In the market for my 1st air rifle. I have so many questions...

[Reshi]

I plan on shooting squirrels in the backyard,  plus stalk hunting squirrels, plus enjoy some target practice.  I dont really feel like I'd have to go past 35-40 yards, but I suppose the option to wouldn't hurt.

I was thinking of getting the .177 hw50s since it's lighter and since some of my shooting will be offhand.  Is the hw50s significantly easier to shoot and less hold sensitive than the hw95?

 My other fear with the hw50 is the potential galling issues that I've read about.  AoA won't do the preventantive fix, so I'm considering shipping it to John in PA. Is the fix permanent?

Also is Weihrauch effected by the tariffs if I were to buy Krale? I read a horror story from another guy, but I think his gun was made in China.

Part of me wonders if I should just go for the hw95, but I'm concerned it's going to have a bigger learning curve with shooting well.  And I'm concerned it will be harder to shoot offhand. 

[splitbeing]

For the purposes you describe, the HW50 in .177 is the way to go.  It has the power you need and is the ideal size and weight,  the 95 is more power than you need and more weight than you'd want to carry or shoot offhand when compared to the HW50.

[north country gal]

I agree with Rion. The 95 is a fairly big step up in size and weight over the 50. For sure, the 95 is a great classic, but old granny me can only shoot it off the bench now. I still love offhand shooting and still use the HW50 a lot. Never have had any of that galling issue on either one of my two 50s, by the way.

As for the 95 being harder to shoot and more hold sensitive? Not really. Not in my experience. That extra weight of the 95 more than makes up for its additional recoil over the 50. I found it to be a very well behaved shooter. I just sold mine because of the size and weight for my offhand shooting. I wouldn't disqualify the 95 on the basis of being any harder to shoot. 

[MDriskill]

I'll start by saying I've never owned the current HW 50 (nee HW 99) or HW 95!

But I do have many old HW 30's, 35's, original 50's, and 55's with the two-piece cocking linkage. And I concur the "galling issue" is not one to lose sleep over. The thing you gain is a stout front stock bolt in a proper steel seat; sitting under a fore end without a long slot. IMHO this detail contributes much to the solid handling and fine accuracy of these air rifles.

[Mark 611]

HMMM, just my opinion, 35/40yds HW50 will work, in any caliber, on nutters, or rabbits, birds {Etc.}  they will work out further that you think! got to learn to shoot what you have. I find the HW50 in.177cal to be hold sensitive if you power it up, which is why I no longer have 1 in this caliber. the.20 or .22cal work better for me, the HW95 IMO again in .22cal 35 to 40yds is nothing for what you want to do with the ranges you want to shoot. My 95 in .22cal with the factory parts tuned up shoots 630fps with Crosman pointed hunting pellets, and it is as accurate as you can shoot it! and is more gun that you need at 40yds on just about any small game with no hold over! don't believe all that you read on the GTA or the NET. go out and find out for yourself!

[Reshi]

Thanks for the advice!  I called a couple of tuners about the preventative galling fix on the HW50s.  Maybe I'm making a bigger deal about it than is necessary, as it's true that not all HW50s will have this problem.  However, there are many reports that the plastic piece that Weihrauch added did not fix the issue - it just relocated the galling to the inside of the cylinder along the edges of the cocking slot.  There is a youtube tutorial on how to fix the issue, but I'm not handy.  I'm also brand new to this and I don't really know what I'm doing. 

Both of the tuners I talked to are well known on the forums.  Both of them advised me to go with the HW95 over the HW50s.  No disrespect to anyone who loves their HW50s; it's many people's favorite gun, and it's less pricey than the HW95.  The positive feedback that people have reported about the HW50s being a great shooting gun are what led me to want one in the first place.  I just personally don't feel comfortable owning the gun without the fix, and for the cost of paying someone to fix it, I might as well have the HW95.

[Yogi]

Thanks for the advice!  I called a couple of tuners about the preventative galling fix on the HW50s.  Maybe I'm making a bigger deal about it than is necessary, as it's true that not all HW50s will have this problem.  However, there are many reports that the plastic piece that Weihrauch added did not fix the issue - it just relocated the galling to the inside of the cylinder along the edges of the cocking slot.  There is a youtube tutorial on how to fix the issue, but I'm not handy.  I'm also brand new to this and I don't really know what I'm doing. 

Both of the tuners I talked to are well known on the forums.  Both of them advised me to go with the HW95 over the HW50s.  No disrespect to anyone who loves their HW50s; it's many people's favorite gun, and it's less pricey than the HW95.  The positive feedback that people have reported about the HW50s being a great shooting gun are what led me to want one in the first place.  I just personally don't feel comfortable owning the gun without the fix, and for the cost of paying someone to fix it, I might as well have the HW95.

Great!  So buy the HW 95.  Do not over think it.    In 2 years I bet you have them both!  And yes, you are making a bigger deal than necessary about the HW 50.

-Yogi

[Reshi]

Right on.  I placed an order from AoA for a .22 HW95.  The walnut HW95N was only $15 more than the HW95L. Time to play the wood lottery I guess.

Thanks for everyone's input.  My next gun will likely either be a .177 HW50S or HW35. 

[splitbeing]

[chuckling]. x2 to what Yogi wrote.

Glad you got over the hump of making a decision.  That can be the hardest part! In your case, there really was no wrong answer if enjoying a good quality rifle is the top criterion.

[north country gal]

x3 You did well.