C3PO_1
10-09-2009, 10:31 PM
I want to start this preliminary review with a little true story.
In 1992, I wanted to buy an "Air Arms TX200 with telescopic sight" as I remember the mantra going in my head, but my girlfriend at the time threatened to leave me if I did so.
Undaunted, I took myself and a group of mates the odd 50 miles from Hampshire to the Airgun Centre in Essex to try out the rifle. as the interwibble was little more than a curiosity for some nerds with PhDs, and map reading wasn't my bag, I realised I had badly underestimated the distance to the shop.
Eventually we arrrived and I tried the TX200 out the back ... and thought wow, what a rifle. Heavy, but what a rifle. Didn't buy there and then but would wait until next pay day and get it delivered by mail order (those were the days [and I'm convinced the consumer has lost out post-VCR Act]). I didn't buy the rifle because I chickened out. Shame really.
Fast forward 17 years and the lure of the Air Arms remained just as strong, even after buying the Rapid, the HW100 (an awesome rifle) and the HW95 tweaked by Steve Pope.
As I wanted to see if it was better than the HW97K I tried them out side-by-side in my local gunshop. I tried a .22 Air Arms (the only one available) and a .177 HW97K. Surprisingly, the Weihrauch was smoother, even if it dieseled like hell.
I was erring towards the German rifle when a left-handed TX200HC popped up on the for sale section here. Dammit, too tempting to resist and I went for it. The rifle was indeed mint as described by "Matt10bows" -- in fact as new as it turned out. But remembering the experience in the gunshop, I wanted a tune and I'd heard some excellent things about Dave Hall, aka Bonnie&Clyde [and yes, I did think they were two poeple on the BBS].
Dave is a true gent and even offered to pick up the rifle from the seller as he was in the area at the time, unfortunately this didn't happen for simple logistics reasons. But it was posted from Matt directly to Dave and he began working his magic on it.
I've had the rifle back this week and she can only be described as beautiful. I get single hole groups at my current zero of 25 yards and will push this once the barrel has had a couple of hundred pellets through it. I don't actually notice the recoil, it is very smooth indeed. I would say probably smoother than my V-Mached HW95 and this is down to the slower lock time now on the TX200HC. People seem to love faster lock times but this feels more balanced with a springer rifle.
I find the rifle is indeed heavy -- boy, is that a shock over the HW95 and HW100. Lugging it around the fields might be a chore unless I get a proper sling fitted. The trigger (vanilla) also felt too harsh to release so i downloaded the AIR ARMS OWNERS MANUAL AND FOUND OUT HOW TO LIGHTEN THE TRIGGER LOAD ONCE MY EYES HAD GROWN ACCUSTOMED TO THE CAPITAL LETTERS WHICH AFTER THREE LINES BECOME INCREDIBLY ANNOYING. Suffice to say, it feels much better now.
All in all, an absolutely gorgeous rifle and one which sits proudly amongst the others in my collection. The TX200HC is a rather unsung hero IMO and its engineering and feel, plus the beautiful walnut stock, just cannot stop me grinning when I pick it up now. Well done Air Arms and well done Dave Hall.
In 1992, I wanted to buy an "Air Arms TX200 with telescopic sight" as I remember the mantra going in my head, but my girlfriend at the time threatened to leave me if I did so.
Undaunted, I took myself and a group of mates the odd 50 miles from Hampshire to the Airgun Centre in Essex to try out the rifle. as the interwibble was little more than a curiosity for some nerds with PhDs, and map reading wasn't my bag, I realised I had badly underestimated the distance to the shop.
Eventually we arrrived and I tried the TX200 out the back ... and thought wow, what a rifle. Heavy, but what a rifle. Didn't buy there and then but would wait until next pay day and get it delivered by mail order (those were the days [and I'm convinced the consumer has lost out post-VCR Act]). I didn't buy the rifle because I chickened out. Shame really.
Fast forward 17 years and the lure of the Air Arms remained just as strong, even after buying the Rapid, the HW100 (an awesome rifle) and the HW95 tweaked by Steve Pope.
As I wanted to see if it was better than the HW97K I tried them out side-by-side in my local gunshop. I tried a .22 Air Arms (the only one available) and a .177 HW97K. Surprisingly, the Weihrauch was smoother, even if it dieseled like hell.
I was erring towards the German rifle when a left-handed TX200HC popped up on the for sale section here. Dammit, too tempting to resist and I went for it. The rifle was indeed mint as described by "Matt10bows" -- in fact as new as it turned out. But remembering the experience in the gunshop, I wanted a tune and I'd heard some excellent things about Dave Hall, aka Bonnie&Clyde [and yes, I did think they were two poeple on the BBS].
Dave is a true gent and even offered to pick up the rifle from the seller as he was in the area at the time, unfortunately this didn't happen for simple logistics reasons. But it was posted from Matt directly to Dave and he began working his magic on it.
I've had the rifle back this week and she can only be described as beautiful. I get single hole groups at my current zero of 25 yards and will push this once the barrel has had a couple of hundred pellets through it. I don't actually notice the recoil, it is very smooth indeed. I would say probably smoother than my V-Mached HW95 and this is down to the slower lock time now on the TX200HC. People seem to love faster lock times but this feels more balanced with a springer rifle.
I find the rifle is indeed heavy -- boy, is that a shock over the HW95 and HW100. Lugging it around the fields might be a chore unless I get a proper sling fitted. The trigger (vanilla) also felt too harsh to release so i downloaded the AIR ARMS OWNERS MANUAL AND FOUND OUT HOW TO LIGHTEN THE TRIGGER LOAD ONCE MY EYES HAD GROWN ACCUSTOMED TO THE CAPITAL LETTERS WHICH AFTER THREE LINES BECOME INCREDIBLY ANNOYING. Suffice to say, it feels much better now.
All in all, an absolutely gorgeous rifle and one which sits proudly amongst the others in my collection. The TX200HC is a rather unsung hero IMO and its engineering and feel, plus the beautiful walnut stock, just cannot stop me grinning when I pick it up now. Well done Air Arms and well done Dave Hall.