Weihrauch HW44 Pistol Review

[Steelontarget]

I finally pulled the trigger and got an HW44.  PA are a bunch of enablers.  I took advantage of the BRAWL13 sale they had a while back.  I topped off the .22 caliber pistol with a Vortex Strikefire red/green dot sight. 

There are plenty of other options for relfex sights that are smaller and lighter but I wanted something with a green dot.  Hopefully, this will be used to eradicate some rats if I can find a place to hunt them.  I like the green dot to contrast with the red light source.

The SureFire weapon light will be the source of illumination.  So I coated the lens with a red marking pen, which is perfect for casting a red light.  Well, it's sort of a dark pink colored light but will suffice.

The targets in the first photo were all shot in groups of thirty at 25 yards.  The winds were variable at about 2-3 mph with an occasional gust to about 5 mph.

From the reviews and videos that I watched about this pistol they all said the same thing.  In .22 caliber the velocity was consistent for the first 17-18 shots then dropped drastically.

I wasn't too wild about that low shot count but everything else about the pistol beckoned me.

I'll try to sum up the findings from my chronograph readings as concisely as possible. 

To begin with all the very first shots with a full charge of 200 bar were on the low side of 575-579 FPS with the H&N Baracuda Match pellet.  The average measured weight for that pellet is 21.4 grains.  I chose that pellet because I have a gazillion of them.  Besides, some reviewers had great results with that pellet as did I.

Like I said, the first shots on every string with a full charge were low but remember that I'm shooting a heavy pellet.

This is the part that gets interesting and differs greatly from the other reviewers.  The velocity for every subsequent shot gradually increased a few FPS till it peaked at about 610-615 FPS till shot 28.

Then at shots 29-30 the velocity dropped off drastically to about the 580ish range.  For a 30 shot string my averages were:

Average MV:  597 FPS
High:            615 FPS
Low:             577 FPS
E/S:               38  FPS
S/D:              9.6 FPS

The muzzle energy is 16.9 FPE and at the 25 yard zero it is 14.1 FPE.  If I stretch the distance to 50 yards the pellet hits the target with 11.8 FPE.  I don't think that I'll be shooting much past 30 yards with a red dot at anything furry with a tail.

I wanted to see what the pistol would do with shots 30-40.  As predicted the velocity dropped off rapidly.  The result was appreciably visible with the groups opening up and POI dropping at 25 yards.

However, that isn't really bad at close range. In the third photograph you will see two targets both shot at 10 yards.  Whether or not a rat will want to engage in CQB with a air-powered-pistolero is debatable. Nevertheless, the huge reduction in velocity didn't affect the minute of rat accuracy a bit.

The first 20 shots were put in the top target and the last 20 in the bottom one. So at CQB distances with a rat, I don't need to worry about running out of air.

At fifty feet the results were consistent.  The left target contains the first 20 shots while the right one has the last 20 shots.  The elevation for the POI changed because I changed my point of aim.  At less than 17 yards (50 feet) the pellet strikes .3 inches high for a 25 yard zero.

Rather than aiming at the center of the head, I put the edge of the 4 MOA dot to line up with the bottom of the rat's throat.

The last photo is of mice sized targets with 5 shots each.

So if my shots are kept at within 25 yards, I don't think I'll have to worry about running out of air for an evening of hunting rodents.

Also attached is the printout from JBM ballistics for this pistol / pellet combination.

I would give this pistol six stars if I could.

[ranchibi]

Mike, congratulations on your HW and very nice review on a stellar PCP pistol! There are not too many PCP pistols with the build, accuracy and reliability like this one. Enjoy shooting it!

[Steelontarget]

Mike, congratulations on your HW and very nice review on a stellar PCP pistol! There are not too many PCP pistols with the build, accuracy and reliability like this one. Enjoy shooting it!

Thanks. I keep trying to think of ways to improve on it but can’t.  It’s too good to put down.

[null]

Nice pistol.

I have shot one before.

I just wish there were more semi-auto PCP pistols.

[north country gal]

Very impressive work. I have been tempted to get the HW44 in 177 for long range pistol shooting since there's a lot of long range hand gunning in my shooting background. Do wish the shot count was a bit higher, but that accuracy is amazing.

Have you tried pumping it by hand? If so, how hard is to pump?

[Steelontarget]

Very impressive work. I have been tempted to get the HW44 in 177 for long range pistol shooting since there's a lot of long range hand gunning in my shooting background. Do wish the shot count was a bit higher, but that accuracy is amazing.

Have you tried pumping it by hand? If so, how hard is to pump?

Yes, I have pumped it by hand and with a compressor.

Zero to 200 bar took 79 strokes with a Hill pump.

20 shots would take the pressure from 200 to 120 bar. It takes about 39 stokes to re-pressurize from 120 to 200 bar..

[csitas]

If a person pays attenssion to the pressure while shooting, 40 strokes with a hand pump is a piece of cake. Even for this old man. Great weapon you have.  Thanks

[Gone Fishing]

Great little gun. I've had the ability to handle on a couple times. Great purchase.

[north country gal]

Very impressive work. I have been tempted to get the HW44 in 177 for long range pistol shooting since there's a lot of long range hand gunning in my shooting background. Do wish the shot count was a bit higher, but that accuracy is amazing.

Have you tried pumping it by hand? If so, how hard is to pump?

Yes, I have pumped it by hand and with a compressor.

Zero to 200 bar took 79 strokes with a Hill pump.

20 shots would take the pressure from 200 to 120 bar. It takes about 39 stokes to re-pressurize from 120 to 200 bar..

Thank-you. Very useful info for me. I have a pump and a compressor, but it's always nice to be able to use the pump as an option. That's doable for old granny me. Not much different than my CZ 200 PCPs when using the pump.

[Steelontarget]

Very impressive work. I have been tempted to get the HW44 in 177 for long range pistol shooting since there's a lot of long range hand gunning in my shooting background. Do wish the shot count was a bit higher, but that accuracy is amazing.

Have you tried pumping it by hand? If so, how hard is to pump?

Yes, I have pumped it by hand and with a compressor.

Zero to 200 bar took 79 strokes with a Hill pump.

20 shots would take the pressure from 200 to 120 bar. It takes about 39 stokes to re-pressurize from 120 to 200 bar..

Thank-you. Very useful info for me. I have a pump and a compressor, but it's always nice to be able to use the pump as an option. That's doable for old granny me. Not much different than my CZ 200 PCPs when using the pump.

If you get one, you will not regret it.  You will giggle like a little kid with every squeeze of the trigger.

I'm fighting the urge to buy one in .177 caliber now and losing will power fast.

[Cslinger]

Appreciate the info.  The shot count bugged me but it seems like it is only that low for long range shooting. The vast amount of my pistol shooting is 10-15 yards, 20 max.  Seems like you can get a useable 40 shots at those distances based on what you are seeing and that is workable.

[Steelontarget]

This pistol obliterated the soup cans at 50 yards today.

[ranchibi]

This pistol obliterated the soup cans at 50 yards today.

That’ll put a SMILE on anyone’s face…great shooting!