Several of us in the DFW FT community have purchased 12fpe 97s from Krale and others in the last couple of years. Experienced tuners have opened them up and found them to be pretty darned good straight out of the box (with the usual break-in). Not overlubricated, well-fitting spring guides, clean compression tubes, good fitting seals.If you are bound and determined to tune it out of the box, then I guess it doesn't matter. But, you might be surprised how good the 12fpe version is right out of the box. I know no one (personally) and of hardly anyone that actually shoots one over 12fpe, so I can't speak to the hotter ones out of the box.
bReTt, thinking about putting my Hawke Vantage on it. ridesafer, glad to hear you got a nice gun in a very timely fashion. I guess my next question is, which stock do you fellows like the best?I'm leaning toward the HW synthetic thumbhole version, but the walnut version with the swoopy pistolgrip looks nice also.What do you fellows think?ThanksRay
Thanks for the tip Sky, I've heard that wood stocks are heavier than synthetic. But when it comes to springers I've read that weight helps tame recoil.I also downloaded the HW 97 manual. And came across this :" In extreme cold first warm the gun up to room temperature before using it."Is there gonna be a problem shooting a HW97 during the colder winter months? I use my trusty old Crosman Storm XT for squirrel hunting in the late fall and winter months. Never had a minutes problem out of it. Any of you fellows shoot out in the cold during the winter months?I've never read that about any other springers.You fellows have any input on that?ThanksRay
I guess my next question is, which stock do you fellows like the best?I'm leaning toward the HW synthetic thumbhole version, but the walnut version with the swoopy pistolgrip looks nice also.What do you fellows think?ThanksRay
When I bought my .22 from John in Pa, it had the SHO kit in it. Harder to cock, but sure hit with authority when it got there! It presently has the ARH variable power kit in it shooting 12/13ft lbs. Much easier to cock, all day plinker. My Beauty Queen
Quote from: ray1377 on June 02, 2018, 11:26:10 PMbReTt, thinking about putting my Hawke Vantage on it. ridesafer, glad to hear you got a nice gun in a very timely fashion. I guess my next question is, which stock do you fellows like the best?I'm leaning toward the HW synthetic thumbhole version, but the walnut version with the swoopy pistolgrip looks nice also.What do you fellows think?ThanksRayI am owning the synthetic thumbhole version and I love it ! Very nice hold. I have owned a HW97k with the standard beech stock as well, but I prefer this one way more, regardless of my shooting position.Though you can't twist about taste and wood is often more nice regarding the looks, I must say the synthetic version delivers a fully black airrifle and looks cool too. A synthetic stock is also very practical and this one is rock solid, no cheap flimsy feeling at all ! I do not recognize any sharp edges and bear in mind this is NOT a hollow stock.Btw. I have topped my with a Hawke Vantage 3-9x40AO IR MD scope on medium Sportsmatch mounts. On the HW97k, a perfect combination for me and enough magnification for 50yrds inside shooting and up to 70yrds outside.