HW/Weihrauch Here it is. My last airgun came today.

[Mycapt65]

Yeah Ron,
I understand ……

I bought one of my longtime “Aways Wanted One” Daystate Revere’s in December.
Now that I‘ve had it for a month (haven’t even shot it yet), I can tell ….. reality is not as good as the dream.

Likely hardly shoot vs. my RAW’s, BSA R10 and Springers - I can tell already

May flip after tinkering with her for awhile

Before I got the rifle I almost added a kit for it to a Vortek order I have to make. I'll wait to shoot it a bit to see if I want to put another hundred plus bucks in it . I'll be getting upside-down with any extra money I put in it now. If I made my own stuff like you I'd probably be more inclined to tinker with it. Right now I need the weather to get nicer so I can do some shooting. I miss my old basement range. It was great way to save me from the winter blues.

 

[Pellets&Pistons-(Razor62)]

Here it is. My last airgun came today.​

I'm callin' BS Capt.

 

[Silver Ace]

Based on your description, it sounds like this gun hasn’t really been touched in 30-40 years. So the grease is likely gummed up and dried out. If yours is anything like mine was when I got it, it will shoot with a muted spring buzz. Like just about any untuned springer.

Call me a snob, but I won’t shoot springers unless they are smooth and free of any buzz/twang. So mine has a Maccari kit / piston seal and proper modern lubes. As you referenced earlier, I believe the power to weight is what makes these guns so accurate. Mine will literally stack pellets in my basement range. And it doesn’t require special artillery holds, or being blessed by a rabbi to be accurate. Hope yours performs well. But, unfortunately I believe it will require disassembly and re lubing at the very least.

The good thing is, if you don’t like yours you should have no trouble finding a buyer. And if you ever want to sell the rear site blanking plate, I would be very interested. Could also trade you a like new blanking plate that fits a HW90/95/80 for it.

 

[crowski]

Very nice gun. Hope it works out. Crow

 

[Mycapt65]

Based on your description, it sounds like this gun hasn’t really been touched in 30-40 years. So the grease is likely gummed up and dried out. If yours is anything like mine was when I got it, it will shoot with a muted spring buzz. Like just about any untuned springer.

Call me a snob, but I won’t shoot springers unless they are smooth and free of any buzz/twang. So mine has a Maccari kit / piston seal and proper modern lubes. As you referenced earlier, I believe the power to weight is what makes these guns so accurate. Mine will literally stack pellets in my basement range. And it doesn’t require special artillery holds, or being blessed by a rabbi to be accurate. Hope yours performs well. But, unfortunately I believe it will require disassembly and re lubing at the very least.

The good thing is, if you don’t like yours you should have no trouble finding a buyer. And if you ever want to sell the rear site blanking plate, I would be very interested. Could also trade you a like new blanking plate that fits a HW90/95/80 for it.

Thank you. That's all good advice. I'm fairly familiar what to expect from a gun like this. I just did a 1985 R7 for someone that was all original. It was all gummed up and shot like you described. It even had a dead insect in the trigger group LOL.

I can't shoot an untuned Weihrauch for long. I'm spoiled. I'll want to shoot this one to see if the size and weight are a good fit for me. Any additional money I put in it will be lost, so I don't want to put any time and money in it if I don't like it's physical feel. I don't collect rifles to have them. I buy rifles to shoot them. My two biggest and heaviest rifles (R1 &Hw97) that I hardly use still get used and have some redeeming factor that keeps them in the house. Although both have been up for trade or sale at some point.

It is a nice looking and somewhat rare rifle in exceptional condition but I'm not sure that's enough for me to keep it.

 

[jkingrph]

I got a FWB 602 in early last night. Seller removed the stock and sights, and wrapped everything in bubble wrap, then that in paper then in thick waffle like or acoustical type foam then in a box. It was all so tight I could hardly pull it out. No shipping damage from Hawaii to Texas via USPS and only took about 8 days. Seller was great, he had it in storage and when he got it out he saw stock had some damage under forearm, small dents he said must have occurred when he loaned it out to a friend. He sent pictures and knocked about$150 off original price and worked things around and learned about Pirateship, going with them made the cost of an 18 lb package $42, much better than USPS published rate. Stock damage does not look as bad as the pictures he sent, so I am happy. I may end up refinishing and steaming out those shallow dents later when the weather warms up a bit. In the meantime I am going to reassemble it and shoot it some this afternoon.

Put it in stock, and immediately noticed a crumbling seal or bumper. so took it back out of stock, wrapped it up and will send off to Mr. Slade this afternoon.

