Put a preorder in for an HW97

[PasadenaMike]

Decided to get the hw97 wood sporter stock on preorder with AOA. I got the .177. Supposedly it has a bit more power than the hw50.

[north country gal]

Congrats, mike. Yes, the 97 is the next step up in power over the HW50. Gets you up into Field Target class velocities.

[Bayman]

The Hw97 is a little more powerful than the Hw50. But it's an entirely different type of gun. IMO the Hw50 is probably the best all around balance of weight and power. It's a great all around springer. It carries, shoulders and points very well. It's my choice of guns to carry around the woods.

The 97 is also a great gun but it's heavy. I have one as well. It's very accurate and shoots my best 50 yard groups. I shoot it solely from a bench. I can shoot it offhand but not for long. You couldn't pay me to carry it around woods. It's too darn heavy.

Again both great guns but totally different animals. You should pick one that fits your style of shooting and needs. If you want a little more power than the 50 and want to carry it around, go for a Hw95. Same power as the 97 and its lighter and easier to shoot offhand.
Just my 2 cents.

[Mark 611]

I agree on the 95 being easy to handle over the 97, when I was younger the weight of the 97 did not bother me, I use to hunt with them, but I have sold off all my 97's because my 95's or 50's serve my purposes or my R1's if I need more power, my R1's with the short barrels without a scope come in around 8lbs compared to 9.2lbs out of the box for the 97, and my break barrel rifles HW's are just as accurate as any underlever in the right hands!

[Oldgringo]

FWIW, I agree with both Ron and Mark above. My 97K's were too much rifle for my needs and wants; whereas, my three 50S' serve my every air gun need.  If I need a little more firepower,  my Beeman R9 fits the bill.

[Lt. Dan]

I love the 97k I got from Greg. It is a pleasure to shoot from the bench. Super accurate and really not that loud. Thanks again Greg for breaking it in for me.

[EMrider]

I think that you’ll be very pleased with your choice.  My hw97k is my most accurate spring gun.  As noted, it is heavy, but with a sling it works as a hunter too.  Mine has dropped many ground squirrels. Enjoy.
R

[PasadenaMike]

Yah I’m happy to add another Weiraugh to the family I already have the R7 (HW30) in .177, an HW50 in .177 and a HW95 in .22 so the 97 would be a nice addition.

[jkingrph]

I'm thinking about another springer, specifically a break barrel.  Looking at HW 50 and 95,  the 95 pushes a .177 pellet about 120 fps faster and is about $80 more from Krale.   What's the opinions on each?

[Acapulco]

97 shouldered does give a feelin of...this is something of quality & value.

Almost the same feelin like when u shoulder a Theoben springer...i said almost 🙂

Have fun with new rifle.

[north country gal]

I'm thinking about another springer, specifically a break barrel.  Looking at HW 50 and 95,  the 95 pushes a .177 pellet about 120 fps faster and is about $80 more from Krale.   What's the opinions on each?

Jeff, to me the main difference between to 50 and 95 is the physical size and weight. For me, the 50 has the heft and feel of one of my favorite rimfire rifles. It's a delight to carry and shoot, especially offhand (my favorite position).

The 95L is definitely a larger and heavier rifle, though it is still lighter than the usual under lever. For me, it is mostly a bench gun, though I can also shoot it offhand for short sessions.

[jkingrph]

Thanks Joanie
I had been doing some more research in the meantime and decided on a HW35e, all along I had been wanting a nicer stock than the beech offerings, and in all honesty the 35 offers all the power I need for backyard plinking and target shooting, although my yard is large enough so I can reach out to about 50 yards.  I went ahead and ordered an Anschutz  diopter sight and a Gehmann adjustable iris.   I learned to like those diopter sights about 60 years ago in college ROTC and never looked back.

I have a 77, 97kt and a 98 so I wanted something other than big and heavy. I replaced the sights on the 77 with an Anschutz front and rear diopter and can handle offhand quite well.  My other guns are a FWB 124, pushing 50 years old and a FWB 300s not too far behind it.  I was also wanting something easier to cock for more extended shooting sessions, those under levers require a bit of muscle and at almost 77 years old, thats getting rougher for extended sessions.

[Cslinger]

I think you will dig the 35e.  Very accurate, great looking and interesting.

[Oldgringo]

To each his/her own.

 I have owned two 97K's and two HW35's.  I am quite happy with my three each 50S' and 30S' along with my R 7 and  R9.  My airgun needs are satisfied.

Did I mention my 853 Daisy's and air pistols?

[PasadenaMike]

Thanks everyone for your input I canceled the preorder the last thing I need is a heavy hunting gun.

[Toxylon]

As Mark noted above, age is a huge (although far from only) factor in what constitutes a heavy, and especially a too heavy gun.

No matter the handiness of a 95, scores of airgunners have learned they are MUCH harder to shoot accurately than the heavier underlever HW's.

My HW95L .22 cal was clearly too light for its own good, being an unruly, recoily, and very hold-fussy gun that I never felt at home with (while also useless for open sights).

