Weihrauch hw57 Review

Overall Rating

Fairly lightweight
Reasonable recoil
Accurate
Automatic safety catch
Rekord trigger
Good build quality
Price

Pop up breech is a bit fiddly if you have a scope fitted
Pretty loud
Safety catch can't be re-applied

Weihrauch hw57 - I bought this as my first full power rifle and wasn't dissapointed with it. After looking around, it seemed to be the best underlever rifle for the price. A lot of people have complained about the pop up breech, but I found I quickly got used to it, though with a scope fitted, especially a large one, it can be a bit annoying at times.
It does recoil a bit, but with some practice you can acheive decent accuracy. I was able to get 1 inch groupings at 25 yards with the iron sights.
The weight isn't too bad, especially compared to other Weihrauchs, but I found it difficult to use with a scope fitted (especially the big Hawke 4-14x50 that I have). I guess I'm just a bit weedy (though in my defense I would like to say that I recently broke my back, so lifting anything at all is a bit difficult). The eye relief with the scope wasn't as much as I would have liked, but that's mainly due to using such a long scope, it can only go so far forward before it interferes with the pop up breech.
The only other downsides are the noise of the rifle, though other reviewrs have pointed out that a silencer adapter can be fitted, and the fact that you can't re-apply the safety catch once it has been disengaged. This can be irritating if you're about to take a shot and the quarry runs off before you have chance, meaning you have to be a bit more careful handling the rifle until you find something else, unless you de-cock it.
On the plus side it is built with the usual Weihrauch quality, though the stock is a bit plain, lacking the knurling of more expensive models. Other reviews have reported trouble with the cocking lever retention catch, but in about two years mine has never played up. It also has an adjustable Rekord trigger, which is something of a bonus.
I traded my HW57 (plus a large wad of notes) for an Air Arms S410 TDR (quieter and much lighter, so it's easier on the back), however this was not due to any fault in the rifle. In some ways the HW57 is more fun to shoot, as it takes a bit more skill to get good results. I would higly recommend the HW57 to anyone, especially somebody looking to start shooting on a budget. I wouldn't advise using a large scope on it though, especially if you shoot standing up without any support (I only used the scope I did because I got it for half price). It's excellent for hunting, mine was a .117 and had no trouble getting quick kills with the first shot, it's also accurate enough to try your hand at target shooting.
Basically this is one of the best budget springers around, easily as good as its more expensive counterparts.