BTAS HW100

[Charlts]

Having tried Ben’s prototype HW100 last year I was keen to get my own rifle Taylored and was gutted when I heard it got nicked. I offered Ben the borrow of my very first air rifle affectionately know as Helga for him to wave his magic Airgun wand over and get the HW100 project going again. Now that she’s back what’s different, I already had a few mods done but in the case of the standard rifle the new additions are as follows;

• FX air cylinder – Lose about a pound over standard.
• BTAS reg – Lives in the FX cylinder.
• Extra barrel securing screw – I’ll bet I’m not the only one who’s put a silencer back on and spun the barrel around in the breech!
• Ben’s air gun magic inside. Balancing the hammer/valve spring, reg pressure and all the other voodoo he does.
• BTAS cylinder band – When Ben gets them in it’ll be a nice touch.


I already know my 100 is deadly accurate although it doesn’t see as much use anymore it’s a terrific rifle for hunting and HFT. The biggest thing that annoys me is it usually comes out ratting in the winter when it’s cold and the poi is different. Before I put the gun in the cold I shot a mag off in the house which according to my thermometer was a cozy 16 degrees (see the column on it’s own). High 568fps, low 560fps was looking promising and proving weighing out a load of pellets beforehand was time well spent!

I topped the gun back up to 230 bar and left it, in the garage on a stand for 3.5 hours, when I got in there temperature was 4.2 degrees so that gives me chance to test Ben’s reg work. Out of the 14 mags I shot I’m happy with 13 of them (within 20 fps) and 182 shots is more than I’ll ever need in the field!

So far I’m well happy with it although it’s very early days, I’m looking forward to trying it on the range tomorrow and on the tree rats at the stables. I’ll be keeping this thread updated of how it performs though. Just to add for those who've pm'd me, it's a full length rifle in .22.;)

Ryan

[Charlts]

Indoor Mag - 16 c

560.0,564.0,564.0,568.0,564.0,564.0,566.0,564.0,56 6.0,565.0,562.0,564.0,565.0,566.0

Mags 1 and 2

558.0,563.0,566.0,562.0,566.0,562.0,565.0,562.0,56 4.0,565.0,563.0,560.0,566.0,552.0,560.0,564.0,564. 0,568.0,565.0,564.0,566.0,564.0,564.0,565.0,562.0, 565.0,565.0,566.0

Mags 3 and 4

569.0,571.0,573.0,571.0,575.0,568.0,570.0,575.0,56 7.0,576.0,574.0,572.0,574.0,573.0,566.0,570.0,574. 0,571.0,575.0,574.0,572.0,575.0,573.0,575.0,574.0, 574.0,578.0,575.0

Mags 5 and 6

570.0,575.0,577.0,576.0,579.0,578.0,571.0,574.0,57 5.0,573.0,573.0,577.0,579.0,573.0,571.0,575.0,577. 0,575.0,574.0,576.0,576.0,576.0,573.0,576.0,573.0, 577.0,574.0,572.0

Mags 7 and 8

570.0,575.0,577.0,576.0,579.0,578.0,571.0,574.0,57 5.0,573.0,573.0,577.0,579.0,573.0,571.0,575.0,577. 0,575.0,574.0,576.0,576.0,576.0,573.0,576.0,573.0, 577.0,574.0,572.0

Mags 9 and 10

569.0,575.0,576.0,577.0,576.0,576.0,576.0,576.0,57 8.0,576.0,575.0,580.0,579.0,579.0,572.0,576.0,578. 0,578.0,576.0,575.0,573.0,576.0,577.0,575.0,575.0, 579.0,576.0,578.0

Mags 11 and 12

575.0,579.0,578.0,579.0,578.0,576.0,579.0,574.0,57 5.0,579.0,580.0,579.0,576.0,579.0,576.0,576.0,579. 0,578.0,577.0,576.0,575.0,576.0,579.0,577.0,580.0, 576.0,579.0,578.0

Mags 13 and 14

579.0,578.0,577.0,577.0,579.0,578.0,578.0,579.0,57 9.0,576.0,576.0,573.0,570.0,567.0,565.0,561.0,560. 0,558.0,555.0,551.0,547.0,544.0,542.0,540.0,535.0, 530.0,527.0,524.0

[mdk01]

mighty impressive,,,,,,you mention the fx cylinder,,,,,,,what kind of result could i get with standard cylinder,,,,also how much is the price for perfection lol;)

[Charlts]

mighty impressive,,,,,,you mention the fx cylinder,,,,,,,what kind of result could i get with standard cylinder,,,,also how much is the price for perfection lol;)

The FX cylinder is included in the conversion so the standard one becomes redundant. Cost wise its £295 for the lot including Ben Taylors warranty, I'd happily pay £29 a year for that alone on this rifle!

