How many HW50 owners didn't like the OEM shot cycle?

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r1lover

r1lover

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Aug 11, 2018
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How many owners of HW50's didn't like the OEM shot cycle and elected to:

1. Replace the OEM spring/guide with an aftermarket kit?

2. Clip, close and polish the factory spring ends instead of installing a kit?

How many left their HW50 alone (OEM)?

I know a kit improves the shot cycle, but was the shot cycle with OEM parts really that unpleasant?

I talked a friend in his late 70's out of a box store gun/scope combo and into letting me order him a new 50S and Hawke Airmax scope. Now I feel guilty I spent six hundred of his dollars. I want him to be really, really happy and am considering ordering an ARH kit now and secretly installing it in the gun before handing it over to him.

How many here think I should?
 
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My .177 50S is a factory spring with polished ends and a Vortek piston seal. It has a slight bit of twang to it but it shoots so well that I don't care at all. The shot cycle is absolutely fine too. It could be better but it is a far cry from bad. Heads and tails above any box store gun.

I would open it up and clean out all the factory grease and lube and apply your own. If you're feeling nice, install a Vortek seal. If you're really feeling nice, both the ARH kit and the Vortek kits are an improvement but not necessary IMO
 
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I felt that the hw50s was a bit overpowered and snappy in OEM condition. Mine was close to 12fpe in .177. In all other respects, most importantly accuracy, the gun shot quite well. Reducing power is easy, just clip a coil or two off the factory spring. I have also found HW piston seals to work well and last a long time.

If your friend is a frequent shooter, no question he will get a lot more enjoyment out of the hw50s over the long run.

I put an ARH plinkers kit in mine, but could have gotten 80%+ of the way there by clipping the factory spring.

R
 
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Mine shot ok with some vibration. Had grease on the front of the seal and some scratches where the top rear of the piston rubs. Deburred it. Made a spring guide and top hat. Polished the piston skirt. Lightly lubed with moly. Installed a Vortek seal and fired about 200. Still down on power a little so I opened it up to find the seal still a bit too tight. You have to shove it to move it. Looking to run it in some more when I can. Not vibrating now. Like to see another 30 or so fps when it settles. Accuracy was and is very good. Had been making almost 12 new but was detonating.
 
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Ironically I just put a Vortek in a HW50 this morning. I changed the .22 because I was shooting it Tuesday with a twang. Accuracy, there was nothing wrong with it. The difference in the sound was nite and day. No more speed but awesome sound. Wasn’t necessary but I’m glad I did it.
I think you made an excellent choice for him. I wouldn’t feel obligated to change the spring. You could tell him about the kit and he may elect to ya or na. Crow
 
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I purchased mine, it had a delrin guide fitted. I cut 2 coils off of the spring closed and polished the ends. It is a great shooter. I love mine for backyard target shooting. Very quite and controlled. I also removed the little spring from the cocking arm shoes per NICK STANNING video at TBT TUNING. A great gun that is a joy to shoot.
 
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Some people don’t mind the little twang ones gets from the 30/50. Sounds like this person doesn’t have the experience to know the difference yet. I would definitely tear it down and clean/lube it. But I would only do it with his help or approval. Some people are funny about tearing down a brand new gun especially when spending this much money. Plus what if damage occurred during the tear down? Feel your way through it. You gave him great advice. You are willing to assist him with his needs/wants. That’s a good friend.

Edit: A really good friend would just give him a gorgeous HW55! Lol
 
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If you're capable. A strip and clean would be advised. Whether people realize it or not most of the new Weihrauchs are over lubed and have cut seals. The ensuing dieseling hurts accuracy and eventually burns out the factory piston seal. In some cases its excessive enough it can lead to premature spring failure. I highly recommend the Vortek seal. The Vortek seals are durable and size themselves in a few hundred shots. And use as little grease as necessary.

Keep in mind a "lube tune", slathering tar or tune in a tube on the spring to quell vibration is a temporary fix. If you shoot the gun enough it will sling off the spring, overload the seal and you're back to dieseling damage.. Oh not to mention "lube tunes" make the guns temperature sensitive and POI will change with large temperature changes.

Sure lots of people don't have these problems, but lots of people either don't know they have these problems or haven't shot enough to create them. There's a good chance your friend won't either. Most casual shooters are happy with the guns as delivered.

Without a tune the guns do smooth out a bit in time. If your friend hasn't shot a tuned gun he won't know what he's missing and will likely be happy with it.

If you do take it apart I also recommend removing the spring from under the cocking glide.
 
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My .177 HW50 was twangy out of the box. However, accuracy was great and it is a relatively easy rifle to cock (Hasto be done quickly). I would give him the rifle stock and some H&N Feild Target Trophy .177 452 head size pellets. Let him shoot a tin of pellets and through the rifle before making any changes. Maybe bring over a tuned rifle to let him compare.
 
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I think the best thing you can do is leave the gun alone for now and show your friend the correct way to hold and fire a springer.

To be honest, I've owned many springers (RWS, HW, Beeman) but I didn't get along well with my HW50 (.177). It wasn't as smooth firing as some of my higher power springers and I had issues with consistant accuracy. It was probably just me. I left it stock and sold it within a few months of purchase.
 
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Yeah, I almost immediately tune every Weihrauch I buy, because it really makes a tremendous difference (IMO).
Keep in mind, I'm anal about having machines operating smoothly.

I just use an ARH spring, make a top-hat on the lathe, use ARH buttons on the piston along with a plastic piston liner and all three ARH lubes.
One day I will try Krytox. I also tune the triggers and even install a set-back trigger on more powerful guns as less trigger travel helps.

ARH-1.JPG


ARH-3.JPG
 
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Too much time with PCP's, My HW50S Project

I have been spending too much time with my new PCP's, time to return to my 1st love, Springers. Wanted to upgrade my HW50S in 177, a little twangy but I love the size, trigger and accuracy. So I did some research and decided to open her up and tune and install a ARH Indoor Plinkers KIt...
www.airgunnation.com www.airgunnation.com

This is what I ended up with and the only springer I still shoot.
 
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MY FIRST hw 50S IN .22,,, TWANGED AND BUZZED badly, ARH kit and seal smoothed it out, my 2nd HW50 in 20 cal was more used when I got her, but still had twang, ARH kit and seal made it real nice.
Put a kit in my well used, [purchased not so well used, but abused] HW 57 also
I have 3 Vortek seals coming, for future install. the HW50s in 22, I sold to a friend, he wanted the 20 cal, "NO WAY JOSE' ". the 57 needs some trigger work
 
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