by Tom Gaylord
Writing as B.B. Pelletier
Hatsan Sortie semiautomatic pistol.
This report covers:
- My attempts
- Lots of solutions — think BKL
- BKL Cantilever base
- The scope
- More solutions
- An aside
- Bottom line
- Sight-in
My attempts
Today I will attempt to mount a scope and shoot the Hatsan Sortie at 25 yards. I say “attempt” because the Sortie’s magazine sticks out very high above the scope rail. Any scope you mount has to either clear it or be located behind it, a detail that you need to consider when buying this air pistol.
Hatsan mounted a holographic dot sight on the Sortie they brought to the Texas airgun show. It sat behind the magazine and seemed to work fine. I don’t own a holo sight — yet — so I had to do something else.
See the problem? The scope is mounted in UTG high rings that do not quite clear the magazine (because of the scope turret). On the other side of the gun, the ring jaws are not quite reaching the mount base, so this setup cannot work.
Lots of solutions — think BKL
When I started checking into mounting a scope I didn’t know what would work, but with a little investigation I found several solutions. Right off the bat I found two things. BKL makes a 2-piece high mount set for both one-inch and 30mm scope tubes that positions the scope about 1/8-inch above the Sortie mag, as long as the scope turret doesn’t hang down from the scope tube too far. Can you see all the things that must be taken into account? The photo below shows a BKL 301MB ring (one of a set of two).
This BKL 301MB high ring (one of two) clears the magazine with a little room to spare.
BKL Cantilever base
BKL also makes a 4-inch 11mm dovetail-to-Weaver Cantilever Base that attaches to the Sortie’s base and elevates the mounts above the magazine. Since the Sortie has both a Weaver/Picatinny base and an 11mm base built into the Sortie’s receiver, this will work. Anybody’s high Weaver rings will work with this! This was the way I chose to go.
The BKL Cantilever scope base elevates where the rings will attach. It also converts an 11mm scope base to a Weaver/Picatinney. Very handy!
See how the Cantilever BKL base raises the rings so the scope clears the magazine? That is the same scope and rings that did not quite clear the mag in the second photo. This scope appears to be sloping downward toward the front, but I thought that was an illusion and testing proved that it was.
The scope
I selected a UTG 10X44 SWAT scope that appears to no longer be available. However, it’s a lot like their UTG 10X50 SWAT scope. When you look at the last picture you may wonder how anyone could use a scope that’s attached this way. I will show how in the next report. The scope actually enhances your grip on the pistol and in the field it becomes very handy!
More solutions
There are several other solutions besides these. One would be to mount a UTG Drooper base that’s designed for the Diana spring guns. It gives you extra height plus a Weaver or Picatinny base to clamp the rings to. It might stick off the back of the pistol a little but you can solve that with a hacksaw (Leapers — are you listening?). You also get some droop compensation which is never a bad thing.
An aside
I took the time today to explain all that I did with the Sortie because I will also be testing the Hatsan BullMaster semiautomatic rifle in the future. Its magazine is identical to the Sortie’s, so if I resolve things now I will save time then.
Also, the Sortie is an air pistol, and shooters find those much harder to use — especially in the field. Once you know how to grip the gun, though, it gets much easier! I plan to show you what I mean in the next report.
Bottom line
The bottom line is whatever scope you mount is probably going to be positioned high above the center of the bore. So cant will be a concern. Too bad Leapers doesn’t put bubble levels into their short scopes (Leapers — are you listening?).
Sight-in
After the scope was mounted securely I did a rough sight-in. It took more shots than normal for me — 8 in all. But now I’m ready for the 25 yard accuracy test. Next time.
B.B.
Great solution! Seems BKL has an answer for every problem. With that offset riser, you could even go with low rings. What is the eye relief of that scope? How was the holographic sight attached?
Thanks,
Yogi
Yogi,
The eye relief is about 2.5 inches. The holo sight was attached directly to the pistol.
B.B.
Yogi,
If you go with the 10X50 SWAT scope you’ll have 3″ of relief, according to PA specs. I’m guessing that will still require the hold that we will learn when BB finally pulls back the curtain.
Can not wait to see the “hold”. Must be with bent elbows with only 3″ of eye relief. That is pretty short even for a rifle scope.
-Y
B.B.,
With the scope mounted that far back I think the balance of the Sortie would be improved. Hope this thing functions correctly. I’ve seen one report where the unit delivered just plain failed to function. Didn’t even sorta work.
Siraniko
Siraniko,
So far it’s working well.
B.B.
BB,
I would have thought a pistol or scout scope would have been more suitable, but you are not likely going to be sticking this thing way out there anyway. I fully expect to see this offered as a carbine next year.
RR,
When you see how I hold it you’ll see that a pistol scope wouldn’t work.
B.B.
BB,
BKL also offers riser blocks that work pretty nicely.
RR,
There you go!
B.B.
B.B.,
You mentioned in the first report that given the size of this air pistol people will be quick to inquire if a shoulder stock is going to be an option. Size, yes, but it also is rifle-heavy.
My guess is that with a full magazine, cantilever adapter, rings, and scope, the Sortie weighs between 6.5 and 7 pounds. Is a seven pound pistol shoot-able? In scoped weight and cost the Sortie is squarely in the Diana Stormrider category. Same price, same weight, but the Stormrider produces 10 additional foot-pounds of energy. Of course the Sortie could be a tack driver, but if it isn’t, I suspect it will be a tough sell given the competition.
Once again, it comes down to accuracy. I see a pattern in your tests! :^)
Miichael
Michael,
It isn’t me. Accuracy lies at the base of all the shooting sports. It just takes some folks longer to realize it.
B.B.
B.B.,
I will accept that, but most of what I’ve learned has been as Grasshopper to your Master Po. And you have taught that if it isn’t accurate, how much does anything else matter?
Michael
Michael,
” Same price, same weight, but the Stormrider produces …..” I thought the Stormrider was less than half the cost at under $200. But at least we know the Sortie exists. The availability of the Stormrider keeps getting pushed out and out and out. It is now Oct. 25 !
Halfstep,
I was trying to equalize the Stormrider plus optics vs. the Sortie plus optics and shoulder stock.
But as for the “unobtainium” factor, please remember from my comments here over the years that I am the number one, undisputed, all-time, Heavyweight Champion of the World of people still waiting (and holding the feet of the guilty to a fire) for the Benjamin Turbo Aire hand pump for PCPs. I am “The Greatest” of the righteous whiners who vilify Crosman for their false hope of a hand pump that does not bring an old man within a handful of wheezes and heartbeats of a coronary to fill an air rifle to 2900 psi.
There. :^) Your compatriot,
Michael
BB
I have one of those cantilever mounts. I got it back when you talked about the “See All Sight”. I got the mount and used with the See All Sight.
Worked good. And I also thought the mount was drooped. But wasn’t. Took it to work and measured it with the optical comparitor.
BB
Do those ( and non-cantilevered ) 11mm – Pici/Weaver adapters grab well enough for magnum springer use?
Halfstep,
I think they do. The BKL ones certainly do.
B.B.
I don’t see how a bubble level would work for offhand shooting. You could rest the gun, but then why use a pistol? Other than because you can.
Special thanks to blog readers Derrick and Duskwight for forming an international coalition to fix my IZH 61! It’s up and running again and on track to last centuries.
Matt61
Well BB hopefully you can pump out some lead fast action with this pistol the next time out. You ever watch some of that fast action 3 gun stuff.
Ya know why have a semi-auto anyway.
Maybe Hatsan knew what they was doing with that dot holographic sight at the show.
I would not want a scope on this pistol.
It’s amazing how much the Hatsan semiauto mag look like a FX Royale mag. Has anyone tried using a Hatsan mag in a Royale? If not, can anyone post measurements of a Hatsan .22 magazine?
Thanks!
– Matt