REPORT : My HW97K

[kirby999]

I got my Accushot high one piece mount this week and mounted my Bushnell Legend 5-15x40 . I'd been shooting JSB's out of the HW97K in .177 at around 825fps but I was getting some fliers that I thought was due to my cheek weld using the medium mounts . After switching mounts I was still not getting the groups I'd hoped for. I decided to switch pellets , so I cleaned the barrel with some GooGone patches followed by some dry patches and resighted with some CPL's . After a couple of sight-in shots it settled down and started shooting better . Today , my friend Jon and I went to Airgunning Atlanta to finish setting up my scope for ranging and to make a drop/holdover sheet to shoot field target . Jon took his new custom Bam B50 and did some sight in work. Afterwards ; we went to the lanes to shoot a few targets before headed home. When time ran out on us we ended in a tie , both knocking down 23 out of 34 targets . Not bad IMO for shooting a springer off a bipod with a maximum 12x scope in hunter class . The HW is showing promise and I'm gaining confidence in it . BTW focusing the Bushnell scope out on the lanes , I found out what the deal was about the Legend scopes . This is a very clear scope , even for my aging eyes. It's not the greatest for ranging past 40 yards , but neither are many scopes at 12X power. Up close the clarity is awesome. kirby

[Big_Bill]

It's Good to hear that you and your HW97K are playing well together Kirby !

I wish that I could get my Big Fat fingers into the loading chamber, and place a pellet into the barrel, I love the lines of that air gun !

Good shootin to ya !

Bill

[kirby999]

Latest update : Today a friend, and club member , Doug Vinson and I went to AA for some field target shooting . He was shooting his new Whiscome with Leupold 35X competition scope and I shot my HW97K with Legend scope set at 12X , shooting hunter style off my Stoney Pointe bipod. BTW Doug's Whizzer shoots just under 20fpe with .177 cal. JSB heavies . It was a warm, but beautiful day with just a little breeze every once in awhile, that cool you off if you weren't shooting , but made it a little more challeging if you were . Some of the lanes had had storm damage and were unshootable , but we managed to shoot a 60 shot match . Right off , on the first lane ; a standing offhand 4 shot lane , I went ahead with 4 for 4 , and Doug shot 3 for 4 . The next few lanes I went ahead by a couple of hits , but then I started my usual decline as Doug got better . About half way , we were tied for several lanes including the kneeling lane where I missed one of my first two targets and chose to shoot the next two standing , instead of kneeling because the kneeling hurts my knee. My next two shots standing I manage to get , so that made me 6 for 6 in my standing shots . But Doug made all 4 of his kneeling shots and I slowly fell behind . Once we finished the last lane we had shot 56 shots and decided to shoot whichever lane had shade on the shooting area on our way back to the truck , which turned out to be the kneeling lane , so Doug says we'll finish up with standing on the last four shots and since I had gone 6 for 6 , I said sure . At this time I had a score of 42 out of 56 , and Doug had a 47 out of 56 ; no way I could catch him , but I could make it interesting . Doug shot first and went 3 out of 4 for a 50 out of 60 final score , awesome shooting IMO for a piston shooter . The fatigue factor raised it's ugly head and bit me bad . I'd been living high on my off hand shots and knew I was bound to come down sooner or later and it happened . I only managed 1 out of 4 on the last lane for a 43 out of 60 . Nothing to be ashamed of , a very respectable score , especially shooting a springer off a bipod with a 12X limit on scope power . It was a fun day shooting with a friend , helping him get ready to shoot the GOB championship this coming weekend . kirby

[Gene_SC]

Great news David. I am still biting my finger nails waiting for Cobra Air to ship my HW 97. I have my new MAP PRO Hawk 4-16-50 AO Balistic Scope but no springer to put her on..(  Sounds like the weight of your baby got the best of you.. Sure glad I only shoot off the bench.. hehe   Keep all the positive stuff coming with your HW 97 buddy.

[kirby999]

Gene_SC - 6/9/2009  9:08 PM (  Sounds like the weight of your baby got the best of you.. Sure glad I only shoot off the bench.. hehe   Keep all the positive stuff coming with your HW 97 buddy.

It's not all that bad with the Bushnell Legend scope ; Gene . I think the heat and humidity today had more to do with me getting worn out than the weight of the rifle. It feels lighter than my TX . And when I'm shooting it's off the bipod, almost like a portable bench . I'm supposed to be getting my Bushnell Trophy DOA scope tomorrow . It'll be going ton the TX to lighten it up a little . I'll let you know how it does . kirby

[Gene_SC]

Thats great David, cause I really want to know how that Bushnell DOA compaires to my other Trophy scopes that I have.

[DanoInTx]

I shot mine a bit over the weekend as well and it just stacks pellets, one after another into a tiny little hole.  I don't have much range at all in my yard, so I'm limited, but the gun feels great to shoot, none of the typical teeth jaring springer feeling to it, it's as comfy for me to shoot as my S200...ok, not that relaxed, but it's pretty docile:)  My short range groups look just as good as I could hold with my old R7 now that I've figured out the hold it likes.  Really my only complaint is the typical springer fatigue I get with any springer in my shoulder and elbow from cocking it, but I gots da bad joints doncha know!  Haha!

[kirby999]

Dan ; right now my HW97K cocks easier than any of my other springers except for the HW30S's . The TX200HC is the hardest ; but maybe I can fix that soon, if Macarri puts his TX spring kit back on his site for sale . The R9 and R11 cocks fairly easy once I break the barrel lock up. They are bear to break open sometimes , but once open, I use both hands sometimes to cock them . It saves on the old elbows . Hehe kirby

[Graham]

Hey Kirby, I reckon your grouping would greatly improve if you STOP USING A BIPOD. Bipods are not really suited to springers, as they interfere with the guns natural recoil. Bearing in mind that the HW97 is one of the most accurate air rifles out there, your groups will be much, much better if you shoot it resting loosely on the palm of your hand, supported by a bag of some sort.

ATB, Graham.

[kirby999]

Graham - 6/10/2009  2:25 AMHey Kirby, I reckon your grouping would greatly improve if you STOP USING A BIPOD. Bipods are not really suited to springers, as they interfere with the guns natural recoil. Bearing in mind that the HW97 is one of the most accurate air rifles out there, your groups will be much, much better if you shoot it resting loosely on the palm of your hand, supported by a bag of some sort.ATB, Graham.

Graham ; Yes, I realize the springer would group better without the bipod , but I wouldn't. LOL Over here in the USA, in field target, our hunter class is different than hunter field target over across the pond . Unless it's a forced position lane , we can shoot sitting on an armless stool of less than 15" tall and use a bipod for support . I wish I could shoot as well from a bumbag , resting across my knee, as I do with the bipod . My body type isn't field target friendly .I have a long torso and short legs . So I shoot from the position and in the class that lets me shoot where I'm the most comfortable and most accurate . I have spent a good bit of time developing a hold that will allow me to shoot a springer the best I can off a bipod. Also, I could just shoot my PCP , but as a friend of mine once asked me ; " do you like doing everything the hard way ? " LOL YEP !! kirby