HW97K Thumbhole

[Nitrocrushr]

Last week my brand new HW97K Thumbhole arrived from Motorhead after receiving a tip to tail tune and Vortek SHO kit install.  Thank you Scott for another AWESOME tune

Since I drop shipped directly to Scott, this was the first time I had even seen the rifle.  WOW!!! What a beauty!! I couldn't stop looking at this fine rifle, she doesn't have a single bad angle.  I was apprehensive on getting the thumbhole without having had a chance to first shoot one, but I decided to take a chance and get one.  I LOVE it   It is the most comfortable rifle I have to shoulder and set up on the shot.  It is so nice having the web of your trigger hand inline with the trigger pull of the index finger, very linear and puts your trigger hand into a consistent position that is easily repeated shot after shot.

Here are a couple pics right out of the box;





And it wasn't long till I had it on the workbench to mount the Hawke Sidewinder 6-24x56 scope with a set of BKL Double strap mounts.



Next was 100 shots to break it in a little bit, followed by a barrel clean.  After this I ran a couple pellet tests through the chronograph to see what fps I was getting. 

Initial test

H&N FTT 8.64 grain

• High - 912
  Low - 899
  Average - 904
  ES - 13
  SD - 3

905
903
907
899
912
902
904
903
901
908
904
905
901
905
903
902
905
908
911
902

While chrono testing I aimed at the same spot on my 13 yard indoor target so I could monitor pattern as well as data.  The 20-shot group was roughly 1/4" c-t-c.  A little hot on speed, but still brand spanking new.  Time to get it outside and break it in right

Yesterday was my first range day with the new 97 and I had the pleasure of sharing it with Stihlpro and Palonej   We had an absolute blast shooting together!!!!!  Fun, joking, shooting and laughing   The rifle was shooting fair groups at 30 yards using the H&N 8.64, but again, still brand new and not broke in.  Palonej suggested I try the AirArms 10.3 grain.  Big difference.  Slowed it down a bit and groups were cut in half.....THANKS JOE

When I put the rifle away yesterday I had put almost 200 shots through it (total of almost 400 shots from my indoor shooting the day before).  I could tell the rifle was getting more and more consistent.  Some of the tips on shooting form that Joe shared was helping too

Here are a few pictures from my first day out with the new rifle;











And here are our rifles lined up....what a FUN Day, and let me tell you something....Palonej can SHOOT   He shot all of our rifles, and all he needs is one or two shots to get a feel for the trigger and that's all she wrote.  Stihlpro and I were amazed at the skill Joe brought to the bench...one tiny group after another



Feeling that the rifle was taming down and groups were getting tighter and tighter, I decided to run some more through it today and the results confirmed what I was seeing on paper.

With nearly a full tin through the rifle, here are the new results with the exact same pellet as my first test above;

H&N FTT 8.64 grain

• High - 891
  Low - 882
  Average - 885
  ES - 9
  SD - 2

887
883
890
884
885
885
886
891
883
884
886
887
882
888
885
882
885
883
883
882

And to confirm the consistency I once again aimed at the same spot on paper at my 13 yard indoor target.  All 20 shots in the same hole this time

All 20 shots - same hole at 13yards




I finished up with a 20-shot chrono test on the heavier AA 10.3 grains with the same consistent results through the chrono and on target

Air Arms Diabolo Field 10.3 grain (average weight seems to be in the 10.45 grain range according to my scale)

• High - 798
  Low - 788
  Average - 794
  ES - 10
  SD - 2

795
794
791
792
788
794
788
796
796
798
797
796
789
796
795
795
797
796
795
795

I look forward to spending a lot more time with this FINE rifle!!

Stihlpro & Palonej, thanks for a great time at the range yesterday and Motorhead...........thanks for yet another stellar tip to tail tune

Steve

[grauhanen]

Congratulations!  You've hit the trifecta, what with the TX and 98 and now the 97.  I can well imagine that you are happier than a pig in ... well, you know. 

[Hangtown-Shooter]

Very nice rifle Steve, congratulations! Thanks for sharing 

[hoffy43]

 Very nice! You got it going on brother. Awesome set up you have there as well.

[Motorhead]

Great stuff right there Steve,
Shooting in a corn field is different 

[TheBman]

Super nice!!!

[uglymike]

Great stuff right there Steve,
Shooting in a corn field is different 

Different? Depends on where you're live, perfectly normal for this Cornhusker.   

[Nitrocrushr]

Thanks everyone!  I'm very pleased with this rifle so far.  So consistent and very comfortable

Great stuff right there Steve,
Shooting in a corn field is different 

Thanks Scott The fields in the background is our family farm where I grew up (ok, maybe I never actually grew up )  It was hard work all day, then play time in the evenings...dirt bikes, rifles, air rifles, bows

Steve

[triggerfest]

Eye candy !

Enjoy her 

[Tomcat]

Beautiful rifle, Steve.  Congratulations!

[Pappy]

Gorgeous Steve, you plan on oiling the stock?  I thought the FPS would decrease as she broke in.  Good luck with her.

Pappy

[Motorhead]

Gorgeous Steve, you plan on oiling the stock?  I thought the FPS would decrease as she broke in.  Good luck with her.

Pappy

Sadly a tuned rifles mechanical fit is optimized in the tune process ... weak link is the power plant with the spring being it's heart ... beats best when new only slowing down and settling in with use more times than not.

[Nitrocrushr]

Gorgeous Steve, you plan on oiling the stock?  I thought the FPS would decrease as she broke in.  Good luck with her.

Pappy

Thanks Allan Actually I think I might let this stock alone...at least for now.  It is a very nice dark color with beautiful grain.  The finish is nice too, we'll see

The fps is settling in nicely.  I was pleased to see ES of 9-10 and SD of 2 on both the H&N FTT 8.64's and the AA 10.3's.  Both unsorted straight from the tin8)

Steve

[Pappy]

It IS a beautiful stock, just as it is.  I thought the general consensus was that anything over 9gr would prematurely weaken the spring, or seal?  I gave about 6 tins to my son-in-law, of 10.3's.  He loves them in his TX, and says if it kills the spring or seal, he'll just replace it.  I'm sticking with the lighter pellets, my TX loves them.

Pappy

[Nitrocrushr]

I thought the general consensus was that anything over 9gr would prematurely weaken the spring, or seal?  I gave about 6 tins to my son-in-law, of 10.3's.  He loves them in his TX, and says if it kills the spring or seal, he'll just replace it.  I'm sticking with the lighter pellets, my TX loves them.

Pappy

So did I.  Apparently some rifles will handle them with no ill effects.  When Joe suggested them in this rifle it was still shooting hot and they slowed it down nicely and really tightened up the groups.  Now that the spring is settling in I think both 8 and 10 grains will work equally as well.  Both proved to be exceptionally consistent out of this rifle.  The 97 is just as smooth and consistent with the 10's as it is with the 8's.

Steve

[Pappy]

Your first mistake .... listening to Joe P.    
My TX likes them a lot, up to 30 yards the groups are tight, not so much when I stretch them out to 50.  My groups are tighter with 8.44gr & 8.64gr .... so really no use to put undue strain on her.  Glad you like the thumbhole stock, I have never tried one, be curious to see how my ham hock hands fit in there.

Pappy

[Caiman11]

Glad to see you like it. I have one as well with a vortek and its my favorite gun. That adjustable butt pad and the thumbhole stick are super comfortable.