This rifle is really SOMETHING! Featuring a whopping 60 Joules out of the box, that feeds from a removable 255cc air reservoir (which btw has its hydrotesting date printed on the guage housing, along w/ stated capacity (0.255l) and its weight (0.90 KG). The filling probe included fits into the frontal end through-hole, which can be concealed by rotating the sleeve and closing the hole up. It has a rubbery sound to it and provides some resistance when turning, so presumably there is a O-ring embedded to help ward out ingress when the cap is closed up.
The 1/2 x 20" UNF thread on the front end is protected by a supplied end cap, manufactured from steel w/ angled grooves milled out to lend a pleasant aesthetic.
The sights are not dissimilar from the AT44-10 TACT, in fact, there are alot of overlap on the features that can be found on this rifle;
Your fully adjustable - and removable - rear sight, which is removable via a phillips drive screw on top. The barrel itself does appear blued, as does the air-reservoir, so again you have a higher grade anti-corrosion finish that certainly holds up better than the more basic anodizing found on Chinese PCP's. That being said, the receiver of course, is hard plated. The magazines here are our favourite AT44-10 type - 10 shot rotary w/ ratchet teeth running along its circumference. Its material composition of course, is aluminium and very hard wearing. As for the O-ring engaged on the magazine - just be sure to lubricate it often, w/ SINGER MULTIPURPOSE OIL or Silicone oil. Keep away from any petroleum based solvents and aerosols as this will attack the rubber of the O-ring.
The rail on top of the action is the HATSAN proprietary weaver / dovetail type, for which we normally recommend using weaver mount rings - not Picatinny. The cross-bolt slots will counteract any to-and-fro movement of the rings, which the solid / on-end base of the weaver rail, will afford greater purchase from the mount rings. Be aware that if you intend on mounting the front mount ring, you'll likely need to remove the rear sight, to make use of the additional weaver rail base supplied there. Try to see if you can get this one's cross-bolt to to press up back against the last dovetail strip. There should be ample space. See how this would fit onto your scope mounting plan, so that the mount ring doesn't catch the objective bell housing, simultaneously that the bubble shape of the turret housing (if applicable) doesn't prohibit free spooling, ejection / insertion of the magazine.
This rifle is Side Bolt operated, the lever of which is chromed out and heavy-duty looking. We really like this bolt, in a way, moreso than the harder side-lever actions found on similar HATSAN PCP rifles. The side lever for example, found on the AT44-10, requires a type of hinging effort, that may require the shooter to grab ahold of the lever overhand, which isn't the most ergonomic. The bolt action here does require some effort, though certainly lends a nice feel - similar to a bolt action operated firearm, whihc we appreciate.
There is no automatic safety on this rifle, only a manual, gold-plated tab on the rear of the action, specifically the left face. In RH shooting position, you can reach over with your thumb across the rear of the action, to toggle it. This is nice, as the safety here is out of the way and requires a more 'deliberate' effort to toggle.
You can also adjust the tension on the spring (for even more power!) simply by rearing the back of the bolt assembly from the action, exposing the flat drive on the butt. This can be adjusted w/ a 20c coin even, if you have one on hand.
The trigger here is our favourite PCP QUATTRO type, a read-up which you can have a look at here. Also please check the video right at the bottom of the product description, for a comprehensive / informative explanation on how to adjust the QUATTRO trigger. The trigger blade otherwise is gold plated, presumably because HATSAN feels very accomplished over their production of this trigger system, which we ourselves appreciate too.
The stock here, despite being a seemingly fixed Monte Carlo type, is adjustable both on the butt-length of the stock (can extend outward about 50 - 70mm max) whereas the cheekpiece can adjust up off the stock base. For each of these two adjustments, there is a set of large diameter screw heads, w/ slots that look like they can easily be torqued using a R2 coin. If this wasn't enough - the buttplate can even be adjusted up and down as well, using an allen key / hex drive, which doesn't come included. The buttplate otherwise, is a hard rubber, w/ a textured deboss pattern across its entirety, for improved tack.
