Another R9/HW95 caliber choice thread

[airrob]

Hi everyone.  Newbie questions to follow.  This will be my first air gun.

After some research, I believe I've settled on the Beeman R9 in .20, with a scope. Or perhaps the Elite Combo package if you feel the scope is decent.  I expect some people may talk me out of it, so let me list my reasons & fire away!  I'm open to other suggestions as well.

I'm a long time 'normal' gun shooter and due to insane prices these days, I'm looking into buying an air gun for some backyard fun.  This may very well extend into informal tournaments depending on my continued interest.

I like the idea of a self-contained gun without any tanks or co2 canisters.  I love the idea of a spring-piston.
I admire quality.
I want it powerful enough for most things, without being too back breaking.
I like "powder" guns that hit a sweet spot.  For bolt-actions, that would be the .270, 6.5x55, 6.5 Creedmoor and the like.  I have no need for Magnum level.
I'm 52. My eyesight and dexterity aren't what they used to be.  I do not want a .177.  That leaves .20 or .22.
I want it flat shooting enough for target practice, yet still strong enough for mild critter control.

I've read that the Beeman R9 (or any springer for that matter) has a constant spring action regardless of what you are pushing through it, so based on my limited physics knowledge, there is undoubtably a sweet spot.  I also hear it was made for .177 so a .20 is already a stretch, and .22 even more.  It doesn't like a light .177 nor a heavy .22.  This post really resonated with me:
https://www.gatewaytoairguns.org/GTA/index.php?topic=16316.msg139743#msg139743

So for that reason, it appears the Goldilocks gun is an R9/HW95 in .20.  The only downside is, as I'm sure everyone is yelling at their screen right now, is that .20 is a dying breed with limited ammo options.  I'm aware of that, which is why I posted this wanting you to shoot holes in my logic!  In my case though, as long as a single good pellet option exists, I don't care too much about that limitation.

What say you?

What other guns could I look at?

-Robert

[airgunbuff]

Only you can decide what is right for you !!  But my humble opinion is that 20 cal was a pure marketing ploy !! as me how I know ??  I have tried many and now have none with the exception of some old dans which I love.  For just target work 177 is great but for everything else 22 is the bomb.
I have been shooting all my life and no one gun does it all well !!
kindly
ron

[Yogi]

Get the HW 95-perfect choice BTW-in .22.
pellets are available everywhere.
I have no comment on the scope, but good glass is nice!

What ranges will you be shooting at?

Learning your scope reticle with hold over points is part of the charm of springers, IMHO.

-Y

[airrob]

What are the recommended .22 pellets for this gun?

It could be up to 37 yards.

[Oldgringo]

My John  in PA tuned Beeman R9 is .177 caliber and is spot on and perhaps too much for my backyard shooting at 30 yards.  BTW, I'm 78 and it's much easier to carry and shoot my HW3OS' and my Beeman R7. 

You might want to consider an HW50S IN .177 caliber?

[Denby95]

I would think a PCP be a better choice for carrying over your powder burning experience? Springers are a bit of a different deal with the artillery hold and back/forth movement. So keeping sharp and on target might not be as transferable with a springer.

Downside of .20 cal is the more limited ammo options. .177 or .22 will have the most options and .177 is definitely the cheapest way to shoot.

[SpiralGroove]

Hey Robert,
Bob (Rsterne) is always a good read ... you're not going to find better advice anywhere regarding airguns.

I have an HW95 in .177 and an R9 in .20 caliber.  I found my HW95 is very accurate with CPL out to 80 yards, shooting at roughly 13+ FPE.
I just got my R9 this Summer and get about 16 FPE with JSB 13.72 pellets.  I'm not sure how they compare at 80 yards yet but will find out next Summer after Covid-19.  In my 10 yard crawl space, both guns equally accurate.  Bob's presentation would suggest that .20 should be fine in the R9.

About 3 years ago I switched out my .22 cal. barrel on my HW80 to .20 caliber.  It was an amazing transformation for the gun while shooting the JSB 13.72 pellet.  It's easily became my most accurate Spring gun at 50 yards or better and got me more interested in .20 caliber.  It's increased power and comparable trajectory to .177 caliber are hard to deny.

So ... I'm not sure what to say, except they're both great, but I'd likely recommend the .177 for the R9 and .20 for the HW80 (R1).  If you choose the .20 caliber, don't be deterred by the limited manufacturers making the pellet as there are actually many great choices (I'd start with the JSB 13.72).

Good Luck

[airrob]

I appreciate all the advice.

It's funny....I see the HW50S and HW30S both offered in .22 as well.  Both are slower than the HW95.  Yet in other threads on this forum, some people suggest if you want a .22 that even the HW95/R9 isn't sufficient enough and you should bump up to the HW80/R1!  The caveats and recommendations are all over the map.

