There are times where things just come together. This is one of those times. My first task was to find the right scope. I opted for the Hawke 4-12×40 AO Panorama EV scope. This optic is one of my all-time favorites. It has a floating, 1/2 mil-dot, illuminated etched glass reticle, as well as Hawke’s EV feature which gives me a 20% larger field of view over traditional optics. It also has an Adjustable Objective that allows me to focus down to 15 yards and back out to infinity. The clarity of the optics are what really help it stand out. Whether shooting at 10 to 15 yards or at 100+, the entire sight picture is clear and bright.
Walther LGU – .22 cal with 20 Yard Shot CardFinding the wrong pellet??
Normally at this point in the review it’s time to sit down with my some 75 different pellet varieties and find which shoots best in the particular airgun I’m reviewing. Even at only 10 yards you can learn a lot about how a pellet is going to fly at further distances. I found my task daunting as almost anything seemed to group well. Here’s just a short list of some of the pellets that I tested: Crosman Premier, Crosman Premier Hollow Point, Crosman Ultra Mags, H&N Field Target Trophy, JSB 14.3, JSB 15.89, H&N Baracuda Match, RWS Superdome, RWS Super-H-Point, and the list goes on. The bottom line is that if it fit and was not too heavy or too light, it shot pretty well. Given that I don’t need to feed the LGU super premium “fuel,” I’m going to stick with the 87 Octane and shoot with the Crosman Ultra Magnums in the tin can. They are inexpensive, from what I hear mixed leftovers from the premiers in the cardboard box, and shoot well in my LGU.
Crosman Premier Ultra Magnum Pellets- .22 Cal (500 ct)Performance
So here’s where some folks may start to waiver. The advertised velocity of the .22 caliber Walther LGU is only 593 FPS. Now if that was with 11.9 grain RWS hobby pellets, my affection for the LGU could possibly start to waiver. But, that must have been with 14.3 or 14.66 grain pellets, because I’m getting an average of 607 FPS with the 14.3 grain Crosman Premier Ultra Magnums. That comes in right under 12 foot pounds. This is a perfect example of a true 12 FPE, classic European airgun.
So what can you do with 12 foot pounds of energy?
It is a good question. What CAN you do with ONLY 12 foot pounds of energy? Well, you can do a lot provided that the airgun is supremely accurate. Our British airgun buddies prove that all the time. Also remember, that there’s an entire field target division that only allows up to 12 FPE guns, and they shoot under 1″ at out to 50 and 60 yards. So it’s not the velocity that delivers the accuracy, is the whole gun, working together with the shooter, that delivers the accuracy.
Accuracy… almost too easy.
I have the benefit of not having to do all this alone. I have friends, family, and even a few folks that apprentice here in the shop to learn about airguns. I get the chance to let them try different airguns just to see their reaction. It helps me get a more objective view of how a product may be received by more novice shooters.
There are some guns that I can shoot that others just can’t seem to master. The gun in and of itself is very accurate, but it may require a good bit of discipline and technique on the part of the shooter to produce consistent accuracy. The Walther LGU is NOT such an airgun. Regardless of who got behind the trigger, they would one-hole groups at 10 yards nearly every time. That’s a testimony to the incredible shootability of the LGU and to the engineers that crated it.
Walther LGU at 20 Yards – 5, 5 shot groups – These groups range from .28″ CTC to .56″ CTC. The only determining factor on accuracy is the shooter. If you have the skill, the Walther LGU will deliver.Taking shots out to 20 yards is not much different than shooting at 10. Shooting a .6″ CTC group with the LGU at 20 yards would be considered a “bad” group. The rifle is capable of shooting consistent .3″ CTC groups at 20 yards. With that kind of accuracy, regardless of the lower than US standards for power output, it makes for an exceptional small game and pest control gun. Because you can have supreme control of exactly where to place the pellet, you can humanely put down your target with one clean shot.
Walther LGU – 20 yards .34″ CTCWrapping it up.
Yes, please do wrap it up and put it right in my gun case because this LGU has been added to my personal collection. If you’re looking for that quiet, accurate, type “A” personality, German, over-engineered piece of near airgun perfection, you may just find it in a new LGU.
