Bought an original design HW85 today, comp tube rail and all. It needs sights and breech block shims, but has already been gone through and the worn out cocking shoe replaced, as well as some cosmetic first aid and fresh seals.
This rifle has certainly been around, and it has its fair share of dings and little imperfections. But it has charm like an old pickup and it's all the better for it, at least in my opinion. I won't be worried about adding another scuff or two, though that doesn't mean that I'll handle/maintain it any differently that my others.
I knew that I had a set of sights stashed away, so they went right on. Scope can wait until after I spiff up the pivot point, if I mount one at all. I should, of course, because my old eyes need the help. But in the past I did a lot of shooting with open sights, and I immediately liked the sight picture its giving me. When I can see the point of aim (!), the rifle shoots impressively.
I gave up trying to see the printed diamond points and added some 1/4" or larger dots to the flip side with a magic marker. Couldn't see those either. Finally, I made one dot very large, and I could see that one through the blur so I fired a group of RWS Hobby's at it.
I had to add a 6th shot because I goofed one up (top right, ignore that one) but the one honest 5 shot group of the night looks the very best I've fired across my basement in years with open sights:
This one is all about the shooting.
This rifle has certainly been around, and it has its fair share of dings and little imperfections. But it has charm like an old pickup and it's all the better for it, at least in my opinion. I won't be worried about adding another scuff or two, though that doesn't mean that I'll handle/maintain it any differently that my others.
I knew that I had a set of sights stashed away, so they went right on. Scope can wait until after I spiff up the pivot point, if I mount one at all. I should, of course, because my old eyes need the help. But in the past I did a lot of shooting with open sights, and I immediately liked the sight picture its giving me. When I can see the point of aim (!), the rifle shoots impressively.
I gave up trying to see the printed diamond points and added some 1/4" or larger dots to the flip side with a magic marker. Couldn't see those either. Finally, I made one dot very large, and I could see that one through the blur so I fired a group of RWS Hobby's at it.
I had to add a 6th shot because I goofed one up (top right, ignore that one) but the one honest 5 shot group of the night looks the very best I've fired across my basement in years with open sights:
This one is all about the shooting.
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