Two rifles HW95 / SMK 20S Comparison - An honest test -

[TonyHolden]

I am really looking forward to reading more. I haven't owned a Weihrauch so have no personal experience, but over the last few months I've noticed a continous drip of comments indicating that QC at Weihrauch may not always be as good as it could be. At the same time I'm hearing more often that the XS 20, and XS 19 to a lesser extent, are improving a great deal.

[PCPShooter]

I am really looking forward to reading more. I haven't owned a Weihrauch so have no personal experience, but over the last few months I've noticed a continous drip of comments indicating that QC at Weihrauch may not always be as good as it could be. At the same time I'm hearing more often that the XS 20, and XS 19 to a lesser extent, are improving a great deal.

Both appear to be true, which is what prompted my own investigation rather than heresay, both rifles are now scoped and I'll be cracking on as soon as time allows

[Andy001]

Oooh, interesting read! I've got a xs20, standard at the moment. They tested the power in the shop and it was 11.6 ftlbs!

[secretagentmole]

I disagree with your comments on the T-06 Diana trigger. The wife had a 280 carbine, the trigger was that sensitive it was like a hair trigger, no amount of adjusting by the RFD enabled a crisp second stage or anything over a gnat fart to fire! We put it down to bad luck and a few months later she bought another secondhand, the trigger was just as lousy again (yes the gun did have a different serial number)! The Rekord is the best trigger I have used so far, coming up a close second behind it is the Hatsan Quattro, I like that trigger (which feels identical to the one on my Theoben Sirocco), the BSA trigger on the Super 10 is also up at that level!

[PCPShooter]

I disagree with your comments on the T-06 Diana trigger. The wife had a 280 carbine, the trigger was that sensitive it was like a hair trigger, no amount of adjusting by the RFD enabled a crisp second stage or anything over a gnat fart to fire! We put it down to bad luck and a few months later she bought another secondhand, the trigger was just as lousy again (yes the gun did have a different serial number)! The Rekord is the best trigger I have used so far, coming up a close second behind it is the Hatsan Quattro, I like that trigger (which feels identical to the one on my Theoben Sirocco), the BSA trigger on the Super 10 is also up at that level!

I've used two new spec T0-6 rifles now, fitted one trigger upgrade in TO-5 rifle, shot a retro fit done by someone else in a TO-5, non sound like your description -

[Franco]

Thanks for the interesting & honest review .

I have long believed that the Chinese quality is improving in leaps & bounds .

I think as in every over the counter springer sold today , they all benefit from a bit of a de-burr & clean up .

I'll be watching further updates with interest .

Thanks .

[Bazmati2020]

Agree, thank you for the review, I'm following with interest.

I have an XS20 with the full Venoman treatment and I'm happy with it, not tried at 95 though so do like to hear how they compare. I have found SMk blacks work well in mine, I've a bucket load of hobbies though so going to zero in with them tomorrow and see how I get on.

[jumbuck]

I have had an AGS SR2/ SMK XS20 and BAM B20 (all made by same manufacture i know) over the years. All were very good, all had the funny points and all did their task well. The AGS always shot to the right no matter what i did to correct it and in the end just compensated. XS20 was actually my son's but he decided the sport wasn't for him. The XS was a bit lively and jumpy. And the B20 was tuned by Venoman from the Chinese air gun forum? All were bought new and sold, Bam was sold because i needed some cash None were a patch on my HW80 in finish etc but i didn't mind, however accuracy was never a real problem and using the under dog is always fun anyway.

I now have a BAM B40 and a TX200HC MkII. The B40 is of standard tune and shoots extremely well, quieter than the TX to shoot but not quite as smooth. The hardwood stock is excellently contoured ala ultra influenced TX style with no choccy run finish, however the wood feels dead like drift wood to handle. The bluing is cheap and patchy thin. The load port is over cut, slightly longer than the TX and can see the extra tooth that is normally under the tube in the TX. The trigger is good if a bit vague between stages. The Air Arms CD unit is equal to Weihrauch's sweet Record trigger but BAM missed the plot here In general i must say that it is very well made and could easily cope with main or only gun status.

