Poor Man's HW30s?

[TWBryan]

On my most wanted list is a Weihrauch HW30s,a nice light rifle,easy to cock,fun to plink with in the backyard. There is a glut of guns on the market shooting at,or in excess of,1000 fps. What we really need is Crosman building an R7 clone. I thought it might be interesting to see how many guns there are that have similar characteristics to the HW30,but are cheaper, I found a few,but I don't own any of them. I'd be interested in hearing from others what guns they think fit the bill,or what they think of the choices available. Here's what I found:

RWS Schutze
Hammerli 490 Express
Mendoza RM 200
Air Venturi Bronco
Norica Model 90

Thanks For Looking

TWBryan

[QuinnIZH46]

I have a RWS Diana Model 240 Shutze. Enjoy it. Very light, easy to cock, shoots well. Trigger IS heavy but does smooth out with a lot of rounds. It is predictable at least.

Ive had it over a year and it gets pulled out all the time. It's that rifle that you can shoot all day. Since it cocks so lightly it is used by bigger kids and the ladies as their first experience with a break barrel air rifle.

It is very close in weight, balance and feel to my Ruger 10/22 carbine. The shorter length is great for the heavy brush we have around here. Less getting tangled in the growth and the shorter barrel works fine with the shorter ranges also. We do informal field target near by. It is usually a walk through course and the targets are not marked so you have to be very aware when you go through the course.

Tom Gaylord did a 3 part report at Pyramyd Air Report, he had good things to say about the Model 240

http://www.pyramydair.com/blog/2008/...great-new.html

http://www.pyramydair.com/blog/2008/...ze-part-2.html

http://www.pyramydair.com/blog/2008/...ze-part-3.html

[TWBryan]

Thanks for the input Quinn,sounds like the schutze(I corrected the spelling) is a keeper. Do you think it would work for light pest control? Like starlings and rats?

[QuinnIZH46]

Starlings no problem. Rats...The Tree rats we have here are big but if you are close enough say 10-12 yards a clean head shot would do the job humanely. I did put down a Squirrel at 7 yards with it. Head shot.

I did shoot a steel silhouette match with the Shutze and it would have those rams dance off their feet at 45 yards with a good placed shot. Moved more than a few of them without them tumbling. Doubt It would make a "rat in one" every time at that distance.

Great plinker and informal target gun at 10-20 yards. No can is safe. Does blow really stale xmass cookies to dust bunnies. Kids and the birds love those as targets. I haven't crony'd it yet but I'd bet it's pushing 550+ with CP dome lights.

Overall it is one of my favorite airguns. Can't beat the price on them either. For a fun backyard plinker and a good introduction to shooting, I think it is a great air rifle.

[mtipton]

I asked a similar question on the yellow forum last year:
http://www.network54.com/Forum/79537...%3B+Air+rifles-

I already had a Slavia 631. I bought a Diana 24.

Another possibility is the new Bronco.
http://www.pyramydair.com/blog/2010/...ri-part-3.html

Mike Tipton

[TWBryan]

Quinn,does the schutze have the "dreaded plastic trigger"?

Mtipton,thanks for the link. I understand the RWS24 isn't being imported anymore. Looked at the bronco,but I dislike the stock.

[mtipton]

I bought the Diana 24 at the Little Rock Airgun Show last year.

Another solid, accurate, low velocity plinker is the IZH60 or IZH61.

The are currently made with plastic recievers and no longer have the three way adjustable trigger. But after I cleaned the barrel and made the single adjustment on the trigger of my IZH60 it is very accurate and really fun to shoot. I put a Beeman Sport Aperture sight on mine.

Mike Tipton

[QuinnIZH46]

Originally Posted by TWBryan

Quinn,does the schutze have the "dreaded plastic trigger"?

Surprising the trigger blade is metal. Not sure of the other components of the trigger group. The trigger is not the best I have ever come across. It is a bit heavy. About a 5lb pull. But I find it predictable shot to shot. It has become smoother the more I shoot it. One of these days I will do a tear down and see what improvements I can do.

[TWBryan]

Mike,must be nice to go to an airgun show,none in Florida. The model 24 doesn't sound awful,what kind of sights does yours have? Looked at the izhie's,neat stuff,but I'd personally prefer wood and steel.

Quinn,any idea if the schutze would work with a peep sight? What kind of velocity do you get with it?

Anyone have the Hammerli 490?

[QuinnIZH46]

Originally Posted by TWBryan

Quinn,any idea if the schutze would work with a peep sight? What kind of velocity do you get with it?

The Schutze has 11mm rails so that you can add a scope or peep sight. There is no recoil hole for a scope pin but the Schutze has such a light recoil that it shouldn't be a problem.

AS far as as FPS/FPE Tom Gaylord's Pyramyd Air Report reported the following:

Velocity - RWS Hobbys
RWS Hobbys averaged 584 f.p.s., with a spread from 579 to 591. That's a velocity spread of 12 f.p.s. and a muzzle energy of 5.3 foot-pounds.

Velocity - RWS Superdomes
RWS Superdomes averaged 516 f.p.s., with a spread from 507 f.p.s. to 521 f.p.s. That's a velocity spread of 14 f.p.s. and a muzzle energy of 4.91 foot-pounds.

Velocity - Crosman Premier 7.9-grain pellets
Crosman Premier 7.9-grain pellets averaged 537 f.p.s. with a spread from 531 to 544. That a total spread of 13 f.p.s. and a muzzle energy of 5.06 foot-pounds. Of all the pellets tested, Premiers fit the bore the tightest and seemed to have the smoothest firing characteristics.

Velocity - Gamo Raptors
Send in the clowns! Gamo Raptors delivered an average of 645 f.p.s. with a spread from 610 to 680. That's a total spread of 70 f.p.s. and a muzzle energy of 4.62 foot-pounds.

In my first post I listed the links to a 3 part review about the RWS Diana 240 Shutze from the Pyramyd Air Report blog.