The underbarrel Picatinny rail is comparably excessive and you should be able to mount both a bipod there as well as a flashlight or laser module, which we certainly won't complain about. Take note that the rail is polymer and is integrated into the stock (not removable), so take care not to bump it and bugger its edges.
Sling swivels are included / factory installed and the front sling swivel is affixed to the left face of the stock. This is really nice and ideal, if you are carrying the rifle to the fore of your torso, w/ the engaged sling retaining the rifle to you. It certainly has its tactical application, we would say. The action sling loops aren't of the same durability as those found on the AT44-10 TACT, although, you could probably just replace them if ever need be - the studs more or less, look like they are standard size.
We really like this rifle, especially given that it uses a tried and tested magazine type of which are readily available. The downside here, unlike w/ the AT44-10 TACT, is that there is no stock slots available to hold spare magazine. However, the BT65 ELITE however, does have these slots.
Given the price on this rifle, its power output on factory setting, the TRU-GLO fibre optic open sights, bolt action, placement of the (manual) safety, QUATTRO trigger, sling swivels and the placement of the front one, the lengthy underbarrel Picatinny rail, three-point adjustability of the rear of the stock for optimal ergonomy / to make the rifle best conform to your natural shooting hold, and the ambidextrous rubber grip panel inserts, we would certainly put this rifle forward as a strong hobby shooting, defence and marksman training rifle option.
Accessories included;
1x Thread-on degasser w/ steel grub screw and galvinized allen key.
2x 10 Shot Aluminium HATSAN-propriety Rotary magazines (one in the breech, one in the white carton box.
Set of spare O-rings and a PTFE seal
4x Spare O-rings for the filling probe
- 10- shot, manual loading, side bolt (SB) action, pre-charged pneumatic (PCP) air rifle.
- Precision rifled choked barrel for accuracy, threaded for ½” UNF sound moderator & fitted muzzle cap.
- .22 (5.5mm) caliber.
- Ambidextrous & ergonomic design synthetic stock.
- Integrated picatinny rail beneath the forearm.
- Soft rubber inlays on grip and forearm for better control and feel.
- Elevation adjustable comb which can be easily adjusted by a coin.
- Stock length of pull, elevation & fit angle adjustable rubber butt pad.
- Detachable 10-shot rotary magazine in .177 (4.5mm) and .22 (5.5mm) calibers and 9-shot rotary magazine in 25 (6.35mm) caliber.
- Includes one additional magazine.
- Detachable aluminum air cylinder tube (255cc). Spare cylinders are available.
- Built-in pressure gauge on the air cylinder to monitor the cylinder pressure.
- Includes quick-fill nozzle & air cylinder discharging cap.
- Dovetail groove receiver for both 11mm and 22mm scope mounts.
- Overall blued finish, black anodized receiver.
- Manual Safety.
- “Anti-double pellet feed” mechanism preventing more than one pellet loading into barrel. This system can be circumvented however if you decock the rifle.
- Patented anti-knock system to prevent gas wastage when rifle is knocked or bounced.
- Adjustable (for windage and elevation) rear sight & front sight (adjustable for eelevation) with Truglo fiber optic inserts.
- Quattro Trigger: 2-stage full adjustable match trigger for trigger travel and trigger load.
- Gold plated metal trigger. The trigger guard is completely metal.
- Fitted sling swivels.
- Includes a sling & bipod.
| Model |
BT65 SB (Side Bolt)
|
| Caliber |
5.5mm / .22cal |
| Max. Muzzle Velocity (*) |
360m/s (1180fps) |
| Energy (*) |
Joules |
61 |
|
ft.lbs |
45 |
| Magazine Capacity |
10 |
| Air Tube Volume |
255cc |
| Fill Pressure |
200 BAR |
| Shots Per Fill |
70 |
| Shots at Optimal Velocity |
28 |
| Stock |
Advanced polymer, montecarlo cheekpiece, adjustable butt pad & adjustable comb |
| Overall Length |
1080mm (42.5”) |
| Barrel Length |
585mm (23”) |
| Average Weight |
4.1kg (9lbs) |
| Fiber Optic Sights Diameters |
Rear Sight |
0.9mm (.035”) green |
|
Front Sight |
1.5mm (.060”) red |
