HW/Weihrauch HW 50 s Finally Broken In

[pjstreng]

I own two HW 30s and a ProSport. None required any tuning or break in. All had smooth shot cycles and superb accuracy out of the box.

Always wanted an HW 50 and picked one up about 8 months ago. Was disappointed in how rough the shot cycle was. Buzzy with some spring twang. Had to routinely tighten screws and and mounts. Accuracy was good, but the gun was more than a bit hold sensitive.

Tried a lube tune with mixed results. Didn’t want to tinker with it anymore than that and just decided to break it in by shooting it. I was hoping for a gradual improvement and was not sure if I would even notice any improvement from week to week.

It had become my least favorite gun, but I continued to shoot it a couple times a week just to see if there would be an improvement.

I’ve probably put a thousand pellets through it. Hadn’t shot it in about a month, though.

Pulled it out of the safe yesterday and viola, I did notice a perceptible LACK of vibration/buzz. Figuring I was probably imagining things, I had lunch and tried it again. To my pleasant surprise, the vibration and spring buzz actually has become almost non existent! Not bank vault closing like my reduced power prosport, but more like my HW 30s.

It took a while, but shooting it did smooth the gun out a lot. Very pleased with the gun now. I guess patience can be a virtue.

 

[Vana2]

There might have been a burr or a rough spot that needed to settle in.

I usually allow at least 500 to 1000 shots for break-in and familiarization so I wouldn't say that your experience was unusual.

I do enjoy my Weihrauch springers and PCPs, they see a lot of use.

Cheers!

 

[Mycapt65]

I'm glad you're happy with the gun. Shoot it longer and see if the buzz comes back. "Lube tunes" are almost always a temporary fix. If it doesn't more likly the spring took a canted set. Sort of like a snake. This is usually what's responsible for Weihrauchs smoothing out as shot counts increase. The cant or lateral runout of the spring causes it to lean enough on the guide and or piston skirt to limit vibration. That's what normally reduces the buzz as shot counts increase.

Some people will tell you a canted spring needs to be replaced. This is not necessarily so. Before I kitted guns I took apart my hw30 to see what's inside and maybe lube it. I found a snake of a spring that I was told was bad on forums so I replaced it with a straight factory spring. And boy did the buzz ever come back. I put the snake spring back in a the buzz went away. Pretty conclusive evidence there.

Slightly snaky springs aren't necessarily bad. It's from normal uncontrolled deflection. Snaky springs are bad when the runout is extreme due to one or more collapsed coils.

Lube tunes can last a few shots or sometimes over a thousand. What happens with them is the grease warms up in use and its deadening ability decreases and the some buzz returns until the gun is cold again. I have a couple of guns that I got lazy with and do this. This temperature related change to the guns lubrication can cause POI shift and is primarily responsible for springers be known as temp sensitive.

Another drawback of lube tunes is its pretty common for some of the lube to sling off the spring. Beside reducing dampening it tends to overcome the piston seals wiping capability and leads to dieseling. Sometimes excessive. That can eventually burn through the piston seal and shorten spring life. I've had lots of guns sent to me that were lube tuned that had badly kinked or broken springs and burnt out piston seals.

If you don't shoot a lot a lube tune may never be a problem. If you do it likely will. To properly reduce twang it requires physically controlling spring movement with better fitting guides.

This all may be something you already know but I hope this helps either you or someone else understand some basic principles. I'm glad you're enjoying your 50 now.

Be well
Ron

 

[pjstreng]

Thanks for the comments. Regarding the lube tune I did when the gun was brand new, I really don’t think that it did much of anything. First, I applied the lube pretty sparingly. Second, that was 8 months and probably 1000 shots ago.

Im much more confident that shooting it was the ticket. I just went down to the basement and shot a few more five shot groups at 10m. One hole groups and little to no buzz. The groups were not a surprise. The lack of vibration was.

I guess the parts finally settled in.

 

[beerthief]

There might have been a burr or a rough spot that needed to settle in.

I usually allow at least 500 to 1000 shots for break-in and familiarization so I wouldn't say that your experience was unusual.

I do enjoy my Weihrauch springers and PCPs, they see a lot of use.

Cheers!

That is only one or two tins , i would think after maybe 5 or 10 tins to smooth a rough spot out . Keep shooting !

 

[MJS]

Congrats!
My HW50 and I never did see eye to eye. Even after 2k pellets it seemed as jolty as ever. Had to move it along.

 

[Vana2]

That is only one or two tins , i would think after maybe 5 or 10 tins to smooth a rough spot out . Keep shooting !

