Weihrauch HW 97K .177 Air Rifle (Review) + SETUP GUIDE !! + Accuracy Test !! - Under Lever Airgun 

I spend more time researching my next air rifle purchase than I do to purchase a new car. Tks

I've had all the Weihrauch and AAs, springers over last 20 years and can honestly say the 97 is the most accurate and so well made, followed by the 95 in my opinion,

Awesome video! I liked the blue laminate Weihrauch HW97 so much, I bought a second one HW97KT, then a HW95, and HW100...they make awesome heirloom quality products.

I had wanted a diana 54 since I was a kid. I ended up buying my son a Diana 430L. Good luck finding one. This rifle was overlooked and way underrated. Absolute tack driver. So I had been tossing around several air rifles to buy and ended up ordering an HW97 K in .22 after reading dozens of reviews and watching dozens of videos. Came back to this one after ordering, can't wait.

This rifle is absolutely without a doubt the best springer airgun I have within my collection. I do have a couple of hw95 k’s in 177 and 22 and they are amazing and I have a little 99s which is my back garden grab and go for the odd rat but this HW 97 is totally outstanding and is with practice as good as a pcp for accuracy and constituency and it doesn’t seem to be pellet fussy at all. I was very lucky to accidentally come across this blue laminate while having a pint in my local pub and this guy asked if I was interested to buy it. I knew he’d only had it for six months and he’d hardly used it and I knew he needed the money I got it for a song and it was in brand new condition and hadn’t had a full tin of pellets through it. I’m in the U.K. and as you’ll know we are governed to sub 12 ft lb unless you have firearms license but sub 12 is all I need for it’s purpose. The blue laminate looks beautiful and really makes the gun stand out from others and I was lucky enough to purchase a like new beech stock which was advertised at my local gun dealers for only £60. I can now use the gun without worrying the blue laminate stock when out hunting and not worry about damaging the blue laminate one. So with the outlay of £360 for both gun and beech stock I know I’ve got a keeper. I can definitely recommend one of these buddy

I have a HW97K in brown and was gonna sell it due to getting more into PCP's and the fact it tired me after cocking it nonstop for about 3-4 hours. But after this video, I decided it'll be a keeper even if I never use it simply coz it's just a classic. But I will probably end up using it more than I anticipated ;)

Great video. I just purchased the HW97K Beech sporter stock here in the UK for £409 new. I was looking at going back to PCP having previously owned a Theoben Rapid Mk2. I was looking at the Artemis PCP and then in the corner of my eye, I saw this beautiful HW97K and immediately went for that. There`s just something about PCP`s I don`t like and that`s probably because I`m a field hunter and I walk a lot over a 30,000 acre site and just don`t need to be carrying all the extra equipment. It`s a heavy rifle and my second underlever rifle (the first one being a 1969 Relum Tornado which I still use). The scopes are going on it today and I will be putting a few hundred shots through it to bed it in over the weekend. I normally use Bisley Pest Control hollow point and hope it likes them. If not i will try some H&N Field Trophy or JSB Exacts. I don`t agree with tuning them to the max. They are built for a purpose and hold their value when kept original. Anyways, it was nice to watch you going through this gun with an unbiased outlook.

They make very nice guns, I bought a HW 30s last year, 7 shots to dail in the scope, after that it makes hole in hole at 15meters all the time...Now Im getting a HW 97 :) Thanks for a realy nice review :)

Yes! The 97 really deserves an AEAC review, doesn't it. So glad you finally got to it. Now I can quit RU-vid . . . :D

Steve, Weihrauch designed this gun where the rear about 2 inches of the compression tube actually does come off. It is almost a seamless system where the rear 2 inches unscrews from the compression tube.

I bought the 97KT a while ago. First ever real air rifle an I'm amazed at what I can do with it.

Excellent video. I have the HW97 stainless and my partner has the HW97 Sporter stock. Both are .177. After much pellet experimentation we use AA Express pellets with them and they perform beautifully. Very accurate, consistent and reliable.

