Favorite Spring Gun? and Why?

[Greenarrow]

We all have a rifle or two that we tend to gravitate to when it’s time to shoot. I have been hanging out in the PCP world for the summer but I always go back and try to exercise my other power plant airguns. I have a handful of HW (Weihrauch) rifles that I enjoy. I have something about each one that I like but some of them check more of those happy boxes than maybe some of the others for various reasons.



What i I am interested in knowing is what is YOUR favorite spring gun, and why? Maybe it’s the first one you bought or it was a gift from a loved one. Maybe it is a rare model or a special variation of one. You might have put a lot of extra $$$ into it to have it tuned and customized or maybe you have many, many great hunts with it to remember. Whatever the reason, I would like to read about it.



I would say that my favorite spring gun is a HW95 in .177 caliber. I like mine detuned to the 12-13 fpe range for a softer shot cycle and easier cocking. I prefer it in .177 for the flatter trajectory and the difference in the shot cycle as compared to .22. Another aspect of the rifle that I really like is the way it handles. The first time I picked one up, it just fit me. It was the right size and weight.



I do have a R9 in .22 caliber that would be my last to go simply because it was my first quality air rifle and it’s customized the way I want it BUT, a basic detuned HW95 in .177 fit me better overall. I like this power plant/style of spring gun so much that I have 3! Ha ha! Two are .177 HW95s and one is a R9 .22.



Top is HW95 .177 with peep. Bottom is R9 .22. I have another HW95 that I call the HWR95 (HW95 and R9 combined) because it’s a 95 action in the original R9 stock and it sports a scope on top.



I look forward to hearing about your favorites!!!

 

[EMrider]

Beautiful stock on that bottom gun.

My tastes are similar to yours. My favorite springer is the hw97k in .177 tuned with a JM kit to shoot at about 12.5fpe. Same power plant as the hw95, but in an under-lever design.



R

 

[brad870]

Feinwerkbau 300 S 

 

[Greenarrow]

Beautiful stock on that bottom gun.

My tastes are similar to yours. My favorite springer is the hw97k in .177 tuned with a JM kit to shoot at about 12.5fpe. Same power plant as the hw95, but in an under-lever design.



R

EMRider... I love my HW97K! It is a great bench shooter. It likes the JSB heavies (10.3 gr?) best.

The top one is the HWR95 and the bottom is the 97.

 

[intenseaty22]

I own 3 springers. A .177 HW30, a .177 Walther LGV, & a .22 Walther LGV. 

The .177 LGV is the one that I have the most into, the one that is an absolute laser that can probably take out squirrels or rabbits at 50 yards no problem. 

However, it’s the HW30 the one I probably shoot the most, it’s the one that comes out to play when the job doesn’t require a PCP at 30 fpe. It’s the one that makes me giggle when it takes a squirrel at 18 yards with a perfectly placed brain shot. 

Not really a fair question, as my 3 are equally loved for different jobs. If I could only keep one, it may be the .177 LGV, but the HW30 is probably my favorite to shoot of all 3. 

Best I can give ya. 

 

[Greenarrow]

Feinwerkbau 300 S 

Great rifle Brad! I have one of those myself. I really enjoy it. Here is Nate and a 50 yard group he shot!

 

[Greenarrow]

I own 3 springers. A .177 HW30, a .177 Walther LGV, & a .22 Walther LGV. 

The .177 is the one that I have the most into, the one that is an absolute laser that can probably take out squirrels or rabbits at 50 yards no problem. 

However, it’s the HW30 the one I probably shoot the most, it’s the one that comes out to play when the job doesn’t require a PCP at 30 fpe. It’s the one that makes me giggle when it takes a squirrel at 18 yards with a perfectly placed brain shot. 

Not really a fair question, as my 3 are equally loved for different jobs. If I could only keep one, it may be the .177 LGV, but the HW30 is probably my favorite to shoot of all 3. 

Best I can give ya.

It works for me Christian!

I have not ever owned or even shot any of the Walther rifles. There was a period there where I was really wanting the LGU. I ended up talking myself out of it. I have a HW30S and the HW50S. Both in .177. While I did enjoy them, I always went for the 95/R9. I have since given both of those rifles away to two of my boys. Both are mounted with scopes. I also had a HW35 but it just didn’t suit me so I ended up selling it. It was a big tank and looooong. The 95s fit me best so they have remained on top.

 

[intenseaty22]

I do have a couple “bucket list” springers. The HW50 & the HW95 rank on top of next buys, both in .177. A TX200HC in .22, just because that damn stock is so purrrty. 

There was a .20 HW95 in the classifieds that I resent not getting. Now I’m looking at the HW97 in .20 as a prospect as well. 

 

[Flintsack]

 My very first favorite would have to be my FWB 124, bought at B and B supply, brick and mortar store front, in 1980 for my high school graduation present. We did not go with the deluxe model, I was thrilled to death with the plain Jane stock...$270 was a huge amount of money in 1980. I upgraded the stock about 15 years ago with a purchase on the yellow forum, a Grade IV Maccari DIY for $200, in the rough. 

It was and is incredibly accurate. I had David’s Slade go through it about eight years ago. On my first summer returning home after freshman year in college, I was able to permanently put the alarm clock out of commission. The alarm clock, was a Bluejay that was waking us up, every morning at 6 AM. The windows were open, After a couple nights of this, it was time to change something.I set up my one year old 124 Right next to the door. I practiced opening the walkout door, so I could do it quiet. At 6 AM the Bluejay woke me up. I crept to the door, and opened it very slowly. I put the crosshairs right on the Bluejay at 40 yards. First there was a thump, then silence, then the sound Of the Bluejay hitting the ground, then from the room directly above me, my dad called down window to window, “thank you”. Makes me smile.

