Another R9/HW95 caliber choice thread

[north country gal]

Been a long time since I've hunted, but I did a LOT of squirrel hunting, back in the day. I do remember lung shots always taking longer to kill a squirrel than a head shot, regardless if you are using an air rifle or 22 LR. I avoided lung shots if a squirrel was anywhere near a hole or den where it could escape. Ground shots, no problem

As for the 20 not being effective? Ha! I used a Sheridan for much of my squirrel and rabbit hunting and only used 6 pumps. That would have been about a piddly 9 fpe with those old Sheridan cylindrical pellets. Those old Sheridan cylindrical gave great penetration, though. That old Sheridan was very effective, but the key to making it work was that I kept shots at 25 yards or less. My point is that you always have to include that distance factor in any of these discussions about which gun and which caliber is best.

[bReTt]

177 but if you refuse then 22.  Scrub 20

Absolutely agree.

You know Limb...,
I almost always agree with You and Brett, but in this case (being a Target "Only" Shooter) I couldn't disagree more.  The .20 in a R1 or R9 are wonderful . Not quite in the realm of  "Never Clean Your Barrel" or "Don't work on Your Gun as it will diminish its Value", but in the "Parking Lot of the Playing Field ."

Hey Kirk!  I have NEVER shot .20 cal.  I’ll admit that. 

Sometimes people just don’t like something without ever trying it and this is the case for me and .20.  I have read many of the proponents for the .20 and it makes sense and just thinking about it seems like the .20 would be a “right in the middle“ combination for the best in both .177 and .22 caliber.  I just never warmed up to the .20.  Maybe if I had tried one I would change my mind??? 🤔🤷‍♂️

There are things about the 177 I prefer over 22 and vise versa.  Both calibers are very useful.  In the 95 action I personally prefer 177 but 22 is nothing to turn ones nose up at.  The supposed “loopy” trajectory of the 22 is a non issue.  It’s like anyone that has multiple guns in different calibers and power levels, it boils down to KNOWING what the shooter and that that gun are capable of and what needs to be accomplished. 

[limbshaker]

177 but if you refuse then 22.  Scrub 20

Absolutely agree.

You know Limb...,
I almost always agree with You and Brett, but in this case (being a Target "Only" Shooter) I couldn't disagree more.  The .20 in a R1 or R9 are wonderful . Not quite in the realm of  "Never Clean Your Barrel" or "Don't work on Your Gun as it will diminish its Value", but in the "Parking Lot of the Playing Field ."

Lol Im picking up what you're putting down. We are on the same page.

I just never found the .20 to be enough of an advantage in any way for my shooting, to justify the cost and poor availability of pellets. I'm sure it's a fine caliber, I just never found it worth the trouble for me and my applications.

I hunt with my stuff most, and prefer .177 which most people see as backwards in itself LOL! My springers aren't typically powerhouses, and I have grown to like the trajectory of them in .177. And they kill things cleanly so that's really all I need.

Its all good, the important thing is finding what works for what you wanna do with it.

[nced]

177 but if you refuse then 22.  Scrub 20

Absolutely agree.

You know Limb...,
I almost always agree with You and Brett, but in this case (being a Target "Only" Shooter) I couldn't disagree more.  The .20 in a R1 or R9 are wonderful . Not quite in the realm of  "Never Clean Your Barrel" or "Don't work on Your Gun as it will diminish its Value", but in the "Parking Lot of the Playing Field ."

Lol Im picking up what you're putting down. We are on the same page.

I just never found the .20 to be enough of an advantage in any way for my shooting, to justify the cost and poor availability of pellets. I'm sure it's a fine caliber, I just never found it worth the trouble for me and my applications.

I hunt with my stuff most, and prefer .177 which most people see as backwards in itself LOL! My springers aren't typically powerhouses, and I have grown to like the trajectory of them in .177. And they kill things cleanly so that's really all I need.

Its all good, the important thing is finding what works for what you wanna do with it.

"And they kill things cleanly so that's really all I need."
Yep, same here. Matter of fact I saw no benefit with .20 or .22 cal pellets from my HW95 power springers but there were a few disadvantages............

What usually happened to the squirrels..........

[fwbsport]

The .20 was always on my mind the moment I knew it existed after the Sheridan in Beeman rifles with him telling the story about the .20 compared to .177 and .22.

It's a legitimate endeavor to buy one--but to say it is better than .177 or .22 or .25 is where I can hesitate and look solely at the HW95 .177 and HW98 .177 feeling loyalty to .177.

It works despite its tiny size and it is accurate and as far as using it on game I can't see why it should be replaced with a .20, much less the .22 or .25.

When range increases to 40 and 50 yards we have to pick what works for us at that range, and once we get out of "backyards" with limits and enter an open field I'd feel hard pressed to choose the .20 in a D54.  But a .20 in the R9 or HW95 series to me is more of a target shooter--especially in the HW98.

Long range is beyond 40 yards to me.  I've taken shots at over 90 yards with a .20 Eliminator but that taught me a lesson about the real range of air rifles.  Springer or Gas Ram or PCP once you start shooting beyond 40 yards you really have to have your dung together!

[SpiralGroove]

Well Guys,
As you can see, I mostly shoot everything in .177 caliber and leave the .22 cal. for PCP's.
Love my HW95 in .177 caliber, but in the last couple of years, I have also grown very fond of the .20 caliber JSB 13.73 pellet.  The lack of pellet choices in .20 is also kind of a myth... kinda like only having 6 choices in .177 (CPL, AA Falcon, JSB 7.87, JSB 8.44, JSB 10.34 and H&N 8.64).