Yes the HW97 is one of the best springers. I have a KT modell for some years now and it is accurate and superb quality. The only thing you need is a HW and a tin of pellets for whole day fun.

I've just got myself one of these. Being UK, it's subject to the 12ftlb legal limit. On my FX chrono it returned consistently 11.2-11.4 ftlb shooting AA Diabolo 8.4gr. Superbly accurate over 25 yds. My first springer in a long time. Extremely happy.

Can't go wrong with the HW97. I have a HW97KT stainless .22 with a v-glide tuning kit topped with a Hawk Airmax scope. I also got the resettable safety and adjustable butt pad. Suuuuper smooth and extremely accurate. Just the feel of the rifle is something special.

Beautiful rifle. I love this rifle. It is in my top 2 favorite air rifles of all time.

A one hour review! Oooo this is going to be a good watch. Thank you Steve. Thank you! Edit: NVM.... this is the VLOG channel. Lol.

Yes there is a demand for knowledge about air guns. I am 67 years young and have shot springers and PCP for at least 30 years. I am always eager to learn, to listen, to discuss and then go try something myself. So yep there is more to it than just shooting one, most of us long term air gunners do love knowledge. All of us can learn something regardless of how experienced we are. I know I have always been very goal oriented to find the absolute best spring air rifles, the most accurate, and those that are well made. Currently and this is just my opinion, we all have one, however this is based on many years of experience and ownership of over 18 springers, the HW97 is the absolute best air rifle known to man, with the HW95 and or R9 only about one step behind it. (exceptions are specific target rifles that cost 5000 dollars, not something most would ever purchase) From you I learned about the Predator GTO and with my own use found that this one and a couple other ones do not fit the perceived perception and dismissal given to no lead pellets. Some do increase FPE and do carry it down range better than lead. So I learned that from you. If your barrel likes them they can also deliver extreme accuracy. More so in .22 than in .177 simply due to they weigh more. So keep it up, I know I enjoy your channel. Cheers Kit

Re: rear assembly. Look VERY closely for a seam around the receiver about 3" from the rear. That rear plug unscrews to be able to disassemble the rifle. The fit is so exact that it's easy to overlook that seam.

Excellent review as always however, a couple of critical features are worth mentioning? I own both the AA TX200HC and the HW97K in blue laminate in .177 caliber. Both are stellar guns but here are two critical differences between the two: Firstly, the TX200's barrel is mounted in the center axis of the gun while the HW97K's barrel is mounted ABOVE its center axis. Why is this important to mention? Well, I've found that loading as small a pellet as the .177 in the TX200 is far more difficult because of the barrel's center axis design....you have to reach deeper into the sliding breech housing to place the pellet into the breech. Because of the HW97K's barrel being mounted above the centerline, it is sooo much easier to load a .177 pellet, especially those slippery ones into the breech because you don't have to reach in as deep as the TX200 to load it into the breach. Secondly, the TX200 is normally a right -hand specific airgun and the machined, cut-out access to the breech has a restricted opening, biased to the right-handed shooter. I understand this is still the case despite ordering the left-hand stock version? This is not the case with the HW97K where its ambidextrous design has a generous cut-out to facilitate both left-handed as well as right-handed loading. Bottom line is, the HW97K is sooo much easier to load in .177 than the TX200. Note that this loading difficulty does not apply to the TX200 in .22 caliber (which is easy to load due to the larger, .22 caliber pellet and corresponding, bigger breech).

It's great rifle and accurate. I own a AA Pro Sport in 177 and have really enjoyed the experience with it.id say the 97 and tx200 are a coin toss both are simply amazing . However when it comes to Maintenance. I'd have to give AA the Nod for being extremely easy to disassemble and service .

Hi Steve. I see you offered pellet holders. For all my single shot spring, pump, pcp I get a Air venturi pellet pen, slot a 9id/10od CF tube fit it to the pen slight trim light dab of adhesive and glue to the gun were the breach meets the stock. Then you have a magazine. Hold the stock use your hand to pop a pellet into the hand holding the stock. It is a beautiful way to keep pellets with the gun and quick follow-up shots. Thanks for the video. Really informative for a guy who just ordered a HW 97. From AoA.

