The Beautiful Mrs. Tas has always known that I've always wanted at least one shotgun for general hunting and of course for some fun at the range. But, it's just one of those things that I never got around to getting. Last month was my birthday, and - entirely on her own with no prior knowledge - she researched, shopped around and ordered a 12-gauge. We can't afford anything high-end, but she also knows not to get the "cheapest" on the rack, either...so she took the time to do a little research and asked her boss (an avid hunter) what he would suggest.

It's from Hatsan's Escort line, manufactured in Turkey, and looks to be a fine shotgun:

http://www.hatsan.com.tr/en_escort_as.html

Here's a write-up on the model from a British site:

http://www.shootinguk.co.uk/re...-auto-shotgun-review

And here's the specific listing (choose "hunting" model):

https://north40.com/outdoor/sh...i-auto-shotgun-12-ga

She knows I prefer wood stocks, so she ordered one in Turkish walnut.

So, I was pretty impressed with all of this, and was posting to see if anyone has any experience or thoughts on this shotgun. The reviews seem pretty positive, especially where "value for money" is concerned.

Thanks in advance -

Ron

Escort is a well established brand here in New Zealand , probably one of the better makes in the lower end of the market. I have a 20 guage auto loader that functions flawlessly.

I think you will be happy with your gun , as long as you dont expect it to be a Berretta

And a belated " Happy Birthday " to you. Now, get back in the kitchen and rattle those pots and pans.

I purchased a Turkish made Akkar Atlay semi auto shotgun a couple of years ago for wildfowl shooting. These are made on German supplied machinery using Italian steel. A cheap gun but well made and finished with a plastic stock, hard chrome lined barrel and breach block. My two sons whom I duck shoot with have also have Atlay semis for about 3 years. These are great guns, hold 5 + 1, have five chokes, 3" chambers and all good for HP steel.

Looking at the manual for your Hatsun Escort it is virtually the same gun as the Atlay.

They both use a pivoting locking block, shown as part 602 in the Hatsun parts list and diagram, which pivots a lug up into a recess in the top of the alloy receiver to lock up the breach.

I regularly make sure that this recess is kept very clean and clear of any gunge build up so that the locking block lug is fully supported in the quite shallow recess. From observing the operation of the breach system both in the gun and out when stripped for cleaning, it appears that there is no mechanical interlock that prevents the firing pin striking the cartridge primer even if the lug is not fully home into the recess.

There has been a recent case reported here in NZ of a shotgun blowing up at a clay target club shoot. The article does not specifically say that the gun was a semi auto but from the initial Police investigation it seems the cartridge may have exploded in the breach injuring the face and arm of the shooter, sounding likely that a semi auto was involved.

It is my only concern with this lock up system that there 'seems' to be a possibility that a cartridge could be fired even if the breach block was not fully locked.

Yeah they are a kinda Rem 1100 clone. I sold them for 5 years and never had to repair one. Tristars on the other hand.

The Hatstands as they are known here are popular. But have handled and shot both the Franchi Affinity is a much nicer gun for not much more money. I have one and love it - the ducks don’t.