hw90 opinions

[TKAI]

Hello again everybody. I'm looking for input..................yes again. I'm hoping that if I keep up all these questions that someday I may actually have something to ADD to this awesome forum but for now, I feel like a babe in diapers just learning to walk. Anyway, thoughts on the hw90 in .22 or .25 cal? Goal would to use it as a hunting rifle. I hear its a fairly heavy rascal but I'm not going to be on 3-4 hour walks with it. I live on about 5 acres and so Ill be able to stay close to home for the hunt. I have an opportunity to swap out my hw97k for a hw90 and a rws 350...with a bit o cash on my end but not much. I just don't know enough yet about the pros and cons and a creature of habit and change comes hard but it seems like a pretty decent deal on my end. Anyway, just don't know much about the hw90.....except is gas ram. Help if you can................thanks again for all your input and patience.

[Nathan]

My vote is for the .22 cal. I've had a .22 Beeman RX-1 since '98 and I've never had one issue. I don't know how the .25 cal performs, but I would prefer the flatter trajectory of a .22, even if it meant giving up a little thump on the target. The .22 Hw90 will have plenty of power for hunting. The gun is somewhat heavy, but I feel it balances very well, so it doesn't "feel" so heavy. If you get the HW90, use a solid mount and good airgun rated scope. I have a 1 pc mount with a scope stop and it's rock solid. With the HW90, you'll get a Theoben gas ram and they have a 30+ year track record of performance and reliability. I say go for it. Don't be suprised if the HW90 becomes your go to favorite and (as much as I like Dianas) the M350 gathers dust, maybe even ending up for sale or trade.

Nathan

[Ahab]

I have one in .25 caliber. My favorite hunting gun for rabbbits and larger game. Nocks them down flat. Very accurate but eats scopes. The last one was a Leapers which was demolished after three shots. I currently use the OEM open sights. I have warantee  replacement Sun and Leapers scopes but am hesitant to mount them unless I get a shock mount which is pricey and I'm doing so well with the open sights. My gun loves H&N 24.38 gr Field Target domes. If you get the HW90, you will increase your biceps.

[mtsheron70]

Hmmmm, this gun is on my list too.  But I am tending toward the .25 caliber to have a .25 caliber springer!  I would do as Ahab states and use open sights, if a Leapers won't last on it then your doomed I believe as far as scopes go.

[Nikoman]

I vote for the HW90/RX series in .20 caliber. I've had mine since 1997 with the same scope and mounts. Just remember, you have to invest in good optics since this thing will be eating scopes left and right from what I've read. I didn't know this rifle was a scope-eater all this time because it never ate mine!

Get the .25 caliber only if you plan on doing some close range devastation, nothing hits harder than that kind of lead (20-30yds). If you're shooting at 30-40 yards go for the .22 cal and for anything longer go for the .20 cal.
The best long range caliber is the .20 for flattest trajectory while retaining excellent energy, this is the most underrated caliber of all. The only downside is pellet choices and availability, I order thousands of rounds at a time to avoid this problem.

If I had to choose between the two you mentioned, I would go for the 22.
I have a solution....buy all 3 calibers.

[bluefalconholland]

I also own a HW90 over 15 years. I have two barrels; .20 and .22 After thousands of shots and experimenting with the gas pressure, pellets etc. it still works properly. Just the bolts in the stock eats the wood. Never shoot with a scope. I can’t say the gun is very accurate because the shock is enormously. Wish it had a shock absorber.

[tjk]

Go for either one. I had a .22 RX2 that was a hammer. Probably the strongest piston gun I ever owned. Which ever you get, shoot it with open sights for a while so you can learn the gun,...then later on you can decide what type of scope system you want go with. If you're looking for a break-barreled hunting rifle,......then you've found the best their is IMO. Power , Accuracy, and a self containned work out apparatus

[Nikoman]

Aah, the good 'ol RX (HW90) series...
just had mine out to stretch out its legs. Like Tom said, shoot one with open sights for a while until you get used to it. That's some good advice, in fact I did the same exact thing. I bought mine with iron sights and shot it that way for about a month before I scoped it.
Again, choose your mounts and scope carefully. Go with one-piece SportsMatch mounts, these mounts do NOT move once they're installed. They clamp so well that they can crush a scope tube like an aluminum can - don't ask me how I know this
SportsMatch also makes the Dampa mount.