Thread: Brand new Hatsan shotgun exploded in my face

Seeking advice regarding a faulty shotgun that blew up in my face and a gun dealer who is acting cagey.
I bought this new Hatsan Escort Magnum semi-auto shotgun from a dealer in October to take it on a goose hunt. It was really cheap ($700 or so)but I looked it up online and the reviews were quite positive so I bought it.
Long story short, after I had fired about a dozen shots or so, I pulled the trigger on a goose and the shell exploded in my face!
Looks like the gun did not fully close the bolt and fired the shell regardless. It slammed back the bolt and the shell exploded out of the ejection port, a few inches from my face. I sustained some permanent hearing damage and tinnitus but luckily no other injuries.
The ammo was a 2 3/4" 32g #2 steel round, shot through an improved cylinder choke, the barrel was definitely not obstructed.
The bolt lugs and abutments appear intact, the bolt is locked in the open position and something must have bent or broken because it cannot be released anymore.
The firearms dealer has been acting really cagey since, they didn't respond to half of my messages and only with several weeks of delay after repeated calls/visits/messages.
They refuse to put me in contact with the Hatsan NZ representative who I wanted to talk to and want me to hand the damaged gun to them.
I'm reluctant to let go of the major piece of evidence so I have a few questions:

1. Has anyone heard of similar issues with these shotguns?
2. Can anyone provide me with contact details for the Hatsan representative for NZ?
3. Does anyone know an independent armorer who could do an assessment of the gun that would hold up in court if needed?

Thanks so much!

@gundoc agree DO NOT give gun back to dealer directly untill you have contacted importer etc...good idea to have it inspected BUT...MAKE SURE you are in contact with importer and they agree to this...chances are they will replace immediately and will want to get to bottom of issue as well...be a right fustercluck if more go boooom opening weekend.
hopefully you will recover,the ringing ears isnt fun.

This is a really serious topic for the first post on the forum.. Welcome

Take it to the best independent gunsmith you can find and get a full
written assessment and go from there.

October was a while ago.
Can you fill in the blanks from then till now?

I brought one 2nd hand but it was the older model of the same shotgun. that had been used for 3gun by someone starting. And i put atleast 1000 rounds through it myself. Zero problems what so ever. Mostly lead and a small amount of steel shot. Even slugs and buckshot too.

Not sure how similar mechanically but looks similar.
No manufacturer would intentionally sell bad designs and like any mass produced product you will get failures. Just a shame it wasnt picked up in the factory and that it was so catastrophic.

But really dissapointed the shop that sold it is being cagey. As they are only agents and they should want to get to the bottom of it too.

Originally Posted by Pengy

October was a while ago.
Can you fill in the blanks from then till now?

Not that long if they are anything like some companies I've dealt with taking several weeks to reply to each email/call etc .

Not the first time I've seen a Hatsan/Escort shotgun trashed by and out of battery

rio isnt remington hypersonic........

Try talking to the opposition gun shop you might get some good ideas from them.

Originally Posted by Beavis

Not the first time I've seen a Hatsan/Escort shotgun trashed by and out of battery

Could you elaborate on that?
Thanks!

Get something on the books with acc too because your ear won't get any better.

Originally Posted by Pengy

October was a while ago.
Can you fill in the blanks from then till now?

Doctor's appointments and (hearing) damage assessments first, then the whole ACC process (they declined eventually because the overall hearing loss is less than 6%). Emails were left unanswered, several follow up phone calls and even visits to the shop were met with the promise that they would be in touch and put me in contact with the importer - nothing happened. Last week they finally sent an email that the wholesaler insists on having the process handled by the dealer. It may well be just bad customer service and I struggle to see how the dealer could be at fault for the gun firing out of battery but it sure smells fishy.

So it’s gone off before the boot closed ? It looks like the firing pin has struck it diagonally almost? Like it has hit it during the cycling that’s a major pretty lucky you weren’t a lefty shooting a right handed gun may have being far worse

The gun needs to be examined and a report produced before it gets into the hands of the dealer/importer. There are potential mechanical failures that could have caused this. I have done several such reports over the years on various firearms. PM me.