Does anyone still want German springers?

[Arch_E]

That's some kind of junk pile--for certain. Wow, at all the good looking springers with those awesome stocks!!!!

Drool....

[mobilemail]

Nope...totally passe...nobody wants them old obsolete things any more. Just toss 'em in a pile for the junk man. 

Not one LH Tyrolean in the stack that I can see.  All Firewood.....

[MDriskill]

That's some kind of junk pile--for certain. Wow, at all the good looking springers with those awesome stocks!!!!

Drool....

That photo was made by my good friend, the late professor Gaines Blackwell. The quintessential southern gentleman, and the finest finder of old airguns I've ever met, truly one of a kind. Those were all his guns, very carefully staged with padding in between them, etc. - all Walther LG 55's and LGV's, except for one Weihrauch HW 55 (finger-groove fore end on the bottom of the stack). He laughingly called the shot "Tyros falling from the trees!"

He sold his collection many years ago for health reasons, and all of these have happy new owners today. The HW 55 T is in my care for now.

[SpiralGroove]

I've been out of airguns for quite a few years. I was active 10-20 years ago, but not much since.  Seems like the scene has changed quite a bit.

Does anyone still buy German Weihrauch/Beeman spring guns?

Don't worry Blades,
Quality never goes out of style .

Even though PCP's have become all the rage in the last 10 years, you likely won't be able to get parts for most of the current ones in 20 years.

Weihrauch especially, should have parts available for the next 50 years. 

[avator]

What parts do you think we'll need for PCP guns? I know there will be a need for springs and seals for springers but basically all we'll need for PCP guns are o rings.

[SpiralGroove]

What parts do you think we'll need for PCP guns? I know there will be a need for springs and seals for springers but basically all we'll need for PCP guns are o rings.

That's a good question:
It's hard to know the answer, but unless you have a very simply designed PCP, such as a RAW - there's so many little parts that can break (using HPA) rendering the gun almost useless.
Many of the Hatsan PCP's I've worked on had so many little parts - that I know you won't be able to get in a few years.

Just think of the parts you occasionally loose or break unexpectedly or ..... just by having a messy workspace .

[uglymike]

Very much a rapidly dwindling niche market. Why give $400 for some springer that buzzes so bad it shakes the wax loose out of your ears when you can get much more accurate xxx PCP for less?

[Yogi]

What parts do you think we'll need for PCP guns? I know there will be a need for springs and seals for springers but basically all we'll need for PCP guns are o rings.

Well lets see, a compressor, an airtank, lots of fittings hoses and the like, extra magazines, 1000+ slugs.  Rinse, repeat...

-Y

[mobilemail]

Very much a rapidly dwindling niche market. Why give $400 for some springer that buzzes so bad it shakes the wax loose out of your ears when you can get much more accurate xxx PCP for less?

Wow Mike! Did you break down and buy a PCP?  Or do you still have the cleanest ears in Nebraska? 

As far as PCP parts go, it depends on original quality and what people break getting into the gun.  For example, I don't think there would be a B50 in service anywhere if someone didn't make some poppets.  And think of all the stripped screws, replaced valves etc. that were purchased after folks unsuccessfully tried to tune or increase power on their gun. 

[avator]

Good point Mark, poppets do seem to be a weak link.

[braskaboy]

That's some kind of junk pile--for certain. Wow, at all the good looking springers with those awesome stocks!!!!

Drool....

That photo was made by my good friend, the late professor Gaines Blackwell. The quintessential southern gentleman, and the finest finder of old airguns I've ever met, truly one of a kind. Those were all his guns, very carefully staged with padding in between them, etc. - all Walther LG 55's and LGV's, except for one Weihrauch HW 55 (finger-groove fore end on the bottom of the stack). He laughingly called the shot "Tyros falling from the trees!"

He sold his collection many years ago for health reasons, and all of these have happy new owners today. The HW 55 T is in my care for now.

Care to regale me with some history of the HW55?  What makes them special?

I am interested as I believe there's one floating in the bey right now.

[MDriskill]

The HW 55 was a target rifle based on the HW 50 sporter action, with the signature additions of an adjustable manual breech lock and match-grade stock and sights. Along with the HW 35, those three were Weihrauch's whole catalog in the 1950's. The 55 was made with many evolutionary changes, different stock styles, etc., until the late 90's.

It's a well-made, sturdy, and refined gun, which competed (mainly with the Walther LG series) at high-level matches up until recoilless rifles came along in the 60's. Here's some old threads to get you started - it's well-known classic, so you can google up many more.

https://www.airgunnation.com/threads/hw55-is-the-one.655641/

https://www.airgunnation.com/threads/weihrauch-hw-55-stock-types.1286748/

https://www.airgunnation.com/threads/hw-55-stock-variations.1032360/

https://www.pyramydair.com/blog/2011/10/the-hw-55cm-target-rifle-part-4/

[Bladeswitcher]

That photo was made by my good friend, the late professor Gaines Blackwell. The quintessential southern gentleman, and the finest finder of old airguns I've ever met, truly one of a kind. Those were all his guns, very carefully staged with padding in between them, etc. - all Walther LG 55's and LGV's, except for one Weihrauch HW 55 (finger-groove fore end on the bottom of the stack). He laughingly called the shot "Tyros falling from the trees!"

