I had excellent results with Crosman Premier Heavy .177 Cal, 10.5 Grains, Domed pellets in my HW-97 KT. These pellets were among the most accurate, most consistent, and least expensive!
I know I’m probably not first but your content is amazing and I have to say you are definitely the best airgun review Chanel their is on RU-vid. Don’t ever quit
He is easily the best reviewer on YT... From when I seen the first video I ever seen of his the Raw 357 wayyyyy back when.. I knew he would be the man when it came to reviewing airguns.
What an IMPRESSIVE rifle! Kudos to Weihrauch for such a long history of top notch contribution to the technology and the sport. I really hope to get my hands on one of these one day.
Thank you Steve for all the effort you put into your reviews. It’s because of your videos that I ended up purchasing this rifle. And I am very pleased I did. I love this rifle.
Hey Steve. A great review to compliment your vlog and what a beautiful gun. My HW97K in 177 and HW 95 in 22 will never be sold. I think they are perfect.
You're always doing so much work to sort out every single detail when you do your reviews! Know that it is truly appreciated. :) I'd like to hear your response to two questions on ask AEAC: 1) where'd "ask AEAC" go? I really enjoyed that, but it sees to have faded away! 2) I need to shoot some rats at a friends farm. Distances could be out to 50 yards with an average of about 30-35 yards. Which pellet pistol would you recommend? My short list, based on your reviews: Brocock Grand Prix s6 Benjamin Marauder Weirauch HW44 Ataman AP16
Tks Steve - my favourite rifle. Liked it so much, I sold my HW98 in .22 and bought another HW97, but in .22. After a couple hundred pellets, it's almost as accurate as my well broken in .177.
That was a great review, Steve. My 97k is in .20 cal. It will always have a front row seat in my gun safe. Thank you, for the awesome reviews and quality videos.
I love the fact that you did a review on a solid springer like this! I would like to see one of its competitors the Diana Airking Pro side lever! I don’t think I’ve even seen you do a side lever before!
I've been the lucky owner of a fantastically accurate beech stocked .177 HW97K since 2011 and while I do like your blue laminate specimen, hearing that 'TWANGGGGGG' on every shot would have me running to my lathe owning friend for a better spring guide and top hat after shooting the first target... Thanks for another thorough video review!
The best air gun reviews i have seen on you tube, thank you for taking the time to provide so much detail, especially pellet information which is very useful i have now just purchased an HW97, Thank you.
Excellent and thorough Review. Lots of useful information to consider. So sorry to see you suffering in the heat for our enjoyment; way beyond what should be asked! Thank you.
Awesome work. I love how thorough you are with testing. I'm very technical so it makes me happy. I have one problem with Weihrauch though and that is that they don't offer a gas piston version of their models. I know the purists will have a fit but the reality is there's not really a downside to them; just advantages. Being in PA I love going out on snowy days just to walk around my property and set stuff up to shot. Last winter I did a test with my Gamo IG and was impressed how stable it was between when I first brought it outside, to after I let it out for 4 hrs and compared groups and cocking effort.
Safety should be resettable although it doesn't intuitively feel like it. Release the cocking lever, it falls all the way back, then when it hits the stop pull hard a fraction of an inch past the "wall" at the end and the safety re-engages.
Well Steve I have been looking at buying a springer for a while so on the back of watching this I have bought one and can say it was a good choice so thank you well done.
Air rifles like these is the reason I got into them about 10yrs ago, the air gunning world has changed so much, now it’s about the latest gun with the latest barrel that can shoot the latest slug accurately past 100yds. Not saying it’s a bad thing, but the simplicity of shooting airguns is now gone from popular air gun channels which I used to enjoy so much. Oh well…. Great video! 👍
HW97K whoa, Sportsmatch T04C 2-Pc 1 Inch Medium Scope Mounts, Hawke Vantage ... made absolutely no adjustments to the scope out of the box. Hitting water bottles, doves, and rabbits as a new to springers user. Honestly, this rifle is made well enough that its gotta be forgiving to inaccurate shooters such as myself. AoA, thanks for a pre-owned deal ... no regrets what so ever. HW97K in .22! Purchased for pest control.
