Walther LGU, a first Review

[hendrickotto]

Thanks for an excellent review. However I think you are far too kind in your description of the stock which certainly to me and every other shooter in the UK who has tried this gun is-being polite-inadequate.
It is a shame that the original UK launch of the LGV was marred by the rifle being far too expensive especially given the poor stocks. Learning by their mistakes the LGU was a more competitive item but again the stock isn't good enough to make it a serious contender. In addition the specialist stock makers haven't yet got around to making something decent for what is a superb action as there are not enough of them around to make it worth while. Also could someone tell me why the O rings at the end of the LGU cocking lever are just SO large???
The original LGV Competition Ultra at a whisker under £500 was SO overpriced that I think it has affected the market in these rifles to this day. That variant was the top of the range and yet the stock was made in beech with no adjustable butt pad. Crazy marketing.
Moving on to the performance I agree that both the LGV and LGU actions are really good. I own an LGV in .177 with the cheapest 'Challenger' stock which is a synthetic 'ambi' and is fine for a knockabout gun. With a decent stock I even think it could become my favourite spring rifle. The performance is really good provided you have the metal trigger which I understand is standard for UK rifles but an optional extra for those sold in Europe. Where is the sense in that? Another marketing mistake in my view. The trigger is a vital component and should be the best available.
My summary of this is that the action is great but the overall rifle is spoiled by having such a poor stock. If you disagree with this view I ask you to bear in mind the both AA and HW-which I suggest are still the main competitors at the top end of the spring rifle market-have plenty of choice for after-market stocks. Walther for the moment offers the discerning shooter absolutely nothing other than the standard beech or synthetic stocks they put on at the factory.
My message to anyone involved with Walther is-get your act together! You have made a good rifle but the competition still leaves you standing

Thanks for your reply Rapidnick. I give it to you, you did the very first extensive LGU review, but is it possible to describe the stock you would like to see on the LGU action ?
I for one, am NEVER quite happy with any OEM stocks and always find that as to AA and HW, the pistol grips (also the HW97K TH grip) are too thin and the fore ends too narrow, also on the LGU. That HW did not capitalize on the plastic stock of the 97KTS to fit an adjustable cheek piece and butt pad is also not very good marketing, even allowing for an increased price. The same story for the new LGU Varmint synthetic stock, without adjustable cheek piece/butt pad ! And the weight loss of the new synth Varmint version claimed in specs vs the beech is not borne out by customer reviews, even ! It's just as heavy.
But we don't decide on their marketing "strategies" but only try to influence them, which will take a lot of time no doubt !

Hendrick