Weihrauch HW30S Rifle

 

By Todd Cooper

 

 

Although I have only owned the Weihrauch HW30S for a couple of months, it has already become one of the most enjoyable air rifles I have ever shot. The weight, with a full size scope, is very comfortable and the accuracy potential is amazing. I finally understand why so many shooters on the various airgun forums rave about this sweet little rifle. Once you pick it up, it’s difficult to put down.

 

The trigger on the HW30S is typical rekord style. Mine was factory set at a moderate weight but adjustment was simple. A few turns of the large silver colored screw and I had a one pound pull. When I tested the pull weight using the “lift method”, a 16.6oz weight would lift and a 17.0oz would not. The trigger will actually adjust a little lighter but my HW40 pistol is set to 16.5 ounces and I wanted to match this weight with the rifle. Apparently a 10-12oz pull is possible by setting the trigger return spring so the trigger just barely returns to the forward position after the shot.

 

The stock on the rifle felt fine for my moderate 5’10” build. The pull length felt suitable and contrary to what I expected, I did not find the comb too low for scope use with a medium height scope mount. I my opinion, the HW30S feels like a rimfire rifle, with similar size and weight.

 

With a Bushnell Sportsman 3-9X scope installed the balance point on my .177 caliber HW30S is 2.25” in front of the trigger guard (no iron sights). For a further forward balance point a light muzzle brake can be installed. With a small Weihrauch brake I obtained a balance point of 2.75" in front of the guard and a total weight of 7 pounds 6.0 ounces (with scope). With the scope mounted, without iron sights or muzzle brake, the total weight is only 7 pounds 3.6 ounces (Sportsmatch 1 pc mount).

 

If your sole joy in airgunning is obtained with magnum velocities, the 30S is not a rifle you will desire. The 30S is a mild shooting spring-piston rifle with typical .177 caliber velocities in the 580-630 fps range with 7.9 grain pellets.  If you desire more velocity the HW50S or HW95 might be more suited to your needs. The HW30S basically gives 10m rifle velocities in a small sporter rifle package.

 

Prior to any sort of testing I did a basic lube tune on the rifle, consisting of:

1 - complete disassembly

2 - cleaned out factory lubricants

3 - polished mainspring ends (80-150-220 grit)

4 - bevel sharp ends on mainspring

5 - stoned sides of cocking slots

6 - Macarri moly paste applied to barrel pivot bolt, barrel pivot washers, inside of receiver forks, safety button, cocking slot, foot on cocking arm, top of cocking arm, spring guide, spring ends, piston body (inside/outside), piston seal perimeter

7 - burnished moly into chamber and removed excess

8 - a mixture of moly and pellgunoil was applied to the two pivots on the cocking arm

9 - sparingly applied Macarri tar to outside of mainspring

10 - sealed stock inletting and under buttplate with spar urethane

 

 

 

TOPICS OF INTEREST

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HISTORY

 

Before I start into this section I would like to thank Mike Driskill and Doug Law for providing me with numerous details from various airgun books and Beeman catalogues. Without the generosity of these guys this section would not have happened.

 

The Beeman company started business in 1972 and the first printing of their catalogue was a black and white edition distributed in 1974. This catalogue had Beeman’s first advertising for the Weihrauch HW30 rifle. In that year Beeman only imported the HW30MkII (perfekt trigger) version of the rifle. Although this was Beeman’s beginning years with the HW30, the Weihrauch company had been selling this same airgun in Europe for many years.

 

Beeman’s second and third catalogue editions also indicated only the HW30MkII version was being imported. The forth edition (1976) was when Beeman began importing the HW30S with the famous rekord trigger. This older design had the European styled stock with finger grooves on the forend. The fifth (1977) and sixth (1978) edition catalogues also offered the same HW30S rifle.

 

The first American style upgraded HW30S might have come from ARH. In 1980, Air Rifle Headquarters offered the HW30S (rekord trigger) with an optional Monte Carlo stock, cheek piece, and rubber buttplate. It is also possible ARH sold this rifle prior to 1980 but my sources had a limited supply of ARH information. Since this “upgraded” HW30S was imported from Germany, it is very possible the same version was available in Europe as well. In the older 1968 ARH Fall Catalogue the HW30MkII and HW30S (rekord trigger) were both advertised with standard contour stocks and a velocity rating of 660 - 680 fps.