Hi Steve, thanks very much for all your valuable effort in creating this channel. Over the years I have found it invaluable :) Just wanted to share with you and anyone else reading the hidden magic tip I have gleaned from watching many of your reviews. You and no other reviewer/expert has ever mentioned it but It’s been a major help with my accuracy with both my springer and pcp. It’s simply this, every time I have watched you take a shot I watch your trigger hand. Whether you are doing it consciously or not I have noticed the way you gently apply pressure then release several times to both your grip and first stage trigger travel and the effect this has on what you see through the scope. The rifle I use the most is an FX Impact shot from a bench. I have a very nice Dolphin Ranger1 bipod and the Sabre Tactical adjustable stock and their bench model monopod. Like everyone else I’m all about accuracy and I highly rate both my gun and extras but the one thing above these that’s helped the most is your trigger technique. So thanks again Steve :) and to everyone else watch his hands and apply accordingly.
The HW77 and 97 are the two best springers EVER made. A HW77 .22 with .177 internals racks 19ftlbs. 24 capable after port reaming and gasflowing, and a few other "secret" mods.
Me too !!!! I have found that I now LOVE JSB Exact Beast Diabolo 16.20 . I don't know if they are considered pellets or slugs, but they are the best I've found for heavy 177's !
I really need to purchase a great spring gun. Probably need to purchase 2,or 3. There's just something about the simplicity and self contained air power that's very attractive. So far I have only a Gamo Big Cat from Walmart......... That's about to change. Excellent review brother. God bless you. 🎯
Can’t go wrong with Weihrauch:) I got a hw30s, very enjoyable low power super accurate plinker:) had this one too, I found it too snappy, in stead of shortening the spring I sold it and I kinda regret it☺️
@@kims2r Thanks for your comment. Now Iam looking at the Air Arms TX200 review by AEAC. These are both excellent rifles. Iam definitely buying one, or both. I aslo like the Diana 54. Iam in limbo as to which one to buy. This decision making is probably the best part of this sport. I can spend days imagining my hands around each one. 😁👍 The HW 30 is part of my choices. 🤣🤣
@@heithwatkins there are TWO old reviews on this channel about the hw30s as well😁 I just like it cause it’s so light and easy to cock:) it’s like the underdog but easily as accurate as the big boys:)
I have several high end PCPs, but I find myself shooting my springers more often than any of them. I find them more satisfying to shoot because it’s more of a challenge to shoot them well.
Tune it, remove the anti bear trap, so it can be decocked easily, remembering to hold the cocking lever at all times when loading (just like any break barrel!) fit a brass Rowan engineering straight blade set back trigger - result = a completely different feel, thud, bullseye, thud dead rabbit. That's my own journey with the Weihrauch blue laminate 97 in 177.
I have a HW97KT 22 and love it.. Other then my Tx200 MKIII 22 Its the only spring gun I shoot. 16ftlbs and it's a total doll to shoot, quick and sharp shot cycle only slightly hold sensitive. Mine shoots all JSB lead good from the 13.43 to the 18.13 (it shoots the 25.39s well to just to much pellet) and even 17.5g .2165 NSA slugs well and I mean really well. The dwell time increase is a fact with slugs or heavy lead in general but especially with slugs. If I do my part the gun will do its every single time. PCP guns have truly spoiled me and I don't really shoot anything else in the airgun world but the TX and the HW are a true pleasure to shoot and keep you on your toes showing any BS that you may not notice with a PCP in your shot. When I put in trigger time on the springer my groups are longer ranges shrink be it with PCP or powder burners. There is something really fulfilling and magical about shooting high end springer, from cocking to the pellet leaving the muzzle it just feels right. The sounds make, the silky smooth cocking cycle, the lovely triggers, the direct backwards recoil gently nudging the rifle backwards.. It's all just a joy and if you aren't doing your job it will show you on paper.
