Just ordered the new RAW HMx .357 (130 ft-lbf regulated)

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Pictures of the .357 dressed and ready for action. This is how she will be set up for hunting. SWFA 10 x 42 scope (I was going to go with the 6 power model but bought this one slightly used for a good price so) and Swagger bipod. The bipod will extend from just under 10 inches out to just over 40 inches. Perfect for blind and stand hunting of predators and medium sized game in the field, its' main intended use. I really like the maneuverability of the Swagger bipod out in the field. Probably not so good for bench rest, would probably do fairly well for field target where a bipod is allowed. Also works very well to stabilize off hand shooting if you extend the leg(s) out and plant it on your hip. I used it on my Boss also, the problem with using it on the boss was you had to remove the bipod in order to refill the air cylinder. It covered up the fill port. No so with the RAW. Fill port is up top on the side. Wanted a set up that was simple, solid, durable and would stay accurate. Ie will easily handle hikes and treks out into the desert and mountains here in Arizona. It is inevitable that things will get bumped, banged and maybe even dropped (hopefully not over a cliff). The only thing missing is the sling. Not sure how I plan to handle that quite yet. Maybe mount a stud somewhere in the butt of the stock or have a leather sling pocket / band made or .... open to others suggestions. As it sits now it weights 11.6 pounds. I know that is on the heavy side however the bipod makes shooting a breeze. If it gets to be too much to carry in and out of the field then I may have to go back to using the Primos bipod shooting sticks. The biggest thing that I have noticed is that despite the weight of the RAW rifle it is very well balanced and feels easier to hold off hand than my Boss did. Just need to make sure and eat my Wheaties before each outing.

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OMG, glassman; she is GORGEOUS! Thanks for all the angles and close-ups; well done, my friend ;-). The Charcoal laminate is different from my Forest laminate, but I too ordered the thumbhole-style. It makes me want my RAW more than ever now! (Martin said she's due the middle of July.) I'm so glad I'm finally getting feedback on the new RAW HMx .357 (130 ft-lbf regulated). She is so new that it was a dry hole out there as far as reviews. How do you like the thumbhole? I've heard about grip stability issues.


I am concerned about the weight issue as well. This will be my first full-size air rifle. I do remember how heavy I thought the Daystate Pulsar .25 was compared to the P-Rod I had been shooting. But I quickly got used to it. I kind of looked at it like going to the gym! And I had no problem carrying around my FX Impact .30 with a spare bottle. Buck up, Buttercup! I have been using a Primos Trigger Stick tripod, and I bought a two-point rifle rest adapter for it to use with my RAW, so I should be pretty stable out there. Good call on the fixed 10x scope. I bought the Hawke Sidewinder 4-16x 50 IR. I keep it set on 10x anyway. And I never use the illuminated reticle. Live 'n learn.

At any rate, I would really appreciate it if you keep me updated on your RAW journey. Cripes, I even had a dream the other night where I was out in the field with my new RAW and tripod w/ the rifle rest! I never got to actually fire the RAW in the dream though and she almost got run over by a Jeep. I wonder what Freud would say about that? It probably means I'm afraid I will die before I get to shoot my new RAW!
 
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@Mick-VA What function does that long portion of the swagger bipod extending under the stock serve? I’ve never seen one of those.

Mick, The legs of the bi pod will pull out from the standing position and retract on elastic cords into the longer black "case" if you want to call it that. It does 2 things. First it makes the rifle easier to carry on sling and second you can use it as an extended forearm on the stock. Meaning that you can do off hand shooting and not worry about your hand getting caught up in the folded bipod legs. You can go to their web site for more information, plus it is made in the USA. Here are a couple pictures of it with the legs retracted (my son was modeling for the one picture) :)
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Link to the Swagger site: https://swaggerbipods.com/
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Some additional data points and observations:
  • Received my .357 last Wednesday 
  • very well packed per glassman photos
  • very handsome walnut sporter stock. Acceptably light and very English looking stock. Nice natural grain and striping. Also looking forward to the extra gray laminate LRT stock I have on order. Per glassman photos the gray lam looks glam!
  • Ended up mounting Athlon Midas 2.5-15x50 SFP Mil/Mil instead of Athlon Helos FFP, which ended up on unexpected Impact .30 purchase and arrival. Used medium Weaver brand grand slam rings. Just clears the tube with mag. Good fit.
  • Ok! This thing is loud! Less loud than the only 3 other .357 I've shot but still loud nonetheless, not backyard approp unless you got something like at least 100yards from nearest neighbor. Consequently, I have not shot it much despite the fact it is technically legal in my state to shoot "airguns" in one's own backyard as long as you have an "appropriate backstop" and contain your projectile to your own property (unless you have express written consent). Despite having 2 miles of dense woods directly behind me, I have very close neighbors to each side and front. I shoot all my other guns up to .30 cal very frequently (1000s of rounds since they passed that law in 2011) and have not received a single complaint or inquiry from noise. I have had one police visit due to a neighbor 3 houses down on the side spotting me in my backyard with a "big black rifle." Invited police in, showed some airguns and my range and they said cool - no worries. Have a nice day sir. So......even though technically legal, I don't desire frequent visitation by the local Po Po. So better pack this thing to the range or farm or desolate desert.
  • Performance - 7 shots JSB 81gr over Chrony from 200bar (center of fill range) yielded avg 859 fps with an ES of 5. Works for me. Could not work up courage to do full string due to noise. I did this during middle of weekday when most people away at work and plenty of normal ambient noise. That's just short of 133fpe so works for me! Hey, a gun that actually meets or exceeds manufacturers power claims - how refreshing. Scope height = 2.3 inch. MV =859, BC = .054. I'm zero'd at 48 yards yielding a killzone of 1.3 inch which is fine by me since I have no desire to shoot much of anything close up with this cannon. Results in PBR of 12 to 54 yards with max variance of .65 inch. Fired a few shots at metallic targets (OMG the noise) out to 98 yards. Hit 1 and 5/8ths inch spinner several times using turrets dialed up 3.5 Mils and also using holdover with reticle.
  • So bottom line, it's all set up with a rough zero and ready to go to range for fine tuning.
  • Edit- forgot to say I like it so far for the use I intended it for.
 
