Icon Logo Gun Mart

Weihrauch HW100ks

Weihrauch HW100ks

The HW100 has developed into one of the finest multi-shot PCP’s for both hunting and HFT – the latter often using the optional ‘single-shot’ clip instead of the standard 14 shot magazine. We constantly move forward in this industry, and with so many quality optical options, you can put together some great combinations. Take for instance the specialised scoped rig I’ve put together using the HW100KS multi-shot PCP air rifle and the MTC Viper Connect scope. I feel this set-up illustrates the perfect airgun hunting tool offering a level of performance that at one time could only be obtained from a customised rifle and scope combo.

After extensively testing the HW100KS with the incredible Weihrauch Silencer up-front and one of the hottest scopes to hit the airgun scene in aeons, I’m now of the opinion, that this is the way forward for the airgun hunter looking to maximise success without spending a fortune.

Upping The Quality

Weihrauch like many other manufacturers have upped the stakes in the quality of stock wood they use. The walnut is wonderfully configured on the ‘S’ sporter test rifle, making the very angular edged ‘Bavarian’ style cheekpiece standout even more. Completing the butt section is a full rubber butt pad with both black and white spacers. Moving forward the pistol grip drops down quite steeply to end with a white spacer before it meets a very subtle rosewood end cap. The slim neck and right hand side thumb rest and scalloping to except the heel of the trigger hand put this rifle amongst one of the finest handling PCP carbines I’ve had the pleasure to test.

I scoped up with the MTC Connect, which is compact but offers so much more than some larger scopes with a similar spec and higher price. The Connect has an incredibly wide Field of View (FoV), but also a great magnification range and reticle choice. But this can wait until later – first let us check more about the rifle.

Fittings and Filling

The Weihrauch’s air reservoir is detachable and made from stainless steel, yet due to a hi-tech process it can now have a type of ‘bluing’ applied. Just rear of the large front mounted air pressure gauge is a quick fill point. This makes it easy to juice up the gun using the quick fill probe supplied. A unique sealing plug means not having to worry over dirt, dust, muck and grit ever getting into the fill point assembly or air reservoir while out hunting. Incidentally, though the rifle has such a short reservoir, the efficient design of the internal valving will still give you approximately 60-shots in the .177 calibre test rifle from a recommended 200-bar fill and approximately75 shots in .22 calibre.

When the indicator on the air gauge drops into the yellow at 90-bar, it’s time to visit the charging gear again.

Slick Engineering

The side-lever action that runs the metal 14-shot removable rotary magazine is wonderfully engineered and works faultlessly. To recap, after cocking the rifle by pulling the side-lever fully rearward you then slide back the magazine retaining catch found on the right of the action block just behind the magazine/clip housing. Lift the 14-shot magazine clear from the action and when all empty chambers are filled with pellets simply retrace the operation for unloading to secure the magazine and return the side-lever to probe a pellet into the 12.75” tube. This is sensibly secured at the front by a barrel band, which has a synthetic O- ring to protect the barrel from knocks, adds extra strength but doesn’t affect the semi-floating nature therefore accuracy is kept to the highest level. For FT, HFT or those that prefer a single shot mechanism, an optional auto-load single shot clip can be used instead of a magazine.

story continues below...

The 2-stage adjustable trigger unit with black anodised trigger blade is ergonomically curved affording a very comfortable ‘finger pad fit.’ It is adjustable for first and second stage pull weight as well as blade position, I feel even this has now become taken for granted, but it shouldn’t be as it’s a superior almost match grade unit. As I said earlier, features such as this are expected but not always of this standard, another being the super slick operation of the side-lever cocking and indexing system.

The manual, re-settable trigger safety lever operates very positively and is positioned on the right rear of the action block. Push forward and you put the rifle into live fire mode indicated by a red dot clearly visible on the action block. Pulling it back puts the rifle on safe, whereupon you can clearly see a white dot on the action. Incidentally, the safety can only be operated and indeed only functions when the rifle is primed. A quick check on it before taking a shot can make the difference in you getting a shot off quick or fumbling wondering what status the rifle’s actually in. 