 

The Beeman R-7 was introduced in their 10^th edition catalogue (fall of 1982). This original R-7 had a stock design that was adapted from the Gary Goudy designed R-1 stock. The forend on these designs extends over the barrel hinge to give a more graceful appearance to the rifle.

 

The original Beeman R-7 rifle design had the deluxe Goudy designed stock, slim 14mm barrel, and a receiver end cap made of sheet metal. This premier edition R-7 did not have a safety until 1986 (catalogue edition #14). Right around this time was also the change to a 15mm barrel and the elimination of the receiver cap. The cap was replaced with the current sleeve type plug with the flat finished end.

 

The current Beeman R-7 is almost identical to the current Weihrauch HW30S. Beeman no longer uses the extended stock and has switched to a version with identical contours to the current HW30S style. There are still 3 minor differences between the R-7 and HW30S.

 

1 - The R-7 has checkering on the pistol grip. The HW30S has no checkering.

2 - The R-7 has the thin rubber buttplate. The HW30S has a contoured plastic buttplate.

3 - The HW30S has the deluxe Weihrauch front sight tunnel with 6 inserts. The R-7 has the standard tunnel with a fixed post inside.

 

All current HW30S and R-7 rifles have synthetic piston seals. The HW30S rifles dated prior to 1983 had the leather seals. The synthetic changeover seems to have happened right around the time Beeman started importing the R-7 variant of the HW30S.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SPECIFICATIONS

 

 

**Beeman rated accuracy is “best 3 shot center-to-center group recorded at 10 meters”

 

 

 

 

VELOCITY RATINGS

 

 

 

Beeman’s velocity numbers are always taken with the lightest possible pellet but the accompanied energy ratings indicate this fact. The Weihrauch velocity number for the .177 caliber is a little slower but a slightly heavier pellet will have this effect. The new versions of these rifles are the same so they are capable of the same output.

 

 

 

VELOCITY TESTS

 

The following velocity numbers were recorded after my .177 caliber HW30S had been lubricated with moly paste and Macarri black tar. This rifle still has all unaltered Weihrauch factory parts.

 

Weihrauch HW30S - .177 Caliber

 

 

The following velocity numbers were recorded by JohnKT, using his .22 caliber HW30S. This new rifle was not tuned and it still has all unaltered Weihrauch factory parts.

 

Weihrauch HW30S - .22 Caliber

 

 

 

 

ACCURACY TESTS

 

When testing the .177 HW30S for accuracy I used a Bushnell Sportsman 3-9X airgun scope set on 9 power. The parallax adjustment was set accordingly.

 

The following groups were shot with only a front pillow rest. In a seated position I held the rifle in both hands and rested the back of my forward hand (left) on a firm pillow. I had tried using a suede rabbit ear sandbag rest, with a soft hold, but this technique caused numerous flyers within the groups. The method I settled on was not the most stable because of the active pulse in my hands and the decreased stability compared to a regular benchrest style of shooting (front & rear bags). I also think the groups might be a bit smaller if I was a more experienced shooter with a springer rifle.

 

 

 

 

 

On a different occasion I used a medium firmness front rest and held the bottom of the butt stock with my left hand. This method seemed a little more stable than the above method but I still had a very slight wobble.

 

 

 

 

When shooting at 50 yards I had a mild breeze during many of the groups. Shooting the slow moving .177 caliber pellet at longer distances can be a challenge during these types of conditions. To obtain a more realistic set of groups, I calculated the average using the 5 best groups at the longest yardage.

 

 

  

 

Final 10 Metre Accuracy Test

 

My HW30S has now had over 1000 pellets down the barrel so I would consider it to be "broken in". Some airgunners have said a spring-piston rifle will often shoot more accurately after this break-in period. My mind is never satisfied until the test is put to paper.