The saftey button can be reset by recocking the underlever 👍

Got a 97K in 177 it's really accurate best air rifle I've ever bought

Oh, also SO happy you did the .177 !!! I hope you do more .177 vids. There are a lot of us out here.

I’ve had mine for about 13 years and still shoots just as good or better than the day I bought it. I did have it custom tuned by Paul Watts down in Tennessee. He told me it wasn’t necessary but he could make it a bit better so I sent it and I’m so glad I did. It shot even better. It was smoother. Everything went click and clack right in place. SO SMOOTH. You should check out Paul Watts page. It’s just called spring gun tuning.

Hi i have had my HW97K in .22 cal about 2 months now & i am well pleased with it i just cant fault it at all what a great rifle. all i had to do was adjust the trigger 1-3/4 turns out & now the trigger is spot on for me & the trigger adjusting screw was real easy to back out i had no problems with it at all. i did hear though that some trigger adjusting screws are crimped in place at the factory & are real easy to damage when adjusting the trigger. the good news is that a new trigger adjusting screw is only £6.00

got the 77 model because of the sight. these rifles are really, really, REALLY Precise! perfectly balanced. a little on the heavy side but weight also means quality. great review!

Good stuff Steve , I’ve had the same issue with two of my newer HW rifles. I removed the trigger and then the screw and then chased both the male and female threads. Now it is super smooth and easily adjusted.

Best airgun channel on the planet. I'll have to follow your IG, though I'm not usually there much. I noticed the lack of glasses in the stills. I need to get my eyes fixed!

finally HW97....thanks

They have locked the screw in the factory you have to remove the stock and bend back gentle the metal that holds the screw when adjusted gentle tap it back again this holds the screw in place during recoil

That’s one stunning gun! Il be ordering one at the end of may in blue laminate also. Fantastic review as always 👍

I've got 2 of these one in .22 and the other in .25 they're as accurate as my pcp rifles.

I used to have the HW77k back in the 80s .ok, it weighed like a concrete block, but out of all my airguns, it was my favourite ,i then got into centre fire and sold it 😢 ,i stopped shooting 6 years ago and sold my firearms 😢 ,now in my 50s i am looking into getting a HW97k 😊 ,sorry if its been said before, but the spring tube is not a 1 piece tube ,its got a screw in plug on the rear ,thanks for the videos 🤘

About bloody time Steve !!! Woohoo

Great review, lots of good information on pellets, I have a WH 77k I bought in the 1980's, these guns haven't changed much , my 77k does have a walnut stock which is buitful , now I want a 97k in laminate because the natural wood options are beech, thanks from the UK 🇬🇧🇬🇧🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

I have learned so much from your videos, that I will continue watching them. Finally I got to see this review less than 24 hrs from the Post. Thanks Steve, you are the best. God bless. See you soon.

Amazing results from this short barrel (or not do long) with all theses pellets&slugs! All others manufacturers should learn from weihrauch ingeneering! Nice vid Steve, thanks for the hour of distraction 😌

I tole ya about that trigger in the HW air rifles. I have two HW95 and both came with the same situation with the trigger. The screw is a very soft metal, I think aluminum. You can easily damage the threads on the screw. My HW97 synthetic was and is the same. For whatever reason the flat metal section of the trigger where the screw passes through is deliberately bent to cause the screw to not want to move. Solution is take the action out of the stock and gently straighten the bent flat piece and then the screw will move quite easy. The slight bend locks the screw by misalignment of the thin thread around the screw. When set where you want it I suppose you could bend it back, I prefer to simply put a drop of thread lock on it and let it sit for a day or so. If you do not the adjustment will tend to move lighter and lighter. Is this done to keep the trigger from moving? Or to keep buyers from creating an unsafe situation where a bump to the stock can cause the rifle to fire. I have mine set just under one pound, and I use a rubber hammer to hit the stock with a few sharp raps to make sure the rifle will not fire on its own. So do I get another fist........Chuckle. Yep the HW97 is an awesome air rifle. I shoot 3/4 groups at 50 yards with mine and also with the HW95 even with drinking two cups of coffee. I get around a 2.5 inch group at 100 yards, I am sure this is me, however that is pretty good for a springer. I have some nice PCP rifles. Hint, I have much more fun shooting a quality springer such as the 97. Have fun Cheers Kit

Video was superb, as usual. I love springers and that will be in my cabinet at some point.