Getting Connected

For scope fitting you have a lengthy run of railed action block and that is where the next part of the combo comes into the equation, the MTC Optics Viper 3 – 12 X 32 Connect. The model I tested had the SCB2 reticle, but an ‘Amended Mil Dot’ (AMD) reticle version is also available. The SCB2 reticle has an IR facility and is a modified version of the original Small Calibre Ballistic (SCB) reticle, and in my opinion should be seriously considered by hunters and HFT shooters alike.

The MTC Optics 3-12 X 44 Connect requires it to be fitted at the very rear of the action block due to its unique ‘close eye-relief’ sighting. It was here I realised both rifle and scope were beginning to work in perfect union and the combo actually seemed to feel even more compact than its 37.5” overall length (with silencer fitted) as you naturally hold the PCP further back. This optic comes back to where your head is naturally, so you don’t experience unwanted parallax error caused by a slightly ‘askew’ eye-relief.

Range Time

I found Weihrauch FT Specials to be amongst the best ammo for this rifle, only equalled by Air Arms Diablo Field and Daystate Select, closely followed by RWS Superdomes. My best groups were impressive calibre size holes out to 40-yds from a rested position, and it didn’t appear pellet fussy. The HW100 hasn’t got a regulator but then it doesn’t need one as it is already very consistent.

Winning Combination

Weighing 7.5lb un-scoped the ‘KS’ version I feel prefers compact scopes but will easily cope with the higher magnification and larger objective models should that be what you prefer. However, hunting with this rifle combo and now having many more field outings with my own Viper MTC Connect with SCB2 reticle, I can only say this is an astonishing combo and one I’d hate to break up.

To sum up, it’d take a brave or foolhardy person to say any rifle is perfect. However, if there’s one that deserves to be shortlisted, then in my opinion the HW100KS is surely a candidate being one of the best handling, accurate, highly efficient and whisper quiet PCP air rifles out there.

In fact, ‘rigged-up’ as this was for test, it could handle almost all my airgun hunting needs, I’d have money in my pocket from selling others it’d make obsolete and I’d also have a hell of a lot less air rifles to maintain.

PRICE: £890 incl 2 magazines, 2 fill adaptors and air reservoir ‘bleed’ unit
CONTACT: Hull Cartridge Co 01482 342571 www.hullcartridge.co.uk

  • Weihrauch HW100ks - image {image:count}

    click on image to enlarge

  • Weihrauch HW100ks - image {image:count}

    click on image to enlarge

  • Weihrauch HW100ks - image {image:count}

    click on image to enlarge

  • Weihrauch HW100ks - image {image:count}

    click on image to enlarge

  • Weihrauch HW100ks - image {image:count}

    click on image to enlarge

  • Weihrauch HW100ks - image {image:count}

    click on image to enlarge

  • Weihrauch HW100ks - image {image:count}

    click on image to enlarge

  • Weihrauch HW100ks - image {image:count}

    click on image to enlarge

  • Weihrauch HW100ks - image {image:count}

    click on image to enlarge

  • Weihrauch HW100ks - image {image:count}

    click on image to enlarge

  • Weihrauch HW100ks - image {image:count}

    click on image to enlarge

  • Weihrauch HW100ks - image {image:count}

    click on image to enlarge

  • Weihrauch HW100ks - image {image:count}

    click on image to enlarge

  • Weihrauch HW100ks - image {image:count}

    click on image to enlarge

  • Weihrauch HW100ks - image {image:count}

    click on image to enlarge

  • Weihrauch HW100ks - image {image:count}

    click on image to enlarge

  • Weihrauch HW100ks - image {image:count}

    click on image to enlarge

  • Weihrauch HW100ks - image {image:count}

    click on image to enlarge

  • Weihrauch HW100ks - image {image:count}

    click on image to enlarge

  • Weihrauch HW100ks - image {image:count}

    click on image to enlarge

  • Weihrauch HW100ks - image {image:count}

    click on image to enlarge

  • Weihrauch HW100ks - image {image:count}

    click on image to enlarge

gun
features

  • Model : Weihrauch HW100KS
  • Type : Side-lever action multi-shot PCP
  • Calibre : .177 on test (.22 available)
  • Stock : Walnut sporter
  • Sights : None supplied but grooved for scope mounting
  • Barrel : 12.75”
  • Optional Extras : Single-Shot Loading Clip £44 Weihrauch Silencer £56
Arrow