I love the traditional wood and metal break barrel springers, have been researching them and have gravitated to a .177 Weihrach with aperture sights for back yard shooting and some woods carry. I am now ready to purchase a .177 Beeman R9/Weihrach HW95 and have read about hold sensitivity being a factor to be aware of. Of the HW30, HW50 and HW95 which would have the least to most hold sensitivity? And how do I accommodate it? Thanks everyone
Let's talk about Hold sensitivity
- Thread starter shrigg
- Start date
Almost all springers have a degree of hold sensitivity. It’s the felt movement of the piston slamming into the receiver and thus thrusting the gun forward into the hand or rest. Many factors reduce or induce this behavior. The gun can be tuned to optimal behavior for that model. Trying to achieve the balance between power, weight of the gun, velocity, caliber, tuning, pellet selection and consistency is the challenge of a springer. An example of the three models you mentioned. The 30,50 and 95 are probably the most favored barrel cockers because they are all three well designed to be in that perfect balance for a springer. The caliber chosen however will greatly impact the hold sensitivity. The larger/heavier the pellet the slower it moves. So the longer it’s in the barrel after the piston has slams home. The movement of the action is felt a moment longer and holding steady that extra time takes practice. This is just the tip of the iceberg when talking about firing behavior and hold sensitivity. That is why springers are a love/hate airgun.
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Hw35 11FPE .177 a very very light hold works best for me . I call it my floating hold just barely touching the rifle and not pressing into my shoulder just a light hold into shoulder .
now an HW 30 is only 5.6 FPE or close to that i am hopeing to get HW30 soon .
now an HW 30 is only 5.6 FPE or close to that i am hopeing to get HW30 soon .
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None of these are necessarily hold sensitive unless you insist on gripping them tightly. If you pull it tight to the shoulder or apply a firm stock weld you’ll miss. Learn to use a dead soft touch and the placement of the hands will not matter much.
I think the R9 is at or near the upper limit of power to expect accuracy without adding a ton of weight. It’s nearly perfect for a break barrel.
I have a good range of hand placement on the fore end that still results in half in accuracy at 25 yards. And I and place my off hand in nearly any position and still kill squirrels. From the tip of the fore end past the stock screws all the way back to the trigger guard I can keep all my shots on the same 1” target at 25 yards.
The best hold is probably the one you can most consistently apply in field conditions.
I think the R9 is at or near the upper limit of power to expect accuracy without adding a ton of weight. It’s nearly perfect for a break barrel.
I have a good range of hand placement on the fore end that still results in half in accuracy at 25 yards. And I and place my off hand in nearly any position and still kill squirrels. From the tip of the fore end past the stock screws all the way back to the trigger guard I can keep all my shots on the same 1” target at 25 yards.
The best hold is probably the one you can most consistently apply in field conditions.
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Well I’m ready to love it. I think I landed on a good choice with a .177 R9 tuned to 13.5 fpe. I look forward to learning its preferred holds and exploring the results. I have a nice 30 yard range shooting off my deck to experiment with. Now I need to find some spinners or something fun to shoot! Any recommendations there?
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I can tell you this much. With my R9 zeroed using a light touch with my forehand out by the stock screws, I can rest the fore end directly on my bag and shoot spent pistol cartridges on the range with ease.
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My favorite is a spent shotgun shell in its side, opening facing me. You can set them up at 20 ish yards, set up a cup on its side with the opening facing you a few feet behind it. If you hit it just right with a heavy pellet, the shell will fly into the cup! I can’t do it with consistency but it’s a ton of fun.
If you miss by much the pellet will zing through the plastic and it won’t move the shell much at all.
If you miss by much the pellet will zing through the plastic and it won’t move the shell much at all.
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You got the best. An R9 tuned? How did you do that? Congratulations! If that one doesn’t do it you’ll be off to the PCP world. Lol. I would bet that R9/.177 will launch the Crosman Premiere Hollow Points as well as any other. Cheap and accurate and you can get them at Wally World. Keep us informed.
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I got lucky and found it here on the classifieds and it even has the Williams Target Aperture sights on it that I want (and that you recommended). Talk about finding the perfect first springer. It ships today... I'm still pinching myself to make sure I'm not dreaming!
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I think you'll find that the hold sensitivity thing is overblown as long as you aren't clamping it in a vise.
Just put your hand under the forearm, and don't white knuckle it and it will be just fine.
Its just really not that big a deal on reasonably powered springers. And yours should be nice at that power level.
Just put your hand under the forearm, and don't white knuckle it and it will be just fine.
Its just really not that big a deal on reasonably powered springers. And yours should be nice at that power level.
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+1 Thumper, none are hold sensitive, you just have to hold them the same way every shot.. A better word would be reapability. Just pay attention to what you did last time and do it again.
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Since I can't tell that anyone has answered your first question yet, allow me. Least to most hold sensitive are HW50, 30, 95.
As for your second question, I find the best technique for accommodating the problem involves ingesting about 2-1/2 margaritas.
As for your second question, I find the best technique for accommodating the problem involves ingesting about 2-1/2 margaritas.
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I've actually shot Jasons R9 that you bought. You're definitely in for a treat because that thing is a tack driver. As far as hold sensitivity goes, don't over think it. You'll have it figured out before you get through your first tin.
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Yes I'm beyond excited! Jason was awesome to deal with, wonderful guy and a fountain of great knowledge he shared with me. I also spoke to Mike at Flying Dragon who was the original dealer and the one who tuned it. He pointed out that the warranty is fully transferable and he'll stand behind it if I ever have any troubles. Wow, just wow.
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You would be hard pressed to find a better first springer man. Congratulations and welcome to the rabbit hole!
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I own all three springers you mentioned.
I have three HW50's and one of them is the least hold sensitive springer I have ever owned, it is a .22 and it is PCP accurate (it was tuned by Mycapt65), another 50 in .177 is the most hold sensitive springer I own.
The HW30 is next best, followed closely by the HW95.
I have all my springers tuned for accuracy, not power, I think that helps.
You can also play with the stock screws using a torque screw driver to get the best accuracy and maybe to a lesser extent, decrease hold sensitivity.
I think luck of the draw plays into it.
I have three HW50's and one of them is the least hold sensitive springer I have ever owned, it is a .22 and it is PCP accurate (it was tuned by Mycapt65), another 50 in .177 is the most hold sensitive springer I own.
The HW30 is next best, followed closely by the HW95.
I have all my springers tuned for accuracy, not power, I think that helps.
You can also play with the stock screws using a torque screw driver to get the best accuracy and maybe to a lesser extent, decrease hold sensitivity.
I think luck of the draw plays into it.
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