Really great review and general discussion 👍The 97 you have looks to have a sweet firing cycle. For rabbits you don’t need more than 11 ft lbs at muzzle - as long as shot placement is just behind the eye - clean kill every time out to 50 yards. The advantage of greater velocity is ; 1.flatter trajectory,which might make aiming off easier,though using a range finder will nullify this advantage. 2.Less windage hold off. 3.Possible increase in effective range IF marksmanship is up to scratch. Disadvantages with spring gun having greater muzzle energy is increased recoil potentially messing up the balance of internal workings/less smooth firing cycle and making accuracy more difficult due to increased hold sensitivity. Its all balance.

I went from Air Venturi Avenger to FX Dreamline to FX Impact M3 - then to Weihrauch HW97K, and plinking has never been this easy and fun. The whole process was heavily influenced by this video, so thanks Steve :-)

This just sold me on this rifle, have been looking at it for years. Now I need to get my PAL.

Love the design of this german gun, did not shoot with it yet, but very much like to. It's a beauty coming with the utmost quality one could expect 👌.

Fabulous video, I love your enthusiasm and quality of your videos. Can I ask you a question, I'm in a quandry which rifle should I pick, I also loved your review on the TX200... which would you go for if you could only pick one... TX200 or HW97. Many Thanks Nigel from Wales, UK.

Brilliant review of the Hw97 One of the best rifles I've ever had amazing gun.. Love your review very detailed and very informative 👌👌

Ironic that I’m picking one of these up on Monday great minds think alike thanx for the great write up and tips on it

Lovely review and spot on! I am still getting used to my 97K a year later. I did not have the same problem with the trigger screw, was able to turn it with a small pocket screwdriver. Like you, my 97K detonated after a few hundred pellets. It sounded like a 22lr! Fortunately none of the neighbors noticed. Hey, I'm not the only person who shoots over their pool I see. It does suck though when a pellet falls in and rolls down to the deep end.

I have to quit watching your reviews. I appreciate your methodical, logical approach to the review process. I saw the review that you did on the Daystate Red Wolf HP .177. Was out shooting mine this morning. Yesterday I was on the line to AoA getting dibs on the next HW97K blue laminate .177 they get in. Well done Steve.

Steve you might have a better time adjusting those triggers if you had a set of hollow ground screwdrivers from Brownells. They're made for gun screws.

Bought the hw 97k in 22 a few weeks ago , Have to say a brilliant gun , as accurate as my pcp. Well worth the money .

Barrel is 300mm on the K, you reset the safety by pulling down the underlever while the rifle is already cocked, you're right on one thing it's No 1 on the planet...

Ok get the TX 200 back out and do a heads to head comparison,,,,,, you’ve gushed over both of them…. 👊😎,, great review as always….

Not gonna lie my Hatsan 135qe .22 is a beast. Great a accuracy and superb power for a break barrel.

Great video. I have one in .22 and one in .177. They really like JSB pellets. Steve when you push safety button off, you CAN again put it on. Just recock the gun again with the lever and safety button will reset. ATB

Great video as always. Looking forward to the full review. Keep it up!

