Your opinions of the HW80 .25?

[Laz]

Hey guys, I'm very interested in getting a HW80 and putting a .25 cal barrel on there. I know I've read there isn't much, if any, gain on fpe. But it just sounds cool to me! I would put a Vortek in it. To owners of this rifle with this caliber, what are your opinions, reviews about it? At 20 yards, I think it would be a showstopper to many pests no?

[LAalex]

Laz, I don't own one so I can't say first hand.  I've heard of these Vorteked in .22 and were making around 20 fpe.  With the .25's in the 25gr. class velocity would likely be pretty low.  At close ranges I'm sure it'd be a thumper though.  I say go for it if it's what you want to do.

Scotty

[Mark 611]

yes it would be a very low velocity rifle IMO you'll be lucky to see 650 to 700fps with 20gn pellets 

[Laz]

Thanks guys, I was looking at a HW90 with a .25 barrel too..

[tomykay12]

Just my opinion, but I don't think the R1 powerplant  produces enough energy to be really viable in .25; It excels in .20, and is ok in .22. .25 caliber and above is really territory for PCP rifles. I know there are .25 cal springers out there, but they have a reputation for being bulky, heavy, and difficult to shoot well. Don't put monster truck tires on your Ford Ranger, tk

[GarthThomas]

Maybe try a Umarex Octane I hear they are a beast and might handle .25, on the bright side you could watch full trajectory at least if your springer doesn't do well. 

[GunnerAl]

I have to say from all of the above replies, you are being pushed in the right direction...

The HW80 may be the right rifle but the .25 is the wrong, NO, not the best calibre to match the power output of the rifle. Don't get me wrong because first I don't own nor have I ever owned an HW80 and I do love the .25 calibre, but I do have a couple of rifles in that calibre, one putting out about 28+ ft-lbs and the other about 21 ft-lb,, both Webley Patriots, one English (28 ft-lb) and the other Turkish (21ft-lb). The English one is all brawn, whereas the Turkish one is detuned and although still a .25, it is much milder in manner, lovely to cock, load and fire with a lesser recoil by comarpison but you notice the difference, even with the 6 or 7 less/extra ft-lbs of power difference between them. It not only counts in the knock down power but in the audible difference when firing at distant target. When firing the more powerful English boy, you hear the boof when the thing fires then a little time later a solid almightly wwwhhhaaaccckkk when it hits a flat target (like timber), maybe 30 - 40 yds away. Firing the Turkish guy, it's very similar as it disharges but you have a definite longer travel time to the same target, still with a solid whack though. The English one gives about 730 - 740 fps with 24 - 25 gr pellets, while the Turk gives about 640 - 650 fps with the same pellets, through a chrony...

In my humble opinion, the .25 calibre is a "different" calibre to use alright. It can impress on one hand and make you scratch your head on the other. Above all else, you need the power to drive it if you wish to use it for normal hunting or shooting purposes or you'll find yourself compensating for pellet drop over your normal ranges... Comparing the .25 to a .22 is like comparing the .22 to the .177 and we all know the terrible wars that surround this highly opinionated subject, don't we.? Yet very little is argued about on a similar level over the .25 vs .22 calibre choice. Not many people argue about the merits or downside of owning a rifle in .25.. It just seems like a natural step to take for some,, not by power but more by mystique. It isn't the best or wisest choice of pellets in the world unless you are willing to put up with all of its characteristics. In my books, below 1000fps is solely .177 cabre territory. Approximately 900 - 1000fps is the beginning of the .22 territory and a minimum of 1250 fps rating is required to even think of .25 calibre. Then comes all the other not so desirable things to think of after you get your .25 rifle at these power levels, like the cocking effort, scope choice, mounts that wont move, recoil and special holding techniques to get any accuracy out of it. Of course you also have to put up with some of these in some powerful .22's but with .25, it gereally gets worse as you go..

I am guessing that the HW80's powerplant does not yield more than about 12 - 14 ft-lb at the muzzle, and this is much better matched to .177 or at most the .22, or, as mentioned above, maybe a .20 would ideally suit this energy level... If you can get a .25 cal barrel, by all means try it out, but keep that standard barrel handy. You might even enjoy the .25 and think it's quite a treat, but after a while, put the standard barrel back on and chances are you'll realize just what you have given up to play with the .25 calibre. You may not want to use the .25 cal barrel again after that. Even with regards to the English Patriot, I seldom reach for it when it's time to play, not because I don't like it, just there are better choices for the day. When it's time to party though, out comes the .25 Patriot, even if it's just for some fun...

[tomykay12]

Yep, what he said, lol, tk