Hatsan Escort Trio

Sportsman Gun Centre now handles Hatsan shotguns, and these have always proved to be a popular choice in Britain as they cost a fraction of a similar-spec European semi-auto. The Escort range of pretty standard, no-frills, working-type semi-automatic shotguns are available in a range of calibres, including the 20-bore version we have on test. As expected from Hatsan, all manner of styles and configurations are available, from black, camo-clad, synthetic, and wood stock—the list goes on.
On test is the Escort Trio, a black synthetic model that’s primarily designed for hunting, but it is also just as good for clays. It is immediately appealing, as it feels tough, rugged, and very light in the hand at just 2.8kg. It features a slender 20-bore gait and a 28” barrel with extended interchangeable chokes. All in all, it’s a reliable semi-automatic, albeit with a finish that won’t compete with the premium guns, but then it’s a third of the price. The barrel is chambered for 3” cartridges, and its gas-operated system manages light and heavy loads well, while the synthetic stock provides good handling and less recoil.

Stock style
A shotgun, like a rifle, can literally fall down in terms of performance and appeal as soon as you pick it up, so the stock choice, materials, and configuration are crucial to performance and desirability. The Escort Trio, let’s be honest, has a pretty standard, black-moulded synthetic stock, which is cheap to make yet provides superior weatherproofing compared to wood. The two halves are glued together, and the inner void is foam-filled to prevent that annoying echo some stocks have, which can allegedly ‘spook’ game in the field. It features a smooth, black surface but with the addition of profiled lines to add a bit of interest. The fore-end is slim and long at 11.5”, with a slender, rounded underside, and features moulded chequering panels on both sides below the finger rail groove. Four slanted slots on both sides at the front ease the expulsion of the gas piston’s gases during firing. Finally, the fore-end sits very nicely in a recess at the action end, and it can be removed via a large, knurled end cap. Noteworthy is the fact that there are no sling swivels.
The buttstock has a small amount of cast and a shallow comb, which, on this 20-bore model, really gets the eye down and looking straight along the rib. Again, it shows moulded-in chequering, which is more for appearance than actual grip, but the recoil pad is very large, with the top section being double the thickness of the lower part. This pad is integrated into the stock and serves as an effective recoil reducer, although a semi-auto in 20-bore is not particularly harsh. The standard length of pull, at 14.5”, is adequate.

Smooth bore
Hatsan barrels are made from nickel-chrome molybdenum steel and finished internally with a white chrome bore, achieving a hard-wearing surface. The chambering on this model is magnum, so it is capable of shooting 3” (76mm) magnum 20-bore cartridges. The gun is proofed for steel shot, but you can only use the chokes up to modified (½ choke).
The barrel is 28” long, with other lengths available on request. The rib is ventilated, with nine evenly spaced vents to cool the barrel and raise the 7mm rib with its serrated top. There is a single red bead up front for eye alignment. The overall finish is very smooth, with a matte black bluing that is practical and glare-free.
The shotgun is supplied with five chokes: full, improved modified, modified, improved cylinder, and cylinder. Each one is 2.75” in length, with 0.75” extending beyond the muzzle. This extended portion is heavily knurled, allowing them to be easily screwed in and out by hand without the need for a choke key.

Action, trigger, and safety
Keeping with the scale of the 20-bore cartridge, the whole action is made from aircraft-grade aluminium, combining strength and lightness, which makes the whole Trio feel feather-like in the hand but not flimsy.
The receiver shows an interesting two-tone effect, with the top and bottom half featuring a satin black anodised finish to complement the barrel, whilst the mid-section is brushed aluminium, displaying some machined scroll engraving and model details. It breaks up what would otherwise be an all-black shotgun. Up top, you have 11mm dovetail rails cut fore and aft for the attachment of a red dot sight.
The right side of the receiver features a magazine cut-off button, and when this is depressed while the Hatsan is loaded, it locks back the bolt so a round can be removed. It also blocks another cartridge from the magazine entering the carrier. To shoot again, pop a round back in, and then release the catch to reload.
Instead of using a separate button for the bolt release, like on most semi-autos, the system is built into the cartridge carrier, which is also known as the shell lifter or elevator. So, to release the bolt, you simply push the centre of the carrier. This section lifts freely, releasing the bolt. Due to the gun being chambered in 20-bore, the loading port is pretty slim, making it a bit tight for larger thumbs, but it’s manageable.
The trigger fits nicely into the generously sized guard, and the grooved lower half of the blade gives a little more purchase. The trigger’s pull was heavy, coming in at nearly 7lbs, but this was not noticeable during testing. The safety, as in most semis, is a simple cross-bolt design behind the trigger blade, which blocks its movement.
The bolt handle is slim and not serrated. The bolt has a single extractor claw on the right-hand side, and the case is ejected by a small dimple on the inner side wall of the receiver that catches the case’s rim and ejects it freely.

Gas, gas, gas!
The gas system operates in a fairly standard manner, with gases from the fired cartridge venting down from the bore through ports into the barrel union lug, which secures the barrel to the magazine tube. This gas drives the floating stainless steel piston rearward, engaging the bolt’s twin action bars so the bolt reciprocates, ejects a case, and reloads in the blink of an eye.
The system is easy to maintain, and it will deliver reliable performance if kept clean. Neglecting this area can often result in problems.

Field test
I installed the ½ choke for the pattern board tests at 30 yards and evaluated a range of cartridges.
Firstly, I have to say that the recoil was negligible with all the rounds, and I had no hang-ups at all, which was a good start. The shotgun performed reliably with loads ranging from 24g (Hull’s Pro Twenty) to 28g (Hull’s Ultimate Twenty). As expected, Hull’s Subsonic (23g, No.7.5) cartridges struggled to cycle fully.
The Pro Twenty produced evenly spread and dense patterns, with 105 strikes in the inner 15” sectors and the remaining 159 around the periphery, giving a total shot count of 264.
Next, Eley’s VIP cartridges (28g | No.6 | fibre) proved ideal for pigeons, game, and vermin. They functioned very well in the Trio’s action and produced a good pattern down range, with a total pellet count of 242. There were 99 inners and 143 outers.
Hull’s Driven Grouse load is another great all-rounder for any game (25g | No.6 | fibre), and it produced a healthy total of 197 pellet strikes, with 62 inner hits and 135 outer impacts within 30”. It’s a good, hard-hitting load that’s easy on the shoulder, and it always produces a decent pattern.
Finally, the Ultimate Twenty load (28g | No.5.5) achieved 111 outer hits and 93 inner strikes, and despite the larger pellet size, I had a nice pattern with this Trio. I find this cartridge always brings home the rabbits, and it’s especially good for squirrels in trees.

Conclusion
This Hatsan is one of those shotguns that has no real niche, as it suits beginners, those who are recoil-sensitive, rough shooters, and those after game or clays. The price point is also attractive, and as the tests prove, it performs well on the pattern boards.