HW100T .22 VS Rapid MK2 .22 FAC 60yards

[SP_Rapid]

Wow, what a day it was . It was fun testing and shooting both guns.

Took a 1 hour 30 minute drive to some BLM land in Fresno County. The weather was good. Some 5 mph on and off winds blowing to the east. To my right where I was shooting.

I setup my portable table and got my things ready. First I sighted in my HW. Sighted in with some Beeman FT pellets. After the gun was sighted in. I moved my table back. Then pulled out my laser range finder . Yup 60 yards.. So I refilled the HW air cylinder back to 200 bar. And started to shoot. The FT pellets didnt group so hot at 60. So I tried JSB Exact/heavies. The groups were better. So the last option was the Kodiaks. And Ahhhh! much better. This gun like the kodiaks. Just like my .22 Rapid does at longer ranges.

I wanted to do this test as accurate as possible. Instead of benchresting it and putting the butt of the rifle against my shoulders. I used my gun cleaning vice/holder instead. So I made sure that the crosshairs were lined up and just cocked the gun and pulled the trigger. Being really careful.

The HW's side lever cocking is great. I like it better than the Rapid's. The magazine and loading system on the HW is the best. Better than any guns that I have owned. Daystates,Theobens,BSA, Air Arms, FX.

As far as the trigger goes. The HW does indeed has a good trigger. But the Rapids is better. The rapids trigger breaks cleaner that HWs.

Both guns feel solid when shot. Since the HW only has the barrel weight. Its very loud compared to the Rapid with the Vortex moderator.

BTW, I wanted to chrony my HW but didnt get a chance to. Wanted to see the shot spread. Next time I will chrony it foresure. As far as my Rapid .22. heres a 2 part video of my shot string, with 30grain Piledrivers.
part1
http://s96.photobucket.com/albums/l185/rapid25_2006/?action=view&current=HPIM0100.flv
part2 (from same fill)
http://s96.photobucket.com/albums/l185/rapid25_2006/?action=view&current=HPIM0101.flv

Conclusion:
Both guns are great. Im a big time airgun fanatic and having just one kind of gun isnt fun. IMO both guns are a "must have" in one's collection. Thanks for checking out my review.


PICS:
http://airgunadvice.net/viewtopic.php?p=16488#16488

[Rapidnick]

How many shots do you get from the HW100? I would've thought the shot count would be the big negative for a high power HW100.
Interesting that you agree with me on the trigger.:D I have received a certain amount of 'sceptical abuse' for suggesting that Theoben have finally got a really good trigger on one of their rifles which is actually better than the one fitted to a Weihrauch
Davestate take note!!!:)

[verminshooter29]

i have bought a hw 100 in fac 26 ft lbs have shot one before and can t imagine anything to be as quiet.my mate gets nearly 40 shots to the fill. i ll let you know when i get her

[Rapidnick]

i have bought a hw 100 in fac 26 ft lbs have shot one before and can t imagine anything to be as quiet.my mate gets nearly 40 shots to the fill. i ll let you know when i get her

Mmmmm. 26 ft lb is OK- ish but is it really worth taking up a slot on your ticket for that power level but I know the rules are different in NI. I suspect that the cylinder is just too small and therefore the otherwise excellent HW100 is NOT the ideal rifle for FAC in the rest of the UK. If it does 40 shots at 26 ft lb it will probably struggle to do 25 at 30 ft lb which in my view isn't enough for serious FAC use.

[SP_Rapid]

How many shots do you get from the HW100? I would've thought the shot count would be the big negative for a high power HW100.
Interesting that you agree with me on the trigger.:D I have received a certain amount of 'sceptical abuse' for suggesting that Theoben have finally got a really good trigger on one of their rifles which is actually better than the one fitted to a Weihrauch
Davestate take note!!!:)

Nick,
Yes, the shot count on my HW isnt the best, But for hunting purposes it works out just fine for me. As far as the trigger, well the rapids is better. breaks cleaner allowing me to get a bit tighter groups and consistency.

