HW97K versus TX 200

[north country gal]

No, this is not another thread asking which is best, the HW97K or TX 200, but it is a thread that that compares the two, briefly, since we now own both.


The TX200, bottom), we've had for a couple of years, now and truly love it. The HW97K (top) is our most recent addition to our HWs, which include the HW 35E, The HW30S and the HW45. Guess you might say my husband and I are on an HW kick. Added a used Bushnell Trophy XLT 4-12x40 to the 97K and stepped out in the yard to do some 50 yard work on our backyard range.

First, some general impressions on the HW97K. It is just a shade shorter and lighter than the TX, just enough that I find the HW an easier gun to balance for offhand work. Being a gal, it just fits me, better, I guess. No, it's not as glamorous or ornate as our walnut stocked TX, but the conservative, somewhat understated elegance of the HW appeals to me. When ever I've thought spring piston gun, I've always pictured an RWS or HW. The TX look is a bit new to me, but it is growing on me, too.

The gun cocks very smoothly and the cocking effort is not a problem for  long range session. I MUCH prefer the more open port of the HW97K, too, for ease of loading. Also don't miss the bear trap on the TX. No problem holding the cocking lever with my left hand on the HW as a safety measure.


The HW shooting cycle is a bit sharper and more pronounced that the TX, but I'm so used to shooting HWs that it's old hat for me. Might even say I prefer it, now. Guess I'm in no hurry to do any tuning or mods on the 97K. Afraid I might jinx it.

Given the way our other HWs shoot and given the great reputation for this gun, I expected great accuracy and I got it, BUT I got it right out of the box, not after some long break in period.

 
Got the scope dialed in and started off with H&N FTTs. First group, ever, with this new HW97 and it looked promising.


Got a few more groups with the FTTs and all stayed between half inch and three quarters inch. I suspect the FTTs will do better, though, given that I was still learning the gun and how it liked to be rested and shot. I know everyone loves the way the TX can be shot directly off the bag, but I discovered this HW can do the same. It did not need an artillery hold. This was a pleasant surprise.

By the time I switched to my standby JSB Exacts, my pellet of choice in our other HWs, had a better idea of how to shoot the gun. Groups did tighten up, right way, with the JSBs, anyway. What I especially liked was the consistency. Here's a 20 shot group, no flyers. Keep in mind that I even made several small elevation adjustments halfway though this group, so it could have been smaller. Gotta love a gun that doesn't plague you with flyers.


Moved on to shoot some 5 shot groups. By now, the HW 97 and I were humming.


My last and best group of the day. Once again, this is right out of the box, first range session with the gun.


By coincidence, it just happens to match my best group, ever, with the TX, though it took me a lot longer to get such a group with the TX.



So which do I prefer, the HW97K or the TX 200? Okay, I will NEVER sell either gun, but there is just something about an HW for me that ...




 

[robertr]

Excellent groups NCG, both beauties, nice to see the HW shoot so well out of the box.

[roadfix]

Very nice pair of rifles there and excellent groupings!   I chose and purchased the 97 over the TX mainly for the wide open loading port, as I use my left hand to load.   (I'm left handed but I shoot right handed.)

[grauhanen]

Nicely written impressions of your HW97K.  It is an excellent rifle.  I've always felt that, aesthetics aside, the 97 and the TX were neck-and-neck in performance.  We've seen a number of recent threads lauding the TX200 (and deservedly so); now with this the venerable 97 can share a little of the limelight which it, too, deserves.  Thanks for your report.

[stevemag]

very nice review Joanie. I would love an hw97 and your review just put it on the top of my list.
i shoot mostly off hand, and thats mainly because of where i shoot.
QUESTION:
Can you go from bench to offhand without a point of impact shift?
 i did a little better off the bench at the last nj fun shoot . but still I've yet to figure switching back and forth from off hand to bench .

[north country gal]

Thanks, guys.

Steve, as far as going from the bench to standing on this one and seeing how the POI shifts, I have yet to try it, but certainly will. Will post when I do. To be honest, though, I have other guns that I use for offhand work. The 97K is going to be mostly a bench gun or at least a gun I'll mostly shoot from a rest or a sitting position and so on.

In my experience, though, as a general rule, the lighter the gun, the more the POI shifts from resting on a bag to shooting offhand. Our HW30S is very fussy in this regard; our TX 200 is not. I suspect the 97K will be more like the TX.

As I said, I was pleasantly surprised at how well the 97K shoots directly rested on the bag because the TX tends to get the credit on this point. I should point out, however, that I have a very specific way of shooting our air guns directly off the bags and it is not quite the same as with powder burners. The mileage anyone else gets with their 97 may vary.

[roadfix]

I've only shot out to 30 yards so far with my new 97 (.20) but, like you, I also found the JSB Exacts to group tighter than the FTT's.

[north country gal]

George, I've found that the Exacts tend to out shoot the FTTs in all our HWs, though the FTTs are by no means bad and I do keep a good supply of the FTTs on hand for our TX.

