Some HW35e Thoughts (So As Not To Hijack Another Thread)

[Cslinger]

So there is another thread discussing, the spectacular, HW95 and some discussion had cropped up about the HW35e.  I wanted to provide a little more insight from my, albeit unskilled, layman's, point of view.  Just keep in mind all I am is a gun guy, a trigger puller if you will.  If it has a bang switch and safely expels a projectile by any means I have both probably shot it and most certainly enjoyed it beltfed to air nailer.    I am NOT a hunter and I have tried to live my life by having no desire to ever bring harm to anything that had a mom.  I will however, EAT most things that had a mom so I am certainly not anti hunting.    With that out of the way, the HW35e.

What the HW35e is NOT.
-It's not a replacement for an HW95 or similar class of air rifle. 
-It's not a high tech rifle even in spring gun terms.
-It's not in the class of something like an Air Arms Springer in terms of fit and finish
-It's would not be my first choice in an air rifle or only choice if you will.

What the HW35e IS.
-It's a classic air rifle in design and philosophy
-It's lines and look are polarizing but if you appreciate them its a beautiful rifle with a lot of class. YMMV of course.
-It's a mid powered gun with more then enough power for most general air rifle needs or wants.
-It can be an exceptionally accurate rifle
-It has a wonderfully quick shot cycle.  More .22 rimfire in feel then air rifle (in .177).  Not quite as quick or PB like as the FWB Sport but similar.
-It is, IMO, exceptionally smooth and easy to cock.  Not HW30 easy, of course, but a very nice rifle to cock.
-It's a rifle for folks who appreciate the nuances, history and classic lines/mechanics of an old school rifle.  It's not a Glock its a Hi-Power so to speak.
-It is a fun rifle due to the lock up release.  It's different but once you get used to it, its fun and in theory the lockup provide a very repeatable barrel lockup.  It is also VERY quiet to cock and close, if you hold the lever back on close.
-They will have little felt recoil but do impart a lot of recoil.  They tend to loosen up stock screws etc. faster then most of my other guns.  So that is something to keep an eye on.

So what are my personal experiences with the HW35e?
I have owned both a .22 and a .177 HW35e for quite some time.  If I am completely honest the gun shines in .177 and if I was on the fence about caliber I would go .177. 

My .22 HW35e  has an amazingly quiet and sublime shot cycle and sound signature.  It's a laid back gun to shoot.  My personal gun in .22 has pretty pedestrian wood on it and is accurate enough but I think shines more as an iron sighted plinker so to speak vs. a scoped "tack driver".  My gun has had both irons and scopes on it.  One of the hindrances to shooting most .22 air rifles of this power level or below is the fact that the round is comparatively large and tends to tear a bit on the target without a solid backing, even with heavier paper.  So this can ultimately effect what you perceive as group size, if that matters to you.  Here are some representative shots of my .22 HW35e.

A handsome rifle to my eye, but mine has fairly pedestrian wood.  Excellent bluing though.


These are some representative groups.  Pretty solid showing but not MIND BLOWING per say. I say that only because I have been able to shoot some MIND BLOWING, at least to my mind, groups with my .177.




My .177 HW35e, comparatively speaking, is a much higher strung air rifle.  It has a much more pronounced CRACK to it on firing and is not as quiet and sublime as the .22, however it is possibly my most accurate or at least at the head of the class of my most accurate guns.

My particular .177 HW35e has a very handsome piece of lumber on it, IMO.  Bluing is also good.


Here are some representative groups of my .177, one of which I HAVE NO IDEA how I managed to get and I will likely NEVER see anything like it ever again.

This one is an amazing group for me but fairly repeatable


Now this one is my best group I have ever shot with ANYTHING in my life.  My point of aim was roughly center of the silhouette so my POI is off but, IIRC, I was demoing pellets these were not zeroed.  I wasn't spotting my shots, had no camera setup etc.  I just shot 20 shot center mass and when I went down to grab my target I was gob smacked.  I will NEVER be able to do anything like this again.  Just to have 20 pellets be close enough in quality, size, mass etc. to do this will likely never happen again for me, but by God I did it once and I am proud of it, luck, kismet, involvement of one or more deity's or virgin sacrifice on the other side of the globe.....dunno don't care. 
 
Finally a rare 50 yard "group" from many years ago.  No idea how many shots.  I was just sort of plinking and playing around at 50 yards, but the gun turned some very nice results for my meager skills. 


So there you have it a little insight into my HW35e's.  They certainly have their own personality among spring guns and frankly have fairly different personality's between each other.  All in all, I love them.  They scratch my gun guy itch with both their performance and their classic and somewhat more unique nature.  They are not, IMO, a good first air rifle nor are they a good utilitarian air rifle.  They are, however, a wonderful rifle that captures a classic time in manufacturing that is quickly going away while also being a decent all around rifle for most any air gun needs.  If you like the looks of them and have a penchant for some of the more intangible qualities of a rifle then give one a shot, I think you will like it.  It falls into my realm of useful kinetic art. 

As always take care and shoot safe.
Please note the author of this is just some unskilled, idjit on the interwebz who has been blessed with the ability to shoot a great many guns of all types over the years so take anything I say with a grain of salt.  I am happy to answer any specific questions but see "Author is just some unskilled, idjit......"  above. 
Chris

[Bayman]

Nice write up. I like it!

[Bill_in_TR]

Very nice writeup. A lot of useful information there. I had given the HW35E some consideration at the time that I eventually ordered my Hector built D280. It seems they are in similar performance classes. Since the D280 has since been discontinued if I ever get the urge to add to my airgun inventory I will have to reconsider it. Right now though I am content with what I have.