However, if I had to use only one pellet size for my Springers ... it would be .177 .

[fwbsport]

There's no way I'd give up Hector's .20 D54 or my HW98 .20 or my HW80 .20.

There's something there in .20 which can join the .177 and .22 into one.

Realize the .40 handgun was the idea of .45 and 9mm at once for the Bren Ten (I could have bought one without a magazine at Beeman's San Rafael Shop in the 1980s but passed up the idea since the magazine was missing or not yet manufactured) and today that handgun caliber is very popular between the 9mm and .45.

With the .20 Hector said the caliber is ideal for the D54.  It is.

Not the .177 or the .22 but the .20 is the best for the D54.

[DEAN]

have had all calibers and prefer the .22, just personal preference. Ive still got 8 tins of .20 JSB left from when i sold my .20 R-9

[fwbsport]

I've had all calibers and think the .177 and .20 is enough.

[bReTt]

So I’m reading through the thread again and we all have similar experiences with similar guns and calibers and what I read into all of this is that ANY of the calibers WILL get the job done, it boils down to personal preference.  The only way to know what works and what a person likes is to actually try it!  One thing we ALL seem to agree on is the significance of the HW95 model being a VERY versatile tool.  It handles whatever we throw at it with accuracy and ease of use.  It’s a good thing to be a part of this “club” of HW95/R9 fans.  Be well brothers and sisters! 🤜🏼🤛🏻👊🏼

[Yogi]

I've had all calibers and think the .177 and .20 is enough.

You used to be sing'n the praises of the .25 pellets in your springers.....

-Y

[bReTt]

I've had all calibers and think the .177 and .20 is enough.

You used to be sing'n the praises of the .25 pellets in your springers.....

-Y

I know for myself that pretty much ANY one of the airguns that I have are “THE one” when I pick it up and shoot it.  I enjoy shooting these things so much that it’s hard to really say one is better than the other.  177 cal is enough for me but there are so many others that are so much fun too!  My mood has a lot to do with which one is my flavor of the day also. 😊🍦

[airrob]

Andy actually had a good chart on the .20, even though his conclusion was suspect simply because of the limited choices.  However, he could not fault the JSB 13.73gr.  They give almost the same punch as .22 but a flatter trajectory.
That part starts here:

This gives a good argument against a .22 in a lower powered rifle.  ie. It's a good choice if you were considering .22, not .177

Obviously if you can go faster, you can make up for the .22 loopy trajectory with brute force.

[bReTt]

Makes me wanna go shoot my detuned R9 .22 cal shooting 14.6 H&N at 640 fps.....  it’s just too cold outside though.  36 degrees and damps which makes it feel colder than it is. 

[north country gal]

I've had all calibers and think the .177 and .20 is enough.

You used to be sing'n the praises of the .25 pellets in your springers.....

-Y

I know for myself that pretty much ANY one of the airguns that I have are “THE one” when I pick it up and shoot it.  I enjoy shooting these things so much that it’s hard to really say one is better than the other.  177 cal is enough for me but there are so many others that are so much fun too!  My mood has a lot to do with which one is my flavor of the day also. 😊🍦

Me, too. I always prefer the one I'm shooting.

[triggerfest]

JSB Exact typically has the best BC over all other pellets. Especially Weihrauch barrels like the JSB pellets. So I would not hestitate at ALL to buy a Hw95 in .20 cal. Heck, I even think it could be a perfect match.

And if you would regret your choice. Weihrauch has a wide variety to choose from when it comes to spare parts, so buy a barrel only in the caliber you prefer, swap the barrels and deal done.

[fwbsport]

I've had all calibers and think the .177 and .20 is enough.

You used to be sing'n the praises of the .25 pellets in your springers.....

-Y

Ha!  Yes Yogi!

[RKM]

I have two HW30’s one urban pro with a 2x7x32 HAWKE AIRMAX. the other an HW30N with a Williams peep sight, both in .177 25 yards and under they are the most fun. I also have an early 1990’s R9 .177 that has a vortex pg2 12 ft lb kit and out to 40 yards it’s shoots like a dream as does my hw95 Luxus .22 cal at 40 yards and an HW35E also in .22 I had a 1990’s R9 in .20 cal and back then there just didn’t seem to be many pellet choices so I gave it to my son and got the .177. The R9 is a great rifle and my son loves the .20 as for me. I’ll stick with either .177 or .22

[tjk]

Robert, my 95 is in .20 and I couldn’t be anymore pleased with its performance. .20/5.0mm is just another caliber. Keep in mind one thing, with a quality gun like the Weihrauchs, you don’t need multiple different pellets to find out what your gun prefers. The .20 pellet selection has been narrowed down,….(almost too much by the manufacturers to a  fault), yet a good quality domed pellet in a quality rifle like an HW will only come down to a few pellets in all reality. If it were a Chinese .20 rifle, then that might be a different story. The 95 in .20 does provide a good power to caliber balance in my opinion. Good luck with whatever  caliber you choose.

[Paul Stakun]

From what I've read elsewhere on this forum, the HW50 is just as hard to cock as the HW95.  I prefer the .177 caliber for it's flatter trajectory.  If you need to shoot heavier pellets, .177 pellets are available up to 16 gr, but methinks the 10.3 gr pellets are best for this rifle.  Actually, I'm in the process of changing my HW95 down to 12 fpe.  It will be much smoother to shoot and easier to cock.