Everything on the TX is right, quality,bomb proof,looks and very efficient at it's task but the BAM whilst lacking a bit of finesse, pedigree and finish is never the less very very accurate, reliable and proved a competent bunny basher I do really enjoy taking it out despite the Made in China lasered on the tube with a serial number as long as David Cameron's bank balance (Sorry David Sir, i know you struggle like the rest of us commoners )

I won't get ride of my TX for the B40 and visa-versa, the B40 is like a hen's tooth and enjoy using it and my TX is

[look no hands]

Well I have to say that the XS20 I had was blinding, I obtained it from someone on the UKCAF for a decent price and it was already Venoman tuned and triggered, a very nice rifle to shoot, not sure if I'de buy a new one for nearly £200 when a 95 isn't that much more, like already said Chinese rifles have come on leaps and bounds and heaven only knows what they will be like in the next few years, imagine what would happen if the Chinese offered Ken Turner (other good tuners are available) a huge wedge of cash to design a decent rifle from the ground up with all the right bits and tolarencies would be like, I recently shot a BAM B40 in a gunshop and although it could have done with a tune up it was pretty damn good with a very nice trigger on it that broke pretty well, now if this is a clone of one of the best underlevers in the world then what could they build if they put their own minds to it with all the tuning info obtained from this sight alone, they'de have a few airgun makers shatting themselves, especially if they starting using top grade steel/wood/barrels etc and better machining techniques.

Pete

[Ravman]

Our fisheries bailiff has a chinese underlever in .22 which he bought 2nd-hand for £80, including sights and a hard case.

I shoot a TX for preference (I also have an s200), and I was really very suprised at how good the Chinese rifle was.
Not up there with the TX, but not a million miles away either.

[Vagante]

My last 95k was was inferior to previous 95's I have had. The blueing was shocking. It was almost brown. There was a noticeable difference in colour between the barrel and the barrel weight. Sights were plastic. They are in my opinion built down to a price and not up to a standard. Poor show Weihrauch!!!

Do you remember the year of production of your last 95K? ... or the serial number?

[steveiep]

I have both XS20 and TH208, both have tune kits that have given them delrin guides, tophat and a TitanXS springs properly cut to size. I have used Maccari piston seals in both. The XS20 needed the Weihrauch trigger blade replacement to get a proper 2 stage trigger and feel, but £13 is peanuts for a trigger upgrade.
Both were bought new and at the right time to get a rock bottom price.
I've had the XS20 for 6 years, the basic gun cost £80. It cocks smooth as glass and shoots the same way and will produce a raggy hole at 30yds on superdomes
The TH208 is the copy of the RWS/Diana model 34 action but in an ambi thumbhole stock and cost £123, now being 3 years old. Very nearly a smooth as the XS20 and will produce equal accuracy with either AA Field or Crosman Ultra Mag. Both guns have barrel weights as standard, nothing clever here, just keeping the muzzle under control.
Both are .22 and the power is set by me so as to be legal with their respective most efficient pellets.
The fit and finish on both are more than acceptable irrespective of price, good but not great.
Spending £50 or so on a set of bespoke internals and a couple of hours of your time on a springer seems to be par for the course no matter what you bought or what you paid for it.
Both are going strong and neither has any "manufacturing issues" nor developed any fault.
Good guns, good price, as accurate as some and as good as most. At these prices, cleverer than they have any right to be.
Give them some halfway decent optics (both have Nikko Stirling Gold Crown Airking 4x12x42 AO) and they're a very competitive combination. They are not the quality of the guns they're modelled on but not that far removed and already performing just as well.

[PCPShooter]

Nicely put, a very honest perspective from my own experience. I'm letting a' new shooter' have the xs20 for what it's cost me, and know it will be a sound rifle for him, and will help him to embrace the sport.
When asked about rifles in future for newcomers I will include the Chinese guns, the difficulty comes in explaining that when you buy an airgun you have to spend money to get it working right, it's just farcical really, can you imagine buying anything else, having to take it to bits and or send it off to a specialist for it to work 'properly' ......that's all springers though, AA get some credit for factory stuff, largely based on the designs they largely stole from Venom after welching on a deal all those years ago -