Weihrauch HW90 Review
f you’re looking for a small game hunting/plinking rifle that packs a punch, the Weihrauch HW90 is the perfect choice!
The HW90 from Weihrauch is a gas-piston breakbarrel rifle designed specifically for small game hunting and plinking.
The Weihrauch HW90 is a high-quality air rifle designed for small game hunting and plinking.
It is an excellent choice for those who want to improve their accuracy and shooting skills.
This rifle is manufactured by the renowned German company, Weihrauch, and is designed to provide a powerful and accurate shooting experience for hunters and shooters alike.
In this article, we will provide a detailed review of the Weihrauch HW90, covering all its features, pros and cons, and how it compares to other air rifles.
Design and Build Quality
The Weihrauch HW90 is designed with a Monte Carlo beech stock, which is aesthetically pleasing and comfortable to hold.
The raised right-hand cheekpiece makes it easier to aim, and the checkered pistol grip provides a better grip.
The rifle features a rifled steel barrel and receiver that are highly durable and long-lasting.
The rubber buttpad adds to the rifle’s comfort, and the overall build quality is excellent.
Its high quality design and build quality help ensure reliable performance over many years of use while its strong spring piston design provides plenty of power behind each shot you take.
Cocking Effort
The HW90 uses a breakbarrel mechanism, which requires a cocking effort of 46 lbs.
This effort is higher than many other air rifles, making it a bit difficult for younger or smaller shooters.
However, the extra effort is necessary to achieve the rifle’s high power.
The combination of its powerful spring piston design and heavy cocking effort mean that the HW90 can generate velocities up to 853 fps with .22 pellets.
This makes it an ideal choice for small game hunting or plinking at distances up to 50 yards.
This may sound like a lot compared to other rifles on the market that require much less force in order to cock them; however, this is actually quite reasonable given the power that the HW90 is capable of producing.
Its globe front sight even accepts inserts, while its fully adjustable rear sight ensures you get pinpoint accuracy every time you pull the trigger.
Technology of Gun
The Weihrauch HW90 air rifle features a gas-piston mechanism, also known as a gas-ram or gas-spring system.
This technology replaces the traditional coiled steel spring found in most air rifles.
Instead of using a spring to compress air, a gas-piston air rifle uses a sealed gas-filled cylinder to compress air.
When the rifle is cocked, the gas is compressed, and when the trigger is pulled, the gas expands rapidly, propelling the pellet out of the barrel.
The gas-piston system has several advantages over traditional spring-powered air rifles.
The gas-piston provides a smoother shooting experience with less recoil and vibration, making it more comfortable to shoot.
It also reduces noise, as there are fewer moving parts to create noise during the shooting process.
Additionally, gas-piston air rifles are known for their consistency and reliability, providing a more accurate shooting experience.
Weihrauch HW90 air rifle has a caliber (the internal diameter of the bore) of:
- .177 (4.5 millimeters),
- .22 (5.5 millimeters)
- and .25 (6.35 millimeter).
Sights
The Weihrauch HW90 features a globe front sight that is capable of accepting a variety of different inserts, so you can customize your sighting experience depending on the target and distance.
The rear sight is fully adjustable for windage and elevation, providing better accuracy and a better shooting experience overall.
This makes it easy to get on target quickly, allowing you to focus more time on shooting than tweaking settings.
With its combination of adjustable sights and powerful spring piston design, the HW90 is certainly up to any task you may have in mind.
Trigger
The Weihrauch HW90 air rifle is equipped with a 2-stage adjustable trigger, which allows shooters to adjust the trigger pull to their liking.
The trigger is smooth and easy to operate, and the adjustable feature ensures that every shooter can find a comfortable trigger pull weight.
This helps to improve accuracy and ensure that every shot is precise.
Loudness:
The HW90 has a loudness rating of 3, which means it is a medium-level loud air rifle. This is not the quietest air rifle on the market, but it is not the loudest either.
The noise level is manageable, making it suitable for backyard plinking and small game hunting without disturbing your neighbors.
Safety:
The HW90 air rifle has an automatic safety feature that engages every time the rifle is cocked.
This ensures that the rifle cannot be fired accidentally and provides an additional layer of safety for shooters.
The safety mechanism is easy to operate and does not interfere with the shooting process.
Ammo for Weihrauch HW90
The Weihrauch HW90 air rifle is available in three calibers: .177, .22, and .25. Each caliber requires a specific type of pellet to be used as ammunition.
The .177 caliber HW90 requires .177 pellets, the .22 caliber requires .22 pellets, and the .25 caliber requires .25 pellets.
It is important to ensure that you are using the correct caliber of pellet for your air rifle to ensure the best performance and accuracy.
Using the wrong caliber of pellet can lead to inconsistent shots and damage to the rifle.
When purchasing pellets, be sure to check the caliber and weight to ensure compatibility with your air rifle.
When selecting pellets, it is also important to consider the material they are made from.
Lead pellets are the most common type and are generally reliable and accurate.
However, some shooters may prefer to use alloy pellets, which are lighter and travel faster, but may not be as accurate as lead pellets.
Scope Mount:
The Weihrauch HW90 is equipped with an 11mm dovetail scope mount, which has been designed to provide a secure interface between the gun and the optics.
The dovetail works by clamping the base of the scope into the parallel grooves that run along the top of the receiver.
This mounting system is lightweight yet robust, so it keeps your scope locked in place without adding unnecessary bulk or weight.
Furthermore, it ensures that your scope is perfectly aligned with the bore of the gun for maximum accuracy.
The 11mm dovetail mount also allows for easy attachment and removal of scopes as needed, making it a great option for any shooter looking for flexibility and convenience.
Velocity, accuracy and power
The Weihrauch HW90 provides excellent accuracy and power, thanks to its high velocity.
With a 0.177 caliber pellet, the rifle can achieve a muzzle velocity of 1,050 FPS which is fast enough to get you on target quickly, with maximum accuracy and power.
The 0.22 caliber pellet has an impressive muzzle velocity of 853 FPS while the 0.25 caliber pellet has a still respectable 625 FPS muzzle velocity.
This combination of velocity and shot size makes the Weihrauch HW90 perfect for hunting or recreational shooting as it offers superior precision when taking shots at targets of different ranges.
Combined with its ergonomic design and light weight construction, the HW90 provides an excellent balance between speed and accuracy, making it one of the most powerful air rifles on the market today.
Crane Hard TV conducted an in-depth penetration investigation of HW90 here:
Shooting purpose
The Weihrauch HW90 is an effective shooting range up to 50 yards.
The Weihrauch HW90 is a versatile air rifle that can be used for a variety of shooting purposes.
Numerous customer testimonials have attested to the remarkable benefits this range offers.
The Weihrauch HW90 is available in .177, .22, and .25 calibers, allowing shooters to choose the best option for their intended purpose.
This gun is the perfect choice for hunting small game, eliminating pests, and training your aim with target practice.
The rifle’s accuracy and adjustable trigger also make it a great option for target shooting and plinking.
Warranty
The Weihrauch HW90 comes with a 1-year limited warranty from the manufacturer.
This warranty covers any defects in materials or workmanship and ensures that the rifle will be free from defects for a period of one year from the date of purchase.
Comparison Table of HW90, Gamo swarm Maxxim and Benjamin Trail NP:
| HW90 | Gamo Swarm Maxxim | Benjamin Trail NP |
|---|---|---|
| Gas piston | Gas piston | Gas piston |
| Breakbarrel | Breakbarrel | Breakbarrel |
| Single-shot | Multi-shot | Single-shot |
| 46 lbs. cocking effort | 30 lbs. cocking effort | 35 lbs. cocking effort |
| Monte Carlo beech stock | Synthetic stock | Synthetic stock |
| Raised right-hand cheekpiece | N/A | N/A |
| Checkered pistol grip | N/A | N/A |
| 2-stage adjustable trigger | 2-stage adjustable trigger | 2-stage adjustable trigger |
| 11mm dovetail | 11mm dovetail | Picatinny rail |
| Globe front sight accepts inserts | Fiber optic front sight | Fiber optic front sight |
| Fully adjustable rear sight | Fiber optic rear sight | Fiber optic rear sight |
| Rifled steel barrel & receiver | Rifled steel barrel & receiver | Rifled steel barrel & receiver |
| Rubber buttpad | Rubber buttpad | Rubber buttpad |
| Automatic safety | Automatic safety | Automatic safety |
| Manufacturer: Weihrauch | Gamo | Benjamin |
| Caliber: .22 | .22 | .22 |
| Velocity: 853 fps | 1300 fps | 950 fps |
| Condition: New | New | New |
| Ammo Type: Pellets | Pellets | Pellets |