 

I re-measured my 10 metre indoor distance to confirm the span. The Workmate was set up with my medium firmness front rest clamped onto the top. I used a bright spotlight on the target face and adjusted my scope so the POI was slightly above the black aiming bullseye. Only two sighter shots were taken to check the adjusted POI and then 50 consecutive "group" pellets followed. All pellets were picked from the same tin of JSB Exacts with no sorting involved. The shooting was done at a moderate speed with no breaks, except to change the target the one time.

 

The groups were carefully measured under a spotlight with a vernier caliper. Prior to measuring the groups I shot several single pellets at a piece of white paper, from 10 metres, to get a feel for measuring this specific pellet hole. The single holes measured .169" to .185", with an average of around .180". I deducted .177” when calculating ctc measurements.

 

All groups were measured to .001" but the chart below shows figures rounded to the nearest .01". The 10 groups with the 3 decimal place measurements averaged at .164" ctc.

 

 

 

Trajectory Details with JSB Exact 4.52

 

While measuring the above groups I also checked the trajectory path using the targets. Two 10 yard groups were shot to complete the simple chart. This simple chart is just a rough guide but it’s better than nothing.

 

 

The above groups were all shot with a medium firmness front rest. When I held the rifle with my front hand and rested the back of this hand against a soft pillow I had a 6.0" drop at 50 yards. The 1/2" extra drop might be important, maybe not. I only tried the pillow at 50 yards.

 

 

 

 

POWER PARTS - Seals & Springs

 

When I had the HW30S dismantled for lubrication I forgot to measure the piston seal and guide. The Weihrauch mainspring was measured before being installed.

 

 

 

 

 

PARTS DIAGRAM

 

 

 

 

 

SHOOTING CHARACTERISTICS

 

Most Beeman R-7 and Weihrauch HW30S owners will be quick to mention how enjoyable these rifles are to shoot. The recoil is very mild and decent offhand or benchrest accuracy is not too difficult to obtain.

 

Air pistols seem to be my main attraction these days. The HW30S is actually the first air rifle I have owned in about 2 years. Even without much practice I was able to obtain dime size offhand groups at 10 metres, when having a good shooting session. Offhand group measurements of ½” ctc for 5 shots are not difficult to obtain. Experienced shooters will likely do ragged hole groups at this same distance.

 

Shooters often ask if certain spring-piston rifles are “sensitive” to shoot. The first test was to shoot pellets from 10 metres using two different offhand holds. One hold was very loose, with the rifle floating in my hands (artillery hold). The other hold was very tight, with a very firm grip and the butt stock held tight into my shoulder (death grip). At 10 metres both groups were tight and had the same point of impact. I even tried the two different holds when shooting from a rest at 10m and the POI did not seem to move.

 

The "Death Grip" and "Artillery Hold" were also tested from 50 yards. First I shot 5 shot groups with only a medium softness front rest and the butt stock floating gently in my hands (no hand touching fore stock). I also tested with a rabbit ear rear rest (with same front rest) and a very firm hold on the stock (death grip).

 

Finally, I tested with the rifle in both my hands (regular rifle hold) with the back of my left hand resting on a pillow. This would somewhat simulate offhand shooting. I tested this “offhand” hold with a loose grip and the death grip.

 

The POI did not seem to move for any of the above shooting styles and the group sizes all seemed very similar. Other shooters may find their particular rifle groups better with a specific type of hold.

 

 

 

 

HW30S SHOOTING STORIES

 

During one of my outdoor shooting sessions I decided to try a few offhand shots from the 50 yard distance. The HW30S/R-7 is said to be a great plinker so I wanted my fun.

 

My tin can collection was left at home so I looked around for a suitable target. Sure enough I found a popular Tim Horton’s take-out coffee cup. The cup is 4.75” high and 3.5” diameter at the top and tapers from top to bottom, as do most take-out style cups.

 

I popped off the plastic top and dropped a small handful of rocks into the cup to prevent the breeze from knocking over my cherished plinking target. The cup was then placed on top of an old stump to be turned into a strainer.

 

After numerous sighting shots I found the drop. Aiming about one cup height high gave me a sweet sounding connection. A string of 20 shots yielded 16 hits, which is not too bad for my first attempt at long distance offhand plinking with this rifle.

 

 

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Copyright 2004