Never had to wait that long with Weihrauchs. They are almost boringly good.

For fun with Chinese and Czech springers I clean out the cheap grease, lubricate with gear oil, shoot a tin and then disassemble to identify areas of concern. Rough spots are polished, burrs removed, loose parts shimmed, pivot points tightened, hardware upgraded and proper lubrication done during assembly. The stock might get a bit of checkering or stippling and be refurbished. Then I sell, trade, or give it away and buy another sow's ear to turn into silk purse.

Being retired, I find it entertaining to work on these "fixer-uppers" when the weather is not suitable for shooting or fishing.

Cheers!

 

[Vana2]

Congrats!
My HW50 and I never did see eye to eye. Even after 2k pellets it seemed as jolty as ever. Had to move it along.

Too bad, you moved it along, the HW50 is a nice all around shooter. Weihrauchs are typically well made but some benefit from a bit of spit and polish.

A heavier pellet might have helped tame the jolt. I wonder it the piston seal was compromised and not getting that buffering cushion of air at the end of the stroke.

The North American demand for velocity/power often encourages manufacturers to push things to increase the stats that sell products. I've found (in other springers) that removing a coil or two might go a long way to a more pleasant shooting airgun.

I bought a lighter spring kit for the .22 HW50 I use for plinking and light pesting but haven't installed it as the factory spring seems just fine. All I've done is add a light application of Lucas "Red&Tackey" grease to the spring through the slot in the tube. Been shooting fine for me.

Cheers!

 

[Mycapt65]

Too bad, you moved it along, the HW50 is a nice all around shooter. Weihrauchs are typically well made but some benefit from a bit of spit and polish.

A heavier pellet might have helped tame the jolt. I wonder it the piston seal was compromised and not getting that buffering cushion of air at the end of the stroke.

The North American demand for velocity/power often encourages manufacturers to push things to increase the stats that sell products. I've found (in other springers) that removing a coil or two might go a long way to a more pleasant shooting airgun.

I bought a lighter spring kit for the .22 HW50 I use for plinking and light pesting but haven't installed it as the factory spring seems just fine. All I've done is add a light application of Lucas "Red&Tackey" grease to the spring through the slot in the tube. Been shooting fine for me.

Cheers!

A Hw50 22 shot cycle is usually a bit softer than a 177 Hw50. It is in most piston guns but it is a little more noticeable in the 50 for some reason. I've owned two Hw50s one in 177 and another in 22. I've also tuned a few others of each caliber. Probably by luck the last 22 Hw50 I did came out beautifully. It shot like it had 10fpe at most. The chrono and the holes blown clean through the 32 yard 5/8" MDF backing board said 13.5 fpe.

That's opposed to my personal 177 Hw50 has a much sharper shot cycle and bark. Meanwhile it only occasionally touches 12 fpe. Both guns were done with the same seal and spring. My personal 22 Hw50 was pretty nice as well. I sold it to a member here because I didn't like the 22s trajectory. The 50s are a great all around rifle in any caliber but the 22 definitely has the nicest manners.

 

[maxtrouble]

My first HW50 was a .22 and it was the twangiest rifle I owned. The rifle has a very abrupt shot cycle when compared to others. I put a vortek kit in it and the twang went away but the shot cycle stayed very abrupt. I have had to locktite the screws twice now.

I like the rifle even with the loopy .22 trajectory. I shoot at known distances so hold over is easy. It really smacks cans around and likes the H&N FTT 5.53's the most.

If you need a can crusher, the HW50 is your huckleberry.

 

[dingens]

Your spring probably got bended a bit from use , when there's some bend in it there is less twang .
But i don't understand why they donw't make the springguide to fit the spring beter, how hard can it be?

I put a tin- bum kit in my hw50 , costs nothing and now it's a short "tjok" sound

 

[Mycapt65]

Your spring probably got bended a bit from use , when there's some bend in it there is less twang .
But i don't understand why they donw't make the springguide to fit the spring beter, how hard can it be?

I put a tin- bum kit in my hw50 , costs nothing and now it's a short "tjok" sound

So true on all accounts.

Having been a Mercedes parts guy for two years and BMW tech for eleven years, I can tell you from lots of interaction with Germans that they are very stubborn to change their beloved designs and concepts. They are slow to acknowledge and address flaws in them to themselves, much less take the suggestion their designs could, should or need improvement from outsiders.

Its an odd national pride thing. They really believe they are superior. In broad terms, their engineering and innovation is superior to most all the world. Their humility is not.