Hi from Wellington - getting back into it

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   Hi, Back to airguns after many years away. Love shooting, long range and hunting with centrefire, but theres something special about an airgun. 
Started with a real Gamo in the late 80's , and prgressed to Webley, Weihrauch, AA, Theoben Gas Rams and ended up with Rapid 7 FT FAC in Germany.  Dabbled in FT, but mostly rebult and tuned them for fun. 

Just picked up a mint HW90, as close as I could find to my old Theoben 90TB.  I've coverted it to a K style (400mm barrel) and added a custom supressor I still had tucked away added Krylox, Vortek seal, soft bedded the action, trigger job and use a MTB suspension pump to tune ram pressure.  
Forgot how dam heavy HW are, but she now shoots to 20mm at 50m at 795fps and Exact jumbo 15.9.  
Not sure I need a PCP with a custom .22LR in the safe. (may be swayed by an HW100 or decent R7) 

Now on the hunt for another german springer, always liked the look of the HW97K or at a push the TX200 or prosport. Keen on tuning a sub 20FPE. 

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Jit Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Member Joined: 30 Aug 2025 Location: Wellington Status: Offline Posts: 11	Post Options Post Reply Quote Jit Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: Hi from Wellington - getting back into it Posted: 30 Aug 2025 at 8:40pm
	Hi, Back to airguns after many years away. Love shooting, long range and hunting with centrefire, but theres something special about an airgun. Started with a real Gamo in the late 80's , and prgressed to Webley, Weihrauch, AA, Theoben Gas Rams and ended up with Rapid 7 FT FAC in Germany. Dabbled in FT, but mostly rebult and tuned them for fun. Just picked up a mint HW90, as close as I could find to my old Theoben 90TB. I've coverted it to a K style (400mm barrel) and added a custom supressor I still had tucked away added Krylox, Vortek seal, soft bedded the action, trigger job and use a MTB suspension pump to tune ram pressure. Forgot how dam heavy HW are, but she now shoots to 20mm at 50m at 795fps and Exact jumbo 15.9. Not sure I need a PCP with a custom .22LR in the safe. (may be swayed by an HW100 or decent R7) Now on the hunt for another german springer, always liked the look of the HW97K or at a push the TX200 or prosport. Keen on tuning a sub 20FPE.

Pauly5 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Forum Moderator Joined: 11 Mar 2013 Location: Titahi Bay Status: Offline Posts: 1601	Post Options Post Reply Quote Pauly5 Report Post Thanks(1) Quote Reply Posted: 30 Aug 2025 at 11:38pm
	Hi Jit, Sounds like you got the ram sorted. I had reached out on the other forum. The 98 with the heavy barrel is worth looking at too, but the 97k is a great gun.... they are all great! Just get one of each.

RangerPete Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 19 Apr 2023 Location: Cambridge. Status: Offline Posts: 997	Post Options Post Reply Quote RangerPete Report Post Thanks(1) Quote Reply Posted: 31 Aug 2025 at 12:39am
	Hi Jit, welcome to the forum. “Just get one of each” says Pauly…. Hummm 🤔🤔🤔 That’s what they told me when I was looking for a big Diana, and I ended up with a 54 and a 56! Love them both, so I guess it was good advice 😂. Sounds like you know your way around a springer and have lots of fun tinkering (tuning). As soon as the new forum is up and running post up some pics of your work. Pete.
	Walk quietly, but carry a big stick.

Jit Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Member Joined: 30 Aug 2025 Location: Wellington Status: Offline Posts: 11	Post Options Post Reply Quote Jit Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 31 Aug 2025 at 12:43am
	Yes a 98 or Diana 54/56 would be lovely and blooming pricey.