I'm perfectly at ease with 4+ kilo springers, which I once thought were way too heavy. But I'm also in my mid-40's and in good physical shape. Anyone similar should not really listen to the weight-averse folks on this forum too much, at least not before spending actual field time with a heavier gun.

Basically the only HW I now consider worthy would be an old-stock HW77K.

[Mark 611]

Duke, I agree 100% as noted when I was your age these rifles were no problem for me to use afield, I love the 97plate form, at 60yrs old it's just nothing but a bench gun for me at my age or for a very short hunting outing, especially for off hand shooting! I handle heavy steel all day long at my job as a machinist and now a supervisor, so take advantage of you youth while you have it! times will change!

[Deerstalker]

My HW95L specs.

Rifle/scope weigh:
7.5 lbs = 120 oz   Weihrauch HW95L .22 rifle
4.4 oz = Hawke Tactical 30 mm medium 2 piece rings
21.9 oz = Hawke 4-16 x 44 mm SF, IR, compact scope
Total = 146.3 oz which is 9 lbs 2.3 oz, 4.15 KG
LOP = 14.25” trigger to center butt.  WIN M70 30-06 = 13.875", CVA Accura V2 50 BP = 14.5"  Piston seal = 26 mm, 1.02”, stroke = 85 mm, 3.35”.
Moderator weighs 4.32 oz, 122.6 g, 1892 gr.
The Hawke tactical medium rings put the center line of the scope 1.5” above the .22 caliber bore.
Barrel length = 15.75” from end of moderator to end of breech block.
Rifle twist rate is 16:1.
Moderator is 6” long.  Female threads start 2.25” in from beveled end of Moderator.

[Bayman]

As Mark noted above, age is a huge (although far from only) factor in what constitutes a heavy, and especially a too heavy gun.

No matter the handiness of a 95, scores of airgunners have learned they are MUCH harder to shoot accurately than the heavier underlever HW's.

My HW95L .22 cal was clearly too light for its own good, being an unruly, recoily, and very hold-fussy gun that I never felt at home with (while also useless for open sights).

I'm perfectly at ease with 4+ kilo springers, which I once thought were way too heavy. But I'm also in my mid-40's and in good physical shape. Anyone similar should not really listen to the weight-averse folks on this forum too much, at least not before spending actual field time with a heavier gun.

Basically the only HW I now consider worthy would be an old-stock HW77K.

My experience is different than yours. I have two 177 Hw30s, a 177 Hw50, 177 Hw95 and a 177 Hw97. I've used them all from a bench, offhand and have carried them afield. The gun I constantly do best offhand is the lightest. My peep sighted Hw30. The Hw50 actually feels best to shoot offhand. It's nicer balance for some reason it just shoulders and points beautifully. Still the lighter 30 has best results with me. Maybe I'm a wimp and out of shape but the heavier guns are harder for me stabilize offhand. I've never bought into the heavier guns stabilize better. And yes I know target rifles are heavy. I did shoot three positions competition in high school. Nowadays in my late 50s without all the competition garb I find I'm more accurate with lighter rifles offhand. Ymmv

The formula for work is weight moved over a distance. There's no denying that carrying a heavier rifle requires extra work. Extra work adds to fatigue. Fatigue will shorten your trip and make it less enjoyable. Maybe you're in great shape and have gobs of energy to spare so carrying an extra 4 lbs of rifle means nothing to you. Most of us regular people appreciate lighter equipment because it doesn’t wear us down as much.

All of my guns are good shooters for their given power level. My 97 isn't that much easier to shoot accurately from a bench. There are days my 97 does better that my 177 Hw95 at 50 yds. There are days the 95 does better at 50 yds. Both have shot half inch (MOA) at 50 yds. Most of the time they both shoot closer to one inch ( 2 MOA) at fifty yards. My little Hw30s will match my 97 at 30 yards. More important than the gun is which one has the best pellets for it at the moment. Overall all my Weihrauchs shoot very accurately. Maybe your standards for accuracy are much higher than mine. Maybe your 97 is much better than mine. Wait do you even own a 97 to compare to your 95? Maybe your 95 was defective?

In any event Duke, I'm sorry that you're unhappy with the Weihrauch lineup and they don't suit your purposes. I think your personal views are valid to you and your abilities. I just don't believe they're good advice to people just climbing aboard. Most people will find a lighter gun is easier to carry around and with practice more than accurate enough.

[jkingrph]

To each his/her own.

 I have owned two 97K's and two HW35's.  I am quite happy with my three each 50S' and 30S' along with my R 7 and  R9.  My airgun needs are satisfied.

Did I mention my 853 Daisy's and air pistols?

Ah, yes.  Daisy's.  I have gotten into Daisy pistols, having recently acquired several of the Daisy 747 and 777 models and rebuilt them.  Fantastic pistols  easy to cock and good shooters.  The rear sight on the 777 is outstanding, all steel with a screw adjustable notch width. I also got an Air Venturi AV 46m, pure target pistol.  Trigger on it is better than anything else I have other than a FWB300, and is also very easy to cock. Prior to these I have been shooting a HW 75, also a single stroke pneumatic, but that thing is a beast to  cycle,  for ten meter pistol I simply do not need the power and would rather have ease of cocking so I can concentrate on my shooting more.