 

[SpiralGroove]

Before I got the rifle I almost added a kit for it to a Vortek order I have to make. I'll wait to shoot it a bit to see if I want to put another hundred plus bucks in it . I'll be getting upside-down with any extra money I put in it now. If I made my own stuff like you I'd probably be more inclined to tinker with it. Right now I need the weather to get nicer so I can do some shooting. I miss my old basement range. It was great way to save me from the winter blues.

Ron,
Buy a Harbor Freight lathe when they have 30% off coupons and they cost about $550.

That’s the price of a HW97/77.

I’ve probably saved and or made $3K from this investment.
I know you understand how to use tools …. It almost a No-Brainer.

 

[Mycapt65]

Ron,
Buy a Harbor Freight lathe when they have 30% off coupons and they cost about $550.
That’s the price of a HW97/77.

I’ve probably saved and or made $3K from this investment.
I know you understand how to use tools …. It almost a No-Brainer.

That was my plan over two years ago when I bought my place in AR. I was going to have an outbuilding built and add a shop to it. Unfortunately getting anything done here is very difficult.
Long story short. My place is tiny and intermittently under construction so I don't have the space to set up a lathe.

 

[KWK]

That was my plan over two years ago when I bought my place in AR. I was going to have an outbuilding built and add a shop to it. Unfortunately getting anything done here is very difficult.
Long story short. My place is tiny and intermittently under construction so I don't have the space to set up a lathe.

No lie, I wouldn’t give a nickel for those dinky lathes. Keep your eye on Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist for a 9 or 10 inch South Bend or Logan. Get one with quick change gearbox and you’ll never regret it. Pay a little more if you have to. Keep searching to find one in good shape. The bed and ways mean everything. A rattle can restoration means nothing.
If you see a nice one tell the seller you want to buy it right now. You will get the first response out of them. You can always change your mind when you see it.
There are still some gems out there. Be patient. Every single part that wears out on these machines is available on eBay used. The South Bends were made from the 1930s clear up till about 1980.
I have two nice ones. This is a 3 foot bed. I did put some work into it. The ways are excellent. So only about 40 inches wide. My other is a 4 ft bed.
Another thing about buying used is you usually get all the tooling you need to use it. Saves you a bundle.
I bought several machines before that came with tooling equal to the amount I paid for the machine alone.

 

[Ta-Ta Toothie]

Hardringe is another.

 

[Mycapt65]

No lie, I wouldn’t give a nickel for those dinky lathes. Keep your eye on Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist for a 9 or 10 inch South Bend or Logan. Get one with quick change gearbox and you’ll never regret it. Pay a little more if you have to. Keep searching to find one in good shape. The bed and ways mean everything. A rattle can restoration means nothing.
If you see a nice one tell the seller you want to buy it right now. You will get the first response out of them. You can always change your mind when you see it.
There are still some gems out there. Be patient. Every single part that wears out on these machines is available on eBay used. The South Bends were made from the 1930s clear up till about 1980.
I have two nice ones. This is a 3 foot bed. I did put some work into it. The ways are excellent. So only about 40 inches wide. My other is a 4 ft bed.
Another thing about buying used is you usually get all the tooling you need to use it. Saves you a bundle.
I bought several machines before that came with tooling equal to the amount I paid for the machine alone.
View attachment 532060

Many thanks for the advice. Once I start shopping for one I might hit you up for help over the phone if my other machinist friend cant help. Don't sweat the commitment it might be years before I have a place to put one.

 

[JEFFPPC]

Yeah....right. Nice prchasr, enjoy and have fun.......until the NEXT ONE, LOL.

 

[KWK]

Many thanks for the advice. Once I start shopping for one I might hit you up for help over the phone if my other machinist friend cant help. Don't sweat the commitment it might be years before I have a place to put one.

You are always welcome.
It's very satisfying for me to help somebody.

 

[SpiralGroove]

That was my plan over two years ago when I bought my place in AR. I was going to have an outbuilding built and add a shop to it. Unfortunately getting anything done here is very difficult.
Long story short. My place is tiny and intermittently under construction so I don't have the space to set up a lathe.

Hey Ron,
You may not have much space, but what a "View" and great shooting range .

 

[KWK]

Ron,
Buy a Harbor Freight lathe when they have 30% off coupons and they cost about $550.
That’s the price of a HW97/77.

I’ve probably saved and or made $3K from this investment.
I know you understand how to use tools …. It almost a No-Brainer.

