Amazed by the R7

[Remo]

I've always shot a lot in my basement at very close ranges and generally shoot low to medium powered pistols/rifles.   I've even got my S410 dialed down to about 750 fps with JSB Exacts, shooting slower than my NPSS!  After 25 years of faithful use, my C1 came back from a tune by Gene nicely smoothed out and basement friendly, not nearly as harsh a shot cycle as with the original spring when first purchased.

I had read a lot about the mild mannered R7 and finally treated myself, picking one up from Straight Shooters.  The rifle arrived after Labor Day safely double boxed and I quickly unpacked it.

I mounted a 3-9x32 Golden Image scope from Leapers in the provided rings and am in the process of breaking in this new beauty.  So far, everything that I've read about the R7 has been true...it is quiet, accurate, easy to cock and a pleasure to handle.  It's shot cycle is so mild mannered that the scope cross-hairs remain on the aim point after the shot!  The darn thing shoots like a PCP!!  I couldn't be happier with the rifle.

Only one question remains--why did I wait so long to get one?

Eric

[Motorhead]

Indeed FINE little rifles .... Have 1 too 

[EMrider]

Yep, the R7 has such a strong following for good reason.
R

[Escondido1]

After many many different guns.....many tuned and perfected.....I realized that the HW30s/R7 fills most of the requirements for those with properties under one acre......QUIET, accurate, fun, easy, light, small, neighbor friendly, no hold sensitivity.....yada yada......here's two of mine.....



http://i1200.photobucket.com/albums/bb340/escondido12/resize_image_422958882.jpg

[ac12]

Good to hear your good experience with the R7.
I like mine.

Let me suggest another basement (short range) rifle, the Daisy 953.
BUT, you MUST tune the trigger, as the stock trigger is LOUSEY!!!
My 953 pushed past my R7 to be my favorite rifle.
With NO recoil, it is even easier to shoot accurately.
But the rifle has a 12 inch LoP, which would be too short if you are much taller than 5'7".  I'm 5'4" and it fits me just right.

[jdub]

I liked mine in .177 so much I got another in .20!

They are a lot of fun. 

[lillysdad621]

i had a .20 originally, then sold it to one of our members to cleanup after starlings at a friends property... thought i needed a .177. so i bought one... shot about high 500s... and had the checkered stock and no open sights... did not like it... so i begged my friend to sell me my .20 back... and bought an older .177 also, long barrel and open sights... (670 fps with jsb rs). perferct gun... then as a complete idiot i let myself be swyed that i did not need the .20 again... sold it... so i only got the .177 but i have a little envelope that gets 10 bucks a paycheck... Time to repurchase  my .20 back... again. that rifle is like crack cocaine... once you shoot one you cant be without.

[jdub]

i had a .20 originally, then sold it to one of our members to cleanup after starlings at a friends property... thought i needed a .177. so i bought one... shot about high 500s... and had the checkered stock and no open sights... did not like it... so i begged my friend to sell me my .20 back... and bought an older .177 also, long barrel and open sights... (670 fps with jsb rs). perferct gun... then as a complete idiot i let myself be swyed that i did not need the .20 again... sold it... so i only got the .177 but i have a little envelope that gets 10 bucks a paycheck... Time to repurchase  my .20 back... again. that rifle is like crack cocaine... once you shoot one you cant be without.

That's funny!   I've been shooting the .20 more than my .177 but that could just be because it's new.   Both are great shooters.   I have an extra brand new .20 in a plain HW stock that I was thinking about trading for an HW30S in .22 but now I'm not so sure.  The .177 and .20 do pretty much what I want.  Not sure I'd even shoot the .22. 

I noticed last night that the .20 isn't as pellet sensitive as my .177.   I tried 6 different types in it ranging from 9.8 gr up to 14.3 and all grouped very nicely.  The heavier pellets impacted slightly higher as you would expect but still grouped well.  Of course it may just be that I have at least 15 different .177 pellets I've tried in the HW30S vs just 6 types in the .20.   There's bound to be more variation with the greater variety. 

The only downside to to .20 I've found so far is the cost of pellets.  Significantly more than .177 or .22.   And the the cheapest .20 pellets seem to be the heaviest--13.7gr JSB Exacts and 14.3 Benjamin Cylindrical.   Both group well but are heavier than I want to shoot out of this low powered rifle. 

I added a Universal Muzzle Brake to my .177 and it really tightened up the groups on the lighter Meisterkugeln Pistols (7 gr) where before it showed a definite preference for 9-10gr pellets. 

I seriously don't know which I'd pick if I had to choose between the longer barrelled .177 with the ability to mount open sights or the shorter .20.  Hopefully I'll be able to hang onto both

(HW30S with R7 stock in .177, R7 in .20, R7 with HW stock in .20)

(edited 1/9/17 to remove broken links)

[Zed Sniper]

Can anyone attest to the difference in .20 and .177 for small pest work in the garden maybe 25 yards. The FPE is so close but in my exp when heavy lead comes into contact with fuzzy tails head, it's not good! I currently own a R7 in .177 and no fuzzy has walked away. I am really curious about the .20, hence owning a .20 CO2 Sheridan from my younger years, it would really put down the game

[Motorhead]

Can anyone attest to the difference in .20 and .177 for small pest work in the garden maybe 25 yards. The FPE is so close but in my exp when heavy lead comes into contact with fuzzy tails head, it's not good! I currently own a R7 in .177 and no fuzzy has walked away. I am really curious about the .20, hence owning a .20 CO2 Sheridan from my younger years, it would really put down the game

Only issue with .20 cal is the absents of much choice in pellet weights / styles .... For a mild mannered / modest power of the R7's  power plant would stay with .177 for pellet selection reasons alone !!

JMO ... 

[jdub]

Can anyone attest to the difference in .20 and .177 for small pest work in the garden maybe 25 yards. The FPE is so close but in my exp when heavy lead comes into contact with fuzzy tails head, it's not good! I currently own a R7 in .177 and no fuzzy has walked away. I am really curious about the .20, hence owning a .20 CO2 Sheridan from my younger years, it would really put down the game

Only issue with .20 cal is the absents of much choice in pellet weights / styles .... For a mild mannered / modest power of the R7's  power plant would stay with .177 for pellet selection reasons alone !!

JMO ...

In my view it only takes one good pellet :-)

My .20 R7 seems to really like JSB Exacts and Beeman Silver Bears.   I'm happy.   The downside to me is the added expense of .20 pellets.

[grumpy]

I gotta admitt that my .20 cal does not get out nearly enough !

[jdub]

I gotta admitt that my .20 cal does not get out nearly enough !

I drool every time you post that pic!  Gorgeous stock!