Ryan

[Parabuteo]

Hi Charlts.

I noticed you did'nt mention the stock option....I hate my stock as I use the connect and the comb is all but non existent.

Interestingly, since Ben received my rifle (I am not in a hurry as I am quiet shooting wize at the moment, it is the hawking season and teh guns go out when the bird does'nt. It's only fair on her;)), he has discovered there are 3 barrel lengths. Mine is particularly short as it goes.

I did comment mine looked like a big pistol without the silencer and stock.

He has had to have a batch of cylinders shortened....but is still happy that the shot count will be significantly higher than the original.

This matters less to me than it used to, although I see no point in wasting air (which the original did on bucket loads), and every little (or large in thsi case) helps.

My biggest worry was the power creep, and the loss of poke required to keep things legal. I see no point in regulating something on one hand, and allowing it to slowly creep up on teh other hand:confused:

Tree rats beware. They copped it last year, and will cop it even harder this year (when they finish pheasant shooting that is;))

[Charlts]

Hi Charlts.

I noticed you did'nt mention the stock option....I hate my stock as I use the connect and the comb is all but non existent.

Interestingly, since Ben received my rifle (I am not in a hurry as I am quiet shooting wize at the moment, it is the hawking season and teh guns go out when the bird does'nt. It's only fair on her;)), he has discovered there are 3 barrel lengths. Mine is particularly short as it goes.

I did comment mine looked like a big pistol without the silencer and stock.

He has had to have a batch of cylinders shortened....but is still happy that the shot count will be significantly higher than the original.

This matters less to me than it used to, although I see no point in wasting air (which the original did on bucket loads), and every little (or large in thsi case) helps.

My biggest worry was the power creep, and the loss of poke required to keep things legal. I see no point in regulating something on one hand, and allowing it to slowly creep up on teh other hand:confused:

Tree rats beware. They copped it last year, and will cop it even harder this year (when they finish pheasant shooting that is;))

I didn't know there was a stock option? I've done GIMP stocks now and fancy something in a nice piece of walnut. Mind you when I've finished modding my standard stock I might keep it!:D

Had a good plink to day with it and the accuracy is still superb, I really enjoy shooting it as it reminds me of when I first started shooting. I'm almost tempted to start shooting .22 again.......

Ryan

[Parabuteo]

I didn't know there was a stock option? I've done GIMP stocks now and fancy something in a nice piece of walnut. Mind you when I've finished modding my standard stock I might keep it!:D

Had a good plink to day with it and the accuracy is still superb, I really enjoy shooting it as it reminds me of when I first started shooting. I'm almost tempted to start shooting .22 again.......

Ryan

Eh...whadya mean noisy smelly rimmies:eek::eek:.

No I know what you mean. The only reason I have stayed the 12fpe side of the fence is lack of hassle and the ammount of shooting ground I can use....as opposed to where I cannot shoot with anything else.

My ideal is something accuracy international in 7.62.....but we aint got ranges big enough, near enough, to make it sensible...dream in fatty:rolleyes::D

Ben offered the original in a GinB stock, although I have asked him if this is publicised now. I ordered one with stock as I got fed up with the original.

I do love it as a shooting machine, but my employers may take umbridge were I to have a rifle that goes over, and lets face it, Benned is always a good option.

Mine is really nice using the HW magnums (tried all sorts of other quality pellets but these babies flew like a lighter domehead and I did'nt get any fliers). .177 so we cannot compare notes I am afraid:rolleyes:

I keep a nice little caldwell bipod on mine (light) and tend to nod off when sniping tree rats....usually the claws on bark wake me up:o But it is just as nice without. Works great with a connect 01 (MTC) but will be much better with teh fully adjustable stock.

[Charlts]

A bit of an update on this.

