Weihrauch hw57 Review

Overall Rating

Light weight, accuracy, Record trigger, open sights

Height of cheek piece, lack of chequering or stippling on stock. Quite loud, no provision for silencer fitting.

This Weihrauch HW57 Air Rifle belongs to my grandad, bought with the intention of using to practice follow through (since my brother and I use PCP's), it was chosen rather than some other lower priced underlevers for it's build quality and the reputation of weihrauch for making reliable guns, plus the price made it good value (around a few pennies less than £160).
Unfortunately in the time that we have owned it we've only shot one and a half tins of pellets through it so I suspect that we've not gained it's best performance yet as it will still have a bit more running in to do.
Upto now...
Starting with the feel and pointability, it's pretty light and is easy to swing to the shoulder, though a shame the cheek piece on the stock isnt higher, just a little bit, because it could be a bit higher and the open sights would still be usable plus scope use would then be a little easier. Also the rifle has too great a reach to the trigger (in my opinion) - my hands aren't paticuly small but it is a bit of a stretch, if the reach was a little shorter it would enhance the control of the trigger as one could pull it straight back easier instead of the tendancy to pull it sideways when stretching for it.
The action is quite well finished with no sharp edges on any visable surface, the edges hidden by the stock are neat but not as rounded off.
The trigger is the well known Record trigger.
I have seen a few reviews in magazines which go into detail about it's performance. I've found that the adjustment is mainly for the let off pressure (the screw behind the trigger blade) but I think the length of travel can also be adjusted with a small screw with is only visable with the stock removed. I've set the trigger weight very lightly, I would say lighter than most shooters will require (lighter than my pcp will safely set) and it seems to work fine although I don't shoot with gloves on and I'm mainly a target shooter so I keep it pretty steady when loaded. I've taken the trigger unit out of the action though and as long as there is trigger pressure I don't see why it wont manage to "catch" and hold the piston under the pressure from the mainspring.
Just make sure you have tested the weight with it loaded to make sure before you go on a hunt etc to be safe.
The firing cycle isn't the nicest I've experienced from a springer but it might be down to it's light weight, the spring guide fitted is plastic, which might sound a cheaper option to metal however it can be found as a tuning part (the plastic one), I think because it helps to reduce noise from the spring.
The open sights fitted are of fairly good quality, they seem solidly made, however the rear sight only fits on the dovetail so it has to be taken off when most scopes are fitted.
The accuracy is excellent but can be a little challenging achieve, when it is fully achieved...
Well I once managed to get a five shot grouping the size of a 5 or 1 pence peice (half inch) at 30yds, most of the time though I end up with groups 3/4 to an inch in diameter.
I've found it is rather loud, this is the main negative I've found.
The dovetails are fine for small to medium length scopes, for example it is currently fitted with a 1.5-5 mag scope but we also have a 6-24 mag which is too long to avoid the pop-up breech. My Advice: take the gun to the shop when you buy the scope, or visa-versa.
Since buying the rifle, the trigger has been adjusted nearly to the lightest let off pressure (2nd stage is bearly evident), though it will go slightly lighter so it feels like the first stage upto firing.
I've also started work on a silencer to replace the front sight which will have a notch to enable it to be used as the foresight, plus I'm planning to make a barrel mount for the rear sight so it can be kept on the gun. I'm also going to make a couple of tuning parts for the firing cycle, - it is ok but I'm just very fussy and like making things, (consider the length of remaining warranty on your gun though before you consider any work though). Other than that it would be nice to mount it in rubber in it's standard stock.

We use RWS superdomes, as some pellets can fall out of the breech.

(I've posted some more info on my silencer on the forum and will keep it updated.)

Members' Comments onbeautgrainger147's Review

• deadeyedick on 16th May 2006

  is that a .22 or .177? just wondering as a .177 should be slightly more accurate than a .22? just wondering, chears, Deadeyedick.

• deadeyedick on 16th May 2006

  Also did you find the loading fiddley because you had a scope on? If i get this gun I wont be using a scope. cheers again, Deadeyedick

• beautgrainger147 on 17th May 2006

  Firstly the gun is a .177. As for loading, it is slightly fiddly as some brands of pellets which are loose enough to fall out. The scope can make a difference though in that if it's too long loading can be impossible.