Hw80. To short stroke or not?

H

Hollowpoint

Super member
Joined
Jun 8, 2024
Messages
1,714
Reaction score
2,146
Location
West yorkshire
Just wondering how people prefer their hw80s. Those who have fitted a short stroke kit, have you kept it in or returned it to original? Do you just prefer them with well fitted guides and a shortened spring? Or well fitted guides and a long soft spring. How do you prefer yours?
 
I had a v-mach kit fitted in mine with a longer latch rod (short stroked) it was very snappy to shoot ,i prefer the original lazy shot cycle tbh
 
I have shot a few short stroked ones and they shot well so I would not hesitate to doing it to mine if I had got another one.

Many don't like them so if you can get a shot of one in the calbre you have that is done then try it first.
 
Last edited:
John79 said:
I had a v-mach kit fitted in mine with a longer latch rod (short stroked) it was very snappy to shoot ,i prefer the original lazy shot cycle tbh
Click to expand...
Brilliant. Thanks for that. Mine at the minute just has fitted guides and a vortek piston seal. It has also had the piston glided by Deleted member. I quite like it the way it is. I orefeee lazier cycles in my springers but there is just that nagging feeling making me think I should try it.
 
Bighit said:
I have shot a few short stroked ones and they shot well so I would not hesitate to doing it to mine if I had got another one.
Click to expand...
That’s playing devils for advocate for me now.

Did you find it snappy? Was is short stroked via the latch rod or via an adapter.
 
I used the TBT short stroke kit on a .22 HW80 and I'm very pleased. Not snappy, shoots more like my .177.
 
Hollowpoint said:
That’s playing devils for advocate for me now.

Did you find it snappy? Was is short stroked via the latch rod or via an adapter.
Click to expand...
I would not say snappy but its been a long time since I shot an HW80 that was not short stroked or FAC .
all the ones I have shot have been TbT short stroked . A few in .22 and another in .25.
 
I short stroked my .177 HW80 with a TBT kit and fitted a Brit seal and it has a much faster lock time and at 10.9flbs it’s lovely and feels spot on for me….in fact now you mention it I’ll take it out for a play tomorrow. 🙂
 
The only thing that I not a big lover on short stokes is the initial slack when you go to cock it I've had positive and negative results after fitting short strokes but its the one constant I can't get on with unfortunately...👍
 
Short stroked one with a kit, but didn't like it. I have one running in the 11's that has a reduced cylinder & that is excellent. Another that also has a reduced cylinder, with a proper short stroked piston(14mm) that's running at 7ftlb for target shooting again that's excellent
 
knipescar said:
The only thing that I not a big lover on short stokes is the initial slack when you go to cock it I've had positive and negative results after fitting short strokes but its the one constant I can't get on with unfortunately...👍
Click to expand...
I have a TBT short stroked 80 in .177 and I love it and it keeps some very good company. With regard to the initial slack, I felt the same as you for years since I got it, but the other day I saw something which changed that dislike to a like and I love it even more now. Do the initial break, load the pellet, then do the full cock and return in one motion.
 
MDriskill said:
Ignorant question from the US: how is a short-stroked HW 80 better than an HW 35, which has the same-diameter piston in a shorter action?
Click to expand...
I have a HW35e and short stroked HW80k. The 35 does shoot very nicely (totally standard) while my 80 is heavily tuned and also shoots very nicely.

Very different setups though.

IMG_20260224_170045.webp


IMG_20250724_200954.webp


Thinking about your question though I'd have to say the 80 is solid and built like a tank (obviously as it's meant for more than UK limit) while the 35e feels weaker and has the classic barrel catch.
 
MDriskill said:
Ignorant question from the US: how is a short-stroked HW 80 better than an HW 35, which has the same-diameter piston in a shorter action?
Click to expand...
The HW80 is a fantastic magnum spring air rifle in its own right, if it is indeed better when short stroked than a stock HW35 is a moot point , and the difference seems to be the HW35s solid lock up and a few less LBS .
 
For a shorter stroke opt for longer latch rod rather than an adaptor held on with grub screws.

The '80 was once subject to a number of 1980's conversions the most popular being reduced bore and stroke often mated to a piston with a brass band fitted to the skirt. That mean't best of both worlds ie HW85 polite shooting manners along with the necessary bulk for stability. Believe it or not the '77 was not always first choice as an FT rifle!
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top