Despite not using the rifle as often as I'd have liked to this year, it's seen a fair bit of action on the ranges. It's deadly accurate still and was quieter with the HW mod, now it has a full length carbon shroud with baffley bits it's exceptional. Compared to what I mostly shoot it's very noticeable.

I had a bit of a problem with air leaking from it, this was because I gave Ben my FX cylinder to use instead of him putting a new one on. It turns out that FX tubes that aren't designated to have a reg installed don't get the internal walls honed. Once Ben did this whilst I waited it's held it's air ever since. Dad's had a Ben spec tube put on and hasn't leaked ever.

I'm hoping to give it a go at a few comps this season in .22 as it's so nice to shoot. Either way it's getting a trip to the stables on Monday to sort out some vermin. As far as I'm concerned Ben's reg the best money I've spent on the HW100 and well worth investing in.:)

Ryan

[Parabuteo]

Agreed, mine is pretty damn good to.

5 mags no problem in the .177 carbine.

One mod I have made however (on bens advice) is I have anchored the rails fore and aft of the mag area.

I have had the rifle in the cabinet for 2 weeks. previously the zero would have shifted. This time it held (actually fitting the bridge/stiffener changed the vertical poi at 35yds by 6").

I use half of a hawk 11mm-pictaniny rail (got the 2 piece by mistake but it seems to work fine).

Tree rats hate it....if I can find the sods....word is I did too good a job last year;)

[Tug.]

Ryan,

I'm pleased with mine too, now that it's finally fixed. Just a shame that it took three attempts to get it to hold air... ;)

Shame he didn't mention the honing of FX tubes until the third attempt.

[Parabuteo]

Ryan,

I'm pleased with mine too, now that it's finally fixed. Just a shame that it took three attempts to get it to hold air... ;)

Shame he didn't mention the honing of FX tubes until the third attempt.

Just a thought Tug, (and I understand why you are peed off, god knows I was when he forgot to drill the bleed hole in mine and the thing had a mind of it's own), but how long does it take to loose it's air??

Ben might have thought it was Okay, and sent it back. he does do a hell of a lot of rifles mate:) The problem may have not shown up initially.

We all make mistakes, I guess how it is handled afterwards that matters most:confused:

[laity]

A bit of an update on this.

Despite not using the rifle as often as I'd have liked to this year, it's seen a fair bit of action on the ranges. It's deadly accurate still and was quieter with the HW mod, now it has a full length carbon shroud with baffley bits it's exceptional. Compared to what I mostly shoot it's very noticeable.

I had a bit of a problem with air leaking from it, this was because I gave Ben my FX cylinder to use instead of him putting a new one on. It turns out that FX tubes that aren't designated to have a reg installed don't get the internal walls honed. Once Ben did this whilst I waited it's held it's air ever since. Dad's had a Ben spec tube put on and hasn't leaked ever.

I'm hoping to give it a go at a few comps this season in .22 as it's so nice to shoot. Either way it's getting a trip to the stables on Monday to sort out some vermin. As far as I'm concerned Ben's reg the best money I've spent on the HW100 and well worth investing in.:)

Ryan

Well i challenge you to a .22 shoot off then my old mate. I Have a JB tweaked full length Hornet and i reckon its the best .22 you can get. So i reckon we should go and have a head to head. I might even talk to Chilly and see if he wants to cover it??

Up for it boss??

LAity

[Charlts]

Well i challenge you to a .22 shoot off then my old mate. I Have a JB tweaked full length Hornet and i reckon its the best .22 you can get. So i reckon we should go and have a head to head. I might even talk to Chilly and see if he wants to cover it??

Up for it boss??

LAity

As long as it's your <12 ft/lb one!;) The Help For Heroes shoot at Fort in July sounds good to me. Be ready to get beaten - Although you've had a lot of practice at that! £50 to charity and the loser wears a monkey suit to the next UKAHFT round!:p:D

Ryan

[laity]

As long as it's your <12 ft/lb one!;) The Help For Heroes shoot at Fort in July sounds good to me. Be ready to get beaten - Although you've had a lot of practice at that! £50 to charity and the loser wears a monkey suit to the next UKAHFT round!:p:D

Ryan

Sounds good to me ...now which gun is FAC:D:D:D Right one question where is Fort then???


