Hatsan Galatian I Carbine

Anyone who’s been to one of the major shooting shows will appreciate the air of excitement surrounding new product releases and innovations soon to hit the market.

So when Edgar Brothers (UK importers of Turkish brand Hatsan) began publicising a brand new rifle due to hit our shores, interest began to grow.

The Galatian certainly looks different, but in a crowded airgun market that’s not necessarily a bad thing. Looks are unashamedly akin to a shotgun, and whilst this may or may not appeal, one thing’s for sure: it’s a confident piece of design work.

When I saw a list of options and specifications for this new PCP I was somewhat confused, if I’m honest (doesn’t take much!), but with a quick call to the nice people at Edgar Brothers we soon thrashed out exactly what’s on offer. So for anyone who’s taken one look at this gun and fallen in love with it, here’s the low down on the range of options.

Three main specifications are listed:

* Galatian I – with an adjustable Turkish walnut, thumbhole stock

* Galatian II – with an adjustable Turkish walnut sporter stock

* Galatian III – adjustable synthetic thumbhole stock All three versions can be supplied in either Rifle format fitted with open sights, or in

Carbine format incorporating a shorter barrel, mounted inside a full-length shroud/ silencer. Carbine models are longer overall than their Rifle counterparts, which goes against conventional wisdom. However, just remember that Hatsan’s spec focuses on the barrel length which, as mentioned, is shorter on the Carbines.

On test here is the Galatian I Carbine, so we have the fully adjustable two-part walnut thumbhole stock and shrouded barrel. Overall then, the Galatian is a brand new pre-charged pneumatic airgun from major Turkish manufacturer Hatsan – and an impressive list of features come as standard, such as a rotary magazine, side-lever cocking mechanism, gold- plated two-stage trigger, quick fill cylinder, sling and swivels, all form part of the spec sheet. As if that wasn’t enough, a plastic trigger lock device and hard case are also part of the deal.

Easy Adjustability

Focusing first on the stock, the Turkish walnut comes with a thick varnish coating, and whilst this may seem less refined than a fine oil finish, it does at least offer thorough weather-proofing. As mentioned, the woodwork is two part, and the configuration of that bold, flared forend is excellent. Nicely extended, with finger groove detailing, both looks (courtesy of the lazer cut chequering) and feel, afforded to the leading hand, are spot on.

Thumbhole grips can be a matter of personal taste, and the Galatian’s ambidextrous layout, lacks the subtlety of a dedicated supported hand grip. That said, the actual pistol grip is nicely thinned out, so most shooters should manage a comfortable hold. Shaping and mating of the metal and woodwork just behind the trigger is maybe a little crude visually, but the overall impression is that of a solid, fairly well-machined product.

Adjustability is of course a key part of this model’s design brief, and here we have both an adjustable cheekpiece, and buttpad. To adjust the cheekpiece just slacken off the large screw bolts and slide the cheek section up or down to suit. A word of caution here though – try not to pull the cheekpiece free from its housing (like I did!), as it can be fiddly to line up the holes from the sleeve inside, to relocate the feet. Approximately 3⁄4-inches of adjustment is available here, and the difference this can make, allowing for perfect eye scope/head alignment, should not be underestimated.

Likewise, if the stock seems too short, the length of pull can be adjusted by slackening the bolts to the rear and sliding the butt assembly in or out to the desired position. If a higher or lower pad section is required at the shoulder then this too can be set to suit and adjusted on its slider mechanism.

All in all, a neat set-up that gives the Galatian great appeal to many enthusiasts who yearn for better ‘gun fit’, and final control over the shot.

All New Action

As mentioned, this model is the Carbine version, where the last few inches inside that stylish full-length barrel shroud acts as an expansion chamber/silencer. The main cylinder sports Hatsan’s usual slightly dull matt blueing, whereas the shroud is a more flashy gloss, and it really looks the part. This all-new Galatian sports a rather snazzy breech block (fashioned from aircraft aluminium with a ‘white nickel finish’ according to Hatsan) and this acts as the housing for the multi-shot mechanism. It’s reminiscent of the company’s shotguns, and it certainly creates a distinctive profile.

The .22 calibre version (on test) features a 14 shot rotary magazine, whilst .177 gets a 16 shot version. To fill the magazine, just pull back that sleek drop-down side lever, push forward the magazine retention clip, and pull the magazine clear of the action to the right. Push home a pellet headfirst into each chamber, and then reverse the procedure. Finally close the side lever, which chambers the first
pellet.

Quick-Fill

Hold on… rewind a tad. Before we test the action, of course, we need air, and this rifle’s specification includes a removable main cylinder which could be useful for safety checks further down the line. Hatsan specify a max fill pressure of 200-bar, and this is achieved via the quick-fill probe system with the cylinder in place. Just fix the probe adaptor to your air line (be that a pump or air bottle), insert the probe into the inlet hole (found towards the front of the cylinder) and gently pressurise. The neat design incorporates a twist-close valve cover too, which is a nice touch.

With the action filled, magazine fitted and the action cocked, a small red indicator can be seen at the rear of the action signifying that the gun is now live and loaded. A great idea for sure. A spare magazine incidentally is supplied, and comes stored in a dedicated clip, recessed into the toe of the stock. Field shooters should love that, and the on-board pressure gauge on the front of the cylinder keeps you informed of residual power.

Report Card

With that cheekpiece and butt arrangement all set to fit me exactly, sighting through the scope was a comfortable, stress-free affair, with minimal strain on the relevant muscles, in order to assume my ideal shooting stance – and that, after all, is what its all about.

The nicely set-back Quattro trigger blade is perfectly positioned too, but could do with being slightly wider to spread finger-pressure. All this comfort and adjustability should pay dividends down range of course, but my first stop was the chronograph, in order to check shot count and overall consistency.

An extended chrono session will always show up a weakness in any system, but here the Galatian proved its worth. Hatsan’s claim of a built-in ‘anti- double feed’ design was certainly born out, with faultless magazine cycling over many shots on test. What also impressed immensely was the slick operation of that side lever action, adding further reassurance in the field. Shot count will vary depending upon fill pressure, and I managed around 70- from 200-bar. Experimenting with a lower start pressure is well worthwhile though, and I tightened the velocity spread by dropping to 180-bar; achieving approximately 50 consistent shots here in .22 calibre.

The slightly raspy report on firing was reminiscent of an early Daystate Huntsmans, with hammer bounce almost certainly the culprit. That said, accuracy, once I selected the favoured ammunition, was pretty satisfying. This example showed a distinct preference for Daystate Rangemaster Li’s; almost halving the inch groups of the ubiquitous JSBs over 35-yards. 3⁄4-inch groups over 45-yards finally proved the unregulated Galatian’s credentials where it mattered.

Conclusion

I reckon this new model should cause quite a stir. Okay, the final finish may lack subtlety in certain areas, and the weight alone may be a deciding factor for many, but the super reliable action, undoubted character, and the host of on-board adjustability should win this boldly styled Galatian an army of fans.

PRICE:
£752 inc charging adaptor, spare magazine, spare seals, sling, trigger lock, and plastic hard case

DISTRIBUTOR:
Edgar Brothers Ltd 01625 613177 www.hatsan.com.tr