[airgunbuff]

What are the recommended .22 pellets for this gun?

It could be up to 37 yards.

Its hard to say which pellets will shoot good in your rifle as each rifle is different.  What may shoot great in my rifle may not shoot great in yours as barrels have very different harmonics and what not even if in the same model and cal.  Its a advanture if you will getting to know your personal rifle
kindly
ron

[airgunbuff]

I appreciate all the advice.

It's funny....I see the HW50S and HW30S both offered in .22 as well.  Both are slower than the HW95.  Yet in other threads on this forum, some people suggest if you want a .22 that even the HW95/R9 isn't sufficient enough and you should bump up to the HW80/R1!  The caveats and recommendations are all over the map.

LOL yes this is very true !!  When I was much younger I was always looking the most power...  That was a huge mistake as if you need lots of power shoot a rimfire.  Nothing wrong with power but with a springer there is a thing called shot cycle which can become harsh as you move up the power scale.
After almost 55 years of shooting airguns I can say that a HW 30 in 22 cal is a dream to shoot !  At longer ranges it can be a challenge but that is a fun kind of thing as one learns to hold over at various ranges.
 I have a R-1 in 22 cal with a lazaglide tune which is a tack driver at 50-60 yards but I shoot it seldom as its just to much in my backyard, while the HW 30 is perfect at backyard ranges !  Its about perspective and ones learning curve.  Sometimes less really is more.
Kindly
ron

[airgunbuff]

One more thing !!  springers are NOT Pcps !!  Just saying
kindly
ron

[airrob]

Getting even more indecision now.  I guess the HW95/R9 can easily handle the range I'm shooting at in .22, but now I'm wondering if that's too much horsepower.  Maybe I should consider the HW50S in .22 instead?  That way my daughter could shoot it too.  The .177 is still off the list, period.  Too small for mitts.  I'm 6'4".

Here is what I've found.  Decisions....

HW30S    425fps   5.5lbs   18lb cocking
HW50S    574fps   6.8lbs   24lb cocking
HW95     740fps   7.3lbs   40lb cocking

[SpiralGroove]

Yeah,
- Inside 30 yards the HW30 is hard to beat, but after that forget it...
- The problem with the HW80 is manageability ... it's not something you will want to shoot as often as the HW30, HW35 of HW50.

The HW95/R9 is very nice balance between power/manageability .... not too little, but not a brute either.

I'm almost 62 and understand your annoyance at picking up .177 pellets.  However, because I only Target Shoot, accuracy is all I care about -> I prefer to view picking up smaller pellets as good physical therapy . 

Also, that stat. for cocking is too high - my Son could easily cock a HW95 when he was 11?
It's pretty ridiculous to worry about cocking as a meaningful criteria this decision...

[airgunbuff]

Getting even more indecision now.  I guess the HW95/R9 can easily handle the range I'm shooting at in .22, but now I'm wondering if that's too much horsepower.  Maybe I should consider the HW50S in .22 instead?  That way my daughter could shoot it too.  The .177 is still off the list, period.  Too small for mitts.  I'm 6'4".

Here is what I've found.  Decisions....

HW30S    425fps   5.5lbs   18lb cocking
HW50S    574fps   6.8lbs   24lb cocking
HW95     740fps   7.3lbs   40lb cocking

I feel ya... as I am 6'2 with meaty hands.  I still have 177 cal target guns but I just enjoy smacking tin cans with a 22 slug... old fart thing I guess !!
kindly
ron

[nced]

Hi everyone.  Newbie questions to follow.  This will be my first air gun.

After some research, I believe I've settled on the Beeman R9 in .20, with a scope. Or perhaps the Elite Combo package if you feel the scope is decent.  I expect some people may talk me out of it, so let me list my reasons & fire away!  I'm open to other suggestions as well.

I'm a long time 'normal' gun shooter and due to insane prices these days, I'm looking into buying an air gun for some backyard fun.  This may very well extend into informal tournaments depending on my continued interest.

I like the idea of a self-contained gun without any tanks or co2 canisters.  I love the idea of a spring-piston.
I admire quality.
I want it powerful enough for most things, without being too back breaking.
I like "powder" guns that hit a sweet spot.  For bolt-actions, that would be the .270, 6.5x55, 6.5 Creedmoor and the like.  I have no need for Magnum level.
I'm 52. My eyesight and dexterity aren't what they used to be.  I do not want a .177.  That leaves .20 or .22.
I want it flat shooting enough for target practice, yet still strong enough for mild critter control.

