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Finally have some cash

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G

Goldenghost

Member
May 7, 2020
9
0
MICHIGAN
Well I finally have some cash for a gun.

Been thinking of an Air Arms 200 but that might be overkill.

Looking for a squirrel rifle. Do I need the most accurate gun made with a great stock, not really.

So offer opinions with a scope. Why don't I see any synthetic stocks, it would be nice.

Also, I have my mind made up on an under lever. Thanks.

Price doesn't matter that much but why throw away cash and ruin a stock in the woods 




 
Synthetic HW97?

HW-97-BL-STL-Zfr.-quer.1599309333.jpg

 
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I absolutely would want the most accurate gun I could get for squirrel hunting. There is a difference in hitting a squirrel, and hitting it between the eye and ear. 

For underlevers, I think they are a good choice. It's my preference too for hunting. Lots of guys complain about the weight, but the extra weight makes them easier to shoot accurately. 

My favorites over any of them are the HW77K or HW97K. The 97K can be had in a synthetic thumbhole stock, and in a stainless all-weather look finish, or blued. Should make an excellent hunting gun and be very durable. I prefer them in .177 because I have found them more accurate than the .22s in these guns. And the flatter trajectory is welcome. 

PY-4399_Weihrauch-HW97-Black-Line_1504297754.1599309407.jpg
weihrauch-hw97k-synthetic-900x800.1599309421.jpg

 
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Given your criteria (accurate, under lever, synthetic stock availability), I think that the hw97k is the only one that checks all of your boxes. IMHO, it also happens to be my favorite spring gun and my preferred hunting rig. Very hard to differentiate between the tx200 and hw97k in terms of accuracy and/or reliability. Both are quite popular for good reasons.

My hw97k is in .177 and setup to shoot at 12fpe. It is deadly on squirrels and quail out to 40 yards. Both the tx200 and hw97k are heavy, so fitting them with a sling is very helpful if your hunting involves a lot of walking.

The hw97k is also an excellent value from Krale.

https://www.krale.shop/us/weihrauch-hw97-black-line/

R


 
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Id put a BKL one piece on an HW97. They hold well, self center, and just work. If cash is tight, the $15 UTG two piece mounts with the stop pin work well too. 

A nice fairly light 4-12X scope set around 10X is what I like best. But, it's all preference. 

Here's one of my setups with a 4-12X40 Vortex Diamondback: 

Gd7lAez.1599316795.jpg


And another close up of the BKL and Vortex:

IMG_20200613_090856.1599316977.jpg


And here's one with a 4-12X40 Sightron SIH with the cheap UTG mounts: 

IMG_20181124_095827.1599317229.jpg


None of my scopes are made anymore, so I don't have a real solid recommendation on what to go with other than general size and magnification. But try and go lightweight as the weight perched up high has a noticeable effect on perceived weight and balance. All of these are about 18oz, and I ran a 3-9X32 on them for a while at 12oz and the difference was surprisingly noticeable (and welcomed lol)
 
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I have the Big Four of Underlevers, all in .22: TX200, HW97K, D460, and LGU. All are heavy. For easy accuracy, the 97 and LGU get the nod. The 460 is a magnum, but I had it detuned for all day pleasure. All are exceedingly accurate. I don't hunt with them, so I can't comment on that. If I'm gonna hunt...ie: go out and search for game, not sit around and shoot at rats and squirrels and I don't have to look for them...I'll take a powder burner.

The stocks of all but the TX are good, plain, utilitarian units that can take a lickin' and keep on tickin'. If you want the TX for hunting, I'd definitely avoid the walnut. For me, the idea of a thumbhole stock in a rifle, especially an air rifle, is a no hell no. But that's just personal choice. But the synthetic stock is certainly an asset for hunting.

After all is said and done, I think OP is knocking at the doorstep of the HW97K with a plastic stock!
 
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...I am going to have to buy one of these at some point...I am liking the wood stocked HW97K...it seems the 17, .20, and .22 all develop 20j/17fpe...???...

...is the bulbous thing that looks like a moderator at the end of the barrel on the HW97 made of metal or hard plastic...???...
Click to expand...

Metal. Blued steel. Only plastic in the entire gun is the spring guide and the piston and breech seals. 
 
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...thanks...I was having trouble understanding @ AOG...they have one .17 cal in stock...

...for some reason I am obsessed with one in .20 cal...
Click to expand...

On the older guns it's a blued steel muzzle weight-on the newer ones I believe it's a moderator, I'd guess it's aluminum, but it's only a guess as I haven't held one of the newer models.
 
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Underlevers are a lot heavier than a .22lr. rifle. If you walk far I'd go with an HW95 in .177. And I do like underlevers, but.... I like to hunt hilly country. Or the mountain. Ok with me if you have to hike some. I don't care for flat land. One of my legs is longer than the other. 😁

Put another way. An HW95 weighs as much as a deer rifle. How often have you seen a deer hunter up in the woods with a bull barrel varmint rifle? It won't be me if you do. IF you do.

Now, if you hunt the woods beside your house, that's different. Take Big Bertha. 

I don't want a scope that weighs over a pound for hunting. I don't need big x for that. 2-7 is sufficient. In fact I've made some real nice shots with a 4x.32mm. Even a 4x20mm as a teenager. The good old days after school. LOl! I didn't start squirrel hunting yesterday. Anything less than a head shot is a miss!
 
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