HW/Weihrauch Update on my fantastic HW90 20 cal.

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RUSS9020

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Sep 15, 2023
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It's been nearly a month now along with shooting nearly a full can of JSB DIABOLO EXACT 20 CAL 13.73gr pellets. I have no desire to shoot anything else. They are just too good and accurate. Other thing is: I have yet to tame down the factory power setting. AOA is out of stock on the both the gauge and pump but.... since my muscles have gotten stronger, I'm having no problems cocking this mammoth beast and loving every shot. Recently bought a chronograph to see what it's doing so here are the results:

Velocity averages 821 FPS with the 13.73gr JSB pellets. That calculates to 20 Ft/Lbs. The lighter H&N field target trophy pellets I have at 11.42gr is hitting 930 FPS for 22 Ft/Lbs. I prefer to just shoot the JSB's. Seems to have more of a punch down field and a little bit more accurate. Heavier the better I believe.

The only other thing to add as a change or improvement: ..... is that of the scope mount due to barrel droop. I purchased the one piece Sportsmatch AOP56 fully adjustable mount from AOA, which they endorsed, and I was able to nearly zero my scope at 30 yards with just the mount alone while my scope remained at optical/mechanical zero. The elevation turret is no longer nearly maxed out as before the mount change. Only a few clicks with the turrets gets me zeroed in.

My scope is a Sightron 30mm S-TAC 3-16x42 MOA-3 Reticle. Yes, it's a pricy scope but AOA assured me it would hold up to the HW90, which I personally don't think is all that bad, given the weight of this gun, soaking up much of the recoil. No scope creep either and that's without the arrestor pin. All the mounting bolds are properly and evenly torqued down. That's most important.

Anyway, I couldn't be happier with all that I have purchased. The 90 shoots great, the mount isn't shifting nor creeping and the scope is holding up after 500 rounds. What more can you ask for. This experience has nearly been the resurrection of my dearly missed Beeman Crow Magnum.
 
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The 90 is a hell of a gun. I had the same thing branded a RX1. Sean Gabrell and I set up a couple of chronographs and measured the BC of the 13.73 and 11.42 pellets through my R1. The 13.73 was 0.0373 and the 11.42 was 0.274. So it's possible the JSBs better BC might make up for the energy loss downrange if you shoot far enough. I did the testing because H&N listed the 11.42s BC at 0.016 which is terrible and what my gun liked. Luckily it wasn't nearly as bad as advertised. That's as bad as a 7 grain 177 pellet.
I'm glad you're enjoying the new gun.
 
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SpiralGroove said:
Hey Guys,
Just wondering, why would you need an HW90 over a HW80 in .20 cal. unless you wanted more power?
They weigh the same, have the same barrel and the HW80 now comes with a better stock. The HW90 is more costly .....

Is the trigger better ...... the gas ram difference means nothing to me .............
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Not about a power need for sure. Nostalgic you could say. I chose the 90 because of the experience I had with my beloved Beeman Crow Magnum, which of course, had the Theoben gas ram that Weihranch was licensed to copy for the RX1 / HW90. I wouldn't want just anybodys gas ram.

The HW80 (R1) would be my second choice and possibly my second gun. I've been so regretfull for having sold my Crow Magnum.
 
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Had an Rx1 and have a R1 the RX is definitely heavier but imo a nicer gun. The R1 is stretching itself at 20 fpe the Rx1 is just loping around at 20 fpe. The Rx1 or Hw90 is certainly much nicer to shoot at the same power levels as the R1/Hw80. The adjustment isn't as wide as a Rekord on the Rx's Elite trigger but it's as light and as nice.
 
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beerthief said:
I think i would want a HW90 to have the tunability on hand , mostly i would have somewhere in the 10 to 12 FPE range but hunting i would boost it to 15/16 FPE
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Ya... Just seems with that gun a guy needs the pump / guage to maximize or fine tune to a need or pellet used . ( Opinion)
 
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The 90 is TERRIBLE at 10 or 12 fpe. Don't bother. I've tried it. The idea that guns perpetually get smoother and shoot better as power is decreased is absolutely wrong. It's just bad forum information.

There's laws of physics at play you can't buck. Piston guns as designed have a power range where they work well. That range is determined by things like bore, stroke, piston mass and transfer port size.

Simply removing spring pressure and in the case of a 90 removing air pressure only works so far. If you reduce the power too much without making changes to the design the shot cycle becomes so slow its noticeably poor. I call it frumpy. This stems from the piston moving the length of the stroke so slowly you can feel the start and end of it's travel. Instead of a quick sharp thunk cycle you get a prolonged kerrrr-thunk.

Yes there's ways to reduce power drastically like reducing the bore, shortening the stroke and or reducing piston mass. These are all geared to returning reasonable piston speeds. These methods aren't easily done. It's more practical to buy a gun that works at the desired power level.

The Hw90 has a 30mm bore and a 135mm stroke. It's made for power. I'd say 17 fpe up. Taking enough pressure out of it to make it 10 to 12 fpe would be like pulling two or three spark plug wires on your corvette to reduce power. Will it run? Sure. Will the power be ruduced. Sure. Would it be enjoyable to drive? Not a chance.

