Other Death of the springer

[coastal drifter]

Those are beautiful rifles. They appeal to everyone that appreciates rifles. But that's just not where the market is for a pellet gun.

Most pellet rifles sold are for plinkers and young men to learn to shoot. They don't want fancy figured wood and deep bluing. They want something to shoot squirrels and tin cans.

Most guys need a rifle they can shoot. Most cant really afford that. They are strapped to buy groceries and diapers. Manufacturers just can't make money producing rifles to gaze upon.

There is an extremely limited market for pellet rifles like that. They are collectibles for collectors. You can shoot them but they weren't really made for most shooters.

The high end springers are truly beautiful. One of the main reasons to join a forum like this is to check out the sweet springers everyone is filling their walls with. I wouldn't take any of them on the boat or lay one across the tailgate to get a beer.

I like the Cometa 400. It's my daily shooter. I like my D34. I think rifles like these represent the type of spring rifles that manufacturers will continue to offer (find profitable). Gas rams and synthetic stocks are the future. The old works of art are monuments to a glorious past.

When I was much younger, I wanted a Beeman springer, (before PCP's) but couldn't afford what they were selling for as Bob said. One day I ran across a Dianna 34 in a pawn shop and finally bought my first quality air gun. I own a HW95 today and love it. I dont think I could get a better springer or need another.

 

[baranjhn]

The Turkish walnut on Hatsans is gorgeous, if only they could get the rest of their rifles up to snuff.

 

[maxtrouble]

I have been lucky with all of the new Weihrauch rifles I have purchased. They have all been of high quality with excellent fit and finish.

The only Weihrauch rifle I regret purchasing is the HW57. Lloyd at Blackpool even said to not purchase the rifle in his review. But I still bought one anyway, what does Lloyd know? The HW57 looks beautiful but has the worst accuracy out of them all.

Get a good springer while you can. You sure can't take it with you! Hell, get a dozen or so, they are more fun than PCP's!

 

[Bandito]

You guys with any excess ooooold springers can ship them to me, prepaid please. Pm me for my address. I can use the old parts and maybe get some salvage money from the steel. I promise not to fix them and shoot them!¡! Who knows I might paint the barrels for fancy tomato stakes! Be Well Brothers, dito.

 

[beerthief]

The death of the springer rifle

So i have a beef with the Airgun industry, specifically Spring and gas ram air rifle makers.

WHAT HAPPENED???????

When you paid a high ticket for an air rifle it was worth it as it was a functioning work of art. Bluing with a mirror finish, exhibition grade wallnut stocks, amazing triggers. Top of the line barrels and accuracy for days. Some where along the line people just forgot. Now its ABS plastics 10 lbs triggers and not so impressive stocks.

Bsa, Theoben, Airarms, Beeman, Hw, webley
These companys put out some of the best of the best. Yes some went under others sold out to other companys. But man i really wish some one would step up and bring back the springer. 90s and early 2000s were the hey day. And from like 2011 on they fell off. It sadens me it really does. Collectors hord anything worth a can of beans so finding these pieces of art work are next to impossible in the States.

Yes pcp are all the rage and have become extremely popular. The pcp really started to take over in 2013, from my point of View anyway, 2016 it just hogged the market and our beloved spring/gas ram forever applied to the back burner.

RIP to the Springer

The post is to spark conversion and or maybe reignite a love and passion for that springer in the closet.


I do not own the rifles in the pictures, if you do olease feel free to take credit. Thanks

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only 19 hours since i saw these photos , drooling has somewhat subsided .

 

[DeanB]

I kind of agree, but I think mechanically HW’s are probably built as well as ever with their better cocking shoe slider, more secure forearm screw fasteners. But the laser etching, plastic parts, and post modern stock designs on most of the newer springers sometimes has me questioning my interest in airguns.


So I see no need to buy any of the new airguns as I think I have all my springer needs covered with RX1, R1, R10, R8, and P1. I am on the lookout for a vintage R7.

Springers are just far more interesting to me than PCP’s. Even though they aren’t as accurate or powerful. I like mechanical things and enjoy making them better than they came from the factory. Also like the way the vintage springers remind me of a simpler time.

I believe a quality springer is every bit as accurate as a pcp, they are just multiple times harder to shoot and for the most part people never master them. A TX200 is very capable of 1/2 inch groups out to 50 yds just very few people can do it. I agree they are usually not near as powerful as pcps but for the most part are plenty capable for 90 percent of what most shooters need or want to do be it small game, pesting or target shooting. For the most part air gunners are power hungry and want rim fire power or more out of a pellet gun that really doesnt need it.

 

[joe9090]

only 19 hours since i saw these photos , drooling has somewhat subsided .

Aren't they absolutely lovely? The work and craftsmanship that went into older spring rifles.

 

[beerthief]

I think if i had known before hand , HW was going to design new look stocks i would have invested heavily in the custom stock makers ?

 

[joe9090]

I think if i had known before hand , HW was going to design new look stocks i would have invested heavily in the custom stock makers ?

Facts

 

[.20calguy]

My first PCP couldn't hit the broad side of a barn. They just said try all these different pellets, ones bound to work. So I tried again and a bit better but a repeat performance, and the warranty said it was within their standard of accuracy, but not mine. My Sheridan that I bought in 72, would outshoot either of them.
My compressor died after less than a year of use, and I replaced it. Then I figured it out. The Chinese weren't going to build me a satisfactory product. Being a Volvo owner for years, I was interested in a Sweedish built airgun that I had seen years ago. So looked them up and bought an FX Crown, and finally had a real decent PCP.

