Recent content by Swissair

My competitive shooting ended before the PCP era, so I can only compare a 300S/SU against the SSP model 600. The speed of shot release is noticeably faster with a 600, and the pump arrangement put the muzzle much closer to the shooter than any other springer or SSP of the time, which also had a...

My 1969 .177 HW35 Standard. It has all the usual lovely features of an old HW35: - slappy-flappy-rattlely cocking arm - THE click on cocking - galling under the cylinder from the cocking arm - groove in cylinder face from the chisel-faced barrel latch - porous cylinder plug from poor brazing On...

I picked up a very nice but cheap FWB 300S last year, and found that the thread on the diopter's elevation screw was stripped bare. I put a fairly compact scope on it instead of paying the price of the gun to replace the diopter!🤪 Definitely fun shooting out to longer ranges with a scope on.

I had 3 trains to get there and 2 back as it was a different route. I had 20-odd minutes between connections on the way back so I went for a walk around the town centre with our dog, with the rifle in a soft carry case over my shoulder. Didn't feel like I stood out and I wasn't worrying that I...

I love cleaning, restoring and even upcycling old things, not just old airguns, and it's so rewarding to see the results. Very few things cannot be rescued if you are willing to make the effort. This HW55 was easy pickings! :giggle:

Aha, leather piston seal: I will remember to oil it occasionally. I've now given the trigger blade and locking nut a polish too!:giggle: Maybe the guys in the gunshop were thinking I was the sucker buying this mucky old airgun? I think that in a country like Switzerland where you can own...

Yesterday I stripped the action down on the HW55 Custom. MikeD's comment about it potentially having a plastic piston seal, but me thinking "I hope it actually has a piston seal!". It did: plastic. The piston and seal were caked in grease, whilst the spring was just lightly greased. I removed...

Definitely a bargain! I really don't understand gunshop people. Listing a gun like that as a parts donor makes no sense: no wonder it remained unsold for so long. And if they'd spent 10 minutes to clean up the exterior, they could have doubled or tripled the asking price. Can't say I felt like...

Just back from my trip out to collect the HW55! 4-odd hours on 5 trains, with some walks with the dog in between. Thankfully the dog never reveals the reasons for these weird trips around the country to my other half! I take the train because I have a yearly pass, so it's no stress and no extra...

Great info and insight, Mike. It's incredible that a recoiling rifle like the HW55 could survive as far as the 1990's, given that by 1984 almost everyone was shooting a Diana 75, Anschütz 380, Walther LGR, and even the FWB 300S/SU was being dumped in favour of the new 600. I'm sure you could've...

I'm looking for some info on the HW55 Custom Match: the one with the lookalike FWB300S stock. Does someone (Mike! : ) have an idea of the range of years of production, and how many were made? I assume that they didn't make too many. Thanks!

Lovely pair of NOS HW30S! Great find! They're lovely guns to shoot. Mine is a few months older than those: #461814. Pre-safety Weihrauchs are great!

I will try, Mike. Even if the photos don't work out, I will write up the process and report the results. My scratching around for info suggested that this was mostly a manufacturing issue with earlier guns, but maybe it extended to the 1980s too. In the process of brazing the end plug onto the...

Nice acquisition, looks like you don't need to do much cleaning up on that one! I used a modern breech seal on mine, but kept the leather piston seal. Seems like you may have the same issue as mine (c.1969 vintage) : nice and smooth shot cycle but low on power. I learnt that this is most...

That style of match shooting is also what I remember from my time, although in the UK there weren't many ranges with target changers, and usually you only came across those at the national championships. At the lower levels, it was 5-bull targets, sometimes even with 2 shots a bull, and walking...