Absolutely agree. I have a '77 80's vintage that has been well tuned. It's a real pleasure to shoot, and I totally agree. It improves your powder burning shots too.
Excellent review as always , thank you Steve!I have to say that something is going wrong with the groups at the 50 yards, I think that the problem is with the specific gun that spread the group,the scope is solid very good, the dampa also, as for you , your shooting is absolutely the same perfect , great work mate!
You can remove that sliding thingy that blocks the trigger and they de cock. All it does is block the trigger from being pulled while you load it. Practice safe loading by ALWASU holding on to the cocking lever at all times and your good to go. Shot one that way for years.
Okay, so I was having trouble with CPHP pellets grouping well in my brand new hw97 so I decided to try one of the tins you suggested here. I went with the AA pellets in the yellow and black tin. They came today and I was so excited to try them out. They went all over the target. Up, down, left, right like the NES contra code. I was pretty sad but then I remembered you should clean the barrel before trying new pellets. So I went up and ran a few patches of balistol and a few dry patches that were nice and tight in the bore. Went back out and the first shot nailed my binder clip that holds my target. I was aiming for the bull 🤦♂️. Went and set my target back up with a new binder clip and decided not to touch the adjustment on my scope since I figured that was probably a fluke. Second shot... nailed the binder clip again! Adjusted my scope down, put up ANOTHER Binder clip and went to town on the center of my target, shot after shot. The AA pellets work perfectly for me. DONT FORGET TO CLEAN THE BARREL BETWEEN TRYING DIFFERENT PELLETS! 😂
@@aeacvlog2033 I hope you don’t mind asking but here goes.. The AA pellets shoot really well from my hw97 so I assumed the jsb express pellets would too but they literally go everywhere including off the target completely. I figured since your rifle and my rifle both shoot pellet “A” well, then it would stand to reason that both rifles will also shoot pellet “B” well too. But that’s not the case apparently. It’s probably something that really can’t be answered for 100% certainty but I find it very odd that some pellets work equally as well in both our rifles but some won’t. I bet mine would probably shoot some pellets you have on your “no” list and I intend to find out. I guess that wasn’t really a question but more of an observation. I’m just wondering if you have any insight as to how the exact same gun can perform so similarly yet so differently at the same time? Honestly, there are probably so many variables at play here that we will never truly know all of them. Here’s a real question though.. have you experienced pellets that shoot all over the map with your hw97? I feel like the fact those jsb pellets went from my backyard to China and everywhere in between indicates a flaw with my gun. I hope not. Anyways, sorry for the long reply. I love what you do and I understand that what you do makes you a busy man so I won’t get offend if you don’t get around to responding. I’ll do my own research in the meantime. Thanks for the awesome content!
@@Nick_Gurr80 Easy. 2 variables that are ever changing due to their manufacturing tools being in a constant state of wear... barrels and pellets. Their tolerances are ever changing throughout their manufacturing processes. Steve
@@AEAC that’s amazing insight and makes perfect sense. Thank you. I’m still on the lookout for the perfect pellet. So far the AA pellets are best but I just got a bunch on order to try out. Thanks again!
@@Nick_Gurr80 Even your favorite pellet will change based on the batch number... let's not.forget what we learned in my JSB Factory Tour video and in my interviews in the late RMAC vid 👍
Very informative video. If I remember correctly, didn’t the Air Arms 10.34 grain shoot better without the moderator on the rifle. That classified tin, I believe are JSB .177 caliber Knockout Slugs. I saw them already on RU-vid. That HW97K reminds me of my Air Arms TX 200 MKIII and seems to hang with it. Both awesome rifles. Thanks for all the work that you put into your reviews. It is appreciated.
Thank you for all your videos liked and subscribed. I just bought a HW97 for large pest control , It is 22 and full power. I would like to use a heavy pellet. Do you or others have any suggestions .
