Denzil, I have a HW30 (Perfekt trigger model) a HW50s, and have owned an R9. The current HW30 being imported by Beeman is the HW30s, which has the Rekord trigger. The only difference between an HW30s and an R7 is the checkering on the stock, action and performance are the same. In .177 the HW30/R7 usually shoots high 500 to low 600s FPS with normal weight pellets. The HW30/R7 is a superbly built, very accurate, easy to cock rifle. I highly recommend it. The HW50s is much like a HW30/R7 on steroids. it is an overall larger, slightly heavier rifle. It uses an action simialr to the HW30/R7, but the action is larger overall. The HW50 is also a very. very accurate rifle. The cocking effort on the HW50s is quite a bit higher than on the HW30/R7. I'd call the effort slightly less than an R9. The HW50s in .177 typically shoots in the high 700s - mid 800s FPS with mormal weight pellets.
The R9 is a light magnum springer, about tow inches longer overall than the HW50s at 42". The R9 is larger and heavier, although it is not a "big" rfile by today's magnum springer standards. The cocking effort on the R9 thypically runs in the 35-40 lb. range. The R9 typically shoots in the mid 800s - low 900s in .177. The R9 is probably the best overall hunting rifle of the lot. The R9 will be the most hold sensitive and toughest to master to shoot well of these rifles, although it is not nearly as challenging as one of the big "Super Magnums."
I have done a lot of pest bird shooting with both my HW30 and HW50s and they have both served flawlessly at ranges of 20-40 yds.
You asked what would be the best rifle for competition. What kind of competition? Any of these rifles would be fine for informal target shooting, plinking, light hunting, the HW50s and R9 could be used in Hunter Class FT competiton.