Definitive Guide to Hatsan Galatian

The standard unshrouded Hatsan Galatian has become a favorite amongst hunters due to it's excellent power and accuracy, but it was too loud for backyard and suburban use. It also made a fine field target rifle in lower calibers, but again the loudness was a bit much to put up with for an afternoon of target shooting. Hatsan added the missing piece by integrating their Quiet Energy (QE) sound suppression technology to what was already an excellent gun. Discover why this air rifle is one of our current favorites.

The Basic Anatomy of the Galatian

The Galatian comes in a few different configurations, each available in either hardwood or synthetic furniture. The hardwood stocks are carved from Turkish walnut and feature nicely checkered pistol grips and forends. The walnut stocks present particularly well and have an heirloom quality about them. There's just something very eloquent about the Walnut Galatian. The synthetic version is equally as nice as its wood counterpart but gives the added ruggedness of a worry free, all weather, finish. The Synthetic Galatian is a great option for those who like to spend as much time as possible in the hunting blind. It also features the added benefit of a picatinny tri-rail on the forend, perfect for bipods, lasers, or illuminators. The Hatsan Galatian Air Rifle features Hatsan's two stage adjustable Quattro Trigger. The Quattro system has been used across Hatsan's entire lineup and features a light first stage and a crisp second stage. Out of the box the second stage break was a bit heavy and somewhat stiff, however Hatsan includes all the tools needed to adjust it to your liking. You can adjust the pull weight to as low as 1 lb, though out of the box it's just under 5 lbs. The Quattro trigger is, in our opinion, one of the best airgun triggers on the market. A crisp, clean break and easy adjustability go a long way in our book. The Galatian features a smooth side cocking lever that is incredibly easy to use and perfect for quick follow-up shots. We think more manufacturers should incorporate side levers as it lends to a more enjoyable shooting experience. Besides lowering the effort needed to cock the gun, the polished handle of the charging lever adds to the overall premium look and feel of the gun. One of our favorite features of the Galatian series is the magazine system. The Galatian features one of the largest magazines in the PCP world. The .177 can hold 16 rounds, the .22 14 rounds and the .25 features a 13 round capacity. Not only are the Galatian magazines large but they are also very easy to load. No springs to wind or loading gates to fiddle with, simply drop the pellets in and you are good to go. One handed loading with the Galatian is no problem at all. All these features mean more time shooting and less time loading. You'll also notice that Hatsan designed the magazine well as to not interfere with the mounting of most scope rings. Unlike other rifles, it's nice to not be stuck using only high rings. The ambidextrous stock of both the walnut and synthetic Galatian PCP feature an adjustable cheek piece and butt plate, as well as a slot to store an extra magazine at the bottom of the stock (a well designed feature we think is really great). The weight of the walnut stocked Galatian without scope is right at 9.5 lbs.. With a scope expect that to be closer to 10.7 lbs. With all that wood the Galatian is by no means a lightweight gun, but it does have a very balanced feel when shooting off hand. The synthetic stock is about a pound lighter at 8.6 lbs without a scope.

Innovative Air Cylinders

There's so much to love about the Hatsan Galatian, but one of our favorite features is the innovative removable air cylinders that are featured on all of Hatsan's PCP air guns. The Hatsan air cylinders screw out of the gun so you can swap cylinders whenever you'd like (the cylinder doesn't need to be empty to be removed either!) The convenience of removable air cylinders is a great feature for hunters as it's much easier to carry an extra pre-filled cylinder or two opposed to carrying a carbon fiber tank or even a small fill bottle. For those who use a hand pump, you'll also find it easier to remove the cylinder instead of having to lay your gun on the ground. Recharging with the extra cylinder is as simple as screwing out the empty and replacing it with a full one, it's a quick and easy solution to one of the most common problems in airgunning. The 255 cc removable air cylinder includes a built in gauge and fill port dust cover. Shots per fill range from 60 up to about 80 depending on caliber and pellet size. The maximum fill pressure on the Galatian is 200 BAR or 2900 psi. The fill probe system used on the Galatian and all Hatsans is a plus in our eyes. Many people say that they prefer the more universal Foster Type valve, and while Foster Valves are more convenient because many pumps and fill stations come with them pre installed, we still find the probe system to be faster to connect as well as disconnect.The probe system is also easier to keep from getting banged up or damaged as the fill port cover is integrated into the gun. No caps or covers to have to worry about losing.

Shot Groupings, Velocity and Decibel Readings

The Galatian Air Rifle we tested was in .25 caliber. Going into testing the Galatian had a reputation for being a great hunting rifle , so we wanted to see what power numbers we could achieve right out of the box with this higher caliber. Airguns are notoriously picky about what kind of pellets they like, however with the Galatian we found it to be very accurate with a variety of pellets. We were testing at 50 yards and the best performers were the JSB Diabolo Exact King and the H&N Baracuda Hunter Extreme, however the Galatian also ran the new JSB Diabolo Exact King Heavies really well and had no problem with the King Heavies thicker skirt size that other PCPs seems to have trouble with. About the only pellet it didn't really love was the H&N Crow Magnum. When it comes to power the Galatian has plenty on hand to get the job done. With velocities averaging at times more than 100 fps faster than competitors out of the box, the Galatian is a great option for someone who wants the power of a performance tuned air rifle but isn't interested in tinkering with the gun to get it right. The Hatsan Galatian QE, which stands for Quiet Energy, is as quiet as they come. When tested using a sound meter we got decibel readings as low as 64 dB, making the QE system one of the most effective sound suppression systems available.

Maintenance / Accessories

As we recommend with most PCP air rifles, you're better off biting the bullet (or should we say pellet...) and investing in a carbon fiber air tank. Skip buying a hand pump (unless you really like mixing in a workout when you shoot) and pass on the aluminum scuba tank and enjoy the high psi capacity of carbon fiber. We don't want anything to come between you and some great trigger time, and the effort to hand pump your rifle is an obstacle most would rather avoid. The Galatian really comes with all the extra bells and whistles you can think of, including an extra magazine, a sling, extra seals & even a hard case to store/carry it in. The only item you'll need to pick up is a scope since the Galatian QE doesn't have iron sights. To make it easy we've bundled the Galatian with a Hawke Sport HD IR 4-12x50 AO rifle scope & rings at a great price. The Galatian Air Rifle is an easy gun to care for. Like most PCP's we recommend the use of cleaning pellets every few hundred pellets or so to keep the lead build up in the barrel down. We've also noticed that from the factory you'll probably want to clean out the barrel. Wiping the stock down with a microfiber cloth removes smudges and fingerprints keeping your rifle looking new, and other than the occasional need for a replacement seal (which Hatsan includes) your Galatian air rifle should provide you with years of shooting enjoyment.