Years ago, I acquired a Walther LG55 that had been rode hard and put up wet. Try as I might, I could not get the thing to shoot much over 300-350 fps, despite tearing it down several times, and trying to size a couple of new seals. Gaines graciously volunteered to take a look at it. I shipped it off to him and he tore it down again. I believe he said he made a new seal for it and got it shooting in the low to mid 400s. Although still anemic, it was a good shooter after he got done with it. I don't believe he charged me a dime.

Gentleman is the right word. He was a pleasure.

[triggerfest]

For the current prices of a German springer (even the classifieds), you can buy a decent entry PCP, including all the support equipment needed to shoot it. But there is nothing wrong with living in the past, so I am sure your German springers will find their way.

[braskaboy]

For the current prices of a German springer (even the classifieds), you can buy a decent entry PCP, including all the support equipment needed to shoot it. But there is nothing wrong with living in the past, so I am sure your German springers will find their way.

What's better about PCPs?

I am a newer airgunner but also a little bit of Luddite.  I like the simplicity behind pump/cocking pneumatics.

I would lust over a Seneca Aspen if they could make it reliable

[SpiralGroove]

For the current prices of a German springer (even the classifieds), you can buy a decent entry PCP, including all the support equipment needed to shoot it. But there is nothing wrong with living in the past, so I am sure your German springers will find their way.

I very much enjoy both, but if U shoot a lot or own anything over 2 years - be prepared to be able to tear down the gun and fix springs/piston seals/o-rings or anything that breaks from day to day use.

Most PCP's will start leaking after a couple years; if they leak out completely most o-rings will need to be replaced.  Once spring piston guns are tuned properly, they will shoot for many years without anything ... unless U shoot so much the spring/piston seal goes.

PCP's simply allow U to shoot farther .... without much practice.  If that's what you're looking for get a PCP, but remember the above .

[mobilemail]

There are quality guns and, um, lesser quality guns in both PCP and springer.  A quality gun of either variety is a joy to handle and shoot.  While a PCP can absolutely produce more power than a springer, and still do it accurately without blowing up scopes, a springer still has a place in today's market.  For example, if a shooter loves backyard plinking, friendly competition with his buddies or even squirrel hunting, these things can all be accomplished with a sub-20fpe springer.  All you need is gun and ammo!   

....come to think of it, I could sell all my PCPs and related gear and be just fine... Hypothetically...

I might be willing to trade one of my rifles for one of those HW55s with a left-hand Tyrolean stock! 

[braskaboy]

There are quality guns and, um, lesser quality guns in both PCP and springer.  A quality gun of either variety is a joy to handle and shoot.  While a PCP can absolutely produce more power than a springer, and still do it accurately without blowing up scopes, a springer still has a place in today's market.  For example, if a shooter loves backyard plinking, friendly competition with his buddies or even squirrel hunting, these things can all be accomplished with a sub-20fpe springer.  All you need is gun and ammo!   

....come to think of it, I could sell all my PCPs and related gear and be just fine... Hypothetically...

I might be willing to trade one of my rifles for one of those HW55s with a left-hand Tyrolean stock! 

Sub 20!

I'm over here like, 8fpe is plenty for backyard lol

I guess it depends on the size of the yard.

[jlharden]

I want German springers! I also want UK springers! My backyard has seen a pair of FWB 300S rifles at 6.5# up to a real Birmingham Webley & Scott Tomahawk pushing ever so close to 22# this week. Also shot a R7, HW30, HW35, HW50, HW97K, HW98. That means the AA TX200HC got neglected. I will fix that tomorrow. Have a couple PCP 10m guns to shoot indoors in the winter. They are accurate, yet lack personality. I guess I like to try to tame the beast. I do enjoy a challenge.

[Struckat]

Very much a rapidly dwindling niche market. Why give $400 for some springer that buzzes so bad it shakes the wax loose out of your ears when you can get much more accurate xxx PCP for less?

My two springers, HW30 & do not buzz twang or rattle my teeth. So I had to rinse the ear wax out myself.

I love my pcp guns. But like today, when done shooting them, I end with a springer. It’s back to reality. So much more satisfying knowing that I made the shot.
Jl you hit the mark, personality. My two springers couldn’t be more different from each other.
Pcp, seem the same to me as far as what it takes to shoot them.

My HWs will be with me forever. Still tempted to buy another, a silver one, that’s it. No wait, I still need a compressor. And a barrel for one of my Prods. Oh, and another scope as the scope to gun ratio dropped below 2-1….