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Gateway To Product Reviews => Air Gun Reviews => : PeakChick February 13, 2008, 10:14:38 AM
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I received the HW50s I bought from David Kirby (kirby999) this afternoon. The rifle was very well packaged, double boxed. There was not a bit of damage to the packaging or rifle. Thank you for selling me a wonderful rifle David.
I got the rifle out of the box and she was just as advertised, "as new." This rifle is kind of the step child in the Weihrauch line of rifles. It has never been as popular as the HW30/R7 and HW95/R9 rifles that it fits in between. The fact that is hasn't been as popular as its sisters is somewhat of a shame. I feel that it may be better than either. The rifle is basically an HW30/R7 on steriods. It is about .5" longer in overall length, it has a longer, slightly fuller stock and a bit longer length of pull. It uses the same articulated cocking linkage design as the WH30/R7. The powerplant is not the same, it is about 1.5" longer and has a longer scope mounting rail with 3 stop pin holes milled in the receiver as opposed to the two holes on the HW30/R7. The HW 50 is rated in the low 800 fps. range and typically the numbers I have seen on them have been in the high 700s to low 800s with normal (7.9 - 8.4gr pellets). The HW50 has the near legendary Rekord trigger on it. When compared to the HW95/R9 the HW50 is about 1.5" shorter in overall length and a bit lighter, it has slightly smaller stock dimensions. As for power the HW95/R9 typically shoots in the mid 800s to low 900s with common weight pellets, not that big a power gain over the HW50. Build quality is typical Weihrauch. the stock is a very good grade of European beech with a uniform, dark walnut stain. My rifle has some nice figure in the wood. The metal work is fantastic, very even polish to the metal and deep, near perfect bluing. the attention to detail on the metal is exemplary, wonderful radiused edges, etc. The materials are all top quality, as I would expect.
I mounted a Bushnell Banner 4-12 x 40 AO scope in a BKL 260 D7 mount on the rifle and began to sight it in. I had the rifle sighted in on my 10 yd. indoor range in very short order with BSA Wolverines, shooting ragged one hole groups in about 3 adjustments. I tried out Gamo Hunters, RWS Super Domes and CPHPs in the rifle after sight in. The rifle was not at all pellet sensitive and grouped well with all the listed pellets. I got the best groups with CPHPs. My HW30 is currently shooting the Premiers very well too. This is a nice bonus as the CPHPs are half the price of BSAs/JSBs, and have always performed well on small game for me.
The shot cycle is very good, short, quick, very quiet. Kirby informed me he pulled the stock spring, cleaned the factory lube and relubed it with Macarri tar. It has no twang at all. the trigger is a typical Rekord, clean, light first stage and crisp, near perfect second stage. It feels like it is breaking in the 1.5-2lb. range.
The ergonomics on this rifle are near perfect for me, medium to light weight, perfect length of pull, very pointable. This is my favorite class of rifle. I am very enchanted with my new shooter. I would highly recommend to anyone who has not had the chance to shoot one of the Weirauch/Beeman R series rifles to avail themselves of the chance to shoot one at the first opportunity. One caveat, shoot one of these and it may spoil you........ :D
Pics. below of the rifle, the rifle with my HW30 and my .177 B26 for size comparison and a 15 shot target at 10 yds. (there were two minor scope adjustments in that 15 shot group):
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Well Peak you got your Prince...:) I have to agree with you on all accounts. I can not find one thing that I do not like or would change on my HW 50s. It is in a class of its own to say the least. Without a doubt it is the best quality air rifle, build and shooting combination that I have seen yet. And yes your numbers are correct. I run my HW 50's through the chrony again today and she was hitting between 816fps and 821fps after 20 shots and that aint bad. If you let him out and stretch his legs you will find that with your young eyes you can hit a 1" target consistantly at 50 yards. That is a fact..:)
Great take on you new HW 50s Peak and we hope to hear more from you about him..:)
Gene
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Beautiful rifle and a beautiful shot group.... Best of luck with the new shooter.....
Jeff
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Nice little write up and sure looks like a fine shooter Peak...considered purchasing one awhile ago and after reading your write up I'm thinking I'm sorry I didn't now...thanx alot! :) Sorry to threadjack a little, but are they still making the HW 80's series, and what is the difference between the HW80's and 90's?
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Off to a great start with the new shooter Peak ;) sound's like it. Congrat's and from the look's of the hole's in that bullseye, great! you can drop some vermin if need be. :D As mentioned nice review and keep us posted on the perfomance of the new shooter in your stable. Ed
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Great review Stephanie,
Your making me want one tooooo, mummmmmm?
Good shootin baby too, enjoy your new baby !
Bill
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Let me wipe the tear away, sniff , sniff..... I glad you like her Stephanie , she's a sweetie. I know she's in a good home. Thanks, kirby
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I knew you would have to remind me of how good that trigger is....sheesh!
Looks to be a very good size compared to the other two, how tough is it to cock?
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I am not Peak and no where near as pretty...:) but it is very easy to cock Dano....:) Short and sweet cycle. Gene
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Stan, they still are making the HW80 and HW90. From what I have read, Beeman has made an agreement with PA, Straight Shooters and one other vendor to keep bringing in the HW branded rifles, in addition to the Beeman R series. The HW80 as you know is the big springer in their line, same rifle as the R1. The HW90 is the gas ram rifle, same thing as a RX1/RX2. The difference in the HW rifles, as opposed to the Beeman branded ones is that they have a plainer stock.
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Sorry Dano, I had to rave about the Rekord trigger a bit. The HW50 is pretty much ergonomically perfect for me. It has a very smooth, linear cocking cycle just like an HW30/R7. The difference being it has higher cocking effort. I would guess in the 30 lb. range, more than an R7, less than an R9.
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Thanx Peak...so Weihrauch actually manufactures those rifles for Beeman...didn't really know that! I thought that I've seem some of the HW's w/ some pretty nice looking stocks-checkering and all. I've always liked the lines of 'em and will probably end up buying either one or the other in the future. If it was your money, which one would you put first on your to buy list? Just not sure if I wanna go GAS RAM or not...anybody seen any actual real world chrony numbers on the std. version vs. the gas ram version?
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It's ok Peak, I can brag forever about the trigger on my Tau....never weighed it, but I'd say maybe 6-8oz of pure 2 stage joy:)
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Stan, if it were my money, I would buy an HW80, 800-1000 fps in .177, 15-16 ftlb (depending on pellet), 700-800 fps. in .22 17-18 ftlb. The R1 is the same rifle, same performance, with just a touch nicer piece of wood on it. Straight Shooters is currently listing both the HW80 and the R1. HW80 $454.00, R1 $570.00. I can live without a white line spacer on the buttpad and a grip cap for the difference in price.
The gas ram guns, HW90 and RX2 have similar perfomance. The advantage to the gas ram is a twang and torque free firing cycle and you can leave it cocked for long periods of time with no fear of damage to a spring. The gas ram guns do have a heavy cocking effort, and have to be recharged every so often. The other big difference is price, a RX2 is currently about $700.00.
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Thanx Peak, that's exactly what I was looking for, just gotta' wait till funds allow now. :emoticon: