pianoman 3,589 Posted January 21, 2011 Report Share Posted January 21, 2011 Well, mid-day today was brilliant, clear frosty sunshine and so, went over to my permission with the HW77 .22 scoped up with a trusty Bushnell Banner 6-18X50 and a plentyful supply of H&N Field and Target Trophy to get some running-in target shooting done. The usual level of dieselling of this new rifle has subsided now and the rifle is running-in beautifully. A long range session produced a very tight penny sized group at 40 metres -pretty good for recoiling spring .22. I re-set to my hunting zero of 25 metres and, to make it more interesting, I set up a load of fallen Crab apples spiked on sticks and stuck all over my shooting ground at all manner of ranges. Some dead ahead and others at oblique angles to beam angles on both sides of my prone set up. This is a great way to see how your hold is affecting your spring rifle's true zero when you change angle of aim from your usual straight-on, dead-ahead zero. You are altering the pressure point of your hands and shoulder contact with the rifle when you shoot at a target off to left/right oblique and that will make a change to the actual POI of your zero. Using Crab apples gives you a great little way of quickly assessing how hold-sensitive your spring rifle truly is. AND, they are the size of the killzone of most of your quarry. A miss, well that shows nothing. a hit left or right and you'll blow a corresponding chunk off the left or right of the apple, high or low. A hit dead on and they splatter in all directions. This HW77 is superbly even-handed, meaning that deviation on POI is not much at all Only about a half inch left/right of centre on the windage plane and dead true on the vertical elevation plane at 40 metres. A lot better than my TX200 .22 rifle, which can deviate by as much as 6 inches at similar ranges. Such is it's hold sensitivity. Shooting with a 30-30 duplex reticle, I missed 2 apples due to error on my part, one at 11 metres, one at 38 metres due to a little too much controling pressure with my trigger hand but, I chipped and splattered 23 others out to all likely hunting ranges encountered on my fields so, that's not too shabby. With the light mellowing at about 3 o'clock I settled down on the edge of the forest to begin hunting for whatever was about and watched the sun settle over the fields. A lovely scent of fermenting Crab apple wafted on the gentle breeze in my face. It's a shame they are inedible because they have a wonderful, juicy apple scent... There! Rabbit, moving in the undergrowth of the woods, about 23 metres ahead and off to the right in the sunlit clearing. A little holdover on 12 mag...slow the heartbeat and pulse to a crawl...CRACK! There is nothing like the feeling you get when you bag your first kill with a new rifle. This bunny flipped his flip and kicked out on the forrest floor. A quick reload but, he was out of the game. Now, a lot of spring shooters are a bit unsure how long can you keep a spring rifle cocked and ready. I keep all mine cocked from one kill to the next, 15-30 minutes to an hour, however long that might be and I have not lost power. The rifle remains smooth and predictable as ever. A second rabbit at the same range ran into sight and CRACK! She joined her boyfriend! At the same time I saw a third rabbit out in the field from the top earthbank stand upright. Must have heard the shot; now trying to get a bearing on where the sound came from. He's a long way off. Over 40 metres. I give him almost the whole thin post hold over. He's bound to play safe and bolt. With my thumb resting up the spine of the pistol grip the three fingers of my controlling hand that are curled around the pistol grip, I give a little light squeeze on the grip as this calms and damps down the recoil vibration that can throw your pellet off on a long range shot. He's still bloody standing listening! I press the trigger gently through the let-off CRACK! And away goes my shot...BOP! Three unseen rabits suddenly bolt for earthbank cover as their mate leaps backwards and writhes on the muddy grass. Three decent shots. Three good rabbits. It's still light; the sun's just set behind the earthbank and the field is in shadow. Perfect scope light for me. A couple of Woodpidgeon settle on the telegraph wires just 25 or so metres from my position. I settle the crosshairs on the base of the neck of one. CRACK! The gentle upward angle of the neck gives me a perfect headshot. Higher and