HW30 Woes

[Windmill01]

For the first week my little 30 was killing them at 30 metres with H&N Baracuda Hunter Extremes. Then the scope I got from the cupboard died. No biggie ordered a Hawke Airmax 2*7*30. It arrived 2 days later, unreal. Zeroed the scope at 25 metres lol was good for that day. Next day wasn’t grouping, low by 1 and half inch’s then high plus not grouping.

Inspected scope and the elevation turret wasn’t working. Moved the knob for several minutes and up and down on the elevation turret and miraculously started working again. Zeroed again and for the rest of the day spot on. Next morning nowhere near the bull.

Removed the Hawke 4*12*40 from my lgv. No issues with this scope. Zeroed on the 30 and the groups weren’t what they were when I got it. Checked all screws and cleaned the barrel. All good, she was back to normal. Then that arvo started grouping an inch low and shots didn’t sound the same.Re zeroed and put in safe. Pissed off by now. Next morning all shots were an inch high.

I thought can’t be two scope in a couple of days. Refitted the scope back on the lgv. Beautiful no issues throughout the day. What I think, first I know the 2*7*30 is defective. Secound there is something wrong with either the spring or seal. Don’t want to touch it in case I void the warranty. We’ll see what happens tomorrow morning.

Gary

 

[Skillet]

Gremlins?

Maybe try irons for a week.

 

[bubblerboy64]

A couple thoughts. Guns don’t break sitting in the safe over night. Spring guns shoot differently depending on how they are held or rested. Did you change your shooting technique? 

My first guess is it’s something you are doing. Second guess the scope is moving on the 11mm dove tail 

Third it’s the scopes 

Forth the gun itself 

if this was me since I know I’m a perfect shot and never miss ( big lier that I am) I’d be looking real carefully at my rings and mounts. They do move on spring guns and a slight move will do just what you are describing 

You may know all the above. The only part that really makes no sense is the gun changing over night . If the gun is broken it would stay broken. Agree? 

 

[Hammarhead]

Do you smell anything funny or see smoke in the barrel after you take a shot? You mention you noticed differences in the shot sound and dieseling will definitely cause changes in your POI. 

 

[intenseaty22]

Dang Gary. I'm starting to think it's something in the air in Oz Land. 

@ bubblerboy64 The only part that really makes no sense is the gun changing over night . If the gun is broken it would stay broken. Agree? 

I disagree. Recently I had an issue with my own HW30 that was very similar in nature to what WM is going through. My POI was changing daily and I had to re-zero. The gun was still spot on, accurate as can be, putting pellet on pellet at about 25 yards. I did find the problem and took care of it, it now is not shifting POI. Finding the offending culprit is obviously gonna be the key. 

Gary, something has to be the cause here, these guns are pretty simple and there are only so many things that can be causing this. One suggestion I can give you is to shoot the gun at a bit closer range for now. I would also try to shoot the iron sights as suggested above, even if you come in as close as 10 meters and see what you see. Perhaps repeat the test at 10 meters and use the scope this time. I often do this (with scope only, I don't have irons) when I am having troubles with POI. The gun is 5-7 fpe gun, and will be accurate enough till a certain point. Unfortunately I don't have a longer range or the time to go out and test at longer ranges right now, otherwise I would give you some feedback on this. Maybe soon though. I am going to put on a x12 scope on it and see if I can stretch my range at home if even by 10 yards to 40, I think I can swing that. 

Unless there is a huge defect from manufacturing, I think I would tear into it and do a thorough cleaning, re-greasing (lightly), tightening of all screws, maybe a little tightlock, etc. The gun is very serviceable and straight forward to work on. I don't think you will mess anything up, although I certainly understand your concern with doing this. 

I did replace my spring with a Macari Kit, but it really did not make a huge difference on this particular gun. Maybe a little. Anyways, hope some of this is helpful, keep us posted. I'm really sorry you are having such issues with a gun that we so highly recommended to you. 

Christian

 

 

[josh3rd]

Or maybe its the stick screws too brother.