Now we're spending real money, so I have owned German quality airguns from back in the Robert Beeman hayday, and since the money is getting serious, I wonder what is available in HW's lineup?

So I may be twenty years behind the times, but I see people who are interested in PCP only, more as an extension of powder burners than airgun enthusiasts.

 

[Sawney Bean]

I think if i had known before hand , HW was going to design new look stocks i would have invested heavily in the custom stock makers ?

Isn't that the truth! How is it that the Germans can make such excellent guns and yet be so clueless as to what makes an attractive stock? All they'd have to do is copy an Air Arms or a Webley and then contract the production out to the Turks. Those new D54's are awful.

 

[.20calguy]

Isn't that the truth! How is it that the Germans can make such excellent guns and yet be so clueless as to what makes an attractive stock? All they'd have to do is copy an Air Arms or a Webley and then contract the production out to the Turks. Those new D54's are awful.

I think Weihrauch designed they're stocks around shooting quality rather than esthetics. The reason it looks so funky is more about radical changes compared to what we're used too.

 

[Sawney Bean]

I think Weihrauch designed they're stocks around shooting quality rather than esthetics. The reason it looks so funky is more about radical changes compared to what we're used too.

I think you're absolutely right about that, but they could have easily accomplished their ergonomic goals without making the stocks look awful. Adjustable cheekpieces and buttplates could accomplish the same thing better. The reason I mentioned the Turks is because stocks are one thing they do pretty well. You can buy a Hatsan with an adjustable walnut stock for under $300.

 

[.20calguy]

I think you're absolutely right about that, but they could have easily accomplished their ergonomic goals without making the stocks look awful. Adjustable cheekpieces and buttplates could accomplish the same thing better. The reason I mentioned the Turks is because stocks are one thing they do pretty well. You can buy a Hatsan with an adjustable walnut stock for under $300.

Yes I have a dead hatsan, with a nice piece of walnut on it.
I wish HW would do away with beachwood altogether.
The ugly cutout in the Weihrauch stocks is to facilitate a shoulder bag, is the consensus.

 

[Bear-of-Grayling]

How is it that the Germans can make such excellent guns and yet be so clueless as to what makes an attractive stock?

When I was a boy my father was an importer of European Antiques. Seven different countries. Germany, Austria, England, Denmark, Portugal, Morocco and Iceland. He was getting a forty foot container a week. Mostly England, Germany and Austria. The German furniture was ugly while the English and Austrian was gorgeous. Not much has changed evidently. Also, remember what HW was stocking there rifles with before the late Dr. Beeman got ahold of them. I’ve grown to like the early stocks with the grooved forearm and rounded bottom pistol grip but it took decades to do it. I don’t have enough time left for these new ones. Unless I outdo Noah.

 

[Sawney Bean]

Yes I have a dead hatsan, with a nice piece of walnut on it.
I wish HW would do away with beachwood altogether.
The ugly cutout in the Weihrauch stocks is to facilitate a shoulder bag, is the consensus.

I hadn't considered a shoulder bag. I just figured that they preferred a more head upright firing position and oddly shaped stocks.

 

[A.G.R]

just fallowing









I sadly know springer‘s are dead and am one of the last that I know of who build custom high end spring guns..
I ONLY DO IT FOR MY SELF. .. PEOPLE ARE TO CHEAP.

Its expensive and time consuming. Air gunners are cheap today. PCP SHOOTERS ARE A DIFFERENT BREED AND ALMOST LOOK DOWN AT US… Bout as bad as the firearms guys do. They have no problem spending $3500 for a gun and another $2000 for compressors and assorted Goods.

Venom /V-Mach was the last , great builders of custom springers. When Steve past it was the end.. Liquid Steel and a few others have done ok, as they appreciate a spring gun as it’s all they can shoot across the pond..

 

[coastal drifter]

just fallowing









I sadly know springer‘s are dead and am one of the last that I know of who build custom high end spring guns..
I ONLY DO IT FOR MY SELF. .. PEOPLE ARE TO CHEAP.

this part gave me a chuckle

 

[joe9090]

just fallowing









I sadly know springer‘s are dead and am one of the last that I know of who build custom high end spring guns..
I ONLY DO IT FOR MY SELF. .. PEOPLE ARE TO CHEAP.

Its expensive and time consuming. Air gunners are cheap today. PCP SHOOTERS ARE A DIFFERENT BREED AND ALMOST LOOK DOWN AT US… Bout as bad as the firearms guys do. They have no problem spending $3500 for a gun and another $2000 for compressors and assorted Goods.

Venom /V-Mach was the last , great builders of custom springers. When Steve past it was the end.. Liquid Steel and a few others have done ok, as they appreciate a spring gun as it’s all they can shoot across the pond..

Sadly i have to agree with you.. i am at Heart a spring gun shooter and always will be. Anyone can shoot a pcp accurately its takes time, patience and repetition to become skillful. Theres something to be said about shooting a springer, you really do learn alot about yourself in the process. Most guys give up and blame the gun when they cant hit the mark, instead of taking the time to learn the rifle and how she ticks. Springers are alot like woman

 

[beerthief]

Yes I have a dead hatsan, with a nice piece of walnut on it.
I wish HW would do away with beachwood altogether.
The ugly cutout in the Weihrauch stocks is to facilitate a shoulder bag, is the consensus.

yup never thought of that rear bag . Maybe next will be an adjustable rear bag rest just a mirror of the cheek piece .