Need advice Hw98 or hw97 for hunter field target or Diana 54

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drsquall

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Jul 22, 2022
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Hello,
I am looking for another springer for hunter class or possibly WFTF. I currently have a tx200 that I just put in a cs1000 stock. I put in arh spring in it and that's it. Shoots great. I would like to try a HW for comparison. I'm a lefty so either one would work great. I would definitely change spring because I want under 12fpe. Honestly I love the cs1000 stock so I would probably order one for the gun. I know barrel droop is a problem with the 98. I know they aren't as easy to work on/break down as my tx200. I think I can figure it. I honestly want a butter smooth shot cycle and cocking is not an issue for me. I mostly see tx,98s, one 95 at matches and that's it. What would you guys that has shot them in matches recommend? I'm not concerned on how the shoot of the bench but how the shoot of sticks or knee. I think I want to use vortex piston seal but probably an arh spring or tbt. I welcome any advice. Thanks

Jon
 
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All WANT TO BUY/SELL/TRADE must be in the classified section.
Jon,

**********

I found the best combination is exactly how you have said above. ARH spring and guide with the Vortek seal. That is what I currently have in both my springers and they have held up well.

I have shot an older TX, actually tried to buy it, but I remember it being a little harsher than my 97. But that does not account for how it was tuned, and it was years ago so I do not remember.

I have had a 98, and currently have an older R10. When the stars align and my BP is not making te sight jump the R10 is just as accurate as the 97. The issue is having a scope short enough to clear the barrel, or mount it up high enough to clear. There is droop, but mounts can quickly fix it. On the 97 I have the Burris rings with the inserts. A pain to set up but work great once you have it aligned.

BTW, the 97 and R10 are easy to work on. The only concern is knowing if you need a spring compressor to safely open it up. My 11.8 FPE 97 is easy to breakdown by hand.

I would not think that a 97 would be life changing compared to your TX. It would be nice to have both since they are great guns.

I hope that helps.

Bruce
 
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Bruce.net said:
Jon,

I am selling a 97 that I use for WFTF but that is not why I am writing.

I found the best combination is exactly how you have said above. ARH spring and guide with the Vortek seal. That is what I currently have in both my springers and they have held up well.

I have shot an older TX, actually tried to buy it, but I remember it being a little harsher than my 97. But that does not account for how it was tuned, and it was years ago so I do not remember.

I have had a 98, and currently have an older R10. When the stars align and my BP is not making te sight jump the R10 is just as accurate as the 97. The issue is having a scope short enough to clear the barrel, or mount it up high enough to clear. There is droop, but mounts can quickly fix it. On the 97 I have the Burris rings with the inserts. A pain to set up but work great once you have it aligned.

BTW, the 97 and R10 are easy to work on. The only concern is knowing if you need a spring compressor to safely open it up. My 11.8 FPE 97 is easy to breakdown by hand.

I would not think that a 97 would be life changing compared to your TX. It would be nice to have both since they are great guns.

I hope that helps.

Bruce
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I have been eyeing your rifle. Lol
 
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If your going for all out accuracy, it will depend much more on how the rifle fits you, rather than how well the gun shoots. There are many great, accurate rifles out there, once finely tuned that are capable of excellent accuracy, but....do they fit the shooter ?? When I was competing, I shot HW77's, Rws 48, 98's, and TX's.....they all shot extremely well, but the one that fit me best, most comfortable, easiest to repeat the shot, best balance for my build, etc...was my TX MK1. Far superior to my MK III as far as it fitting my person and this is what made it so precise....ability to repeat the hold, repeat the shot, and very well balanced. It is fun to have a variety of rifles to shoot but when it comes down to precise shots repeatedly, the rifle must fit the shooter, so....start looking at comfort and shot repeatability with what ever brand name is in the gun.
 
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AirShot said:
If your going for all out accuracy, it will depend much more on how the rifle fits you, rather than how well the gun shoots. There are many great, accurate rifles out there, once finely tuned that are capable of excellent accuracy, but....do they fit the shooter ?? When I was competing, I shot HW77's, Rws 48, 98's, and TX's.....they all shot extremely well, but the one that fit me best, most comfortable, easiest to repeat the shot, best balance for my build, etc...was my TX MK1. Far superior to my MK III as far as it fitting my person and this is what made it so precise....ability to repeat the hold, repeat the shot, and very well balanced. It is fun to have a variety of rifles to shoot but when it comes down to precise shots repeatedly, the rifle must fit the shooter, so....start looking at comfort and shot repeatability with what ever brand name is in the gun.
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True, I have found my stock with cs1000 and luckily it's made for the rifles I am thinking about. Well I would love to try a LP stock

Thanks
Jon
 
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The HW97k in 12Fpe is the best choice for HFT.

Easy to cock, load and shoot in every position and not hold sensative.