 

[c_m_shooter]

Check the stock screws first. Then chronograph the gun a bunch like 25-50 shots to see if it's consistant. If the velocity spread is good, then check the scopes, but make sure the mount isn't slipping first.

 

[dormitionskete]

I had issues with our Weihrauch HW97K. I fought with it for months. I, too, didn't want to take it apart lest I void the warranty. 

The reality: What I found is that a Weihrauch warranty is only as good as the vendor you bought it from. If you have any mechanical skills at all, and a little common sense, take it apart. Watch some YouTube videos about how to take it apart and reassemble it first, if you can. There are plenty on YouTube for almost everything. I think I saw some for the HW30 when I was looking for mine.

The three big things that can cause the problems you described are: 1) Bad piston seal, 2) Bad breech seal, and 3) Broken mainspring. I had all three. The mainspring wasn't immediately obvious when I looked at it, either, amazingly enough. I ordered a Vortek kit and breech seal directly from Vortak, tuned it myself, and all is much better with it now. Thank God.

Don't be afraid of it. It's not that hard.

While it's apart, I also highly recommend you give it a little tune up. Deburr and polish everything except what common sense says you shouldn't -- even things that you think shouldn't matter. Smoothen it out, anyway. Any rough spots whatsoever, no matter how slight, will potentially add more vibration. Here's a GREAT video how to do that! 











https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_tONNrgRcr0











As a personal touch, I also added a soft neoprene washer to each end of the spring to further reduce vibration. Vortek seemed to have neglected to include the washers that were supposed to come with it, and I didn't want to nit-pick them about it. I'm very happy with their parts, and their service.

Then put it all back together, and chances are, it will work better, and you will be much happier and more comfortable with it since you know how it all works inside and have worked on it yourself.

Otherwise, contact the vendor you bought it from. If you contact Weihrauch, they'll just tell you to contact them. Trust me. I've been there multiple times with them with both our Weihrauch rifle and Weihrauch scope.

I hope this helps!

PS - I'd guess you have at least a blown out piston seal. If you keep shooting it with a blown out piston seal, you *will* end up breaking the mainspring, in time. The Weihrauch piston seal in our HW97K was junk compared to the Vortek one. Even the CustomAirSeals.com piston seal looks better than the Weihrauch seal, and they're from Australia, where you are from. Feel free to DM me if you have any other questions you don't want to bother the list with. I just went through this all myself!

And be at peace. It will all work out.

PSS -- Use caution when you get to the part where the mainspring will be released, as it could have a lot of tension. If you have a 12 ft lb gun, or if your mainspring is broken, it should not be a big deal. Otherwise, it could have a good deal of pressure behind it. Don't let it get away from you. But again, a little caution is all that's necessary. And if you need a spring compressor to get it back together again, a simple woodworking clamp will do just fine.

 

[Windmill01]

Thank you all for your reply’s and tips. These are the things that I have done.

• Blue locktite stock screws when I got home with the rifle
• Checked and locktite scope ring screws after each time I tried a different scopes
• Always made sure grip and hold were the same as when it was accurate
• cleaned barrel twice
• Tried different pellets again

Things I do know

• I can’t use the irons, my eyes won’t allow it. I’d have a better chance at ten metres with a dart, used to play A grade darts
• Just over 1000 pellets through it
• still diesels approximately 1 in 5 shots
• I returned Scope this morning by express post, they should have it tomorrow, elevation turret knob won’t move recticle up or down.
• doesnt make the same mechanical sound every shot
• weather has turned cold here
• this is the second Airmax I’ve returned in a month
• Someone at Hawke doesn’t like me

A few years ago I read that temperature change can affect both rifle (lubricant) and scope. When I get the new scope I’ll test it again. If the scope holds true but it is still shooting high in the morning I’ll inquire if installing a kit will void my warranty. The shop where I purchased it from gives a three year warranty and I don’t want to lose that considering all the crap I’ve been going through.

