Weihrauch HW30s kit

Maybe I’m getting more reflective in my old age, but something that regularly crosses my mind of late, is the popularity of our sport, and the need to maintain it. It’s a basic observation, but it really is vital that we attract and encourage new blood into shooting in general, in order to safeguard the future of the sport. That requires all of us to do our bit to introduce newcomers, and youngsters especially to shooting.

But another key piece of the jigsaw has to be dedicated kit, designed specifically for those pint-sized shooters, trying their hand for the first time. And let’s face it- it’s in the interests of manufacturers, to encourage new blood, as they are the next generation of eager customers; who, if they get it right, will come back for more.

Perfectly formed

On test here, is the HW30S Kit from the renowned Weihrauch brand, based in Germany, and it ticks most of those boxes for a dedicated junior airgun. I tested the standard HW30S a few years back, which comes fitted with open sights, but this kit version comes with a sleek cocking aid fitted at the muzzle, and a Weihrauch 4x32 scope and mounts as standard, which on the face of it, looks great value for money all in. Weihrauch have also trimmed two inches off the barrel, and slimmed everything down still further, which in turn has lost a modicum of weight along the way. The result is a compact, break-barrel, spring piston powered sporter that has a specially reduced power plant, a quality two-stage trigger, and a smart ambidextrous beech stock.

Weihrauch have something of a reputation for good solid engineering, and this HW30S may be aimed at youngsters, but there’s genuinely no compromise in the quality department; which is as it should be! That attractive beech stock sports a deliberately short, yet super sleek forend, and the ambi credentials stretch to a subtly defined cheek-piece on each side. The smart reddish brown rubber butt pad is a bit solid, but does its job nonetheless. My only gripe concerns the pistol grip, which for small hands (the target audience after all), still feels just a little overly raked!

Finish-wise, the medium brown lacquer seals the wood nicely, but there’s still plenty of grain pattern on show, which is always a bonus. As for the action, I’m pleased to report that there are no plastic components anywhere to be seen, and all the metalwork gets a rich chemical blue. In other words, there’s an air of real quality to this model, which will help instil all-important pride of ownership in any prospective ownerhowever small they may be!

Getting to grips

Despite being an out and out junior gun, the HW30S still comes with standard Weihrauch features, including a length of scope rail running all the way back to the end of the block, and two arrestor stud mounting holes. As previously mentioned, this kit version comes with a Weihrauchbranded 4x32 scope and mounts, so the action can start straight away. I should also mention that the scope on test was both clear and usable, which is also an important consideration too.

Close inspection shows what looks like a silencer is in fact a cocking aid, as looking down (safely of course!) reveals the rifling less than half inch in, with the dummy can being simply a slight extension that offers a wider gripping area. In use, it proved to do the job nicely on that basis. A gentle nudge to open the breech, then pull the barrel all the way down to engage the piston with the trigger sears. All the usual satisfying Weihrauch crunch and clicks are here too, as the perfectly weighted mechanism goes about its business. Consider that the action on this model is designed to produce between 7 and 8 ft/lbs, and it should come as no surprise just how easy it is to cock the action. The latest breech configuration is here, too, and with a pellet pushed home flush to avoid crushing, bring the barrel up to a close.

Range time

On the test range, the diminutive HW30S did itself proud; with a super slick feeling action, no spring twang, and very little vibration. Very pleasant to shoot in other words! See the HW30S as a perfectly scaled down version of Weihrauch’s high grade spring gun fare and you won’t be wide of the mark. Their Rekord, 2-stage trigger unit helps of course, and anyone who has used this mechanism before will appreciate the variety of settings on offer, and the potential sensitivity available, after some judicious adjustment. Bear in mind the reduced poundage that it has to deal with here, and it can’t fail to impress.

And so to performance figures! Sub half inch groups centre-to-centre over 30 yards, admittedly using quality Air Arms Diabolo Fields, was enough to illustrate this guns serious potential, and with a total spread of 14fps over a ten shot string, it was largely textbook results all round.

Conclusion

My first gun was a Webley Vulcan, and it became a good friend, but I didn’t start shooting until the age of 13, which is quite late compared to many, and I was an early developer. This HW30S would be ideal for pint sized shooters much younger than that, being properly scaled down in most respects. A combination of reduced power output, fairly low weight, and easy handling, makes it highly appealing as a starter gun, specifically aimed at juniors, who just can’t be expected to handle full sized kit.

Add in that high grade trigger, Weihrauch’s renowned build quality, and some serious accuracy potential, and I can see many a youngster’s face breaking out into a grin. In short, it will allow them to fulfil their potentialand that’s a perfect introduction indeed, into the world of airguns.