Recent content by EMrider

I'm a hunter and a target shooter, so others here will have a lot more insight into FT setups that I will. That said, your question is interesting because the overwhelming tendency is to minimize weight in a hunting rig, while considering weight somewhat of a positive characteristic in an FT...

IMHO the 'urban pro' package is more of a gimmick and not worth the extra $200+. Get the standard hw30 (suggest .177) and just shoot it without modification. After awhile, you can decide whether or not a drop in tune kit is something you'd like to install. If so, you have several good choices...

I'm curious if you have any empirical evidence to support these claims? R

Just search for 'hw97k/77 strip down' on youtube and you will find a number of instructional videos. You'll need a few small and medium screwdrivers, a punch set and some type of spring compressor. I use a simple carpenter's wood clamp. Obviously, you'll need a replacement spring or drop in...

All of my spring guns are also in .177 for very similar reasons. The 'best caliber' discussion does have a lot of subjectivity. My thinking is that if for any reason I really needed a heavier pellet in my 12-13fpe guns, there are several high quality pellet choices in .177 between 8.4g and...

IMHO, you already have the ideal gun for the need you describe. R

I use a sling on mine too, and although the R7 is light, I find it helpful when hunting. Where I hunt it is not unusual to walk a few miles in a typical outing. As for price, I evaluate everything in terms of price-per-hours-of-enjoyment. And on that basis, all of my spring guns are a...

Congrats. I have two R7/hw30s in .177 and shoot them often. They are good hunters inside of 25 yards too. BTW, if I understood your numbers correctly, your gun is shooting at about 7.6fpe, which is very solid for the hw30. R

I also hunt often and always use a break barrel, most often my hw50s. The pro sport or hw97k are heavier and more awkward to cock in the field. The pro sport is particularly clunky with the long cocking arm easily getting caught up on the sling. R

Have owned my pro sport in .177 and an hw97k in .177 for many years. Both are setup to shoot about 12-12.5fpe and are very accurate. The pro sport may have a slight edge in accuracy, but that is just my impression, not something I could prove factually. The pro sport is a great looking gun...

Congrats and enjoy the new gun. My hw97k in .177 is my most accurate spring gun. R

I had a similar experience with my R1k in .22. At anything close to 'normal R1 power levels', the gun was harsh and unpleasant to shoot. I tried tuning it from 12fpe up to 19fpe. Most importantly, from 13fpe to 15fpe, the R1k could not match the shot cycle and accuracy of my similarly powered...

I have not had to bother with sizing a seal since I switched to using Vortek seals. The few times I needed to do it with ARH seals, it was a PITA and I've burned at least 2 seals by taking off too much material on the first pass. R

I don't have the skill or equipment to do a comprehensive tune. Mine involve just dropping in an ARH or Vortek kit, sizing the piston seal if necessary, and applying the correct lubrication. Usually takes about 1.5-2 hours start to finish. R

I'll just reinforce the consensus that something is off on your gun's power. If returning the gun is an option, it may be better to do that than to open it up and try to fix yourself. Good luck getting this sorted. R