I'm not really trying to knock your machine but I've been to harbor freight and seen them. And I've seen some very nice work you've done on it. Maybe I'm spoiled, I've been using these light South Bends and Logans since I was 14 years old. We didn't have much growing up, I have 5 brothers and 4 sisters. But the greatest earthly gift I ever got was a Logan 10 inch lathe in parts when I was 15. Dad helped put it together and I made the missing lead screw bracket on our Ammco metal shaper and I made a missing spacer for the end gears on his South Bend 9 that I still have today, 50 years later. I spent many hours learning to sharpen tooling and just experimenting with different metals and techniques.
The greatest earthly gift OTHER than the wonderful family experience, good and bad, and the country life I lived on the farm. We still have that farm too.

 

[Mycapt65]

I'm not really trying to knock your machine but I've been to harbor freight and seen them. And I've seen some very nice work you've done on it. Maybe I'm spoiled, I've been using these light South Bends and Logans since I was 14 years old. We didn't have much growing up, I have 5 brothers and 4 sisters. But the greatest earthly gift I ever got was a Logan 10 inch lathe in parts when I was 15. Dad helped put it together and I made the missing lead screw bracket on our Ammco metal shaper and I made a missing spacer for the end gears on his South Bend 9 that I still have today, 50 years later. I spent many hours learning to sharpen tooling and just experimenting with different metals and techniques.
The greatest earthly gift OTHER than the wonderful family experience, good and bad, and the country life I lived on the farm. We still have that farm too.

Do you know if the cocking arm on the modern 50 is the same as the R8? This thing feels gritty like it could use the plastic glide. Note that I still haven't taken it apart or shot it yet.

Thanks
Ron

 

[Silver Ace]

There is a roller bearing under the cocking lever that is likely siezed up from years of non use. That needs to be “degunked” and sprayed with something like remoil to free it up.

Honestly, if I were you I would spend an hour or so disassembling and re-lubing this gun. It will certainly need it.

No use putting it off any longer. You did the hard part and located a nice R8. Now do the easy part and get it cleaned of old oils and greases.

 

[KWK]

When I bought my R8 several years ago, it had just been rebuilt by AOA. So I have never even taken the stock off. Not a whole lot later I bought a newer HW 50 and put a. JM walnut stock on it. I honestly much prefer that gun. You know what a dandy rifle they are. “The little Weihrauch that could “.
And the R8 really is a neat rifle as well

 

[SpiralGroove]

I'm not really trying to knock your machine but I've been to harbor freight and seen them. And I've seen some very nice work you've done on it. Maybe I'm spoiled, I've been using these light South Bends and Logans since I was 14 years old. We didn't have much growing up, I have 5 brothers and 4 sisters. But the greatest earthly gift I ever got was a Logan 10 inch lathe in parts when I was 15. Dad helped put it together and I made the missing lead screw bracket on our Ammco metal shaper and I made a missing spacer for the end gears on his South Bend 9 that I still have today, 50 years later. I spent many hours learning to sharpen tooling and just experimenting with different metals and techniques.
The greatest earthly gift OTHER than the wonderful family experience, good and bad, and the country life I lived on the farm. We still have that farm too.

No offence taken KWK, my love of working on a lathe started in 7th grade when I moved to a new town and didn’t have any friends. Spent many wonderful hours working on the South Bend lathes in shop class and after school.

I spent the two weeks after I bought my 7” x 14” HF lathe tuning it per Varmit Al’s website
.

If you know what you‘re doing, it’s a great/cheap investment well worth it price.
I don’t even attempt to cut much steel, let alone stainless.
Mostly aluminum, brass, delrin and nylon.

Would I compare it to a South Bend …….. Hell..s No.

 

[Silver Ace]

Like the 35, I heard so many people fawn over their HW50/55s that are the basis of the R8, I thought the more modern R8 would be great fit for me. Build quality equals weight, I guess. I knew the threaded receiver would add weight. I didn't realize how much. I'm more of a pragmatist so I'm more concerned with function and comfort over form. Thus accuracy and weight are my two biggest concerns. The heavier the rifle the less I use it. There's nothing mechanically wrong with with the cast trigger housings in the later and lighter Weihrauch rifles. For what I was looking for out of this rifle I might have been better off soft tuning a modern 50. I'll have to shoot it a bit before I make any decisions about it.

Yes the R8 is quite a bit heavier than the R7. If your only concern is velocity/ft lbs. the R8 is not the gun for you. As I mentioned a while back, the R8 is a ~700 fps gun. If that is not enough power for you, you should get rid of it and move on.

I should have dug this out a while back which should give you all the information you need. The R6 is the new HW50S and has 3 ft/lbs more power than the R8. Sounds like you need 9ft lbs. Can you get the R8 to this level? Yes. But you need to put in the work.

Now the 1,000,000 dollar question:

Your final airgun purchase was under powered by 1.5 ft/lbs. Is this really going to be your last?