[north country gal]

very nice review Joanie. I would love an hw97 and your review just put it on the top of my list.
i shoot mostly off hand, and thats mainly because of where i shoot.
QUESTION:
Can you go from bench to offhand without a point of impact shift?
 i did a little better off the bench at the last nj fun shoot . but still I've yet to figure switching back and forth from off hand to bench .

Steve, made a point of comparing the balance between the 97K and the TX from a standing position, today. The TX is definitely more muzzle heavy. That might be desirable for someone stronger than me, but doubt I could shoot the TX from a standing position for any length of time.

On the other hand, I could manage some shooting from a standing position with the 97K and will give it a try, soon. Also noticed that the stock dimensions on the 97K are a bit trimmer and that's a better fit for me. A big guy, though, might prefer the beefier stock of the TX.

One last note.
I did shoot the 97K with an intermittent, though light, tailwind around 10 mph. Was very pleased that I could still do some accuracy work. I'll take a calm day, every time, but nice to know I can still do some shooting with a little wind. 

[Yogi]

 I should point out, however, that I have a very specific way of shooting our air guns directly off the bags and it is not quite the same as with powder burners. The mileage anyone else gets with their 97 may vary.

Please share your secret system?  Your are a very good shooter and somebody to learn from....
Thanks,
-Y

[fishhuntmike]

Awesome comparison writeup and outstanding shooting as usual!

I too have a tx200 in hunter carbine as well as a blue hw97k.  My tx has a tune kit but my 97k is bone stock.  My hw has a 3-9 scope and my Tx has a 24x.  My hw twangs a lot, but I like the feel of the gun in my hands much better than the tx200.  The trigger on my tx200 I adjusted myself and am very pleased with the light setting so I can just put pressure on the trigger without holding the palm to set it off.  I've tried to lighten the trigger on my hw but it still is too heavy for my preferences at about 3#.  Guess I need to work on it more.  A few days ago I set a new hand drawn target out at 51 yards and proceeded to shoot three shots through the same hole so I was chicken to shoot more.  I too a pic of it.  I know it's no 5 shot group but it definitely put a smile on my face and reinforced my love of the gun.  I'm glad to hear a new and slightly different perspective of the two wonderful rifles from past comparisons on the internet.

Thanks again and looking for more writeup coming from you!

Mike

[north country gal]

Thanks, again, folks.

Y, One little trick that may help is to use a slick material over the bag if you shoot the gun off a bag. I use a piece of rolled up felt over the sandbag, as you can see in the pic of the 97K on the rest. Have found that with a lot of leather bags, there is enough friction between the bag and gun to cause variations each time the gun is shot. With the felt, I slide the gun back and forth over the felt before each shot to make sure the gun is sliding back and forth where I want it. The felt offers no resistance. Pretty much the same idea as using the paint roller style rest or using foam for a rest.

When using a rear bag, I do the same, in this case I covered it with duct tape, but I take great care with placement of the bag, making sure the gun is free to slide backwards without having the stock snag on the bag.

Mike, that is also great shooting. I know the feeling when you get three shots like that. Can't begin to tell you how many times I've blown the group with shot number four and shot number 5 is pure *(&^ on the nerves when 4 goes home. Whew! Those great 5 shot groups, though, are heaven to me. Don't think there's a drug ever made that gets me higher than a nice 5 shot group with a gun I love.

[north country gal]

I'm not quite at 500 on the pellet count on the new HW97K, but the more I shoot this gun, the more I like it. In fact, it's in danger of becoming a favorite. What a wonderful user friendly gun this is! Also pleased to report, that all screws have remained good and tight. Nothing has shot loose. Pretty smooth gun out of the box, in other words.


One of the many things I've learned this summer with my 50 yard shooting is that a day with no wind is, of course, preferred, but that I can still shoot nice groups even with a fair amount of wind. That's important to me, because I have been hoping that air gun shooting can make a good substitute for our rimfire rifle shooting. Happy to say, so far, so good. Today was such a day, with an intermittent 15 mph tailwind. I used the sound of the wind in the pines, overhead, to wait for the calmest moments (we have a lot of pines, up here. )

Been experimenting with different pellets, too. As I suspected, the H&N FTTs do shoot very well in this gun. I am getting a slightly tighter fit with the FTTs than the JSB Exacts I have also been using.

Here's a few of today's windy targets. (Worst target of the day was just over an inch, by the way.)




and my best of the day

 

[anuthabubba]

When transitioning from springers on a rest to standing offhand shots, the results were better for me, if the gun was supported at the same points in both positions. Also, the reduced friction between the forearm and the rest was essential. 

My 2 underlever springers are both early .177 HW77k. One a factory Tyrolean and
another early one in a later HW97 stock with the more vertical pistol grip.

[north country gal]

I agree. I use a piece of rolled up felt between the rest and the gun when shooting from the bench.