HW 35 questions

[buellm2]

I just picked up a 1968 HW35.   I've only test fired it a few times.   Should I be using the barrel release lever when closing it or just when opening?  Power is very low and I'll probably reseal it or install a spring kit, depending on how it looks when I take it apart.  Whats the best spring/seal kit that I should use?   Much more interested in smoothness and accuracy than power.

[Frank in Fairfield]

No.
Just use the lever to open the action.
I tried the 12fpe VORTEK kit.
Didn’t like it.
Ordered factory spring from AOA.
Perfect.
Most people use a scope.
I do not ..

[buellm2]

When I first shot it, I was hoping I could use the open sights.   No chance, my eyes are way too bad.    I'll probably have to scope it and get a mount that can compensate for the barrel droop.   

[Toxylon]

To ward off receiver face wear, the barrel latch on a HW35 should be used both when opening and closing the barrel. However, with my 1981 HW35, if I employ the latch when closing, the barrel doesn't always close all the way, and needs a confirmation push, which is a drag. So I snap the barrel shut without touching the latch, and take the receiver wear that comes with it.

A 1968 HW35 will have a leather seal, and most likely lubing rendered completely useless by time. Just taking the piston out, cleaning it and re-oiling the seal, and cleaning and relubing the compression chamber can increase velocity by a bunch. The leather-sealed HW35's shoot the sweetest, and can be very consistent, just not as powerful.

I'm going to use a Titan #4 mainspring for my 35 next. They are the best aftermarket springs by far.

Peep sights can make old eyes work like new, they are lightweight and esthetically fit an old girl like a 35 much better than a scope.

[buellm2]

Who makes a peep sight that is tall enough to compensate for barrel droop?

[Frank in Fairfield]

Barrel Droop?
Never seen it.
But the Williams sight will be fine regardless.
I have shot my HW35 about 10,000 times (I am at least the 2nd owner) and I have no wear marks on my receiver from the latch.
I have an HW35 Pamphlet (I am not supposed to tell you) if you would like it.
Send your email to me via PM..

[Frank in Fairfield]

Email sent

[Motorhead]

At 1968 vintage, it quite likely is running a Leather seal.
The tuning and part you should stay with are of that vintages of rifle specs .. as in another leather seal if needed and only a modest spring ( No Vortek )

[Frank in Fairfield]

I sent him the book..🤔

[north country gal]

I've always snapped the barrel shut on my 35E and have seen no issues as far as wear on the latch. Probably a good idea to keep that latch bolt greased, though.

Back when I was shooting the 35E indoors in the basement, I used the Williams peep on it and did fine. That long barrel with a peep on the receiver makes for a very long sight radius.

Outdoors is a different story, though. I really need a scope on my air guns to be able to shoot whenever I want, thanks to being surrounded by forests that cast shadows on the range and that's on sunny days. Up here in the north woods, we get long stretches of dark, cloudy days that make it tough to use iron sights.

[Rick67]

I've always snapped the barrel shut on my 35E and have seen no issues as far as wear on the latch. Probably a good idea to keep that latch bolt greased, though.

Back when I was shooting the 35E indoors in the basement, I used the Williams peep on it and did fine. That long barrel with a peep on the receiver makes for a very long sight radius.

Outdoors is a different story, though. I really need a scope on my air guns to be able to shoot whenever I want, thanks to being surrounded by forests that cast shadows on the range and that's on sunny days. Up here in the north woods, we get long stretches of dark, cloudy days that make it tough to use iron sights.

I remember seeing some of your springers sporting a Leupold EFR 3-9x33, Miss.

They’re now discontinued said Optics Zone, one of my favorite optics sellers.

[north country gal]

What? Oh, no. What is going on with Leupold? I better go hunting for another one ... or two.

[Rick67]

Optics Planet seems to have some in stock still.

TOZ11 or TOZ 13 would have given you an 11% to 13% discount at Optics Zone with no tax and free shipping but they don’t have them anymore.

Jon, the owner, announced it about a week ago.

[nced]

I bend the barrel when adjusting the pellet point of impact with the point of aim at my zero distance using a home made "barrel tweaker" of construction lumber, eyebolt & flange nut...........

[Rick67]

Now I see Don Ed’s instruments of torture once again 🥴

[buellm2]

I was fiddling around with the HW35 this morning.   There is a tiny amount of side to side play at the receiver/barrel junction.  While looking for up/down play, I found that it will break open without using the barrel latch if you put enough pressure on it.   Is this normal?   Also,  I put a few drops of silicone oil down the air hole but then it occurred to me that it might have previously been lubed with non-silicone oil.   Now I'm thinking I should just take the whole thing apart for more careful study. 

[north country gal]

That doesn't sound right at all, Ernie. My 35E has no wiggle at all and it certainly won't open without working the latch.

[splitbeing]

Take pics if ya do!

[MDriskill]

What Toxylon and Frank-I-F said: the 35 begs for an aperture sight in my opinion! With that sewer-pipe-size receiver tube it's not exactly a lightweight to begin with, and an old cuss like me would need a cart to carry it around with a big scope on it.

For a '68-vintage gun, about the only match diopter that will work is HW's own for the 13mm scope groove spacing of the day. But the Williams FP-AG sights will work fine too, and are trimmer and lighter.

Here's my 1966 35E with an even older Weihrauch diopter match sight...

[buellm2]

I'm pretty sure my 35 has  an incorrect front sight scabbed on.   It's way too tall for the stock rear sight.   I'll have to find a lower front or a really tall rear peep sight or scope it.  Scope might be the easy way out.  There's a chance I have a mount and scope someplace in my collection of gun stuff.