GTA
All Springer/NP/PCP Air Gun Discussion General => Air Gun Gate => Tuners => Topic started by: Daniel L on June 23, 2018, 12:10:45 PM
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It’s always been a goal to one day own a tuned Weihrauch springer and finally I did it!
I had a work trip planned to the USA and back to New Zealand, so this gave me the opportunity to order a HW95 Field Pro in .22 from Airguns of Arizona, and get it shipped to Motorhead for some tuning before a long plane ride to Auckland, New Zealand! The TSA process wasn’t too bad, just needed a bit of extra time at check in (it was in a locked Plano rifle case.)
(https://i.imgur.com/V1fOQHQ.jpg)
The HW95 Field Pro fit the bill - medium weight hunter, break barrel, with a clean profile (no open sights) and a muzzle weight. A great looking rifle!! I switched out the packaged 3-9 Mildot scope for a Hawke Vantage 4-12x40 with an Illuminated Reticle (set up for a .17 HMR but can easily convert for airgun usage) and Sportsmatch UK rings.
Airguns of Arizona did a great job with packaging and pre-testing the rifle. They did a 15 shot chrony testing and a sample grouping with .22 HN FTT pellets. Out of the box, it looked like it was consistent and pushing just over 14 ft/lb, which was a little below my target of 15-16 ft/lb
(https://i.imgur.com/EptY57V.jpg)
Motorhead was great to work with. Extremely responsive in my many emails, fair pricing and also gave me good advice in staying around 15 ft/lb to give a sweet shooting experience. I ordered the rifle with his fitted machined spring guide, top hat, Maccari seal, 1.5lb trigger and overall tune. He likes to use the OEM spring so I ordered a spare to be set up as well.
Breaking the rifle open was SMOOOOOOTH, and lock up like the proverbial bank vault with a very satisfying “clunk”. Super easy cocking effort – just glides to a cocked position. The combination of Weihrauch engineering and Motorhead tuning in action. Rekord trigger goes without saying… just perfect! A short first stage, and a crisp 2nd stage. The trigger reach feels a little long for my medium size hand, but I’m getting used to it.
So how does it shoot? Did some sighting in and went with the HN FTT, which is lucky because I bought 8 tins from Pyramyd Air while I was in the USA too. Punching out a nice 675fps-685fps to give me a desired 15 ft/lb with no twang, or shock as expected.
The true test was the hunting trip on a farm for night time possums (this is the introduced Australian Bushtail Possum) … and this is where it exceeded my expectations. First 4 shots of the night were 1 shot kills – stopped them dead in their tracks. The rifle isn’t particularly hold sensitive, which is necessary for shooting possums up in trees from odd angles and ankle deep in mud! This made it easy to make standing head shots a real joy.
(https://i.imgur.com/CreaNSU.jpg)
For those interested in the light mount, it’s a Nitecore P30 (max 1000 lumens for about 3 minutes, then steps to about 500 lumens for over an hour on a single 18650 battery) sitting in a quick release Leapers picatinny mount (so I could remove it when shooting in the day). The scope ring mount was from Amazon for $20. No bulky spot light or cables needed!
Finished the night with a dozen dead possums –and the feeling that all the hassles (and a minor drama with NZ Police, landing at 6am in NZ with an air rifle) – was definitely worth it!
A huge thanks to Motorhead for the tune, AoA for the rifle, and Pyramyd Air for the pellets!
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Hi Daniel ! Now THAT....is a NICE RIFLE ! ;) WOW ! My Best Wishes - Tom
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I realise most folks haven't seen the Australian Bushtail Possum before:
(https://www.pestrol.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/POSSUM.jpg)
They're an introduced invasive species in New Zealand, who decimate native trees and local birdlife. And carriers of bovine tuberculosis (i.e. bad news for dairy farmers which is NZ's primary export!). Oddly enough they're protected species in Australia, but not in New Zealand :)
They're probably the size of an adult racoon - and known to be "zombies" who still hang in there after multiple hits with .22 LR or even shotguns. Which is why it was so satisfying to do one shop stops on them with .22 HN FTT to the head. Typical shots are 10-25 yards at night (they're nocturnal, hence the scope light), and usually upwards at 45-60 degrees, so you have to adjust your hold accordingly.
I actually set my HW95 for a zero of 14 yards, which gives me a point blank half inch killzone of 12 yards to 27 yards, and a little holdover for the close shots.
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Daniel,
It is GREAT to hear the rifle is doing so well being it was far from this state as delivered before the tuning process.
below is a thread that was done at the time of this tuning that due to the time line and unrealistic hassle it would have been for ALL parties, along with the the CRAZY fact the rifle was New an un-molested or IMO previously shot outside of the test prior to sale ( others in thread felt differently ) being the burden fell in my lap to get this right in the most professional manor, I never had correspondence with you over what was being discovered inside ... I JUST DEALT WITH IT !!
So I hope this does not disturb you but instead puts a smile on your face ;D ... that in the end it really did not matter where we started from but only where we ended at 8)
https://www.gatewaytoairguns.org/GTA/index.php?topic=140939.msg1422263#msg1422263 (https://www.gatewaytoairguns.org/GTA/index.php?topic=140939.msg1422263#msg1422263)
Best regards from 1/2 way around the world !!
Scott Schneider
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Congrats on a great gun Daniel. It sounds like it's perfect for your needs.
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Looks like you sent it to the right guy, brother! Congrats on a sweet new rifle!
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Daniel,
It is GREAT to hear the rifle is doing so well being it was far from this state as delivered before the tuning process.
below is a thread that was done at the time of this tuning that due to the time line and unrealistic hassle it would have been for ALL parties, along with the the CRAZY fact the rifle was New an un-molested or IMO previously shot outside of the test prior to sale ( others in thread felt differently ) being the burden fell in my lap to get this right in the most professional manor, I never had correspondence with you over what was being discovered inside ... I JUST DEALT WITH IT !!
So I hope this does not disturb you but instead puts a smile on your face ;D ... that in the end it really did not matter where we started from but only where we ended at 8)
https://www.gatewaytoairguns.org/GTA/index.php?topic=140939.msg1422263#msg1422263 (https://www.gatewaytoairguns.org/GTA/index.php?topic=140939.msg1422263#msg1422263)
Best regards from 1/2 way around the world !!
Scott Schneider
Thanks Scott - I didn't see that, but that's exactly why I sent it to you NIB because I was pretty sure it wouldn't leave unless it was perfect!
Buying German springer to me has always meant the potential is there, but needs TLC to get it to where it should be.
I did chuckle when you wrote "JUNK" in black sharpie on the old seal LOL
Sadly I only see the rifle 4 times a year (a long distance relationship hahahah as I live in Singapore) - looking forward to shoot it again in July!