Keep smiling

Gary

 

[GoldenStateAIRGUNer]

Gary, still dieseling once every five shots for a gun with a 1000 shots through it seems odd. Have you done any chamber lubing? 

 

[dormitionskete]

Gary, still dieseling once every five shots for a gun with a 1000 shots through it seems odd. Have you done any chamber living?

A blown piston seal will cause that. Take a look at mine!

 

[dormitionskete]

Of course, Tom Gaylord said in one of his videos that all spring piston airguns diesel every time they're fired. And to demonstrate it, he fired a pellet and then said, "Watch this." He opened it up and blew into the breech, and out came smoke from the end of the barrel.

But what do I know?

I didn't notice mine dieseling, but by that time, I was so fed up with it I wouldn't have noticed it anyway. But considering the amount of grease on the face of my blown piston when I removed it from the compression chamber, it had to have been dieseling.

 

[Windmill01]

Wayne no I haven’t taken it apart, still considering the affect on the warranty.

Peter the seal looks nasty, when I get confirmation from the shop that my warranty, 3 years won’t be affected I’ll have a look internally.

Still smileing

Gary

 

[GoldenStateAIRGUNer]

Gary, did you chrony 20 shots or so to check for velocity consistancy? 

 

[GoldenStateAIRGUNer]

Of course, Tom Gaylord said in one of his videos that all spring piston airguns diesel every time they're fired. And to demonstrate it, he fired a pellet and then said, "Watch this." He opened it up and blew into the breech, and out came smoke from the end of the barrel.

But what do I know?

I didn't notice mine dieseling, but by that time, I was so fed up with it I wouldn't have noticed it anyway. But considering the amount of grease on the face of my blown piston when I removed it from the compression chamber, it had to have been dieseling.

You can have a very minute amount of smoke without the loud crack associated with dieseling, or the effect on velocity, after each shot.

 

[Windmill01]

Wayne I don’t own a chrony atm but when I got the rifle I fired a couple of pellets into a pine board at 36 metres. The pellets were buried to their skirts that were flush with the face of the board. When this accuracy problem started I fired off another of the same pellets into the same board. Same result. So I’m thinking it’s pushing out the pellets at the same velocity, but I could be wrong.

Gary

 

[GoldenStateAIRGUNer]

I think it might be a scope issue.

 

[Windmill01]

I’m leaning towards that conclusion as well Wayne. I returned my faulty Hawke Airmax yesterday. I’m hoping they will contact me tomorrow. You wouldn’t think a little 6 or 7 foot pound rifle would kill a scope. 

Another theroy is that Hawke are sending all faulty scopes to Queensland Australia.

Gary

 

[GoldenStateAIRGUNer]

Hawke is pretty good when it comes to warranties. They replaced my Airmax 3-9 40 with a new one. I may end up selling it as the Leapers is doing quite well on my Sig.

You wouldn't think a 6-7 ft lb springer could kill any scope.

 

[Windmill01]

P

Its been been nearly a week now and I still don’t have a decision on my returned Airmax. So in frustration I fitted the ZR mount that I took off my Titan 177 that I traded for the 30 and fitted the first failed scope UTG 4*12*30 to my HW30. I didn’t need to rezero as it was pretty close when I put through a few pellets at 10 metres.

I only have 3 types of H&N pellets on hand, BM= Baracuda Match, B = Baracuda and HE= Hunter Extremes. If you look at the paper target the BM’s at twenty metres looked like keepers but look what happened when shot @ 26 metres. The Baracuda’s also look good at both distances. However it was a bit windy when doing this and I was in an exposed position when shooting the HE’s at 26 metres so I believe they could be a little bit better but I don’t think the wind would have that much affect at those distances.

Ive been shooting this rifle daily for the past 4 days and apart from one or two clicks on the scope it’s still holding zero. Got to love those ZR mounts. Still shooting high in the cold morning but in line and I can compensate for that. The dieseling has has stopped finally, so it seems to be settling down. When or if I get the Airmax back I’ll put a kit in it. Will probably need some advice then i would say.

Gary