IYKYK, right? It's truly one of my favorite springers, and your experience with the diminishing boing after about 100 shot cycles echos my own, especially when it comes to grain weight. As you rightly pointed out, the HW77K absolutely dominated the field target from almost the moment it hit the scene. From what I understand after reading some articles from Tom Gaylord, the HW97K was introduced to be a mellower, smoother alternative to the HW77K. Mine has two tins worth of pellets through it so far and an absolute gem. 14.5-15 ft/lbs is perfectly in line with what I'm getting. It's an absolute tack driver and has dispatched its fair share of squirrel and rabbit so far this spring. You *can* indeed reset the safety once it's been pushed off by recocking. Quick operation if you've called off the shot for some reason.

Thank you Steve , my 97 is a 20 cal. It came from AOA about 3 years ago, it is my favorite spring gun made. I will never part with this gun.

In my 97k exactly this gun in the UK has a cloth tube and spring inside the muzzle brake

GOOD work Steve.

In a month or so you should do another review after fully tuning it. Throw in a vortek kit, button the piston, aftermarket seal, and trigger work. It makes a load of difference and seriously brings this gun to the next level. Also I wish they offered this with a walnut monte carlo stock instead of the thumbhole

Can’t go wrong with a Weihrauch,built like tanks,drive like race cars.

I really enjoyed spending that hour with you Steve and your comments about the gun are right on. I've enjoyed one for a couple of years and it is close to a perfect airgun. My Weihrauch HW95 in 22 cal in my opionion is also as perfect for a break barrel. The only problem with the springs is the do break and my HW 97K broke at 4570 shot count. But thats part of air gunning. Thanks for all the great info and reviews through the years.

Steve, if you're buying that 97 and prefer sub12 power levels. May I recommend talking to UK tuner Paul Short for a titanium piston or Tony Leach for a 23mm sleeved comp tube conversion. You won't regret it.

Now you need to get a whiscomb and review that unicorn!

It finally happened! Waiting for the main channel review. I agree with everything you’ve said about it. To me, the greatest springer ever made if not for the HW55.

Beautiful rifle. I love the blue stock. Iam torn between this and the Air Arms. Its hard to beat a great spring gun. I also would like to win your house. Its beautiful. Especially your pool. God bless you brother. 🎯

I just got an RWS 3400 yesterday its the 1st break barrel air gun I have ever had so far

Best reviews in the biz...thanks Steve. I have a large springer collection and have 2 97s... one in 22 and one in 177, both thumbhole stocks. My 177 was tuned by Allen Zasadny. This gun is "stupid accurate" to use your term. At 35 yards, if I do my part, it can place 5 shots in a .22 hole using brown boxed CPs. Great guns. Keep up the great reviews.

On the trigger pull adjustment... You need some gun smith screw drivers. The grind is different to grip in the head better, and the shafts are normally straight not the flared style tip you showed.

about the last 2 inches rearward of the reciever is threaded and it screws in the rest of the receiver even on the dovetail there just machined so well

Love my HW97K. The allen key size is actually 7mm not 11mm to remove the plug to fit the moderator. Awesome review! Would love to have some Weihrauch swag.

Trigger adjustment screw on my HW95 has the same problem as yours, on my HW97k it works fine!!

Laminate stock vs thumbhole stock???

Your really good at spending other people's money 😂 I watched the whole thing. Im not sure which model I want but you just put that one on top. Wow.

Great video dude, i’m going to have to rewatch some of your older videos as I had in my mind to get a tx200hc next but you thrown a spanner in the works, I don’t think I’ve ever seen as much enthusiasm for a spring air rifle before. Loved it 👍🏼👍🏼

Trigger unit best in the world ... and will give accuracy of precharged a run for the money HW77 still in production

Firstly this is a first class Rifle and even though I love AA Rifles to me this is far more superior model than the TX200, secondly the last 2-2 1/2 inches where the safety switch is, is the trigger block housing which is where you get access to the internal workings. This will unscrew once you remove the Reckord trigger unit.

H&N FTT always worked superior to other pellets in my rifle. I want to try RWS superfields soon. Just to test them out.

Nice review a lot more in depth than I normally see. Guess I better subscribe 👍🏾

Love my 97k in.22, sorry 177 lovers. Such a great rifle.