[MDriskill]

IMHO...one of the best articles ever posted here! Thank you!

I guess it doesn't hurt that I pretty much feel exactly the same way about the HW 35, lol.

[Rick67]

CS sir, you are making me look at AoA’s silver HW35e again 

I don’t have a springer in my arsenal right now.

Had a green laminate HW77 before but sold it.

[north country gal]

Enjoyed your post, very much. Thank-you.

Our 35E is in 177 and is one of the springers that sees a fair amount of use. No scope on ours, though it is pleasingly accurate with the Williams peep. Also has a nice piece of walnut.

[happymecanic]

Excellent topic and reading, thanks for posting! Your rifles are beautiful, I so love walnut .

I have an HW35E in .177 and it's my most accurate, and favorite among all my airguns. I favor target shooting, and traditionally this rifle was designed for that, and mine is excellent at it. I prefer to shoot mine with the original open sights, I've always liked the inserts/notches possible combinations. Mind you, my rifle is a Canadian under-500-fps airgun, but seems to be in the perfect ''groove'' for 10 and 25 meters shooting. If it doesn't stack pellet on pellet, it's my fault . It's not pellet picky, however it truly loves the JSB RS Exact 7.33 gr. domed pellets, very closely followed by H&N FTT 8.64 and Crosman Premier Match 7.9 wadcutters.

Cheers!

[Oldgringo]

Very informative write up, Chris.

I agree that the HW35E is an attractive rifle and I fell for it... twice.  Unfortunately, I never could could get anywhere near your results so, the 35Es' and I parted company.

Again, a great article!

[NautclRltr]

Great write-up! I appreciate and use mine as well. I have little need for more power in a springer. Got to love the "thunk"!

[Yogi]

Great article.

There is a lot to be said for short stroked big compression tube guns.

-Y

[ER00z]

Excellent write up!

Thanks for making this more in depth post on such a unique gun. The breech lock/release is a neat feature as well as the fuller underside of the stock (the very short cut-out for the cocking link seems nice).

[Cslinger]

Thanks all and glad folks enjoyed. I can write about most any of my guns that I enjoy. 

[Cslinger]

CS sir, you are making me look at AoA’s silver HW35e again 

I don’t have a springer in my arsenal right now.

Had a green laminate HW77 before but sold it.

Heck I may have talked myself into a silver one.

[Denby95]

Much appreciated post!

Question though. You say it is not a high tech rifle. Besides the barrel lock up, are its internals any different from other weihrauch rifle? Do the internals date back to earlier designs in some form?

[ER00z]

Much appreciated post!

Question though. You say it is not a high tech rifle. Besides the barrel lock up, are its internals any different from other weihrauch rifle? Do the internals date back to earlier designs in some form?

My apologies to Cslinger, as this is his thread, but I have been eyeing the HW35 very closely and have found some information that may answer this question...

The HW35 has been in production since 1951. The stock was and still is walnut, while other models tend to be beech. The HW35 has a 30mm piston/piston seal which was originally leather, but now is synthetic, the same seal shared with the HW80/R1 and HW90. The stroke is short, limiting output to "medium" power levels (12ftlbs or less?). In comparison, the HW95/R9, HW98 and (newer) HW97 all have a 26mm piston with a longer stroke. The shorter stroke of the HW35 gives a faster "cycle time". The current variants are most likely made with better components, possibly with minor upgrades (like spring guides and cocking shoes?), but are basically the same rifle you could have bought 70 years ago. Also, the cocking arm is articulated in such a manor that allows for a very short cut out on the bottem of the (fore) stock, unlike many other break barrels which have a long cut out in the stock.

There may be things I've missed. I've only read about the HW35 and watched a few videos on Y.T., haven't had the pleasure to shoot one yet. I'm sure Cslinger or other owners may be able to fill in any other information I've missed.

The one thing I know, if I keep looking I'm going to give in to temptation and put one on order 

[Denby95]

Absolutely you answered my question. Appreciate the info !

[ER00z]

It seems they have updated the stock, instead of the "finger groove" running down the side, the newer stock has checkering?

[Cslinger]

What ER00z said.  I am no airgun historian with a huge depth of knowledge but it largely comes down to being manufactured continuously since the 50s, the wider shallower piston/air chamber which changes the shot cycle, and the barrel latch. The stock is also very old school traditional.  Those things put it into a bit of a unique place in the current market. 

Again NONE of those things make it fundamentally better then a comparable modern rifle. (HW95/50 etc. etc. ) but they make the ownership experience more interesting if you appreciate the nuances. The fact that the rifles still perform really well is an ancillary benefit.

Again I am so far from being an expert I stayed at a Ramada Inn instead of a Holiday Inn Express so I am certainly not the person with a depth of knowledge but I know a little about a little and I know what I like.

Take care, shoot safe,
Chris

[Cslinger]

It seems they have updated the stock, instead of the "finger groove" running down the side, the newer stock has checkering?

I saw that and I am on the fence. I love the old finger groove and think it better suits the rifles personality but the checkered stock certainly isn’t unattractive. The checkering on my most recent HW77K is excellent. It’s deep, provides great purchase and looks pretty good on even on the relatively boring stock.

[north country gal]

What others have said about the internals, but for me the whole 35E shooting experience, from the unique cocking to the faster shot cycle, the balance of the rifle, the walnut stock and more just make shooting the 35E a different gun to shoot than any other HW springer ... and I do have a fondness for springers that are a bit different.