The Legacy Of The Hw80

[Dr B 186]

OK, one for the old dogs, but hey, you young pups as well.

 

Back in the day (1980s) the HW80 was the 'daddy' amongst hunters I knew (closely followed by the HW77) - there were no real PCPs back then (well not widely used). It was a rabbit killing machine. I owned one myself (.22), it was a fab break barrel. Mine was just a standard, 'out of the box' version but I have many happy memories of it. One of the first things I ever shot with it was a wild mink, a very satisfying 30yrd head shot. Dead. The gun was basic, but effective. Happy days.

 

Anyway, I wondered how many people around here have had one, either standard, tuned, or custom, at some point in their life? This would be a good way to get a feel for its 'legacy' - particularly amongst hunters. Hey, even John Darling had one! How good was it? Would you have another? The venom tuned ones were the stuff of legend, did you have one? Was it as good as 'they' say? Was it over rated?

 

I would say my Tx200HC is a far better gun, but its an unfair comparism as the HW80 is dated now. Like I say, back in the day there were only a handful of guns hunters used. The HW80 was on the list of most people, was it on yours?

Edited February 10, 2015 by Dr B

[bigmac 97kt 13,816]

Iv never had one and iv had some rifles but never got round to owning a

 

Its the 97sporter for me

 

but i no of a man (PIANOMAN) that has and still has and has had his for years and years and years

 

he will be along shortly if i no him he loves the hw80 and he is a springer god no question about that

 

he has probably for got more than we will ever no lol

 

atvbmac :thumbs:

[Dr B 186]

Thanks man

 

So the 97 came later, yes? There were a few years I left airgunning and then returned. The 97 was not around when i left, but obviously has been for a while now. Whats better about it? I like my springers, but dont have any experience of shooting that one. What sets it apart for you?

Edited February 10, 2015 by Dr B

[bigmac 97kt 13,816]

Thanks man

 

So the 97 came later, yes? There were a few years I left airgunning and then returned. The 97 was not around when i left, but obviously has been for a while now. Whats better about it? I like my springers, but dont have any experience of shooting that one. What sets it apart for you?

I dont think it no better than the or the no better than the 97 both are top rifles and both tune up to a high degree

 

the 97 has more weight about it and as you no is an under leaver im a big lad and i find most break barrels to light for me as i dont like light rifles

 

and the 97 just feels right to me as dose the pro sport both the balance and the accuracy just has that edge for me over the

 

iv not own,d one() but iv shot plenty at the shooting range and they are a cracking rifle but the 97 and the pro sports will all ways be my fav,s

 

atvbmac :thumbs:

[Dr B 186]

I love prosports....but came many years after the HW80. When I got my , my mate got a Theoben Sirocco (gas ram i think). Very pretty gun and very new technology at the time. I'd still have the though over that one.

Edited February 10, 2015 by Dr B

[bigmac 97kt 13,816]

Iv had to many 97,s and im on to my third pro sport but in 177 this time and with the beach stock the last two have been 22 and with wall nut stock should pick the new one up shortly i hope

 

atvbmac :thumbs:

[bigmac 97kt 13,816]

I think the only thing that lets the pro sport down is the under leaver it feels flimsy and why the hell did they leave it silver

 

im going to spay my under leaver black when i get it

 

Right thats enough of the pro sport lets get back to the

 

im not saying that ill not own one one day and iv even had them in my hands at the shop but iv all ways put it back on the rack

 

i will get one day ,,you never no lol

 

atvbmac :thumbs:

Edited February 10, 2015 by bigmac 97kt

[Dr B 186]

Iv had to many 97,s and im on to my third pro sport but in 177 this time and with the beach stock the last two have been 22 and with wall nut stock should pick the new one up shortly i hope

 

 

I think the only thing that lets the pro sport down is the under leaver it feels flimsy and why the hell did they leave it silver

 

 

atvbmac :thumbs:

 

I've heard this about the PS lever (lots of people saying what you just said), but would the paint not flake off? Could you get it blued or something, or get something fabricated for it? I'm sure some springer tuners could do something.

