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Is or was the HW77 really that good?

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When my brother in law & I used to go shooting together on a friends farm many years ago he bought himself a new HW77 carbine.
It was a lovely looking bit of kit & I was really jealous as I at the time only had Webley Vulcan as that was all I could afford.

The HW77 seemed pretty accurate if memory serves me correctly, but no more than my Vulcan was & the power was quite similar especially as I had fitted the Vulcan with on Ox spring. :)

Now many years on & coming across this forum, can I ask those of you that have owned one, were they/are they really that good?

As I said it certainly looked the part.
 
Definitely, very much holding its own and still in favour for target shooting. I'd say on the HFT circuit there's a steady mix of 77's and TX's. The early 25mm cylinders have something of a cult following but all models are eminently tuneable and open to customising to satisfy every whim; just not Ox springs!
 
I bought one in the 80s from a guy I knew through work, more because it was available, I had the money, and I didn't have an air rifle at the time. It was good enough, but I never really gelled with it.WEIRAUCH HW77 .177.webp
It was an air rifle, not bad, not great, just OK. Then I got hold of an HW80 that wouldn't cock, and ended up putting the trigger unit of the 77 into the 80 to make it work, and put the 77 to one side. when I finally got round to taking the 77 in to have it sorted, it had started working of its own accord!
 
It's subjective. They were the rifle to have in the early days of Field Target until reliable PCPs were affordable, they are accurate if you do your bit, they have a very good trigger and the design simply works. They are also too heavy for some tastes and a hassle to operate. 🤷‍♂️
I wouldn't get rid of mine.
 
Yes, the 77 and 97 are superb.

I have shot quite a variety of guns at my Club - including some highly regarded PCPs etc and LGV / LGU rifles not to mention some complete odd bods.

Each to their own, of course, but personally....
Nothing else has ever made me smile more each time I shoot it.

Half a dozen or so of them here, all early 25mm piston versions and all slightly different from each other.
I love them all - with the sole exception of the MK2 with that horrible sliding catch that I cannot get on with.
 
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Yes got a 77 and 97 . Both got TBT tuning kits in with Brit seals. Both superbly accurate but maybe it’s because the 97 is .177 and 77 is .20….but…the 77 Is buttery smooth and out of the two 77 is just lovely and I prefer the fit of the stock over the thumbhole 97. I would not part with either but that 77 ……🙂
 
77k was my first "proper" air rifle and i was using it on a field target club shoot, yes i tuned it and no not with an OX spring it was a delight to use and shoot would of been a 25mm model as this was back in the mid 80`s yes they are heavy but im a big guy later in life had a 97 but did not like it as much as 77, the 77 was more accurate than i was
 
It was the go to rifle at its launch which just happened to be around the surge in air rifle popularity
Very popular in FT and with the tuning houses of the time
Not perfect but easily sorted, to some extent superseded by the TX200 which includes some of the tuning as standard but at a greater cost
I have a few example both standard and modified and haven’t been without one from its initial launch
 
Is the 25mm a big deal or is it more to do with a preference for the early guns which were 25mm? Anyone know when they changed to the 26mm piston and also why - i guess it was for more power?

In the 90s I sold my k which was probably a mk2 - it was certainly twangy but always accurate
 
Dodododger said:
Is the 25mm a big deal or is it more to do with a preference for the early guns which were 25mm? Anyone know when they changed to the 26mm piston and also why - i guess it was for more power?

In the 90s I sold my k which was probably a mk2 - it was certainly twangy but always accurate
Click to expand...
I think they changed over in the early to mid 90,s
 
Thank you all very much for your detailed replies, it appears it was as good as my Brother in law has always claimed.
I will show him all your replies when I next see him & tell him he was true to his word. :)
 
As a very rough guide;

MK1 - no anti-beartrap, and a ball bearing underlever detent. 25mm
MK2 - anti-beartrap, sliding underlever catch. Most all were 25mm
MK3 - push button underlever catch, bigger loading port, 26mm

I believe they changed circa 1997, there was a vague serial number after which they'd be 26mm too, I *think* it was about 1,450000
 
My HW77 is probably still the most accurate springer ive owned personally. Definitely a keeper.

IMG_20260720_191529.webp

When I checked database its a 1993 serial, has a mk3 barrel release and the 25mm piston. 177 caliber, long barrel.

I shot it back to back with my Walther LGV recently and not allot between them.

20 meters, 5 shots.. 77 on right, LGV left. Both can do better if i can.

IMG_20260721_184943.webp
 
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