Hatsan 87 QE?

[joneb]

I've had this 22 cal air gun for around 5 yrs. I went to shoot it the other day, and when I cocked it there was no resistance. It would appear the gas piston has failed.
So what are my options?
Thanks.

 

[Spats McGee]

I'm certainly no airgun-smith, so the only suggestion I might have would be to contact Hatsan.

 

[jmohme]

If I were to guess, I would bet that it was cocked when stored and now stuck in that state.
Maybe point in a safe direction, pull and hold the trigger and tap on the outside area where the compressed piston would be in a cocked state and see if it will release.

Thats just a guess though.

 

[d2wing]

That is an issue with gas pistons in Hatsans. The gas can leak out.

 

[joneb]

If I were to guess, I would bet that it was cocked when stored and now stuck in that state

Unlikely, but anything is possible.

 

[HJ857]

Check to see if it has a fill port. If it does you may be able to simply pump it back up. Hatsan uses a specific fill plug but it is the same as is in their PCP rifles.

I have a Hatsan break barrel (135 QE I think) laying around but I can't find it right now. Going by memory the port is a hole about 3/16" in diameter. You may have to take the action out of the stock.

 

[d2wing]

You refill the gas spring or replace it with either a gas spring or steel spring.

 

[joneb]

I contacted Hatsan and I have the option of replacing the piston with a gas spring or a spring. I'm not sure which option would be better in the long run?

 

[Landgroove]

When my Beeman FWB-65 conked out, I sent it to Randy Bimrose.
He repaired it to "like new" shape.



Not sure if he is still around.

The website may not be current.

https://www.manta.com/c/mb42w8n/bimrose-precision-airgun-repair

My communications to him were dated 2017.

?????

 

[Spats McGee]

I contacted Hatsan and I have the option of replacing the piston with a gas spring or a spring. I'm not sure which option would be better in the long run?

I'd go with a gas spring. I bought a Ruger spring piston pellet rifle a few years ago, and I can't shoot it worth a damn. OTOH, I find my Hatsan gas pistol fairly easy to shoot well (or at least as well as this 50+ pencil pusher can reasonably expect). I attribute the difference to the Ruger being spring, and the Hatsan being gas.

 

[Landgroove]

I'd go with a gas spring. I bought a Ruger spring piston pellet rifle a few years ago, and I can't shoot it worth a damn. OTOH, I find my Hatsan gas pistol fairly easy to shoot well (or at least as well as this 50+ pencil pusher can reasonably expect). I attribute the difference to the Ruger being spring, and the Hatsan being gas.

How does a gas spring affect how it shoots? I looked up gas spring and from what I gathered, it was designed to cut down on the vibration of the spring and I suppose that vibration could affect accuracy but does it matter if the pellet has left the barrel?

 

[Spats McGee]

How does a gas spring affect how it shoots? I looked up gas spring and from what I gathered, it was designed to cut down on the vibration of the spring and I suppose that vibration could affect accuracy but does it matter if the pellet has left the barrel?

In all honesty, I can't explain it very well. What I said is the result of me diving down the Google search rabbit hole on gas pistons vs. spring pistons and reading a bunch of airgun forum posts.

 

[JohnKSa]

All else being equal:

Gas springs tend to provide more power.
Gas spring guns tend to be harder to cock.
Gas springs don't vibrate.
Gas spring guns can be left cocked for long periods while it's generally considered inadvisable to leave metal spring-piston guns cocked for any longer than is absolutely necessary.
Gas springs can be harder on scopes because the initial recoil when the gas spring accelerates the piston can be more abrupt.
Gas springs can be easier to shoot because the gas spring-piston firing cycle tends to be shorter.