HW80 .25 Caliber Impressed

[Blackrider]

Discussed this issue with Hull Cartridge on the "Weihrauch Stand" at the CLAGF Friday.
The .25 Cal 80k can be ordered through them (Hull) via your local WR dealer and the silencer IS available to suit the .25 which I dont think has been in the past.
I was also informed that the "left handed" stocks are now just plain with no monti-carlo type cheek piece and if you're a leftie and considering that option, then dont and put the money towards the .25 barrel option which is an extra !

And you always have the FAC upgrade if you wish !
I'm considering this OR the Theo. "Eli" in .25.

Hope that made sense.

"B'rider"

[slowcoach]

Hiya mate nice feedback.
Picked one up recently and as you say the big slug carries a lot of poke down range.
It is a very efficient caliber.
I've found the barrel to be the least pellet fussy of many guns I've owned.
Only minor scope adjustments required between Bisley super fields @ 24 grain and Gamo Hunter @20.3 grain plus the H@N's @ 19.9 grain.

The slug energy transfer so far is quite impressive, yet to use on pest control but standard pop tins of water show massive hydraulic shock in comaprison with my .177 and .22 rifles, they have been split top to bottom as well as punctured both sides @30 yards.
Apple shooting comparisons ( they are in season!) sees the .25 literally ripping them apart rather than punching clean through, again compared to .177 and .22 at 30 yards.

Really can't see this as problem on pest control within sensible ranges, but so far the close range only argument isn't holding water.
Probably in the same league as a heavy .22 in the lower pellet weights but those superfields are quite dramatic on inanimate targets so far

[brian747]

i have a .25 not a hw i might add, but the Hatsan 1000 stryker s this has just been cleaned up inside and a new spring fitted its now at 11.4 fpe with H&NFtt .25 and with 15 + grns pellets is very accurate over 25 yds, and i had my 1st victim a magpie with it today, shot from behind between the wingfolds it folded up like a piece of cardboard
dead as a dodo , watch out Mr Rat you are next!!!!!!,
regards brian

[Silverwolf]

Hiya mate nice feedback.
Picked one up recently and as you say the big slug carries a lot of poke down range.
It is a very efficient caliber.
I've found the barrel to be the least pellet fussy of many guns I've owned.
Only minor scope adjustments required between Bisley super fields @ 24 grain and Gamo Hunter @20.3 grain plus the H@N's @ 19.9 grain.

The slug energy transfer so far is quite impressive, yet to use on pest control but standard pop tins of water show massive hydraulic shock in comaprison with my .177 and .22 rifles, they have been split top to bottom as well as punctured both sides @30 yards.
Apple shooting comparisons ( they are in season!) sees the .25 literally ripping them apart rather than punching clean through, again compared to .177 and .22 at 30 yards.

Really can't see this as problem on pest control within sensible ranges, but so far the close range only argument isn't holding water.
Probably in the same league as a heavy .22 in the lower pellet weights but those superfields are quite dramatic on inanimate targets so far

Pop tins as you call them yes it rip them to bits and like you said go through both sides if your looking for a good hitter you wont get a lot better, 30 yards I find a good range for any legal limit air rifle with a bit of field craft.
My rifle seem to be getting better all the time you see how effective it was on the tin cans wait until you hit a pigeon or rabbit with it think you will be pleased, don't know how you found the recoil hw80 in .25 caliber seem to soak it up with very little, just see Brian747 post where he shot a magpie at 25 yards this caliber has a lot going for it but I don't think many will even give it a run, if you want shock and damage give the .25 caliber a go it could shock you.

[brian747]

Update to my previous post, i have been out this evening with my Hatsan Stryker .25
i got x2 tree rats at 20 and 17 yds, i can confirm they do not like .25 pellets
the 1st tree rat was in the fork of a tree about 25 -30 ft high, he tried to freeze but i had already spotted him the pellet hit the grey in the head the impact knocked him clean out the tree stone dead ,the second grey was halfway up a tree trunk so i clicked at him he stopped to look silly squirrel the .25 caught him in the chest the impact again knocking it straight to the ground, these .25 pellets sure do a lot of trauma damage and i think with practise out to 30 yds should not be a problem,great calibre and the gun is great value for the money,
atb brian

[edbear2]

Another vote for this calibre at legal (sub 12) power......mine is a N.O.S. BSA used solely for rats out to 15 yards max......I used a TX200 in .177 before and trust me, the results so far with the besa are in a totally different league in terms of stopping power, and without going into graphic terms. Lets just say they really don't know what's hit them

In historical terms (I normally hang out in collectors and have few prewar BSA underlevers)......The .25 was built as a full power 45" under lever way back pre WW1, but was replaced by an identical gun with a .22 bore.....This is a high 11's seriously accurate gun given the limitations of no scope.

At the time (we are talking pre 1914 don't forget) it was stated that "although the .25 was a deadly gun out to 25 or so yards, at around the mid / high 11's in power, the much easier to live with and allow for ballistic curve and characteristics of the smaller .22 made it overall a more efficient gun", so the .25 was dropped from the range.

So.....as others have said, at sub 12 a brilliant close-medium range hunter......out past that,invest in a morter sight to allow for pellet drop

Guns are like tools, just use the right one for the job in hand!

[slowcoach]

I had a play out of the box and it was a bit 'boingy' so stripped and properly lubed the mechanism. Now fires with a smooth clunk and running an extreme spread of 5 FPS over a 10 shot string so very consistant and smooth in so little time.
Running at the high end of power so will need watching as things bed in completely and run in especially with the Bisley 24grain slugs.

At 30 yards it is slower moving when compared to .177 and .22 but there is a lot more of it when compared to my normal .177 bis mag and .22 accupel when it does arrive.

If nothing else it makes the target holes easier to see on paper

[slowcoach]

Quick update after field trial. Not a lot to say really, no over penetration or shoot throughs but massive shock and trauma at point of impact. 20grain H&N FTT's have mushroomed to large flats where obstruction was firm.
Needless to say no runners or twitchers.
Shots taken at measured 24, 29 and 32 yards.

Better/ worse than other cals????? Nahh, gotta try them all!

[brian747]

Hi Slowcoach, you are right about trying all the calibres
i shoot them all but .25 is great fun, i have now got x3 , a bsa lightning .25 @11-00fpe
a hatsan stryker 1000s .25 @11.5fpe and a fac rapid .25@48fpe, the stryker is the latest buy and for £120-00 new its a bargain, and shoots well, i had it out lastt night
and shot my 1st bunny with it at 25 yds , the impact noise was dull a thud but no twitching just very dead , its a very underated calibre.
atb brian