The one that got me hooked

[JohnL57]

Way back in the day-(say 1983 or so) I had a friend with a Walther single stroke pneumatic. It was a 10 meter target gun and shot with amazing accuracy. He introduced me to Beeman's catalogs of amazing and mostly unaffordable guns. Then I discovered the "used gun list". You'd send Mr. Beeman $1.50 and in the mail would come a list of used guns! This is the one I fell for, HW55M in a Walnut stock. It makes a blistering 550 fps with JSB 8 gr, shoots smooth as butter and is very accurate. Kind of a looker too! It's never been opened up since I've owned it, just a few drops of Silicone oil once a year to keep the leather piston seal happy.


Cost me the princely sum of $200, which was a lot of cash back then! If I recall correctly a new one cost around $450 and a FWB 300s would set you back $750.

 

[X27]

So you have never shot it?
It shore does look great though.

 

[scrane]

I have a sporter HW55 finger groove model from the same era, so I know exactly what you mean. A touch to the trigger... a light "plunk"... and the pellet's going exactly where you point it. By the way, there's a nice old HW35 for sale on the American Airguns Classified for a good price.

 

[Wadcutter]

Absolutely gorgeous rifle.....You have taken very good care of it. I believe that stock is referred to as the Bavarian-style if I recall. The early 80's were the best. Sitting around thumbing through the Beeman catalogues. Such great memories. $200 was a lot of money back then, now my youngest son is drooling over a FX Boss and scheming how to come up with enough money. The circle of life I suppose.

 

[Goodtogo]

"X27"So you have never shot it?
It shore does look great though.


I think the OP means he has never taken it apart?

 

[JohnL57]

"Goodtogo"

"X27"So you have never shot it?
It shore does look great though.


I think the OP means he has never taken it apart?

That's right, I have put thousands of pellets through it, kept the property I live on free of ground squirrels for years.
John

 

[Smaug]

It IS a beauty. 

I need to look up one of these old Beeman catalogs everyone's always talking about.

 

[Guest]

"Smaug"It IS a beauty. 

I need to look up one of these old Beeman catalogs everyone's always talking about.

http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=m570.l1313&_nkw=Beeman+catalogue&_sacat=0

 

[EMrider]

Wow, that is a real classic.

Even better that it is still going strong in stock condition.

R

 

[JohnL57]

Thanks for the replies! The HW55 was designed as a 10 meter target gun way before single stroke pneumatics, recoilless sledge guns like the FWB 300, or PCP guns. It was designed to have the smoothest possible shot cycle with an excellent trigger and latching barrel for the most solid lockup. It's definitely the easiest recoiling springer to shoot accurately that I've shot so far! The trigger is "telepathic"- you take up the first stage, think "now" and the shot goes downrange. Here's a few more pics-enjoy!

 

[MJS]

I remember those from the Beeman catalog. Really nice. Those and the FWB 124 were great guns.

 

[JohnL57]

I actually sold my FWB 124 to raise $ for the HW55. Mine was the "sporter" in the very boring stock, I had a peep on it and took out a lot of ground squirrels with it. For a very short time Air Rifle Headquarters was selling Beeman guns through an ad in Shotgun News below retail, and that's where I got my 124. Once ole Doc found out about the discount he shut it down quickly!

 

[MJS]

Interesting. I bet Beeman put an end to that quickly! I really wanted the 124 but didn't have the $ back then. I also remember that used gun list Beeman put out...probably still have a couple lying around.

That HW55 is still a looker!