steeper and I would be using virtually the bird's feet as an aimpoint! It topples off without a wing beat as it's mate clatters clean away. The light is fading now but the cold has increased and the soft muddy grassland is beginning to firm up with freezing. Another Woody! He settles to roost on the high branches of a beech tree. Over 35 metres range. This is going to be a canny shot from prone, and with twigs and branches across the line of shot. One glimpse of movement and he's off! My forehand is moved back to settle the rifle just forward of the trigger at the point of ballance; crosshair on the base of its head...Hold breath and the pulse slows down...CRACK!..Bop! It topples down through the branches. It's gone 4pm and dusk is well on. And it's getting bloody freezing. Time to call it a day. I'm out of cover gathering up my two woodies and three rabbits. I set to work binding the rabbits hind legs and woodies feet with string and loop it over a stout bit of branch for a carrying handle. I'm just pabout to pack my rifle into it's slip when 3 female Pheasants drop over the earthbank and land about a hundred and fifty metres up the field. One starts making its way cautiously towards the forest...and me. A quick reload, safety catch off, down into comfortable aim. It's still head down approaching, still blurred in the scope but getting closer...it's getting into focus..sharper into focus. Half a thin post of hold over. It's looking right back at me... CRACK! It flops over in a mass of wing beats. The pellet had thwacked through the left side of its head. The two others have disappeared. That's it for today. What a rifle the Weihrauch HW77 truly is. After the shooting I've done with it so far, and through days so far void of any live quarry till today, it has proven itself an astonishingly accurate, all round sporter. By the example I have, it's a touch better than the TX200 .22 equivallent I also own. And trust me, there's nothing wrong with a TX200! The HW77 handles beautifully well and for consistent accuracy in the hunting field it pips the TX200. I'll match this rifle in skilled hands against ANY PCP out there any day too. The HW97 is praised to the heavens and it's just the shorter, restyled version of this rifle. But the HW77 is the first, it's the original all others were designed to match up to. I honestly do not think there is anything you can buy that actually betters it. I've owned and shot some fantastic shooting rifles in my lifetime but, this one... This is absolutely the finest, most accurate spring piston air rifle I have ever encountered. You really have to spend time shooting one to get some idea of what I'm really saying here. It so brilliantly performs and handles as a world class rifle should , it's leaving me with an aweful dilemma. What the hell do I do with the other air rifles in my collection??? Simon 9 Quote Link to post
lampingboy 312 Posted January 21, 2011 Report Share Posted January 21, 2011 what a lovely write up there simon! you went out for some target practice and came bag with a bag full,i got out and cant even spot a bloody thing haha the hw77 is a good gun you say then, i may have to try and pick one up haha ,thinking of restorign my hw35 first though ATB brad . Quote Link to post
andyfr1968 772 Posted January 21, 2011 Report Share Posted January 21, 2011 (edited) Great post, Simon Is your TX really that hold sensative? I've never owned a TX but I've used one of the other lads from heres one and it didn't seem to suffer from that problem to the extent your's does, that sounds rather extreme... Funny things, airguns... Wait 'til you've tried my 90 My 52's rather more, erm.... user sensative (less than most springers though...) but the HW's a peach. So then, my place or yours...? A -hem.... Cheers. Edited January 21, 2011 by andyfr1968 Quote Link to post
monkey 2011 2 Posted January 21, 2011 Report Share Posted January 21, 2011 iv got a hw 77 im loving it but i find a pcp better on the soot im taking it over to a gun shop soon to get the scope checked i think its on the money but im just not a 110% just for peace of mind i gess £15 what pellets you using. as im looking for some nice ammo for my hw77 I was out shooting today baged some woodys just about to crack a tree rat as wack i got droped by a load of dogs after the tree rat and off it ran well happy Quote Link to post