[verminhunter]

Rapid is built for FAC to serious power levels which most rifles will struggle.A rapid will win in most dept these days even if its just 1 dept the rapid will win.Most rifles keep up with the rapid for a while then the supiriority of the rapid will over take the other rifle ,I've seen tests with rifles and also test my rapid against my other 2 rifles the rapid wins hands down,does'nt matter how many dept the rapid wins it always wins.;) :D

[verminshooter29]

have also bought a rimfire i have a 400 xtra at 30 -35 and i believe i have some overkill,i think 26 is ok personally i don t see the value in rapids i killed a crow at 60 yds with a hw that belonged to a mate.i know it will be fine plus i think it is hard to silence high powered air rifles.guys i will let you know how i get on again i think it should be ok

[Rapidnick]

have also bought a rimfire i have a 400 xtra at 30 -35 and i believe i have some overkill,i think 26 is ok personally i don t see the value in rapids i killed a crow at 60 yds with a hw that belonged to a mate.i know it will be fine plus i think it is hard to silence high powered air rifles.guys i will let you know how i get on again i think it should be ok

In my experience it is not difficult to silence up to 40 ft lb but it does get progressively harder as power rises. However, there are several makes of silencer which will do the job just fine. I use a Rob Lane on my 40 ft lb rifle and a UK Neil modded Theoben Evo on the 30 ft lb rifle-both quiet enough for hunting. Under 30 ft lb silencing is just not a problem.

[verminshooter29]

i have a s400 xtra i found it hard to silence,i know your thoughts on this gun but i have to say it killed thousands of birds i jest you not the only fault it was too loud,i ended up shortening the shroud from the breech end and fitting a theoben silencer it helped a bit,i do a lot of pest control round farm yards,in 1 particular yard last year we took over 400 birds,farmer was delighted both fac guns a daystate harrier.22 and my s400 22,i went back to the yard after xmas and the birds are gradually coming back i set up and clipped a maggie,result 1 maggie and not a crow for miles.my point is most my shots are taken anything from 20 to 60 yards im mostly hid up in barns etc.i find it hard to believe there is a quieter gun than the hw in fac,the one i heard was quieter than my non fac s400 with silencer.i think accuracy in no1 stealth and silence is no2.and for my job i think the hw is the right choice.im not knocking theobens but i think other more affordable guns do the same job i think daystate are probably top of the class at the moment i would have bought an x2 but i did nt think it would be as quiet.i just hope the hw will kill as much as my s400shot capacity does nt really worry me as i take bottle into the shed along with me.when i get my hw i will do a review on it hope it works out ok

[Rapidnick]

i have a s400 xtra i found it hard to silence,i know your thoughts on this gun but i have to say it killed thousands of birds i jest you not the only fault it was too loud,i ended up shortening the shroud from the breech end and fitting a theoben silencer it helped a bit,i do a lot of pest control round farm yards,in 1 particular yard last year we took over 400 birds,farmer was delighted both fac guns a daystate harrier.22 and my s400 22,i went back to the yard after xmas and the birds are gradually coming back i set up and clipped a maggie,result 1 maggie and not a crow for miles.my point is most my shots are taken anything from 20 to 60 yards im mostly hid up in barns etc.i find it hard to believe there is a quieter gun than the hw in fac,the one i heard was quieter than my non fac s400 with silencer.i think accuracy in no1 stealth and silence is no2.and for my job i think the hw is the right choice.im not knocking theobens but i think other more affordable guns do the same job i think daystate are probably top of the class at the moment i would have bought an x2 but i did nt think it would be as quiet.i just hope the hw will kill as much as my s400shot capacity does nt really worry me as i take bottle into the shed along with me.when i get my hw i will do a review on it hope it works out ok

It appears that 'silence' is very important to you and there is no doubt the HW silencer is fantastic. I look forward to your review.

[Steyr]

Wow, what a day it was . It was fun testing and shooting both guns.

Took a 1 hour 30 minute drive to some BLM land in Fresno County. The weather was good. Some 5 mph on and off winds blowing to the east. To my right where I was shooting.

I setup my portable table and got my things ready. First I sighted in my HW. Sighted in with some Beeman FT pellets. After the gun was sighted in. I moved my table back. Then pulled out my laser range finder . Yup 60 yards.. So I refilled the HW air cylinder back to 200 bar. And started to shoot. The FT pellets didnt group so hot at 60. So I tried JSB Exact/heavies. The groups were better. So the last option was the Kodiaks. And Ahhhh! much better. This gun like the kodiaks. Just like my .22 Rapid does at longer ranges.

