Weihrauch HW 40 PCA /Beeman P3 Review

“Weihrauch HW 40 PCA /Beeman P3 - Returning to air...”

Written on: 01/02/2005 by Thorvald (3 reviews written)

Good Points
Lightweight
Styling
Accuracy
Build quality and materials
Price

Bad Points
Strength required to close pneumatic piston can be tiring if shot over aperiod of time

General Comments
Weihrauch HW 40 PCA /Beeman P3 - Returning to air rifle and pistol shooting after my childhood years meant I had no real idea of the significant advances made in the design, materials used and means of powering air guns / pistols. By buying some current magazine titles was obvious that the kind of build quality and accuracy previously only open to olympic target shooters was now available to people off the street who were willing to part with not much money at all. It also seemed that the .177 calibre was no longer the bridesmaid to the 'mans calibre' of .22 (because it packed a bigger punch)

After checking specifications, prices, availability and of course looks (and by reading favourable reviews) I narrowed it down to either the HW 40 or the Webley Tempest.

The Webley looks so ungainly, where the HW40 wouldn't look out of place in the holster of a special forces bodyguard. What clinched it was a local shop had it for under £90 - sold!

Straight out of the box it looks like it has a purpose, and that purpose is to sit comfortably in your hand and put pellets into small groups at 10m without any bother at all. If I was an air pistol designer I would have loved to have made this beauty. So to cut to the chase:The HW40 is comfortable to hold, has excellent fully adjustable rear sights, is really well put together (and I always tend to find niggles in things) and is capable of real accuracy. I have only had it a few weeks but already wish I had got one years ago - even my young sons think it 'really cool'. The trigger I have not adjusted at all and is capable of 'thinking the shot' because it is so light. The reinforced plastic construction also means that corrosion and scrapes to blueing are not an issue.

The down side being of course is the effort needed to return the barrel / shroud to prime the pneumatic piston. I find the best way is to rest the underneath of the barrel against my thigh and when the barrel is nearly closed grab the topmost grip finger (trigger finger) with my left hand free finger and close it by tightening my grip. I also alternate hands every 10 hots or so to avoid giving myself tennis elbow.

Get one-you won't be dissapointed.