I've read that the Beeman R9 (or any springer for that matter) has a constant spring action regardless of what you are pushing through it, so based on my limited physics knowledge, there is undoubtably a sweet spot.  I also hear it was made for .177 so a .20 is already a stretch, and .22 even more.  It doesn't like a light .177 nor a heavy .22.  This post really resonated with me:
https://www.gatewaytoairguns.org/GTA/index.php?topic=16316.msg139743#msg139743

So for that reason, it appears the Goldilocks gun is an R9/HW95 in .20.  The only downside is, as I'm sure everyone is yelling at their screen right now, is that .20 is a dying breed with limited ammo options.  I'm aware of that, which is why I posted this wanting you to shoot holes in my logic!  In my case though, as long as a single good pellet option exists, I don't care too much about that limitation.

What say you?

What other guns could I look at?

-Robert

"I love the idea of a spring-piston." and "I admire quality."
My .177 Beeman R9 and .177 HW95.........


"I want it powerful enough for most things, without being too back breaking. + I have no need for Magnum level."
My personal opinion is that you can't do better than a .177 HW95 with an accurate dome pellet at any distance you can reliably hit a quarter under field conditions for "brain shots"..........





"I do not want a .177.  That leaves .20 or .22."
LOL....I'm 73 years old and have a different opinion after owning & shooting .177, .20 @ .22 cal (chopped and choked Beeman R1 barrel) R9s and a HW95. I found the most useful caliber for my HW95 power level gun if shot at distances greater than my 30 yard zero distance to be the .177 cal. LOL....out to 30 yards it really didn't matter which caliber I shot IF it was accurate! The loopy trajectory of my .20 & .22 cal pellets was enough of a disappointment that I sold both the .20 and .22 barrels and reverted back to .177 never to look back.

"I want it flat shooting enough for target practice, yet still strong enough for mild critter control."
I found that to be only .177 cal for my HW95/Beeman R9! Here is a target I shot from 10 yards tp 50 yards with my .177 R9 when testing out the trajectory using my normal 30 yard zero............

Notice that with .177 cal I had a "near zero" of about 17 yards and a "far zero" at 30 yards. Also notice that even in .177 cal the pellet dropped about 1 1/2" low at 50 yards. LOL, with a .22 pellet and a 30 yard zero the high point of the trajectory would have more than the 1/4" rise of the .177 pellet and the .22 cal drop would have been considerably more than the .177 cal 1 1/2" drop!

"What other guns could I look at?"
LOL....I don't know because the HW95 is the perfect balance of power, accuracy, modular construction (don't have to disassemble the trigger to remove a HW95 trigger block) and availability of high quality aftermarket parts. Here is a pic showing the simplicity of the last HW95 I bought............

[airrob]

I wish the .20 was more universally admired.

Now I'm contemplating buying a HW30S or R7 just to see "how it is" and if it meets my needs.  If not, I could give it to my daughter.  If I start with the R9, there is no option of that.  I see both are available in .20  (yes, I'm being stubborn).

Is there a significant difference between the HW30S or R7?  Should I just get the R7 to keep it in the 'murica tradition?   

Edit: I see this puppy is available.  I would buy it for the nicer stock unless the R7 was inherently better.
h**ps://www.airgunsofarizona.com/spring-piston/weihrauch-hw30s-deluxe-air-rifle/

[Mark 611]

I'm gonna throw another rifle in the game!!! the HW50 in .22cal or .20cal, nothing wrong with the suggestions or what u were wanting to begin with, I have 5 .20cal HW rifles, that said I think the .20cal is the best of both worlds, yes pellets are more expensive and their are fewer choices, but with an HW .20cal rifle u only need 1 of 2 pellets the H&N FTT's 11.42gn or the JSB 13,73gn these pellets are very accurate from these rifles! my2ct

[airrob]

Being the overanxious OCD person that I am, I just pre-ordered an R7 in .20 from PA...along with a few extras.  It'll ship in January.

If I find it isn't enough for my needs, I can upgrade.  I've been blessed that I can make these impulsive decisions now, compared to 20 year$ ago.  If I end up thinking the R7 is extremely wimpy, I may sell it.  We'll see.

[nced]

Being the overanxious OCD person that I am, I just pre-ordered an R7 in .20 from PA...along with a few extras.  It'll ship in January.

If I find it isn't enough for my needs, I can upgrade.  I've been blessed that I can make these impulsive decisions now, compared to 20 year$ ago.  If I end up thinking the R7 is extremely wimpy, I may sell it.  We'll see.

"If I end up thinking the R7 is extremely wimpy"
If you like the R7 platform but the .20 cal doesn't "trip your trigger" you can buy a .177 barrel for about $80 (estimated in stock date 12-28-20).

[airrob]

never going with a .177, but thanks.