Eventually all parts can be polished and/or replaced with something better. But you mast be willing (or able) to do that. If you can, and it suits your needs, go for it!
 
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