LAity

[Nealsey]

OK Chaps,

I have had mine converted by Ben as well and thought I had better put
my tuppenceworth in on this post.

Firstly, my rifle had been extremely troublesome, leaks and power fluctuations
were the norm and POI shifts were frequent. Basically I lost patience with it and it stayed in the cabinet for the best part of a year.

Got the rifle along to Ben, and he explained what would be done:

Regulated
Freefloated and secured Barrel with new cylinder band.

Ben had the rifle for approximately 10 days and when i collected
it everything was as promised.

I have carried out a few 10 shot strings over the chrono, with unweighed
pellets, and am getting 9ft/s spread. Which is pretty damn good in anyones
books.

Rifle is now consistent, accurate, adjustable and more to the point usable.

I am using it for rabbiting now and the rifle is running like a dream.

Many thanks to Ben, and to anyone thinking of getting the conversion
carried out. Believe me, don't hesitate. Best £300 I have spent in a long time.

Neal

[C3PO_1]

Yes, mine is performing so on song it's the rifle of choice for me right now. Virtually silent, the only sound is the pellet on target; wholly versatile compared to FAC and a rifle which reinforces confidence with pinpoint accuracy.

[Charlts]

OK Chaps,

I have had mine converted by Ben as well and thought I had better put
my tuppenceworth in on this post.

Firstly, my rifle had been extremely troublesome, leaks and power fluctuations
were the norm and POI shifts were frequent. Basically I lost patience with it and it stayed in the cabinet for the best part of a year.

Got the rifle along to Ben, and he explained what would be done:

Regulated
Freefloated and secured Barrel with new cylinder band.

Ben had the rifle for approximately 10 days and when i collected
it everything was as promised.

I have carried out a few 10 shot strings over the chrono, with unweighed
pellets, and am getting 9ft/s spread. Which is pretty damn good in anyones
books.

Rifle is now consistent, accurate, adjustable and more to the point usable.

I am using it for rabbiting now and the rifle is running like a dream.

Many thanks to Ben, and to anyone thinking of getting the conversion
carried out. Believe me, don't hesitate. Best £300 I have spent in a long time.

Neal

I hear you did quite well in the gamble shoot on Sunday as well mate.;):D

Ryan

[Nealsey]

I hear you did quite well in the gamble shoot on Sunday as well mate.;):D

Ryan

Well not too bad Ryan, considering it had only been zero'd in the garden
at 15yds :)

I am still unsure if I should use it in the nationals though :)

Neal

[REDBULL]

I had my HW 100 done by Ben, and if I knew then what I know now I don't think I would have had it done. I have had to send it back to him 3 times, 1st it wouldn't fit in the stock, then it leaked, then at shot 102 it would drop off reg and go straight to 13 ft lbs for about 25 shots then start to drop off. Hopefully it is all OK now but only time will tell. I could have done without all the expense of 3 lots of extra postage plus being without the gun for far too long.

[badgerair]

Interesting. I was thinking of having my HW100 done but wavering now. What did Ben have to say about it (why it happened etc)?

[REDBULL]

Ben blamed the FX cylinder that I already had on my HW 100, reckoned they were different to the ones he has. He said that the power rise was due to my gun having a very shallow rifleing, and that it needs a lower setting on the regulator. Not very satisfactory answers in my opinion. But the gun seems to be performing properly now, with an improved shot count. Time will tell.

[Charlts]

Ben blamed the FX cylinder that I already had on my HW 100, reckoned they were different to the ones he has. He said that the power rise was due to my gun having a very shallow rifleing, and that it needs a lower setting on the regulator. Not very satisfactory answers in my opinion. But the gun seems to be performing properly now, with an improved shot count. Time will tell.

Do keep us informed won't you? :)

The cylinder thing I can understand as I have a couple of Elans which use the same reg/cylinder setup as the 100 and have never leaked, neither has my Dad's 100 which uses a proper cylinder instead of one from BAR/V-Mach. Since mine was honed it's been faultless and I get 15 mags worth of shots now I've backed the hammer off a bit.:D

Ryan

[C3PO_1]

Charlts, is that a "K" .177 you have?

[Charlts]

Charlts, is that a "K" .177 you have?

No dude, I have a full length .22 and my Dad has a .22 karbine.:)

Ryan

[C3PO_1]

I was going to say that shot count was impressive!