Myson Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 07 Mar 2016 Location: Feilding Status: Offline Posts: 209	Post Options Post Reply Quote Myson Report Post Thanks(1) Quote Reply Posted: 31 Aug 2025 at 9:40am
	Hi Jit, Welcome! I have the HW97KT .177 and its fabulous! If you go that way, just note that it took my rifle about 800 pellets down the barrel before the incredible accuracy surfaced! Now its shooting golf-balls off tees at 70 yds all day long! Love it! I know KiwiTR6 is currently settling in his new HW98 and he loves that too. Can't go wrong with a Weihrauch!
	https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eq7jVyBfFqE Air Arms S510 US .22 Air Arms S410 .22 Weihrauch HW97KT .177 Weihrauch HW95 .177

J-S Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Visit Members Homepage Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 20 Oct 2014 Location: Auckland Status: Offline Posts: 468	Post Options Post Reply Quote J-S Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 6 hours 43 minutes ago at 11:17am
	Nice, always wanted to get hold of a HW90. ive got a 1984 Theoben sirocco, as well as a Sirocco grand prix project. Love the shot cycle of the TB gas ram, Webley type trigger let them down in the Theobens, but imagine the HW90 is a better trigger? The HW97 and AA are around 15-16 fpe as full power, they are amazing at lower power - the weight can make them almost recoilless, but I wouldnt want to try and push them higher. HW98 would be nice, its a dressed up hw95 which is another option, or you could get a HW80 around 22fpe, possibly detune it to 18fpe to make it a little more tame.. Ive been looking to find a nice Rapid, not many at all locally.. theres one on trademe at the moment but not the greatest condition
	J S Airguns Air Arms TX200('s) Theoben Sirocco HW77 FWB 300s Webley Patriot One or two others... Current projects: Too many..

Jit Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Member Joined: 30 Aug 2025 Location: Wellington Status: Offline Posts: 11	Post Options Post Reply Quote Jit Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 6 hours 14 minutes ago at 11:46am
	I’ve found the elite trigger can be fettled to almost match quality with patience. The old Theoben triggers were a let down. I like the idea of a happy mid range power TX/98/97k. I think a springer near 20FPE is the practical limit. Diana Airking and HW90/Theoben being an exception. Only point for me is a flatter .22 like .177 12fpe. I’d have a light weight PCP for +20. By chance I Bumped into someone with a Mk2 TX200 in the gun shop yesterday. Never uses it so might be worth making an offer. Or there’s a 97KT on trade me.

J-S Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Visit Members Homepage Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 20 Oct 2014 Location: Auckland Status: Offline Posts: 468	Post Options Post Reply Quote J-S Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 5 hours 1 minutes ago at 12:59pm
	Ive got a Full power Webley Patriot in .25, its a beast with a good kick asround 27fpe. Very average trigger but accurate if you can tame it and very consistent - only 5 fps variance over 10 shots. Its a bit of a marvel but not nice to cock and shoot for long periods! I agree 20fpe max is heaps before the shot cycle tends to affect your ability to shoot straight.. The hw97 is a good choice, the tx200 is equal in pretty much every way but just finished a bit nicer in Brit fashion - you cant go wrong with picking up one of them at a good price. Was the Mkii available in full power? or was that a change when they introduced the MKiii?
	J S Airguns Air Arms TX200('s) Theoben Sirocco HW77 FWB 300s Webley Patriot One or two others... Current projects: Too many..

Jit Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Member Joined: 30 Aug 2025 Location: Wellington Status: Offline Posts: 11	Post Options Post Reply Quote Jit Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 3 hours 5 minutes ago at 2:55pm
	I think the Mk2 TX 200 was UK focussed and the Mk3 was happy at 16ish FPE in .22. The internals seem better designed than the HW but no less accurate. The HW97 or K wasn’t around when I was saving up in the 90’s . Just the 77 which I never took too. They can look wonderful in a decent stock. Replace the muzzle weight internals with built in suppressor, add vortex or TBT kit and off you go. Maybe at this power level .177 is the way to go. Same for the TX. Just heavy.