The assembly of a 97 or any of thier spring guns is done by removing a large block at the rear of the gun, look carefully. It's very fine engineering but it does part. The reason the hole on the trigger guard is small is because you are not tempted to use a humping great screw driver like you were demonstrating. Try using a parallel driver.

I bought the Blackline when it first came out and it’s had a grand total of 5 pellet’s run through it, it’s in the attic with my vertical combat crossbow that’s never been fired. I stopped buying, I just don’t have the time or location to practice right now, haven’t had for many years.

I t honk your shoe is one of the best... And really do appreciate the time you put in to keep every one up to speed.. God bless you

I thought the gun was good after I bought it second hand. The stainless synthetic thumb hole version. Then decided to use a tuning kit with spring guides and short stroke extension. Only to find the previous owner put spring guides in already. As for the short stroke? What a difference!! faster shot cycle, much less recoil and less hold sensitivity, as advertised. All resulting in PCP accuracy. Best pellets after a lot of sample packs, the H&N barracuda FT and Barracuda light.

3db is halving the noise level, worth keeping in mind…. 🧐🤔👍

Truly appreciate your reviews. Objective and honest. Have a 97K and as you say . . accurate and smooth action. Just received my TX200 and struggling to get the trigger close to the 97K’s. However, many thanks for your time and sharing your expertise

17:25 there statement I´m definitely agree with!!! I own two 77K´s , one in .177 and one in .22 . Absolutely lacer beam , both !! And they shoo any pellet brand. From the cheapest "Artemis" 8,8/16,3 gr. to the most expensive I´v got my hands on the H&N´s ! Same results at 35yds(my backyard isn´t bigger😤 ) If you have the chance to get the Artemis pellets just buy all you can !!! I pay´d 2 $ and 80 cents for 500 ps./tin and 3,10 in .22 cal 500 ps/tin Oh ,one more ......Crosman hollow point and domed being slightly less accurate then the rest I´v being able to test. But we talking about an 8th of an inch bigger from c/c..(488 " to .612") Artemis pellet tin is yellow and grey---ish

the tube is not one piece ,it has at the end a screwed in plug same diameter as the the tube where the record trigger is mounted in. there are 2 more adjustments at the record ,the first stage move can be adjusted by bending the lip ,and the creep of the second stagewith the little torq ,the weight adjustment alu screw ,you need a perfect fitting gun srew driver. or grind one to fit

You can get a parallel shaft screwdriver that will fit trigger guard hole better and put a little wd40 on threads to help turning

I just want to mention that the safety can be engaged again after turning it off by cocking the under lever one more time.

I like all your reviews you have done. Was wondering if you have ever done a review on the BlackOps Sniper S .22 calibur? Was thinking of purchasing one and you are the only one on RU-vid that I would trust and respect your review.

I own that gun and it's a fantastic pellet gun. Vary accurate. Great small game gun.

The safety can be reset when it is clocked.

I think the only thing they could do to make this gun more amazing would be to make it a repeater. I don’t have a clue how they could but I’m sure they could figure it out. .177 are so tiny for big fat fingers to fiddle with which is why I only have 1 gun in this caliber. I would be torn between this gun and the TX200 in .22 if I would buy one. Awesome video. Thank you. I always learn something when watching them. God bless.

You have convinced me that I need a springer to tinker with.

I stripped mine as it was extremely hold sensitive and twanged like nobody business. I lightened the piston, short stroked it, fitted a Tinbum tuning kit and and made a baffle kit and the difference is amazing. It's now as accurate as my hw 100. I did my hw45 too after seeing the performance difference

Finally you did review HW97k.. since I requested last 2 year Mr Steve ...🌝... my was .22 .. So I knew I love it... 25-35 yds ... I can punch as same hole all day... as any body own the gun they knew it...How they made the gun so perfect..???... but it's really heavy for me...🌝... it's not fun to carry around the wood and shoot without rest .... thanks you Sir for review it... love to see you shoot them..👍👍👍👍👍👍

Iv had them all . But kept my custom long stroke 97k awesome rifle best springer by far9