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Weihrauch HW99S

Weihrauch HW99S

You’d think by now I’d have said all there was to say on Weihrauch’s superb HW99S, which offers a no nonsense full power, break-barrel action in a lightweight package. However, due to recent feature changes, it gives me the opportunity to grab this latest model and put it through its paces again - so lets’ see what we have got!

Looks Unfamiliar

Mainly it’s the stock design which caught my eye and on many of the company’s springer line-up this certainly seems to be an area they’re addressing. They seem to do this without any fanfare, as one day they just start coming onto the racks in gunshops and if you know your airguns from onions then you’ll head straight over to see why it seems more cosmetically appealing.

However before detailing the changes in the stock, I really didn’t recognise it immediately as the HW99S. The reason for this is that I thought they’d always have this punchy HW80 wannabe looking like the plain Jane not many would be too keen to spend time with. Well forget that, as now this rifle is asking to be picked up - so pick it up I did!

The new woodwork is practical yet appealing and made by Minnelli, which is a bit of a surprise, but it looks like Weihrauch are also having stocks for some of their other rifles made by this famous Italian stock-maker. Well, if it’s good enough for BSA, Daystate, Air Arms et al then it seems to be good enough for the Germans too!

The beech stock is now fully ambidextrous, having a slight hog back appearance at the butt with a more substantial cheekpiece that is highlighted by the stark lines, clearly showing its shape as if to accentuate the fact it’s new and different.  The light brown full rubber butt pad with black spacer is still there to be tucked into the shoulder, but reaching forward and your hand falls onto the slim wrist of the stock, now treated to a thumb channel set top centre, getting progressively broader as it reaches the top and rear of the action.

Slim Chance

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The forend is slim with a well rounded underside, tapering slightly upwards to finish in a nicely rounded tip. Weihrauch have re-thought the gripping areas, which show a combination of stippled and chequered panels in all the usual places. Just so we don’t forget they have decided to stamp their name and logo on the forend too.

To say this design changes the rifle is an understatement as it makes shooting effortless and the balance is certainly better, especially after suitably scoping up. As I have the Nikon 3 – 9 X 40EFR ProStaff out on test, this was the first air rifle I put it through its paces on. However, no test of this rifle is complete without checking out the open ‘iron’ sights, especially when they’re as good and as versatile as they are on most Weihrauchs.

As Good As Ever

The front sight unit has a protective tunnel on a ramp that accepts different elements. The rear is a fully adjustable design, via small and easy to use thumbwheels with a 4-position rotary rear plate, with offers both U and V-notches in two widths. If you like shooting open sighted these are the rifles to look to as there’s a myriad of options to pair up front to rear until you find the one that best suits. Though far from being match sights, the level of sophistication is good and offers good options to fine tune your sight picture.

The rifles medium length barrel draws down smoothly and surprisingly easily for cocking, and the reassuring ‘snick’ on engaging the sears as the automatic safety button flicks out from the nearside rear left of the cylinder leave you in no doubt you’ve fully cocked the rifle. Thumb a pellet directly into the quality 15.5” tube and return to the closed position, here the wedge shape detente catch keeps things solidly locked in place and - coupled with the larger breech seal - completely air tight.

After too much plinking I have to admit having a lot of fun with the irons, so on went the previously mentioned Nikon scope and it was soon set for a sensible 25-yd zero for this .22 calibre test rifle.

Better All Round

Even as I shot with open sights, I’d noticed hardly any recoil and certainly it was much quieter on discharge – in fact to the point I’d not dream of sliding off the foresight to slip on a compatible silencer as many do.

The highly acclaimed and fully adjustable 2-stage ‘Rekord’ trigger unit with its well curved and ridge fronted alloy trigger blade deserves to be used in the build as it completes a superb package.
In fact, in my opinion I feel this time around more hunters or novice airgunners looking for a reasonably priced, accurate, lightweight and well balanced springer will no longer be put off by the HW99S’ previously workmanlike and dare I say, once rather bland looks.

  • Weihrauch HW99S - image {image:count}

    click on image to enlarge

  • Weihrauch HW99S - image {image:count}

    click on image to enlarge

  • Weihrauch HW99S - image {image:count}

    click on image to enlarge

  • Weihrauch HW99S - image {image:count}

    click on image to enlarge

  • Weihrauch HW99S - image {image:count}

    click on image to enlarge

gun
features

  • Model: Weihrauch HW99S
  • Type : Break-Barrel, single shot, spring & piston air rifle
  • Stock: Beech sporter
  • Sights: Adjustable open sights fitted, and action grooved for scope mounting
  • Overall length : 40.5”
  • Barrel length:: 15.5”
  • Weight: 6.8lbs un-scoped
  • Trigger:: 2-stage, fully adjustable ‘Rekord’ unit
  • Safety: Automatic non-resettable
  • Calibre: .22 (on test) .177 available
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