HW 97k Blue Laminate in Review!
- Thread starter Airgun Nation
- Start date
I bought 97K in .22 with the blue laminate and I think it's wonderful. I had a 4x UTG on it but just put a Leupold 3x9 rimfire on it to try tomorrow until I get something specific for it. Just throwing pellets to get it broken in for now but the accuracy is definitely there.
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I have the HW77 in 177 and HW97 in 22 cal. I replaced the wood stocks with wood KT stocks. I like the HWs but I must say mine cannot hang with my LGUs in the accuracy department.
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Mr. Steve,
What a beautifully crafted heirloom piece. I wish more pcp's
were built with this quality; like some Daystate rifles. As far
as high end Spring Piston air rifles go, this has always been
one of my top choices of consideration, especially in the
black polymer stock which makes it more ready for the
elements. Thank you for the in depth study into a classic
example of air gun mastery.
What a beautifully crafted heirloom piece. I wish more pcp's
were built with this quality; like some Daystate rifles. As far
as high end Spring Piston air rifles go, this has always been
one of my top choices of consideration, especially in the
black polymer stock which makes it more ready for the
elements. Thank you for the in depth study into a classic
example of air gun mastery.
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Tempting to try another springer, first foray was a disaster, Gamo Swarm Gen 2. I'm warming up to the laminate stocks. This blue is eye pleasing.
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I just placed an order for a HW97K, standard stock. That blue laminate is pretty but I think I would get tired of any laminate quickly, and opted for plain wood for $100 less. This is not my first foray into springers, my first was a FWB 124 bought new in early 1975, then a FWB 300s, and early this year a Diana 54 airking pro, not too crazy about it because of weight and cocking effort. I have always liked the looks of an underlever and will finally have one . I have a 4-12x50mm Vortex Crossfire waiting to mount on it.
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I honestly do not think that there will be any difference in the walnut stained beech, vs the laminate stock rifles.
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Been playing more and more with my 97k and it just keeps getting better. So far the limiting factor has been the scope as I'm just not ready to throw a ton of money towards optics yet. I should just bite the bullet (pellet) and go big since the rifle seems up to the challenge. The trigger is amazing to me, with two turns of the screw it has got to be the best out of box trigger I've ever had on any rifle be it air or powder burner. I see this rifle staying around for a long time.
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I have a like NIB MTC Genesis LR and BKL 1 piece mount that would be a nice match with this rifle. Add a Vortek SHO kit, turn this blue beauty into a pest killing machine. Just dreaming of all the possibilities with this jewel...................
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My HW-97 long, this is a HW-97 0.177 but with a longer barrel 10cm longer. tuned and with a nice walnut stock, my favourite springer.
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INRE: the laminated versions whether blue or red I'd like to know if you can take the rifle out into the sub zero cold and whack it against a tree or something around the pistol grip to see the tensile strength of the glued laminate wood.
AOA sent two of these to me in .25 with broken pistol grips that sheared off as easily as a glass rod dropped on the floor. I can't blame the UPS is at fault. I claim ANY laminate will BREAK across the pistol grip like the first batch of Diana Air King Pro Red Laminates in .22 did when shipped over here from GE.
When you buy a glued gun laminate stock you are buying, essentially, a glass stock that will break or shear at the weakest point (grip) and any other point the wood is supposed to support in ALL weather and stress and tensile challenge.
I had TWO of those HW77s in .25 Blue Laminate come to me from Airguns of Arizona BROKEN across the pistol grip in the SAME area.
I gave up on LAMINATES in air rifles after that and finally ordered a simple HW80K .22 Long Range Hunter. THAT rifle is in FULL operation and I am HAPPY it has replaced those two laminates that LOOK so good but last so short.
Just a warning to watch the weather and stress on your LAMINATED and GLUED stock compared to the standard plain Beech.
AOA sent two of these to me in .25 with broken pistol grips that sheared off as easily as a glass rod dropped on the floor. I can't blame the UPS is at fault. I claim ANY laminate will BREAK across the pistol grip like the first batch of Diana Air King Pro Red Laminates in .22 did when shipped over here from GE.
When you buy a glued gun laminate stock you are buying, essentially, a glass stock that will break or shear at the weakest point (grip) and any other point the wood is supposed to support in ALL weather and stress and tensile challenge.
I had TWO of those HW77s in .25 Blue Laminate come to me from Airguns of Arizona BROKEN across the pistol grip in the SAME area.
I gave up on LAMINATES in air rifles after that and finally ordered a simple HW80K .22 Long Range Hunter. THAT rifle is in FULL operation and I am HAPPY it has replaced those two laminates that LOOK so good but last so short.
Just a warning to watch the weather and stress on your LAMINATED and GLUED stock compared to the standard plain Beech.
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My HW-97 long, this is a HW-97 0.177 but with a longer barrel 10cm longer. tuned and with a nice walnut stock, my favourite springer.
whoa. stunning! Who made that stock?
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Can't believe these guns are still around $500... that's how much the 77s were when I was a kid 30 years ago, lol
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