HW90 vs Hammers Air magnum scope

[marx68us]

So i just got a HW90 and here's my saga. I was waiting on a HW95 from AoA for over a month. Never shipped. Called and they said maybe next month. I've been wanting another air gun for years since I didn't have one so I ordered a slightly used HW90 from them. I had returned a Gamo to Pyramid Air the month before. Too much plastic.

I tried iron sights for a bit, but my eyesight isn't good enough for more than 10yrds and I wasn't that accurate. So I ordered a Hammers Air Magnum 3x9-40 scope with one piece mount. Reviews said it held up against a RWS 460 so for $55 I'll give it a try. I sighted it in at 10yrds and got it close. Still not anything close to a ragged hole. I tried 20 yrds and was all over the place. The trigger screw backed out and became very loose. I used locktite to reset it. Of course now  I need to figure out the trigger adjustments. I think I got that. Went back to 10 yrds and tried using a tighter hold on the gun. Now I thought I was getting some where. Groups were 1/2". I went to adjust the magnification and it wouldn't budge. Locked. Dead scope. Got it on Amazon so, requested a replacement.

Now I'm not sure if I can't shoot it or the scope was junk. I did locktite the screws on the scope as well.  But the Hammers scope didn't hold up against the HW90. So far I can't shoot any where close to what some say about the HW's. 

Feeling I should I have just bought a cheap $99 walmart gun.

[LAalex]

Give the rifle a chance.  Try as many different brands and weights of pellets that you can afford to buy.  HW's are top-notch rifles and I'll bet with the right pellet and the right hold it will shoot well.  FWIW, I have Hawke 3 - 9 x 40 Sport HD scopes on my Diana 48 & 350 and they have both held up to thousands of shots with no problems. 

Scotty

[jcwit]

Very possible the rifle has yet to be broken in.  As far as the Hammer's scope, I'm very happy with mine on a Ruger Air Hawk.

[robertr]

Chances are the scope is the problem since the mag ring dosen't work. I am on my third scope, first two were defective and replaced under warranty, different brand though.

[stevemag]

I've killed two hammers scopes. One lasted a while and the other  was killed with in a few shots on xs28. I have a hawk 2-7x32 on my 95 and it seems to be holding up. Knock on wood.

[marx68us]

I've got a Hawke scope from a crossbow that I could put on it.  It's fixed 4x 32mm. Worked fine at 30yrds. I'm better with my crossbow than the HW90. I ordered a valve to adjust the HW90 pressure. Maybe that will fine tune it. I'll have a little over $600 in it after a scope, pump and valve adapter. Too late to do anything else. So much for wanting to stay under $300.
I've mostly been using HN 18grn hollow points. I have some 21gr coming in as well as a chrony to see what has the best FPE for varmits.
With the pump and valve I should be able to tune it down for a plinker also.

[BreakBarrelBen]

Try using a domed pellet, the H&N Barucada and JSB exacts are pretty good pellets.

[LAalex]

Try using a domed pellet, the H&N Barucada and JSB exacts are pretty good pellets.

+1 on that.  Also, the H&N FTT are available in several head sizes.  I have not had a rifle yet that would not shoot at least one of them accurately.  IIRC the range is 5.52-5.55.

Scotty

[BreakBarrelBen]

They do offer them with different head sizes but they are mid-weight pellets at 14~grains IIRC and they are also shorter, not that any of that is a bad thing but I thing in a magnum springer the heavier pellets seem to do better at longer ranges.  I do use them alot too though, I like that you can get 500 in a tin!

[Geoff]

I have 2 hammers   3-9x32 and 3-9x40 .. while not on a magnum they are holding up well with clear glass.

I would get a replacement to see unless you really want a big name on the scope.

[redtrucker610]

I have several Hammers scopes on gas ram rifles. They all have held up well.

[marx68us]

My replacement scope came in. I didn't mount it yet. But my new chony F1 came in also.  Best pellet so far is the HN Hunter Extreme 19gr for FPE of 22.5. 727-735 FPS consistent. This pellet is somewhat rounded but has a cross in the flat nose. Sounds like a good hunting pellet. The HN Baracuda came in at 21 PFE at around 672 FPS. Not too shabby either. My worst was the HN Crow Magnum 18gr, which was the one that I was using most of the time. 690-700 FPS FPE 19.8. Crossman Premiers 14.3 are at 830FPS 22FPE, but I never had any accuracy with those yet.

I have found that a tighter grip helps for grouping. The trigger is also very important since if it changes so does your accuracy. LockTite is a must!

I'm going to clean the barrel and lube the pellets to see if I get even better results with the hunter extreme's.