Beeman HW97

I received two HW97's (.22cal)in a row that from the factory were dogs. Both were under lubricated, loud, and couldn't group any of the six pellet types/weights tested. The second of the two I sent to warranty repair where it was cleaned/lubed and sent back to me. I've got another 1000 rounds through it and it's better, but not nearly as good as it should be at this price point. (my daughter's HW30s is far superior) It groups (poorly) JSB heavys and/or RWS wadcutters and nothing else. No domed pellet in the 14. to 15 gr range will shoot well at all, and all seem to be a loose fit in the breech. It is a beautiful rifle and pleasant to shoot, it's just that with accuracy about 1/2 as good as it should be I find it hard to say anything good about this gun except that it's pretty.

Pros
Good fit/finish, pretty.

Cons
Needs to to a far better job in terms of doing its primary job of putting rounds down range into the same place over and over again. Ten shot groups more like a shotgun than an expensive target rifle.

I have several HW sporters and was looking for a target rifle to shoot recreational bench-rest and field target competitions.
Wow, can this thing can shoot! I was able to shoot several 50 yard groups darn near under a dime right out of the box. The extra weight really stabilizes this thing.
Mine was shooting very accurately at 930FPS with CPL with the stock spring, but had some twang. I am currently using an un-spaced Hornet spring fitting very tightly on the stock guide for a twangless 920FPS. For a while I was running a spaced-up HW50S spring and getting a very easy-cocking and mellow-shooting 850FPS. I liked that setup the best, but it was a bit twangy without fitted guides. Even with the full power spring, this gun is very quiet. Although it does not have baffles, the hollow muzzle weight seems to lower the noise.
The gun is very short and well-balanced. The cocking stroke is super smooth. The Rekord trigger is crisp. Backing off the trigger weight screw lightened it nicely well maintaining crispness.

Pros
Excellent accuracy. Excellent quality. Crisp Rekord trigger. Easy to work on. Extra weight really helps accurate target shooting.

Cons
Twangy out of the box, like most spring guns. A bit heavy for plinking or carrying on a hunt.

This rifle has to be tried to appreciate it. Beware if you use one you will own one. The trigger, hold, accuracy and ease of pointing makes the rifle superior to any springer out there. The price cannot be compared, there is nothing close to this quality.

Pros
Ease of aiming, smoothness of cocking, trigger. Quite, solid.

Cons
The only complaint I can come up with is the automatic safety, pain in the tail when hunting.

Always used a .22 for hunting and thought a .177 was for cans in your back yard. I have just brought the HW97K .177 and it's a serious rifle. The most accurate shooting at 30 to 60 yds and instant kills at 30 to 60 yds on rabbits, pigeons, and rats. I would never go back to a .22 where you have to put your cross hairs above the target by at least 3 dots or more.

Pros
Nice feel, easy to cock very smooth, and a very accurate gu. Great build quality and very good balance.

Cons
It's just over 9lbs (9.25lbs) and with the scope it's close on 10lbs so all day shooting can take it out on your arms a little.

just got this rifle in .20 cal and it only took a few shots to get it zeroed in after mounting a scope, then hitting pennies at 30 yards not a problem. not hold sensitive at all, very smooth. using beeman field target special pellets, shot 10 ground squirrels the first day out from 10 to 50 yards, don't think I'll ever need another pellet gun, this thing is awesome!!

Pros
accuracy

Cons
no open sights