When I would go squirrel hunting with my buddies, they would all carry 22s. I would out shoot them with the 124 break barrel single shot air gun every time.

Great post made me think

mike 

 

[Greenarrow]

My very first favorite would have to be my FWB 124, bought at B and B supply, brick and mortar store front, in 1980 for my high school graduation present. We did not go with the deluxe model, I was thrilled to death with the plain Jane stock...$270 was a huge amount of money in 1980. I upgraded the stock about 15 years ago with a purchase on the yellow forum, a Grade IV Maccari DIY for $200, in the rough. 

It was and is incredibly accurate. I had David’s Slade go through it about eight years ago. On my first summer returning home after freshman year in college, I was able to permanently put the alarm clock out of commission. The alarm clock, was a Bluejay that was waking us up, every morning at 6 AM. The windows were open, After a couple nights of this, it was time to change something.I set up my one year old 124 Right next to the door. I practiced opening the walkout door, so I could do it quiet. At 6 AM the Bluejay woke me up. I crept to the door, and opened it very slowly. I put the crosshairs right on the Bluejay at 40 yards. First there was a thump, then silence, then the sound Of the Bluejay hitting the ground, then from the room directly above me, my dad called down window to window, “thank you”. Makes me smile.

When I would go squirrel hunting with my buddies, they would all carry 22s. I would out shoot them with the 124 break barrel single shot air gun every time.

Great post made me think

mike 

Excellent memory! Thank you for sharing that.

What a great graduation present! Did you have any idea back then in 1980 that an airgun/s would even be a point of interest in your life after so many years?

I never would have thought that about myself. I was given a 7mm magnum for Christmas when I was 15 years old. It was a tight year for my parents financially and they didn’t have much to give that year. I always admired that 7mm of my dads but NEVER ever thought that it could be mine. I was VERY surprised to find it under the tree that year. There couldn’t have been a better gift. I hardly ever get to shoot it but it will remain my #1 favorite of all time because of my dad giving it to me.

I got into airguns when my family was young and growing. I always had a feeling of guilt leaving my wife and young kids behind to go out and shoot so I bought an air rifle. It was a Gamo BigCat 1200. It wasn’t as accurate as I thought so I went to the internet to find out why. I discovered the Yellow forum and the world of quality airguns so it was all over after that. Ha ha! I’ve been shooting mostly air power for the past 12 years. I can step out back anytime and sling some lead in my own backyard. I absolutely love it! And my kids have/are growing up shooting with me so that is the HUGE bonus right there. It paid to learn to play at home.



I love the wood on that stock, BTW!

 

[joek]

Although I love all my HW's, Walther LGV, etc... my favorite is my BSA Supersport mkII .22 set up with a Williams peep, it has a nice shot cycle, handles fast and I don't have to think to hit what I aim at lol

 

[r1lover]

No one gun encompasses all my favorite characteristics, but my favorite to shoot would be an HW55S with a Leupold Vari-X III AO with custom TS32X-1 reticle. Man-sized but not too heavy, high comb easily aligns eye to scope, easy to cock, easy to shoot, supremely accurate, foregiving, best of the Rekord trigger units. A 10m target rifle with correspondingly loopy trajectory makes a simple, compact course of tiny targets challenging and fun.

 

[uglymike]

My LGV .177. I shoot paintballs off golf tees @ 50 yards with it. Not every shot, but often enough I keep shooting. My D52, HW98, HW97 can't do that. 

 

[brad870]

I love my HW97K rifles, too. 

 

[brad870]

Feinwerkbau 300 S 

Great rifle Brad! I have one of those myself. I really enjoy it. Here is Nate and a 50 yard group he shot!

Awesome!

 

[SteveV]

I love the TX 200. They just ooze quality and classiness.

Lucky me, have two MK1 lefties.

 

[Glenroiland]

The one I shoot the most is my Diana 48 t05. Got an absolutely fantastic deal on it (with a decent scope I gave my son, great condition, shipped 200). It shoots very well, yet cocking effort is minimal, shoulders perfectly for me, is backyard quiet (I have a nice range set up), easy to service, looks nice yet I won't stress if I bang it up. Serves me well for pesting, plinking, and target. And when I pull the trigger, I just love the sound and feel it generates. Mechanical but smooth. Much longer shot cycle than some of my others. Long enough to enjoy and experience it, but short enough so as to not create too much barrel time for the pellet. I have to caress it to get great shot placement, but when I coax it just so, I convince it to gift me ragged one holes at 26 yards. It gives me back what I give it. I love this gun.

 

[walter3rd]

Hw97 for the win in 177.  

 

[jps2486]

I own, or have owned at one time or another, the following:

Beeman R7
Beeman R8 (don't own anymore)
Beeman R9
HW 99K (Don't own anymore)
RWS 52 (Don't own anymore)
FWB 300 (I still have 3 but had another years ago)

All were fine shooting, accurate rifles, but my vote goes to the FWBs. They are easy to cock, have no recoil and their accuracy is amazing.

 

[GoldenStateAIRGUNer]

I'd say that of all the springers I've owned my favorite was the Beeman RX1 (HW90) in .20 cal. For it's power the shot cycle was pretty smooth and accuracy was great. Cocking effort was a little stout though.