Great review Steve, many thanks for all your work and your thoroughness. I'm looking for a springer at the moment and I'm having a hell of a time trying to decide between the HW97, the TX200 and the ProSport but I think this review and the Vlog have me leaning heavily towards the HW. It's easily as good and even getting the funky blue laminate would save me some cash over the AA guns.
Ive read on domestic and European airgun forums that the 3 top tier under-lever spring guns worldwide are the HW97, TX200 & Walther LGU which is no longer in production. The rank of performance out of the box seems to be the LGU first, due to its factory design and tune, then the TX, then 97/77. All 3 are quality, solid foundations that respond well to tuning. Once tuned all 3 seem pretty much equal. I own none of them yet but I do have the laminate hw97k on my list. The Diana/RWS 56/54/48 and the break barrel HW95/98 are also top tier platforms that respond well to tuning.
Hi Steve, I’ll like to congratulate you on your channels! They are awesome, and as someone new to the hobby they have been like a bible to me! But I have one question... why is there a pellet shortage? I bought a WH97k because of your video but haven’t been able to buy a single tin of JSB’s or H&N’s...
Hi and thank you. I'm told the shortage is due to Covid reducing production where these brands are (Czech Republic and Germany). Also,.demand is way up. It's a perfect storm.. Steve
steve i know this is a older vid but what you said about the mamba lite is the only reason i didnt purchase one ! i feel any scope company that does not have a lifetime no bs warranty knows they have not got faith their product is built to the best it can be so this is my opinion and everyone has their own but a lot of fellas feel the same as i do about the scopes i think that is why leupold has such a large following in the powder world i have one that was put on a rifle in 1962 and the zero has not been changed in all those years and it is still minute of squirrel at 50 yards
That “twang” will be gone with some tight fitting spring guides, HW’s guides are too loose, they’re easily made from delrin if you have access to a lathe. I have a 97K and 77K SE both home tuned with JM springs, home made guides and oring piston seals and they are great shooters. JSB Exact 8.44 if they aren’t loose fitting in the breach shoot extremely well out of the 97K. Also crosman premier 7.9 in the brown box, as well as JSB 7.87, and 7.33 and H&N sniper medium 8.5 just to name a few.
damnnn... because of these video, i've purchased the brand new blue laminate hw97k the exact same thing such a great video and detail review. thank AEAC
Steve how you doing buddy I just bought a HW97KT WOOD AND STAINLESS in 22 caliber can you recommend a really good scope that won't screw up on it for me. I have a VECTOR VEYRON 3/12/44 with 30mm BKL scope rings on it but I don't like the scope or reticle. What do you suggest I was thing a AZTEK FFP.
I have a 1989 .22 hw 77k made in westbgermaynwith anfienwhaukes match barrel on had 2" cut of the barrel cunstom moderator made. Vector tuned titanuim piston ,it still,shoots out to 50'yards with ease still runs at 11.89 with 16 gn pellets .bit heavy formthe field but great if static in hides
You do more .177 against all the trends? If accuracy Is your goal, the only reason behind .22 is the ease of loading the gun with bigger pellets. Great video as always. EDIT: I forgot it's a springer, not a gas-ram/gas strut. Shooting so long with bad, medium, and high-quality springers I'm sure I wouldn't go back from the consistency and superb performance of a gas-powered piston. I use the second airgun with a single Vortex piston. First got worn out to death. Second strs showing its extensive use and high mileage. This time it is not a break barrel so it should last longer. The gas piston still looks like it was new.
Glad you're happy with them but I haven't been able to come to the same conclusion regarding superior performance. Having now reviewed my 11th springer in a good mix of gas ram/coil spring, I don't see it. Best, Steve
Great review and I’ve watched many on this rifle and had been wanting one for a long time to add to the rest of my Weihrauch collection as I have two 95k’s in 177 and 22 along with the 99s in 22, hw 100kt synthetic and the hw100 in 177 and now I’ve got one of these beauties. I’m over in Blighty🇬🇧 so we are governed to sub 12ft lb but they still do the job very nicely unless you go over and put them on your firearm certificate. So yes I’m a bit of a Weihrauch freak but boy they are absolutely first class and if you do your bit you’ll get pellet on pellet every shot but I’m not one for slugs. The trick with springers is relax and don’t choke the gun. So which Weihrauch will be making its way into my cabinet next🤔 that is the question,possibly the renowned hw80 but we’ll just have to wait and see.