andyfr1968 772 Posted January 21, 2011 Report Share Posted January 21, 2011 All barrels even of the same make don't shoot the same but as a general guide, try RWS SuperDomes and SuperFields, also H and N FTTs, those pellets seem to work very well in most HW barrels. Quote Link to post
monkey 2011 2 Posted January 21, 2011 Report Share Posted January 21, 2011 I was trying out my scope to day and I was just say on the money lol and i was hting milk bottle tops at 20m just looking for the right pellets Quote Link to post
StevoSmith 147 Posted January 21, 2011 Report Share Posted January 21, 2011 Amazing write up Simon.........Nice to know your new rifle takes quarry with ease.....i also dont seem to find the TX that hold sensative but i suppose it's how to rifle feels with each person........i would love to own a HW77 but mrs would freak as i own 2 TX's and a BSA lightning and in process of finding pcp Quote Link to post
Karpman 44 Posted January 21, 2011 Report Share Posted January 21, 2011 Amazing wright up enjoyed every word! Many thanks and look forward to the next Installment, You feel free to get out there with the Hw77 anytime you like and tell us all about it! Many thanks Karpman Quote Link to post
pianoman 3,589 Posted January 21, 2011 Author Report Share Posted January 21, 2011 Gentlemen thank you all reading this. If this rifle doesn't convince the most sceptical, that a spring rifle is every bit as accurate as a PCP then nothing but, absolutely nothing can. Andy, hi! You up for some shooting over here this weekend? PM or call me mate and you're on. Bring your woolly undies, it gets bloody chilly towards tea time! The thing with my TX200 is, it's bloody amazingly accurate when I zero it up for hunting or targets but, when I've been out to hunt with it I've had rabbits in the scope at ranges that should be no problem at all. Hold is good, gentle through the trigger... and I miss by a bloody mile as the pellet thwacks up the dirt several inches off! I'm now thinking of getting some serious time shared with the HW77 this year and sort out the hold issue it has, once and for all, or sell it! I don't want to lose it though, it's a lovely rifle and it DID wack down a rabbit at over 35 metres the last time I had it with me. Hi Monkey. You got the complete Only Fools And Horses set too? Blimey buddy, I can think of more economical small targets to practice on mate. As with Andy's recommendation, give H&N Field Target Trophy and RWS Superdomes and Superfields a try with your HW77. Mine does the business on the H&Ns' :thumbs: What pellets are you using at present? You seem to be getting good results with them on the woodies you bagged! Steve hi buddy. You need to put a charm offensive on the missus mate. Too many issues with PCPs mate for me though. I can forego a possible longer range stability that PCPs may have, for all-year-round, any-time-you-like, no-fuss accurate, all-weather, all-condition shooting with a top of the shop springer. Karpman cheer mate. It's going to be a great summer's shooting mate and I'll be delighted to report how I go with the HW77. I really want to get my TX200 up there with it though. ATB Simon Quote Link to post
Ron Weasley 83 Posted January 21, 2011 Report Share Posted January 21, 2011 Top write up Simon, really enjoyed reading that! iv got a hw 77 im loving it but i find a pcp better on the soot im taking it over to a gun shop soon to get the scope checked i think its on the money but im just not a 110% just for peace of mind i gess £15 what pellets you using. as im looking for some nice ammo for my hw77 I was out shooting today baged some woodys just about to crack a tree rat as wack i got droped by a load of dogs after the tree rat and off it ran well happy I don't know what any of that means. Quote Link to post
rossy08 33 Posted January 21, 2011 Report Share Posted January 21, 2011 very much enjoyed that read Simon SPA awarded.. nice feeling breaking in the new guns with a good few kills,cant wait to get out with my new AA. atb Andy Quote Link to post
