Wanting A Break Barrel Rifle But Not Sure Which.

[SimonC_Here 36]

Just looking for a little advice, or possibly just talk until my head agrees with what my heart wants.

I want a break barrel for general plinking and possibly HFT, and maybe something for my wife to use if I ever get her down the range.

I'm not after an underlever or I'd buy a TX200hc as I've always wanted one and I've already got use of a HW97k if I want one.

 

First off I don't want a HW95, sorry I just don't like the feel of them in the shoulder.

So, HW98, never held one but like the adjustable stock.

HW99 felt a better fit than the 95 is there a problem with a low comb as it's made for open sights?

HW80, nice, but a little too heavy.

 

Off to Theoben.

I love the Fenman, but I've only even held one, never fired one. (This is the one my heart is jumping at)

Is the Evolution exactly the same with a slightly longer barrel?

I've seen one listed on a sale site as "HE system" I'm guessing they don't know what it is and are just reading the barrel stamp. any clues to identifying different models?

 

And down to the old caliber question. I don't really mind. I'd love to try a .20, but I don't know if the gas rams work better in larger calibers?

 

Looking around £300-£350 second hand, or new of course.

 

I'm not really interested in having it tuned yet, so no Imp.

 

Any thoughts, especially on the Theobens greatly received.

 

Simon

[secretagentmole 1,701]

Gas rams tend to work better in the larger calibres as the heavier pellets require less air to get them moving! HE on a gas ram means High Efficiency, also means snappier recoil apparently, shot an HE Evo did not seem that bad to me, but my pre HE Sirocco is a smooth firing little beast!

 

The 99 works well with sights, just don't go whacking a ruddy great scope with which you can see Saturn's moons on top of it, as obviously the line of sight will be a lot higher up it than a normal 30-40mm! Ask them to fit a 3-9x40 to a 99 in your local RFD that sells them, check to see if you can get on with it before you buy!

[fosters15 2]

Check out the SFS HW99s Imp,you won't look any further mate

[fry 209]

stick an adjustable butt pad on a 95 for 16 quid. you can pick them up like new for around £200 ! i bought one yesterday bag ,scope ect £235 posted. same as a 98 bar the stock and barrel i think.

[SimonC_Here 36]

Thanks Mole, I've heard it's a bit marmite on the firing action of the HE gas rams. I should really try one before deciding.

 

I keep thinking about the 99 in .22 (do they come in .20?) as it would be fun to play with open sights again.

It was a good fit when I tried it and after all the comments around recently it's got to be a contender.

 

Sigh, someone find me a Fenman in .20 for £250 that I can try before I buy!

[Big bald beautiful 1,231]

Bog standard hw99s,ideal for your wife to use as well.

Hw95 and the hw80 are big and heavy

[Skot Ruthless Teale 1,701]

the hw99s + 3-9x40 combo did me very well as a hunting set up a few years ago. very nice little rifles.

 

as for the hw98, well its the adjustability that did it for me. I love mine to bits, it feels so perfect as its set up to my shoulder and my eye/head 100%

 

I didn't get on with my hw95k unfortunately, it was a lovely gun, but just didn't 'fit' me properly, like the 98 does!

 

but as for the theoben..

if that's what you really want then go for it!!

[pianoman 3,587]

HW80 is the king of break barrel air rifles. :thumbs:

 

No arguments, this is THE ONE and all the others scale down from this rifle. The HW90 is the King of Gas Rams and worthy of consideration here too...

 

I really must say that, the HW80 and HW80K are nothing much heavy, to me at least. I mean, the rifle has to weigh something; but, around 8-9lbs or a little more with a scope, come on fellas is that really an unmanageable weight with a sling fitted? From a prone shooting position, it is an amazing rifle for hunting. A real thoroughbred.

 

Mine is 16 years old now and I was out the other Tuesday afternoon with it. It's FAC .22 and yet, it shoots as sweet and smooth as a sub-12ft/lb gun. And it is incredibly accurate. A 30-yard, single-hole zero translates into a Squirrel shot that evening and the .22 shot went clean through its head and put it down and out fast. That's how it should be. What more should a rifle do?

 

There really is no other break barrel to match it for sheer smooth power and accuracy; and any advantage the others offer by way of weight will be lost when accuracy comes into the balance.

 

Best wishes.

Pianoman

[Skot Ruthless Teale 1,701]

I agree Simon mate, heavy is good!

 

and the isn't Really that heavy like some people make it out to be!!

[fry 209]

HW80 is the king of break barrel air rifles. :thumbs:

 

No arguments, this is THE ONE and all the others scale down from this rifle. The HW90 is the King of Gas Rams and worthy of consideration here too...