If you wanted a nice shooting full size 12 fpe break barrel rifle I'd recommend a HW95. It has a much smaller 26mm bore and 85mm stroke. An Hw50 with the same bore and shorter stroke shoots nicely at 10 fpe.

Yes piston guns are unruly at their max power. Yes reducing power under that will improve their manners and accuracy. BUT there's a floor to the level of power reduction that's beneficial. Under that modifications need to be be made to keep a reasonable piston speed.

Hth
 
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Mycapt65 said:
The 90 is TERRIBLE at 10 or 12 fpe. If you wanted a nice shooting full size 12 fpe break barrel rifle I'd recommend a HW95. It has a much smaller 26mm bore and 85mm stroke. An Hw50 with the same bore and shorter stroke shoots nicely at 10 fpe.
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Airgun are like golf clubs ............ ya gotta pick the right one for the Job;).
I prefer a HW95 at >14, <16 FPE and the HW50 between >10 but , <12 FPE ........... but that's only me pushing physics.
 
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SpiralGroove said:
Airgun are like golf clubs ............ ya gotta pick the right one for the Job;).
I prefer a HW95 at >14, <16 FPE and the HW50 between >10 but , <12 FPE ........... but that's only me pushing physics.
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Thanks. I too prefer a 95 and 97 guns between 14 and 16 depending on calber. That said a 95/97 platforms can still do 12 nicely. I was trying to offer a better alternative to a 10-12 fpe HW90.
 
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Mycapt65 said:
The 90 is TERRIBLE at 10 or 12 fpe. Don't bother. I've tried it. The idea that guns perpetually get smoother and shoot better as power is decreased is absolutely wrong. It's just bad forum information.

There's laws of physics at play you can't buck. Piston guns as designed have a power range where they work well. That range is determined by things like bore, stroke, piston mass and transfer port size.

Simply removing spring pressure and in the case of a 90 removing air pressure only works so far. If you reduce the power too much without making changes to the design the shot cycle becomes so slow its noticeably poor. I call it frumpy. This stems from the piston moving the length of the stroke so slowly you can feel the start and end of it's travel. Instead of a quick sharp thunk cycle you get a prolonged kerrrr-thunk.

Yes there's ways to reduce power drastically like reducing the bore, shortening the stroke and or reducing piston mass. These are all geared to returning reasonable piston speeds. These methods aren't easily done. It's more practical to buy a gun that works at the desired power level.

The Hw90 has a 30mm bore and a 135mm stroke. It's made for power. I'd say 17 fpe up. Taking enough pressure out of it to make it 10 to 12 fpe would be like pulling two or three spark plug wires on your corvette to reduce power. Will it run? Sure. Will the power be ruduced. Sure. Would it be enjoyable to drive? Not a chance.

If you wanted a nice shooting full size 12 fpe break barrel rifle I'd recommend a HW95. It has a much smaller 26mm bore and 85mm stroke. An Hw50 with the same bore and shorter stroke shoots nicely at 10 fpe.

Yes piston guns are unruly at their max power. Yes reducing power under that will improve their manners and accuracy. BUT there's a floor to the level of power reduction that's beneficial. Under that modifications need to be be made to keep a reasonable piston speed.

Hth
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ok thankyou much . this is the first good explanation that makes sense to me . Others have said the same but not these words , Thank all that tried to pack this into my head . I really like the
HW50 anyway
 
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I think Weihranch made the HW90K version, shorter barrel with moderator and tamed down to 12 FPE specifically for sale in UK, Germany and elsewhere. I agree it makes no sense to have such a gun so capable of higher power unless you want it anyway for the gas ram. What's confusing to me is; the HW90K showing in AOA web catalog es without a moderator. You need that extra length in order to cock it. I would have liked the K model but with the moderator and full power of course. It would been more like the Crow Magnum, no open sights, scope only. At the the time I ordered my 90 I didn't know to ask. I chose the standard length HW90 for the length of the barrel in order to cock it. Tucking the HW90 in my lower gut, I can just barely reach the end of barrel. You have to slap it down first. Pull it down and carefully ease it onto the sear. I can tell you, should the barrel ever let go while holding it to insert a pellet, I wouldn't be able to stop it.
 
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crowski said:
You bought one of the best. Wait till you tune it down a bit. Very nice, enjoy. Crow
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The pump is on it's way. AOA had one pump in stock and sold it to me but I'll have to wait on the gauge. Both are paid for. They will send the gauge as soon as possible. Darren said, by mid December, pumps and gauges will be back in stock.
 
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Owned a RX1 in 5mm where I bought directly from the Beeman store when they were
in Santa Rosa. It was exciting to see a rifle where Weihrauch and Theoben technology
we're going to merge ! I never messed with the factory gas ram settings as it shot great.
It was one of the only airguns I ever owned that shot accurately with the Beeman (Japan)
Silver Jet pointed pellet. Exploding aspirin tablets at 10M was consistently easy. I think
those pellets were in the 12gr range and averaged 910 fps. I wish I never sold it. I did
because I seeked more power and ended up buying a Beeman Crow Magnum III in .22cal.
Never messed with it's ram settings either and it was a beast. With brown box Crosman
Premier 14.3 gr I was at 925 fps. Sold it and was out of the airgun shooting business for
years. The HW90's are excellent rifles.
 
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