Always shot a HW97k blue laminate for HFT2 (springer class)
Now i shoot the HW100s for HFT1 (pcp class)

The current World champion uses a HW97k

When you look at the results in the World Championship the top 10 is mostly dominated by the HW97k.
 
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beerthief said:
I shoot HW97K and tx200 , i say the 97 out shoots the tx , BUT right now im shooting a HW77 Long and i am thinking it is better is the repeatability and consistency , need more time with it .
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7E4AE457-EBA6-4265-B873-F8095BAA79E3.jpeg

The best springer out there I think. HW77 Long. Heavily modified amazingly accurate. Presently without the stock which is away being refinished. I have only had it a week I cant wait for the stock to come back. The cards were shot one after the other not cherry picked. I have had many HW77's.
FBF1E6BC-3A04-4108-89F1-7BE6CCCF3D7D.jpeg


B292253B-1ECF-47CB-B24A-3FD6B290B8B7_1_201_a.jpeg
 
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AA has some work to do on the MK3, the MK1 &2 were far better balanced than the 3. My MK1 was the most accurate springer I ever owned and could be shot in any position easily !!
Today, the 97 has a far better balance then the new MK 3 so that is where the preference for the rifle comes into play. Every springer, no matter who' s name is on it, can be greatly improved from a tuneup, kits are quick and easy, but stock parts can be just as good if you know what a good tune requires!! When I retired, I sold my MK1, big mistake...while I like my MK3, it is not the balanced shooter the MK1 was, wish AA would go back to the original design and balance!!
 
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I read about how accurate the recoilless 54 is, but I've never shot one, but I would like to one day. I do have a 97K that I've shot several matches with on sticks and did pretty good, this was with a mill dot reticle that isn't very good for all the hold over you need, not enough reference lines. I think with a better scope it would do even better.
I also have the prosport I just got and set it up for field target, but haven't shot any matches yet. It does have the correct scope and it shoots really well so we'll see how it does compared to the 97K.
Also have 77K that doesn't shoot as well as my 97K, but I'm currently working on that one.
The prosport was pretty close to being on when I mounted the scope, so there was no need for special rings.
The 97K and 77K both shot 5 or 6" off when I first mounted scopes, I corrected this with burris signature zee rings with the plastic eccentric inserts, a pain to set up, but they work once you get it figured out.
All 3 rifles had some spring twang, the Hw's had more, the prosport was faint. I tuned them all, the Hw's several different power levels, custom spring guides, different piston seals, oring piston seals, JM springs, trigger blades, polished sears, krytox lubes...etc.
The HW's are easier to cock and load, but the prosport is super nice and smooth shot cycle with the factory spring at 15 ftps, and this is how I will shoot it for FT to start with. Everybody shoots TX200's in FT, I don't see that many prosports. Also a lot of 97K's being used. Don't think I would ever sell my 97K or prosport.
If you can find someone to let you shoot a 97K that would tell you what you need to know.
 
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AirShot said:
AA has some work to do on the MK3, the MK1 &2 were far better balanced than the 3. My MK1 was the most accurate springer I ever owned and could be shot in any position easily !!
Today, the 97 has a far better balance then the new MK 3 so that is where the preference for the rifle comes into play. Every springer, no matter who' s name is on it, can be greatly improved from a tuneup, kits are quick and easy, but stock parts can be just as good if you know what a good tune requires!! When I retired, I sold my MK1, big mistake...while I like my MK3, it is not the balanced shooter the MK1 was, wish AA would go back to the original design and balance!!
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You surprise me. I have had all three marks more than once and never noticed any difference. Are you talking about the long 77 or the K model. The problem is, in buying the Mark 1 or 2 you do not know at the point of buying what has been done to the gun (transfer port etc). My 2 year old mark 3 long is the best 77 I have ever had.
CE37B4EC-FC66-4C82-802F-29337AF303AD.jpeg
 
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Telephonepete said:
You surprise me. I have had all three marks more than once and never noticed any difference. Are you talking about the long 77 or the K model. The problem is, in buying the Mark 1 or 2 you do not know at the point of buying what has been done to the gun (transfer port etc). My 2 year old mark 3 long is the best 77 I have ever had.View attachment 433655
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I am talking about the AA TX200 MK 1, 2, 3. The 1 was the best balanced by far. The HW 77 was great but just didn't fit my toroso the way I wanted.
 
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I have a HW97 and HW98 with ARH springs and seals tuned under 12 fpe. Both are equally accurate. I tried the TBT short stroke kit and they made the shot sequence a little snappier but accuracy out to 50 yards with the 97 in .177 with 7.9 grain pellets stayed around 1" in light wind.

The 97 is slightly heavier so if you decide to increase the fpe with a more powerful spring it won't be felt as much compared to the 98. The 97 also allows a longer scope to be mounted.

If I had to choose one I'd probably pick the 98 because I can change the barrel and caliber if needed and I don't use a long scope so the clearance is not an issue.
 
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