Author Topic: R1 vs. HW97 vs. Pro Elite (Read 1323 times)

sixgunSal · « **on:** December 21, 2003, 11:54:01 AM »

I think I've sorta narrowed it down. Anyone have any opinions? I can sure use them. Well, I just added another fly in the ointment.

big6x6 · « **Reply #1 on:** December 22, 2003, 02:11:32 AM »

What are you going to do with the guns? You've basically got two hunting rifles and one target rifle here. The HW-97 will never compete with the other two in power. The Pro Elite/R-1 will never be quite as accurate as a HW-97.

Can you still Get a Pro Elite? They were discontinued several months ago.

I have owned them all and still have SEVERAL R-1s and a couple of HW-97s. Lets face it, the R-1 is one of my very favorite air rifles. One difference right off the bat is the Pro Elite/HW-97 have no sights. Zero, zilch, nada. So if you get one of those you'll need the proper mounts and a good scope.

For a good, general use air rifle, I get the R-1 in .20 or 22. More specificially, I'd either get the R-1 Carbine .20 or the standard length R-1 in .22. Here's a pic of one of my .22 R-1s http://photos.imageevent.com/chill6x6/mac1r1//websize/R-1mac-1%20008.jpg
and a pic of my R-1 Carbine .20
http://photos.imageevent.com/chill6x6/misc//websize/screwcupsandsquirrels%20002.jpg

sixgunSal · « **Reply #2 on:** December 22, 2003, 02:37:05 PM »

Thank you for your advice but I didn't see it in time. I bought a HW97 this morning in .177, but I think I got it for a good price.....and of the 3, I agree with you about the accuracy. I have been looking for a club in the city to get into some target shooting, but so far no luck. But for general plinking, pests, and hopefully, some future target shooting, I hope I got the right one.
Jim

Johnny · « **Reply #3 on:** December 22, 2003, 08:12:36 PM »

Chuck Hill: Very nice looking guns.

Jim: Good luck with your new gun.

big6x6 · « **Reply #4 on:** December 23, 2003, 02:52:42 AM »

The HW-97 is a FINE gun. There is no reason to not like it. I feel my HW-97 is the most accurate spring gun I have! You'll have plenty of time to get a R-1 LATER!

Thanks Johnny!

sixgunSal · « **Reply #5 on:** December 23, 2003, 02:53:45 AM »

Thanks
Question: Is there anything special I need to know to put the scope I bought on it? Any inside information, so to speak, to get it right?
:]

big6x6 · « **Reply #6 on:** December 23, 2003, 03:10:19 AM »

What scope/mounts did you get?

Johnny · « **Reply #7 on:** December 23, 2003, 05:13:49 AM »

IMHO there is a few minor drawbacks for the 97 compared to AA TX:

* No syntetic bearings inside for smoother operation
* Endcap that must be screwed on/off - a little more fiddly then AA
* TX is avalible with shroud for quieter operation

But as Chuck says, it´s still one of the best springers ever made and don´t be surprised if you find yourself as a owner to 10-15 airguns within a year or so..

:grin:

I used to have a HW80 (Euroversion of the R1) in calibre 25, an awesome airgun for hunting seagull (legal pests here).

It shot 20,00 gn FTT at 640 fps for 18 ft/lbs with great accuracy and very little recoil (heavy gun).

I changed it to my .22 FX Cutlas Carbine becouse I needed a gun in a smaller calibre for long range hunting with a flatter trajectory.

But close in - no gull survived a run in with that mighty springer.. :twisted:

sixgunSal · « **Reply #8 on:** December 24, 2003, 10:50:23 AM »

Quote from: big6x6

What scope/mounts did you get?

I bought the 3x9x40 Leaper with it and the mounts are the B Square rings. The rifle arrived today. :lol: It took a little bit to put the rings and scope on so it fit my eye at the correct distance but I wasnt going to pay someone to do that. I did have to loosen it up and make it more square/perpendicular after shooting a few. First impressions - overall heavy gun, not alot of recoil, not to difficult to cock, and alot of fun to shoot. The first pellets I tried - Tiger Gold - were shooting all over the map at 20 yds.....I'm thinking "Is this as accurate as this gun is"? and Im getting dissapointed. So I changed to a different pellet (H&N Field & Target) and distance (10yds). Well, let me tell ya, the rifle liked them ALOT better. Over all, the Match-Kugeln shot the best, about 1/8 inch 3 shot groups and 3/16 inch 5 shot groups. The Exact Diablo and H&N Field & Target we pretty close to the same accuracy - about 1/4 inch. I did get one group with the Match-Kugeln at 20yds at 3/8 inch. Not bad using a step ladder and a pillow for a bench rest. I was loving that!!! :grin: I need to make a better bench rest or buy one :oops: I also need to find out if I'm allowed to do this in my backyard as I had a neighbor watching to see what I was doing....who knows what he thought seeing me shooting a scoped rifle in my back yard.

big6x6 · « **Reply #9 on:** December 25, 2003, 02:40:02 PM »

"overall heavy gun, not alot of recoil"

Those two go together. A light, high powered spring air rifle is a handful. Hard on stock screws, scope mounts, scopes, AND accuracy. A heavier rifle like the HW-97 is hard to beat for accuracy. I have two HW-97s, a HW-77, and three TX-200s, and my HW-97 is one accurate rifle. Best pellets for a HW-97 .177 would be JSB Exacts, Crosman Premier 7.9s, and Beeman FTS. Here's a pic of my favorite HW-97!

http://photos.imageevent.com/chill6x6/oddsandends//websize/Lightningturrets%20032.jpg

sixgunSal · « **Reply #10 on:** December 28, 2003, 03:57:11 PM »

What a good looking gun!!! I hope mine gets that shiny someday, right now its still sorta dull from lack of handling. I think I'm gonna put a tin or two of pellets thru it and then let Russ tune it for me. From what I read, he does a fantastic job. Accuracy is pretty good...even thou I really don't know what to expect yet.

big6x6 · « **Reply #11 on:** December 29, 2003, 01:08:08 AM »

Thanks! That HW-97 has a Jim Maccari tune kit in it that I installed.

Russ DOES do a great job. He has tuned R-9s, R-7s, R-6s, HW-77, and HW-35s, and TX-200s for me. Russ will shoot you straight!