 

I really must say that, the HW80 and HW80K are nothing much heavy, to me at least. I mean, the rifle has to weigh something; but, around 8-9lbs or a little more with a scope, come on fellas is that really an unmanageable weight with a sling fitted? From a prone shooting position, it is an amazing rifle for hunting. A real thoroughbred.

 

Mine is 16 years old now and I was out the other Tuesday afternoon with it. It's FAC .22 and yet, it shoots as sweet and smooth as a sub-12ft/lb gun. And it is incredibly accurate. A 30-yard, single-hole zero translates into a Squirrel shot that evening and the .22 shot went clean through its head and put it down and out fast. That's how it should be. What more should a rifle do?

 

There really is no other break barrel to match it for sheer smooth power and accuracy; and any advantage the others offer by way of weight will be lost when accuracy comes into the balance.

 

Best wishes.

Pianoman

so do you rate the 8os then ? lol now i just bought a 95 to sample some of the german engineering.

[SimonC_Here 36]

Well after a visit to the gun shop to sample a 98, 95, and a 99s I've come away happy with a new 99 with a sport hd 3-9x40 scope.

Theoben ownership will have to wait.

[PJWmids 35]

Welcome to 99 club lol

[Daz 7 563]

HW80 is the king of break barrel air rifles. :thumbs:

 

No arguments, this is THE ONE and all the others scale down from this rifle. The HW90 is the King of Gas Rams and worthy of consideration here too...

 

I really must say that, the HW80 and HW80K are nothing much heavy, to me at least. I mean, the rifle has to weigh something; but, around 8-9lbs or a little more with a scope, come on fellas is that really an unmanageable weight with a sling fitted? From a prone shooting position, it is an amazing rifle for hunting. A real thoroughbred.

 

Mine is 16 years old now and I was out the other Tuesday afternoon with it. It's FAC .22 and yet, it shoots as sweet and smooth as a sub-12ft/lb gun. And it is incredibly accurate. A 30-yard, single-hole zero translates into a Squirrel shot that evening and the .22 shot went clean through its head and put it down and out fast. That's how it should be. What more should a rifle do?

 

There really is no other break barrel to match it for sheer smooth power and accuracy; and any advantage the others offer by way of weight will be lost when accuracy comes into the balance.

 

Best wishes.

Pianoman

 

 

Simon My Spring Gun Guru also likes the Phrase "Laddie",

The HW90 is best of the Newer H.E. Gas Rams but does not compare to the Golden Oldies.

The 1980's Theoben Sirrocco and Countrymans also Olympus pre H.E Gas rams were the Best Rammers out there

with a smaller Ram but alot smoother, The Rolls Royce of Rammers, When British Engineering was at it's Peak

Here's My 1985 left hand Sirrocco in .22 cal.

atvb Daz 7

Edited October 31, 2013 by Daz 7

[Big bald beautiful 1,231]

Sure the hw90 are old school gasram the same as the early theoben stuff,they didn't move on as the fenman etc did

[Skot Ruthless Teale 1,701]

 

HW80 is the king of break barrel air rifles. :thumbs:

 

No arguments, this is THE ONE and all the others scale down from this rifle. The HW90 is the King of Gas Rams and worthy of consideration here too...

 

I really must say that, the HW80 and HW80K are nothing much heavy, to me at least. I mean, the rifle has to weigh something; but, around 8-9lbs or a little more with a scope, come on fellas is that really an unmanageable weight with a sling fitted? From a prone shooting position, it is an amazing rifle for hunting. A real thoroughbred.

 

Mine is 16 years old now and I was out the other Tuesday afternoon with it. It's FAC .22 and yet, it shoots as sweet and smooth as a sub-12ft/lb gun. And it is incredibly accurate. A 30-yard, single-hole zero translates into a Squirrel shot that evening and the .22 shot went clean through its head and put it down and out fast. That's how it should be. What more should a rifle do?

 

There really is no other break barrel to match it for sheer smooth power and accuracy; and any advantage the others offer by way of weight will be lost when accuracy comes into the balance.

 

Best wishes.

Pianoman

 

 

Simon My Spring Gun Guru also likes the Phrase "Laddie",

The HW90 is best of the Newer H.E. Gas Rams but does not compare to the Golden Oldies.

The 1980's Theoben Sirrocco and Countrymans also Olympus pre H.E Gas rams were the Best Rammers out there

with a smaller Ram but alot smoother, The Rolls Royce of Rammers, When British Engineering was at it's Peak

Here's My 1985 left hand Sirrocco in .22 cal.

atvb Daz 7

 

Daz, you love showing this gun off don't you mate?!!

 

Like me with my hw100