Reviving this thread because 1) I’m new here and 2) I love HW/R rifles and springers!
I have owned HW97k in .177, HW50S “Hunter” package in .177, R9 in .22, and an HW110 in .22.
97k was the most accurate rifle I have ever owned. A joy to shoot. I don’t regret selling her, because she was turning into a queen and deserved to be enjoyed.
The 50 was sweet with the moderator and as handy as a rifle gets. I dropped in a TbT spring and guide, Rowan trigger, polished internals, and tuned to 10.5fpe with AA 8.4s. It was a very sweet shooting gun. I parted with it because WA limits hunting to .22 and .25 and I ordered it to be a lighter hunting gun.
The 110 was such a great feeling gun! I loved the way it shouldered and the trigger was amazing! The magazine loading was a total PITA, but easy enough once mastered. It blew a breech ring the first year airgun hunting was legal here and after losing the opening weekend of grouse season, I decided I wanted an air gun that was easier to work on, so I sold it. I still get a pang of regret when I think about the way that gun felt in my hands.
My current (only) HW/R is an R9 that I dropped a TbT in, added a Rowan trigger, polished up, tuned to 14-15fpe, and replaced the long barrel with a threaded 95k barrel. It has a shorty 0db and LOVES the hades! It’s a great springer and probably the gun I grab when an opportunity to do some shooting arises.
Now if only I can force myself remember that I don’t need an HW98…?