Other New Member & New To Air Guns: Help!

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Tarheel

Member
Oct 23, 2024
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Wilmington, NC
New - first post. 77 yr old in good health. I pulled a 43 yr old Crosman 766 American Classic out of the closet and started shooting (mostly plinking) about two weeks ago. I loved it so I went on line to learn what I could about Air Guns in 2024. I read and learned a lot but I still have lots of questions. Today I ordered a HW 30s from Krale. Cost w/shipping: $291.44. I read a lot of good reviews about this being a good rifle for beginners and that's me! I have a small backyard with a very safe backstop but it only allows me to shoot a maximum distance of 20 yards. If I continue to enjoy this as much as I do now I will invest it a second gun with more power and that will be adequate for shooting longer distances - I can drive a half hour of so to public game lands (thousands of acres) where they have a free outdoor range and I can use that. I have no interest in hunting - not opposed to it at all I just don't have any interest - I do rarely but occasionally see a copperhead snake in my backyard and those ore in trouble now!
1 My newly ordered HW30s will be in my hands next Monday. Is there a specific pellet that shoots best in this gun (plinking and some paper target shooting)?
1 - I Inow have these pellets: Crosman .177 Cal 7.4 Grain Pointed, GAMO Red Fire .177 Cal 7.8 Grain, and Daisy .177 Cal - should I NOT use any of these in the HW30s?
2- On this forum I read about "springers" that brand new have to be disassembled and blue loctite put on all the screws. I don't know a thing about taking a HW30s apart. How frequent is this necessary?
I am all ears for tips to help me!
Thanks, Tarheel (Eastern North Carolina)
 
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Tarheel said:
New - first post. 77 yr old in good health. I pulled a 43 yr old Crosman 766 American Classic out of the closet and started shooting (mostly plinking) about two weeks ago. I loved it so I went on line to learn what I could about Air Guns in 2024. I read and learned a lot but I still have lots of questions. Today I ordered a HW 30s from Krale. Cost w/shipping: $291.44. I read a lot of good reviews about this being a good rifle for beginners and that's me! I have a small backyard with a very safe backstop but it only allows me to shoot a maximum distance of 20 yards. If I continue to enjoy this as much as I do now I will invest it a second gun with more power and that will be adequate for shooting longer distances - I can drive a half hour of so to public game lands (thousands of acres) where they have a free outdoor range and I can use that. I have no interest in hunting - not opposed to it at all I just don't have any interest - I do rarely but occasionally see a copperhead snake in my backyard and those ore in trouble now!
1 My newly ordered HW30s will be in my hands next Monday. Is there a specific pellet that shoots best in this gun (plinking and some paper target shooting)?
I now have these pellets: Crosman .177 Cal 7.4 Grain Pointed, GAMO Red Fire .177 Cal 7.8 Grain, and Daisy .177 Cal - should I NOT use any of these in the HW30s?
2 On this forum I read about "springers" that brand new have to be disassembled and blue loctite put on all the screws. I don't know a thing about taking a HW30s apart. How frequent is this necessary?
I am all ears for tips to help me!
Thanks, Tarheel (Eastern North Carolina)
Click to expand...
The HW30 is very nice, and not pellet picky at all. The crossmam premiers that you have should be fine. Keep a screwdriver on hand for the first few shooting sessions, and check the screws frequently. I usually wait a couple of shooting sessions to use the locktite, I like it to settle in first. Next step up is the HW50, good luck and have fun.
 
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The hw30 in .177 is a great all-round gun. The JSB 7.3s are my favorite pellet in mine. Most people on this forum like to strip down their guns and self tune them. But shooting them as is from the factory is fine too. I have used blue loctite, but also find that just snugging up the screws after the first few shooting sessions works well. Enjoy your new gun.
R
 
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Clean the barrel good before you shoot it. Use a little penetrant on a patch. Get a "patchworm" it's basically a piece of plastic trimmer line. Don't use a rod. A string works.

After cleaning shoot up every pellet you have. Then clean the gun again.

Buy Crosman domed pellets and H&N domed pellets. Experiment with weights from 7-10 grains. Stay away from wadcutters or pointed pellets. They generally won't be as accurate.

Keep the 3 mounting screws snug. Don't overnighten. You will be working with them a lot so use a good screwdriver that fits and be careful. If they won't stay snug then use some blue loctite in both sets of threads.

Those rifles are fine guns and they are very accurate. Lots of fun. You will be shooting dimes farther out than you can imagine.

Shoot a lot. Be patient. Learn from every miss.
 
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I have 4 HW30S. The three .177 cal guns prefer the 7.3 grain pellets. The .22 prefers the H&N Field Target Trophy in 5.53 head size. You will love your new 30. Just shoot it and enjoy it. Welcome and you made a great choice for your new air rifle!
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Greenarrow said:
I have 4 HW30S. The three .177 cal guns prefer the 7.3 grain pellets. The .22 prefers the H&N Field Target Trophy in 5.53 head size. You will love your new 30. Just shoot it and enjoy it. Welcome and you made a great choice for your new air rifle!View attachment 506935
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Where did you buy your 4.53 head size 177 cal pellets? I can only find 4.52.
 