zini 1,939 Posted January 21, 2011 Report Share Posted January 21, 2011 Hi Simon, That’s a really nice read that buddy. Slut point awarded mate. You should write that book we were talking about mate; you have a natural talent for keeping people interested. Your style is like the Fly Fishing by JR Hartley style or the old 18 hundreds British army Major hunting lions in Africa tales (classic). I’m glad that you like the HW77 buddy, you still taking her to SFS for Tony to turn into a dream machine? Has yours got the silencer fitted buddy? If not I bet Tony would fit you one at the same time if you asked him. Nice to see that you have bagged a few bunnies with it too mate. I like to see a quality rifle getting used for what it was designed for, hunting and FT in the older days when it was a world beater before PCPs came along. Your right what you have said mate, a quality spring piston rifle like a HW77 used for hunting is just as accurate as a PCP in a persons hands that can shoot proper and has practiced with the rifle. After 40 to 45 metres and out to 55 metres (max range really) I would give it to a PCP unless you are really a good shot with a springer. If you can shoot then you can shoot with either a PCP or a springer. If you have bad habits’ with a PCP then shooting with a springer isn’t so easy and your max killing range will be greatly reduced. Top man and top post buddy. Si Quote Link to post
pianoman 3,589 Posted January 21, 2011 Author Report Share Posted January 21, 2011 Ron cheers mate. Must admit I found monkey's post a bit confusing as to what 15 quid for peace of mind is for, or, getting "droped by a load of dogs" actually is Thanks Andy mate. Looking forward to reading what you get up to with your new baby Cheers Simon Quote Link to post
pianoman 3,589 Posted January 21, 2011 Author Report Share Posted January 21, 2011 Si that's so kind of you to write a considered response this way. Oh yeah you bet mate, it's going to Tony Wall at Sandwell Field Sports for the magic he weaves into these guns. It's getting the spare £70 for it without my good lady saying we need it for our boy's school kit/trips/shoes latest must-have phone to replace the one that was the top spec 5 minutes ago etc. Hey ho! But it will get done. It's going to be an interesting excersise seeing how he can improve what is an amazing rifle straight out of the box. Ther's no silencer fitted Si, this rifle is all as it comes as standard from Hull Cartridge. It is beautifully smooth to shoot. A lot better than I was expecting and it really absorbs a considerable degree of recoil. These are the first rabbits I've seen within striking range so far this year. It usually March before my permission comes alive again! I do not normally shoot pheasants. They are not air rifle sport in my rule book. But, the gamekeeper here has this idea that he can deliberately run his dogs over the land anytime he likes, knowing there's me or one of the other air rifle lads out shooting and he wants to spoil the rabbit sport for anyone but himself and his mates. Consequently EVERY Partridge, Grouse or Pheasant I see on my permission within range gets bagged. I shoot hundreds on my permission only. They taste just as good! You know I actually had "JR Hartley; Flyfishing" wondering through my head when the question of a shooting book came up! :laugh: Jasp said a painful truth though. He pointed out that the internet, forums and good old common sense would render such an excersize really as "pissing in to the wind" I think he may well be right. OR..do people enjoy reading about what they know and understand anyway, but enjoy reading how someone else does it and experiences it? I don't know but, I'd like to write it anyway for myself and maybe, others will enjoy reading it too. I certainly do not realistically envisage making any real money from it. Good points on long range spring shooting to note here Si. I'm using H&N FTT .22 pellets and they are brilliant with this rifle. I can hold a steady, one hole group at 30 metres, a very tight cloverleaf group out to 35 to 40 metres and a tight group up to 50 metres. But much further and it all starts to topple, with an average group size of about 3 inches diameter and expanding, out at 55 to 60 metres. Not a range I would risk on a hunt without my FAC HW80s or .177 TX200HC. I'm not sure why as my hold and aim are very relaxed and stable. Despite the claims of clinical controls by H&N, there are one or two every now and again that fit looser in the breech than the majority and they fly low off target but, I can put up with that for how well they perform generally for realistic hunting ranges with a sub 12ft/lb power level. Thanks so much for the compliments Si. Appreciate them mate. Simon Quote Link to post
andyfr1968 772 Posted January 21, 2011 Report Share Posted January 21, 2011 Hi, Simon. I can't do this weekend, I've got my boys over. I'm free for the next one though, if that suits you? I'll give you a call this evening. Cheers Quote Link to post
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