Suggest a rifle for markiver54

[graywolf]

Congrats on your decision. Looking forward to some range reports.

[markiver54]

I'm very excited to get my rifle. Hopefully this week.
Because this was a big decision/expense for me, I want to give it the TLC it deserves when it arrives.
Don't know what the owners manual will tell me, ( assuming it comes with one ), about what I should do if anything before shooting it. I bought a tin of H&N Field Target Trophy 14.66 gr pellets to start with. Should I clean it first? and what method of cleaning? Is there a break-in period? if so, about how many shots? Cleaning intervals?...etc.

[BigAl52]

Yes on the cleaning it first and it will come with a nice owners manual. I dont use any metal brushes in mine. Nylon is ok. I usually just put some cleaner on a patch and run it down the barrel a few times using new patches each time. I use the otis cleaner and there patches are one size fits all by slotted adjustments in the patch. If you have some 243 size patches those would probably work great. I try to get a little tighter fit than what a 22 patch will give you. Breakin period answer is yes. It will take probably 100 rounds before it tends to settle down although the groups I got out of mine right out of the box were nothin to be ashamed of.

[markiver54]

Yes on the cleaning it first and it will come with a nice owners manual. I dont use any metal brushes in mine. Nylon is ok. I usually just put some cleaner on a patch and run it down the barrel a few times using new patches each time. I use the otis cleaner and there patches are one size fits all by slotted adjustments in the patch. If you have some 243 size patches those would probably work great. I try to get a little tighter fit than what a 22 patch will give you. Breakin period answer is yes. It will take probably 100 rounds before it tends to settle down although the groups I got out of mine right out of the box were nothin to be ashamed of.

Thanks a bunch Al. One more question: When you clean the bore, do you NOT use rods ? What does the Otis cleaner consist of ? Is it a cable or wire or something like that ?
I DO have some .22 cleaning supplies that I've had for years to clean my rifles and pistol, but don't want to damage the bore.

[BigAl52]

Yes the Otis cleaner is a protected cable. If you have any of those slotted patch holders around you could make one. Drill a hole thru the end at the base of the threads then get some fishing line. Guys have done that. But the Otis 22 kit I dont think is that much. This one has a few more items than mine does
https://www.amazon.com/Otis-Technology- ... RydWU&th=1

[markiver54]

Wow...thanks again Al. I just looked through my cleaning supplies and forgot that I bought a protected cable after I bought my SGC. I guess I'm good to go then. I also found a .22 cal. squeegee that might come in handy. I assume you can clean from the breech without actually cocking the barrel completely.

[North Country Gal]

On a new gun, just clean the bore, same as you would on a new 22 rifle, to remove any factory lubricant. Beyond that, you should never have to clean the bore an an HW. A rod is fine, but make sure it is a good rod and be careful.

Then, before every range session, tighten the two action screws on the trigger guard and the one on the bottom of the forend of the stock. (Leave the screws on the barrel hinge alone.) This should be standard procedure for a piston gun before every range session. Don't have to be gorilla tight, just firm. On a new gun as it is breaking in, you may even want to check those screws for tightness during a range session. With a springer and its recoil, those screws can work loose and as they do, accuracy can fall off and you may even get changes in POI. If you get a sudden drop in accuracy or an unexplained change in POI, check those action screws. As the gun settles in with some shooting, the actions screws will not need tightening as often.

On a break barrel with ball detent lockup like the 95, slap the barrel to break it open, then cock the barrel.

Never, ever, dry fire a springer. This can damage the piston and seals. Don't store the gun cocked, though if you forget and do, it's not as hard on the spring as some claim. On the 95's power level, avoid super light for caliber pellets. Stay with medium to heavy for caliber pellets.

On my HWs, it typically takes a few tins of pellets before max accuracy, but this can vary from gun to gun. On a few, I had max accuracy right out of the box.

If you are new to springer shooting, though, you are the biggest factor in accuracy. You might want to go online and review the "artillery hold", which is nothing more than holding the gun lightly and allowing the gun to recoil with a minimum amount of bouncing off your shoulder and hands. Whatever hold you choose, absolute consistency is a must for every shot. Even a slight change in hold or rest can change the dynamics of how the gun recoils and cause a change in POI.