I wanted to do this test as accurate as possible. Instead of benchresting it and putting the butt of the rifle against my shoulders. I used my gun cleaning vice/holder instead. So I made sure that the crosshairs were lined up and just cocked the gun and pulled the trigger. Being really careful.

The HW's side lever cocking is great. I like it better than the Rapid's. The magazine and loading system on the HW is the best. Better than any guns that I have owned. Daystates,Theobens,BSA, Air Arms, FX.

As far as the trigger goes. The HW does indeed has a good trigger. But the Rapids is better. The rapids trigger breaks cleaner that HWs.

Both guns feel solid when shot. Since the HW only has the barrel weight. Its very loud compared to the Rapid with the Vortex moderator.

BTW, I wanted to chrony my HW but didnt get a chance to. Wanted to see the shot spread. Next time I will chrony it foresure. As far as my Rapid .22. heres a 2 part video of my shot string, with 30grain Piledrivers.
part1
http://s96.photobucket.com/albums/l185/rapid25_2006/?action=view&current=HPIM0100.flv
part2 (from same fill)
http://s96.photobucket.com/albums/l185/rapid25_2006/?action=view&current=HPIM0101.flv

Conclusion:
Both guns are great. Im a big time airgun fanatic and having just one kind of gun isnt fun. IMO both guns are a "must have" in one's collection. Thanks for checking out my review.


PICS:
http://airgunadvice.net/viewtopic.php?p=16488#16488


And you were doing so well up to the point that you said that the Rapid trigger was better than the HW........................:D

Oh look - up there .................it's a flying pig ;) :D :o

[SP_Rapid]

My HW100 14 shot chrony string (200bar fill)

Hw100 with kodiak/barracudas 21grains
http://s96.photobucket.com/albums/l185/rapid25_2006/?action=view&current=HPIM0184.flv

Rapids with 30grain piledrivers
http://s96.photobucket.com/albums/l185/rapid25_2006/?action=view&current=HPIM0100.flv
part2
http://s96.photobucket.com/albums/l185/rapid25_2006/?action=view&current=HPIM0101.flv

[Rapidnick]

And you were doing so well up to the point that you said that the Rapid trigger was better than the HW........................:D

Oh look - up there .................it's a flying pig ;) :D :o

I've just spotted this gem. Have you actually shot a series 4 triggered Rapid? If you haven't then may I suggest you do because it is just so much better than anything else Theoben have fitted. I own both a HW100 and Rapid 2 with the series 4 and I find the Rapid trigger better. The HW100 trigger is however perfectly adequate for most uses to which the rifle will be put.

[Steyr]

I've just spotted this gem. Have you actually shot a series 4 triggered Rapid? If you haven't then may I suggest you do because it is just so much better than anything else Theoben have fitted. I own both a HW100 and Rapid 2 with the series 4 and I find the Rapid trigger better. The HW100 trigger is however perfectly adequate for most uses to which the rifle will be put.

No Nick I havnt shot the Mk4 trigger but I am pleased to hear it now has a trigger of worth. Mind you, rather disappointing it had to wait until Mk4 though !

My comment was a little tongue in cheek. I have always maintained that rapids were excellent (indeed my 1st PCP was a rapid Mk1) and I was very fond of it till I sold it to fund the Steyr which is a very different animal indeed.

In truth every rifle has it's good points and it's weak points. It's finding the balance that you can best live with to meet your physical demands and the demands of the job you want it to do.

I have also always felt that theoben sat on it's laurels for quite a while so it is genuinely nice to see that such an imprtant thing as the trigger mechanism has now been sorted to a standard it should have acheived years ago.

I will make an effort to try a rapid with this unit fitted and hopefully be impressed.

The other problem with triggers is that ones perceived appreciation of which trigger is best can be down to the individual rifles trigger mechanism as it comes out of the factory or if it has been tweaked by the owner.

The trigger on my airwolf was very good but the trigger on a fellow shooters Mk3 electronic was not as good ? Same rifle. Same kit fitted - just different characteristics. At least with a trigger you have the opportunity to hone it to the individuals tastes.