Father's Day HW35

[Craig-P]

Evening all.
As yesterday was, 'leave Dad alone day', I finally got around to having a play with a HW35e I've been wanting to sort for a while.
I picked this rifle up about twelve months ago from Perkins Guns, with the intention of using it with iron sights ( I've also had a Williams peep sight sitting in the spares box for a good few years - so that more than justified me buying it - at least that's how I convinced myself ). The break barrel action being much less of a faff to operate than my open sighted HW77, was another bonus ( again, justification really )
So, rifle was purchased and then put in the cabinet as one of those, 'to do', jobs…And there it's stayed.
I cashed in a few Father’s Day vouchers yesterday and enjoyed some time with it.
No idea what's going on inside of it but it shoots extremely nicely and when I ran it over the Chrono, it was putting out a twang free 11.2fpe. It’s also ridiculously consistent, so well done to whoever sorted it. I left well alone as I couldn’t improve on what’s been done and whatever has been done is more than good enough for what I want from it.
I shot five shoot’nsee targets with the standard sights just to make sure it was all ok and to select the favourite ammo, which turned out to be nice and affordable FT Trophies.
I’ve a few peep / diopter units in the drawer and have long considered mounting one of my Parker Hale units to various actions, purely because they’re beautifully made - but I’ve considered that for at least ten years now, so have to admit it’s not happening anytime soon…
How happy was I to find the adjustable aperture unit of a PH17 unit screws directly in to the Williams unit?! And the Williams unit is just a straightforward fit to the HW dovetail. So no drilling like the PH unit requires.



I switched the HW circular insert on the foresight to the post and dot insert which gave a more precise target picture and set the target box out at 40 yards. Again, I shot five shoot’nsee targets (with a point of aim marker placed just above), the average from both sessions is shown here:
Standard opens:



Williams with aperture closed:



Accuracy improved with the Williams, especially when notching down the aperture to give an image akin to a parallax fussy optic. This is probably due to the now near two mile long sightline offered by the 35e - but it slowed target acquisition down considerably.
It’s lovely to shoot at set distances and at a push, with clear aim points, is comparable to accuracy from a low magnification optic. That’ll do for me.
Another one set up and we’ll see what it can do at the next Bash.



Cheers, Craig

[Shed tuner]

very nice mate.. That reminds me, I have a williams that I've been meaning to fit to my open sighted 35 too...

[Craig-P]

very nice mate.. That reminds me, I have a williams that I've been meaning to fit to my open sighted 35 too...

Do it, mate, optics are for them old, stuck in the mud types - even a 77 sight block mounted rearward on the rails of a 35 aids a bit of accuracy.

[Blackrider]

Nice post Craig, and an attractive pic to boot, I’m feeling a HW 35e has to be making my way soon, well done !

[Craig-P]

Nice post Craig, and an attractive pic to boot, I’m feeling a HW 35e has to be making my way soon, well done !

Everyone needs a catch pole in their collection, mate

[rapidresponse1]

very nice my friend

[CapitalBee]

Thanks for sharing this Craig, nice to see an old beauty kept simple and producing the goods.

[The Squire]

Nice shooting Craig!

[Craig-P]

Thanks lads.
I'm really enjoying shooting this 'back to basics' rifle after a bit of a lull in my enthusiasm recently. It's also given me the much needed kick to assemble a few others I have in bits.
Details coming soon.
Cheers, Craig

[TonyL]

Cheers for posting, Craigy.

I can't view the images tight now. I'll look in on my phone later.

You know I'm keen to play with some peep options on a few of mine and this will spur me on even more. And to have the options of the Williams and those lovely Parker Hale ones is fantastic.

Enjoy the fuss-free back-to-basics optic-free break barrel shooting!

[TonyL]

Thanks lads.
I'm really enjoying shooting this 'back to basics' rifle after a bit of a lull in my enthusiasm recently. It's also given me the much needed kick to assemble a few others I have in bits.
Details coming soon.
Cheers, Craig

Can't wait to hear about / see these, Craig.

[micky2]

Nice when a plan comes together even after a long time.

[Hellequin]

I'd been meaning to ask if a peep/diopter sight would work with a break barrel and clearly it does! I'm really tempted to try & find something for my 50s Anniversary when it comes back from Nick Simmons. I reckon it'd suit more than bunging another scope on it.

That's a cracking set up mate, and good shooting but there's no surprise there!

[Craig-P]

Cheers for posting, Craigy.

I can't view the images tight now. I'll look in on my phone later.

You know I'm keen to play with some peep options on a few of mine and this will spur me on even more. And to have the options of the Williams and those lovely Parker Hale ones is fantastic.

Enjoy the fuss-free back-to-basics optic-free break barrel shooting!

Back to basics is definitely the way forward from me, mate. Bad Daz once said all you need is a nicely set up HW80 in .22 and I’m beginning to think he’s spot on.
I’ll bring this to the Bash with me and leave it with you for a while - you’ll like it (just save yourself some range room for the barrel )

Nice when a plan comes together even after a long time.

All of my plans are long time, mate - I’ve got rifles here that have been in bits longer than my eleven year old daughter has been on earth

I'd been meaning to ask if a peep/diopter sight would work with a break barrel and clearly it does! I'm really tempted to try & find something for my 50s Anniversary when it comes back from Nick Simmons. I reckon it'd suit more than bunging another scope on it.

That's a cracking set up mate, and good shooting but there's no surprise there!

You’ll be made up with Nicks work, mate. I’m just building up a 77 he did for me ( another long term project ). I reckon a peep sighted 50 would be a little cracker.
Have a play with this one at the Bash and see how you get on.
Best, Craig

[TonyL]

I'm viewing the images now.

Awesome shooting, Craig. And what a beautiful set up. I'll look forward to seeing this in a few weeks' time.