HW35E in .177 cal

[Mach 1.5]

Can owners share their thoughts on the export in .177 cal.ie pellet choice, tuning etc. Got bitten by the 35. I know Steve Pope always said go for .22 cal so just interested in what folks think of this classic in .177 cal.
Mach 1.5

[Hsing-ee]

When I was a kid my most accurate and easy to live with air-rifle was an old .177 35E which shot tiny groups with H&N Match. RWS Meisterkugeln, H&N Match were the only good pellets back then.

The extra long barrel made it a bit easier to cock and I loved the hogs-back and the long slender pistol grip on the old style Export stock.

I’ve got the parts to make one up including a long 22” barrel and a glided piston but not had time to do it yet…

With that long sight base they’re great for open sight shooting. The leather washer was perhaps inefficient although would last forever, otherwise I don’t know why they attract derision which seems to be simply on its looks. They handle far better than the 95/98 family and aren’t as heavy and overkill as the 80. With the nylon washer and the 30mm compression chamber they’re not as efficient as a 99 or 77 in turning spring energy into muzzle energy but they’re ok. No long slot in the fore-end and a good centre of gravity, they are overlooked simply because they are ‘an old design’. But nearly every springer is.. HW got this one right first time.

If you like the 55 and the 30 you’ll like the 35 Export, it’s a piece of class design and engineering.

[Mach 1.5]

That's the sort of reassurance I was hoping for. Mach 1.5

[Hsing-ee]

The faults they can have (at least in my experience) .. the latch needs to be smooth and lubed or it may not go fully home, lack of lube can cause a non functional but unsightly groove in the breech face, one 35 I had had a bit of flash on the inner TP aperture that robbed 2fpe, and earlier editions occasionally suffered from the dreaded breech voids. You might need to sleeve the TP if you’re changing up from leather to nylon washers.

Leather washer 35s in .177 struggle to get past 10.5 fpe, while nylon washer ones will do 12 fpe.

Otherwise bomb-proof an extremely simple to maintain. Shoot, lube pivot points and latch, swap spring out when it’s tired. Tinbum kit to remove any twang.

Historically (pre 1990) these rifles were said to suffer ‘barrel droop’ so an adjustable mount or shimming may be necessary but I’ve never seen it.

Some of the older Export stocks are very fine bits of timber. Have a good look for a nice one, or see if you can find a Normay Vixen, a proprietary off the shelf ‘tuned’ rifle that even pre-dates the Venoms. Might be up your street.

[TonyL]

Al - I think Paul already has one. You make some very good points on the 35.

Paul - Jon Budd also commented on another thread recently that the 35 runs far nicer in .22, due to characteristics bestowed to it by the short stroke / wide bore architecture.

I don't have an Export, but do have five 35s. Three in .22 and two in .177. I love them all. Over the years I've only ever shot them using RWS pellets. And they all seem to like this diet. I've yet to let them have a taste of FTTs but, no doubt, when I do I bet they love them, as do my other HWs.

If you ever watch / have access to YouTube, search out AEAC and enter "Weihrauch" into the search. Amongst others, you'll find a detailed review of a .177 Export being tested for accuracy with a wide range of pellets.

Hope this helps.

[Hsing-ee]

Al - I think Paul already has one. You make some very good points on the 35.

I was confused by this because I would think Paul would have at least one Venom or V-Mach 35 kicking around the stable?

What a shame I.J. cannot contribute to this thread he would have had something interesting and/or humorous to add. The fact he owned so many 35s of every type is validating enough, cos Ian knew his spring guns.

[TonyL]

Absolutely, Al. How we miss him. A lovely gent and so knowledgeable.

[robthedog]

I have one i purchased new last year, shot ok in 177, it has recently come back from Paul Short, having been reduced to 26mm & given a titanium piston, this rifle is for paper punching & bell target & is running very nicely at 7.5ftlb with a cut down titan 11 spring

[maximus]

I don't have a 177, just an old leather washer 22 but have read on here that the later versions have a bit more stroke so may be better suited to 177 than the earlier versions. Might of been Lyn Lewington who posted that actually.
Regards Max

[Mach 1.5]

Correct I do have a Venomac HW35E in .22 cal but have been offered a HW35E in .177 cal. Hence the post. Mach 1.5

[evert]

....one 35 I had had a bit of flash on the inner TP aperture that robbed 2fpe, and earlier editions occasionally suffered from the dreaded breech voids. You might need to sleeve the TP if you’re changing up from leather to nylon washers.

Leather washer 35s in .177 struggle to get past 10.5 fpe, while nylon washer ones will do 12 fpe....

I have three .177" 35's, one "transitional" made in 1980 with leather washer, one side safety button and small transfer port, an earlier 1977 and a 2008-ish with synthetic washer. I struggle to get power from all of them, so the "porous breech" may be present even in the later ones?

[Mach 1.5]

A friend of mine picked up an old Venom HW35 the other week from the Trapshot days. It was a time warp example. He chronograph the old thing to check the power and It was doing 14.3 ft lbs and very consistent with RWS Superdomes. A couple of coils off the spring and now under 12 ft lbs. Mach 1.5

[gsxrman]

My first real big rifle was 35E. Loved it.
Sure it was .177 and it taught me how to shoot. Long barrel makes follow through very important as well as consistent grip/hold.
It was accurate and very close to my mates 77.
Neither were tuned and as HW intended.

[jjjohn]

Re the leather piston washers,I was told you had to ''fuel'' them and the power goes up to uk limits.

[Shed tuner]

Paul, you should have just bought the .22 35E i had at the bash (and that stock !)...

But back to the thread..

The large bore and shortish stroke do make the shooting experience in .22 much better than .177

However, if you really want a .177, defo get a synthetic sealed gun, as they have a 5mm longer stroke and make the power a good bit easier.. but it won't shoot as nice as a .22