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Mick, OMG! Thank you SO much for your comprehensive and detailed review! I've been waiting for this for God knows how long! Your review really made my day :). The dry hole of feedback of people who actually own a RAW HMx .357 (130 ft-lbf regulated) was driving me bananas. (And for me, that's a short trip!) I have saved your review to my hard-drive for future reference. (That's getting to be a habit with your posts ;-))

Your numbers really boosts my morale. (I have updated my Chairgun profile.) The SD you got is better than the SD I was getting with my Impact. (I assume you are shooting JSB 81s.) I keep hearing nothing but good things about RAW. I wish I would have held off on selling my FX Impact .30 until I got my new RAW :-(. I am sans rifle and I am definitely going through withdrawal.

I figured the RAW .357 would have a nasty bark. I do all my shooting in the field, so it's not that big a deal to me. I just hope she's not so loud that it spooks game. To me, the stealth of air guns is the main attribute that draws me to them. Maybe I can get Neil Clague or DonnyFL to make a custom moderator for me, although the shroud on the RAW .357 doesn't look like it lends itself to after-market moderation. Besides, she's already so long! Oh well, you can't have everything. (Where would you put it?)

The walnut sporter is really the practical choice. I almost went with that look. It's a pound lighter, has a more classic look, and the sporter stock seems to be a better grip. But, the Sicilian in me had to go full Monte with the Forest Green Laminate thumb-hole with an adjustable cheek piece! And, no, I don't have a velvet painting of Elvis on my living-room wall (not yet, anyway).

At any rate, thanks for your response to my topic. I am surprised (but extremely pleased) at the response I have got. Evidently, I'm not the Lone Stranger when it comes to the excitement generated by RAW's new 130 ft-lbf regulated platform! Lord knows I've been waiting for this gun since I stared my air gun journey :)

 
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You guys are killing me with all this talk on the HMx .357 and the pics are just frosting on the cake, so far I like my .357 BullDog But the RAW is just eating at me as far as a .357 in rifle form goes, I'm going to follow this thread and keep looking into the HMx as a possible purchase if the reviews come back positive. It would be a perfect fit for the type of hunting I do. I could see myself selling one or two of my Powder Burners to get into a HMx and a good scope or just use one of my Vipers and I really like that Bipod too.






Bunch of Trouble Makers Hahaha.
 
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Imold, I'm a fan of the power of the Bulldog .357 as well. But, I just can't abide an unregulated platform. Besides, all I need is 130 ft-lbs. I've been waiting for an air rifle platform that delivers the power and reliable accuracy (with a decent shot count) of a standard .22lr rimfire for, well since forever. I have to wait until I actually receive my new RAW to put her through my own paces; but what I've heard thus far has come from reliable sources, and what I've heard has been all good!
 
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I like the BullDog/Bullpup platform I have a Tavor X95 that I enjoy shooting also like my Marlin .357 leaver but with my health the kick what little there is gets my chronic pain acting up, this is the reason I've gone the Airgun route besides it's addicting hahaha, I would like to get a rifle in big bore but don't think the Texan is what I'm looking for where as the HMx will fill that nich I'm looking for, I deer hunt with crossbow, down to only 5 of them now but even using a crankaroo gets to be a issue, been a avid bow hunter for the last 35 years in witch the last 7 have been crossbow. Guess what I'm saying is that the Airgun has got me back into something I really enjoy doing. I do bench shoot my 6.5 Creedmoor out to a 1000 yards at the sportsman club with a lead-sled witch I can handle but that gets spendy for matched grade ammo and I've lost my interest in reloading at this moment in time. I like kinetic energy and being constant on every shot over speed, guess that's from all the years of bow hunting.
Cant wait to start reading reports from you guys that have the HMx. Got long winded there.
 
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That's alright, Imold; I'm a long-winded old f*ck my own self!


I too am partial to the bullpup design. I've owned a Daystate Pulsar .25 and an FX Impact .30. The compactness is awesome. Now if the RAW .357 HMx (130 ft-lbf regulated) only came in a bullpup with a fully electronic platform, I'd cream my BVDs!

As I've alluded to, I as well am experiencing old-age-itis. The air gun platform is ideal for me at this point. I grew up in a guns and ammo kinda culture in rural Pennsylvania. Here's me and my buddies on a huntin' trip:


I even was a gunner's mate in the Navy (back when life was good and the future still held promise!) But, I really like the stealth and lack of recoil that air guns afford. 130 ft-lbf is plenty for me as I always was basically a small game hunter. Except when I was huntin' commies in the Navy. There I used this (at a modest seven million ft-lbf): http://www.navy.mil/navydata/fact_display.asp?cid=2100&tid=575&ct=2

I certainly will wring-out my new RAW when I get her in about a month (hopefully sooner :).) And I'll certainly post my findings here!

 
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