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The iron sights on the HW30 are great right out of the box. Keeps the rifle very light and handy. @Mycapt65 really favors a peep sight for his HW30, perhaps he will post an image and model type.

Like everyone else, I have a few HW30's. I really like plinking cans at 55 yards with mine. I string mine up with para cord so they always return to zero. Other great targets are brass shells, stale cookies or crackers, popcorn, shotgun shells are great too.

If you get really handy you can put some jelly on some paper and shoot the flies or hornets that show up. Now that is fun!

Have fun and enjoy your new rifle!
 
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Welcome @Tarheel ,
Your new HW 30 is a surprisingly excellent choice of a first advanced pellet gun for a relative newbie beyond the trusty Crosman 760 pumper that many of us grew up with. Even long time experienced shooters praise this model for ease of cocking and all-day plinking and all around joy of shooting. Take care of it and it will outlast you and be an heirloom to your kids or grandkids.
I second the suggestion for JSB 7.33 grain pellets to try, and also to clean the barrel. Other than that, most everyone else has hit the basics - keep your stock screws tight and keep an eye on your breach seal to make sure it stays in place. You may want to try a peep sight for your short range plinking, in case your eyes are like those of the rest of us that have trouble keeping target and iron sights and focus together. A small red dot holographic sight might also be super fun. You can shoot with both eyes open and have your dot magically appear over your target in your binocular vision.

The HW30, being a spring gun, will jump a little during the shot cycle. Although it is low powered and won't jump much, it helps to learn a relatively loose hold with a very light cheek weld for most consistent grouping. The hold is sometimes referred to as the 'artillery hold' that you can read about.

Have fun!

Feinwerk
 
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JSB Exact 7.33 and H+N FTT are generally the best pellets for the HW30. Pyramyd air does a buy 3 get one free on pellets that basically covers the shipping costs to your door. Crosman 7.9 domes and hollow points are usually available at walmarts for cheap and are a decent start.

There are only 3 screws holding the action to the stock. The big forward trigger guard screw has a torque spec of 40 inch/lbs, that is pretty damn tight with a standard screwdriver. The rear screw and forend are only like 20 inch lbs, snug but not over tight. A drop of blue loctite isnt a bad idea once you get it through the break in process. Mostly just shoot it.
 
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maxtrouble said:
The iron sights on the HW30 are great right out of the box. Keeps the rifle very light and handy. @Mycapt65 really favors a peep sight for his HW30, perhaps he will post an image and model type.

Like everyone else, I have a few HW30's. I really like plinking cans at 55 yards with mine. I string mine up with para cord so they always return to zero. Other great targets are brass shells, stale cookies or crackers, popcorn, shotgun shells are great too.

If you get really handy you can put some jelly on some paper and shoot the flies or hornets that show up. Now that is fun!

Have fun and enjoy your new rifle!
Click to expand...
Thanks for the intro. Yes I favor my peep sighted Hw30. In fact it's my favorite rifle including PBs.
I used the Williams FP-AGs for years. I now favor these Tech Sights. I did a full write up on why on another forum. https://gatewaytoairguns.org/GTA/index.php?topic=190140.0&origin=serp_auto
Because my aging eyes are getting worse I added a $10 True glow fiber optic front sight. It's cheap looking plastic and I like the looks of the factory globes better but it works too good not to use.
This gun is ridiculously accurate and it has to have 50k shots on it. I mostly plink and pest with it inside of 25 -30 yards. 2" spinners out to 50 yards is no problem. Gets tricky around 70 yards because too much post covers the target.

Great gun this was my second Weihrauch. I started with my 177 Hw95 and went down in power and up with enjoyment. I absolutely love the 30s and anyone that knows me, knows that.

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Welcome, @Tarheel
I’m very new as well with an HW35 .177 and breaking it in with Crosman Premier Hollow Point 7.9gr Williams peep
I am very glad I got a Wheeler torque driver set. Those three main screws have loosened all three times I’ve shot.
The only other thing I can add, as a noob, is ibuprofen. It helps for the jaw pain from smiling so much.
 
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Tarheel said:
On this forum I read about "springers" that brand new have to be disassembled and blue loctite put on all the screws. I don't know a thing about taking a HW30s apart. How frequent is this necessary?
I am all ears for tips to help me!
Thanks, Tarheel (Eastern North Carolina)
Click to expand...
Welcome aboard, Tarheel:
Excellent choice to start!
I tightened my stock screws then started shooting.
I am almost finished with my 10th tin so just under 5000 rounds, all original HW30S Deluxe .20 cal.
Still hits with accuracy and authority at 75 yards, but its like shooting a cannon. Lol

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