Hi Steve I'm a recent subscriber, but I have watched your video's for a while. Very informative I have to say. I recently purchased my first PCP rifle a Weihrauch HW110 carbine in .177. Most of the pellet rifles I own are springers by Weihrauch. I lean toward the .177 because of penetration and the flatter trajectory it yields. I have found no difference in dispatching pests with any of my rifles in .177. I was tempted to go for the .22 but I have had a lot of success with the .177, so why change. The gun is truly awesome and accurate and hits very hard. I watched your video on the HW110 rifle in .22, would love to see a video with the .177. I found my rifle prefers the JSB 13.43 grain diablo's. I can't tell whether the older design or the redesigned is better, both shoot superbly. The older design is slightly faster by about 30 feet per second. I would love to see a head to head on these pellets, older design v redesigned and find out why JSB changed the original design. The pellets hits hard and I have obtained 1/4 inch groups at about 30 to 35 yards. Thanks so much for putting out very informative video's. Chuck
The "Redesigns" have the simple advantage of stabilizing at higher speeds. Where the old ones do well up to about 875 fps, the new ones do well up to about 910. I've spoken of it in a few vids. Best, Steve
I had a brake barrel model 177 Fewk German made, and I killed lots of big rats in Torrejon, Spain, just outside El Sacur Apts I'm a stream / small swamp. Never ever lost a Rat.
Doesn't it have a beartrap safety alongside the main Safety? If the RWS 460 magnum can be decocked.. Iam sure the HW 97 K can be decocked.. Just pull back the underlever.. Disengage the auto safety and keep on holding the underlever and press the trigger and slowly release spring tension by bringing back underlever to original position.. Please do a review on the Old RWS Diana underlever workhorse.. The Diana 460 Magnum.. Great review as always 👍
This gun must have the bear trap deleted to be decocked. It's very similar to how gamo does there's. So it's like a screw and a spring to get rid of.
3 года назад
This gun can´t be decocked likt that way, it has a beartrap safety that blocks the trigger mechanism, even if you do waht you suggest. Once it´s cocked, you must fired it :( . I have also one hw97 , and there´s no way to avoid that. But all other breakbarrel weihrauch´s can be decocked like you said ;) :) .
Please, i need little help ,i live in the tovn, but I have a yard for practising cca.20-30meaters, and i have a ranch where i can go all off . The most important thing is that air rifles are not crazy loud. i like WH 77 cos it's hawe normal sights and additional optics, so i wud goo wit here. But how loud is she conared to exe.rainge WH 57 and i want one gunn , cos if that i asked. Thanks in advance. Best regards from Croatia
Dear Steve, How about start to make comparison videos? Quantitative comparison between 2 similar airguns, for example TX200 vs HW97 would be very nice... I am sure you can make great video about it.... Please consider... THANK YOU, best airgun channel on YT for sure....!!!
They're "all" comparison videos. I intentionally review all guns in the exact same format for just that reason. In doing so, it makes compare & contrast easy for my audience 👍. Best, Steve
@@AEAC I know you did perfect with the format... It just more enjoyable if its in one video, instead of opening 2 browsers and watch them side by side... clicking and pausing each time.... LOL
My local Walmart keeps me supplied with Crosman Premier 14.3 round nose and hollow points. I’d much rather have H&N or JSB, but at least I’m still shooting. And my HW97 seems to shoot the Crosmans well anyway. It’s not pellet fussy at all.
They're always available and production is actually up., meaning it's a demand issue, not a supply one. In other words, the factories are making and shipping way more than ever before, it's just that people are buying in quantities much higher than ever before. Steve