 

My TX is lovely, I lucked out with that as its a really hard hitting gun. Lovely trigger, walnut stock makes it a bit easier in the shoulder, and the carbine is less nose heavy. I like heavy springers, but not too heavy - they need to be balanced and the HC is....

Edited February 10, 2015 by Dr B

[vizlauk 1,568]

I had an hw80 years ago, it was my very first gun of my own, from what I remember it was a nice gun, although my uncle had a Diana I don't know which model it was but I loved it, it was a gun that I wanted to own, when he died about 7 years ago I asked my aunt where the Diana had gone, but no one knew, so I never got to own it or shoot it again, would love to know what model it was as I'd buy a one as a thing to remember my uncle by, I did buy a hw80 a few years ago but never gave it a chance to get connected with and sold it on to a member on here, I have just been saying to a very good friend of mine tonight that I fancy either an hw80k or hw95k, then to tune it to the hilt ! In .25 cal

[J Darcy 5,871]

I've had two or three 80's. My first was some animal. I took 1089 head of vermin and game with it in the space of a couple of years. The gun was kicking out some real wind, but that was probably due to the fact that i was young and loved to tinker with the gun. We drilled the bore, added washers to the piston and generally tuned up the best we could with primative tools. I shot many of my 'firsts' with my , shot a hell of alot of game with it and that gun showed me what a .177 could do. Shots out to 60-70yards were regular. mine loved superdome and I never, ever put any other pellet through it, the gun had the kick of a mule, the noise of a .410, even with silencer, and it broke scope crosshairs like they were kindling, but it could stop any quarry, land or water, day or night.

Today everythings more refined, smoother, sweeter and quieter, but that showed a young man the way ahead. It might be seen a a primative gun today, but you wouldn't want to rewind the clock with todays gun and have a shooting competition with a certain mad-keen 15 year old and his worn out .........mucho respecto......JD

[Dr B 186]

Mac

you should get a tuned HW80. If I see a really good venom tuned one, I might be tempted back to my youth.

Edited February 10, 2015 by Dr B

[vizlauk 1,568]

You can't fault the tx200hc, the only downside I found with mine was fitting a sling as the under lever doesn't lock like the hw97 ! If air arms did the same type of thing to the tx as the hw it would make a great gun even better

 

Iv had to many 97,s and im on to my third pro sport but in 177 this time and with the beach stock the last two have been 22 and with wall nut stock should pick the new one up shortly i hope

 

atvbmac :thumbs:

 

I've heard this about the PS lever (lots of people saying what you just said), but would the paint not flake off? Could you get it blued or something, or get something fabricated for it? I'm sure some springer tuners could do something.

 

My TX is lovely, I lucked out with that as its a really hard hitting gun. Lovely trigger, walnut stock makes it a bit easier in the shoulder, and the carbine is less nose heavy. I like heavy springers, but not too heavy - they need to be balanced and the HC is....

[J Darcy 5,871]

The best, most smoothest killing machine that HW ever rolled out of their factory is the 77....without a shadow of a doubt....

 

A venom tuned 77 is about as good as it gets. There ain't no recoil, no noise, no nothing, 'Cept a whole lotta death at the other end. I've had a few 77's....They were all accurate right out to the 70 yard mark....

 

I don't think there's any other springer that can match them. And I've had most of them.

[Rez 4,961]

80's are I hate to say it, something of past... Again. I think it's down to the YouTube stars not using them or they've just been a round for so long that they get overlooked. Even myself... Not really fancied one... I have no idea why. I've owned a 98, which was theeee most accurate gun I've owned. Like razor sharp. But I moved on, got a 97 and a PS.

 

When not outputting FAC levels... What actually makes them better? When being honest, it's perhaps only opinion that makes any rifle better than the another. Any well sorted springer will out shoot the shooter in the blink of an eye.

[Dr B 186]

I agree Rez, their day is over. Air Arms has seen to that. But 'back in the day' I'm sure you'd agree they were the dogs droopy bits (along with HW77)...everyone had one. Things have moved on and the HW80 has not. Its kind of the Lamborghini Countach of airguns. Dated, put will still pull your face off.......

 

So it does not stand up to today's standards, but it has a legacy, a contribution to make to the field and the sport. Like an old drunk uncle at weddings? Puts a smile on yer face.