Every HW springer I've owned and shot is easily capable of under an inch five shot groups at 50 yards. Yours should, too, IF you have the skill to shoot a springer and IF the wind is fairly calm. At 50 yards with pellets, it doesn't take much of a breeze to open up groups. At 30 yards, though, I can still manage some very nice groups on a breezy day. That jump from 30 or 35 yards out to 50 is a real challenge, though. Wait for days with no wind for 50 yard work.

Any questions, just holler.

[BigAl52]

There you go Mark. NCG has it all lined out for you. What she says is exactly what I have found with the gun. Those screws in fact will come loose just keep an eye on them. But when you get yours you will smile as those guns are first class quality. Also Airguns of Arizona are first class people. They do stand behind those guns. I had a issue with a scope and they replaced it with no questions.

[markiver54]

There you go Mark. NCG has it all lined out for you. What she says is exactly what I have found with the gun. Those screws in fact will come loose just keep an eye on them. But when you get yours you will smile as those guns are first class quality. Also Airguns of Arizona are first class people. They do stand behind those guns. I had a issue with a scope and they replaced it with no questions.

Thanks Al. The scope issue will probably bring up more questions down the road. Will try open sites for a while first.

[markiver54]

Thanks a bunch NCG! I'm very lucky to have the resource that this forum provides, ( especially YOUR expertise and Al to get me started with this new rifle. Thank you for the reminder to NEVER dry fire a springer. I DID see that on a You Tube video. I also saw the "artillery hold" explained and demonstrated. So glad because I probably would have had a "death grip" on the stock.

I'm really looking forward to receiving it...like a kid at Christmas! I hope I can do the rifle justice.
I'm sure a couple more questions will arise. In the mean time, thank you both VERY much!

[BigAl52]

No expertise here when it comes to airguns. NCG far and away exceeds my experiences when it comes to airguns. When it comes to scopes NCG may have more suggestions than I would but get a scope with adjustable objective and one that is spring gun proof. I bought a Hawke scope for my 97 from Airguns of Arizona. It has worked great

[markiver54]

What's the difference between the 95 & 97. I just want to make sure I have the power I need. I think I'm ok though based on AoA's recommendation. 50 yds. or less for small game will work for me.

[BigAl52]

What's the difference between the 95 & 97. I just want to make sure I have the power I need. I think I'm ok though based on AoA's recommendation. 50 yds. or less for small game will work for me.

No difference. both have the same specs. I have a 95 Field Pro. It blows right thru the osb board just like the 97. Ive done quite a bit of pest control with my 95. Dont know that I have made any 50 yarders doing it but the ones I have done have done the job.

[North Country Gal]

The HW97? That's the under lever equivalent to the 95 break barrel as far as power. Being an under lever, though, the 97 is considerably heavier than the 95. Theory has it that an under lever is more accurate than a break barrel by way of the fixed barrel, BUT you won't miss what little difference there is with the 95. Trust me on that.

[BigAl52]

Is it coming today Mark

[markiver54]

Is it coming today Mark

Yes! UPS says so, before 7:00 PM. Can't wait! Will post after it arrives. UPS usually hits our neighborhood late though.

[graywolf]

Just in time for the weekend.

[Mags]

Is it coming today Mark?

Yes! UPS says so, before 7:00 PM. Can't wait! Will post after it arrives. UPS usually hits our neighborhood late though.

Well, did it come?

[markiver54]

Well...It arrived, and no sooner than I started to open and look at it, an important family issue came up. Doesn't it figure.
Just got home and haven't really even had a chance to look it over. My excitement kind of took a back seat to other things...bummer.
At this point, just going to get some sleep and try to revive my excitement tomorrow.
Thanks for the interest! I will report tomorrow.
I hope everyone had a good day to start the weekend.

[fortyshooter]

Well...It arrived, and no sooner than I started to open and look at it, an important family issue came up. Doesn't it figure.
Just got home and haven't really even had a chance to look it over. My excitement kind of took a back seat to other things...bummer.
At this point, just going to get some sleep and try to revive my excitement tomorrow.
Thanks for the interest! I will report tomorrow.
I hope everyone had a good day to start the weekend.

Will be looking for your review. I have been spending some time with my 177 Walther lever rifle.