| Action: Break barrel | Break barrel | Break barrel |
| Barrel Style: Rifled | Rifled | Rifled |
| Fire Mode: Single-shot | Multi-shot | Single-shot |
| Gun Weight: 8.82 lbs. | 5.64 lbs. | 8.8 lbs. |
| Overall Length: 45.28 inches | 45.3 inches | 43 inches |
| Barrel Length: 19.69 inches | 19.9 inches | 19.5 inches |
| Loudness: 3-Medium | 3-Medium | 3-Medium |
| Magazine Capacity: 0 | 10 | 0 |
| Mechanism: Gas-piston | Gas-piston | Gas-piston |
| Rail: 11mm dovetail | 11mm dovetail | Picatinny rail |
| Safety: Automatic | Automatic | Automatic |
| Front Sights: Globe w/Aperture Inserts | Fiber optic front sight | Fiber optic front sight |
| Rear Sights: Adjustable for windage & elevation | Fiber optic rear sight | Fiber optic rear sight |
| Shots per Fill: 0 | 10 | 0 |
| Trigger Adjustability: Two-stage adjustable | Two-stage adjustable | Two-stage adjustable |
| Trigger Action: 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Use: Small game hunting/plinking | Small game hunting/plinking | Small game hunting/plinking |
| Warranty: 1-year limited warranty | 1-year limited warranty | 1-year limited warranty |
Specifications
Here are the specifications for the Weihrauch HW90:
- Manufacturer: Weihrauch
- Model: HW90
- Caliber: .22
- Velocity: 853 FPS
- Condition: New
- Ammo Type: Pellets
- Action: Break barrel
- Barrel Style: Rifled
- Fire Mode: Single-shot
- Gun Weight: 8.82 lbs.
- Overall Length: 45.28 inches
- Barrel Length: 19.69 inches
- Loudness: 3-Medium
- Magazine Capacity: 0
- Mechanism: Gas-piston
- Rail: 11mm dovetail
- Safety: Automatic
- Front Sights: Globe w/Aperture Inserts
- Rear Sights: Adjustable for windage & elevation
- Shots per Fill: 0
- Trigger Adjustability: Two-stage adjustable
- Trigger Action: 0
- Use: Small game hunting/plinking
- Warranty: 1-year limited warranty
Comparison Table
To help you get a clearer picture of how the HW90 stacks up against other air rifles on the market, we’ve put together a comparison table:
| Model | Caliber | Velocity | Action | Weight | Overall Length | Barrel Length | Magazine Capacity | Mechanism | Warranty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weihrauch HW90 | .22 | 853 fps | Break barrel | 8.82 | 45.28″ | 19.69″ | 0 | Gas-piston | 1 year |
| Diana RWS 34 | .177 | 1000 fps | Break barrel | 7.5 | 45.5″ | 19.0″ | 1 | Spring | Limited |
| Gamo Whisper | .22 | 975 fps | Break barrel | 5.28 | 46.0″ | 18.0″ | 1 | Spring | 1 year |
| Benjamin Trail NP | .22 | 950 fps | Break barrel | 8.0 | 48.25″ | 19.5″ | 1 | Gas-piston | 1 year |
Pros and Cons
Like any product, the HW90 has its advantages and disadvantages. Here are some of the most notable:
Pros:
- High accuracy due to the gas piston mechanism
- Easy to cock, despite the 46 lb. cocking effort
- Durable and well-built
- Monte Carlo beech stock with raised right-hand cheekpiece for comfortable shooting
- 2-stage adjustable trigger for customized shooting
- Automatic safety for added protection
- Comes with front sight and adjustable rear sight
Cons:
- Somewhat heavy at 8.82 lbs.
- Loudness level is medium at 3
- No magazine capacity, only single-shot
- Limited warranty of only 1 year
Conclusion
The Weihrauch HW90 air rifle is a high-quality, well-built option for small game hunting and plinking. Its gas piston mechanism and 2-stage adjustable trigger contribute to its accuracy and ease of use. While it may be somewhat heavy and lacks a magazine capacity, its Monte Carlo beech stock and automatic safety make it a comfortable and safe option for shooting enthusiasts. The limited 1-year warranty is something to keep in mind, but overall the HW90 is a reliable and accurate air rifle.
FAQ’s
Yes, the HW90 can shoot pellets of different weights, though the velocity and accuracy may be affected.
The Weihrauch HW90 has a loudness rating of 3 (medium). It’s not too loud to scare off small game or alert other hunters in your area.
Yes, the HW90 has a globe front sight that accepts inserts and can be swapped out for different options.
Yes, the HW90 is designed for small game hunting and plinking.
No, the HW90 is a single-shot air rifle with no magazine capacity.
There are no shots per fill for the Weihrauch HW90 air rifle as it is a break barrel rifle and does not require a fill of any kind. Each shot is loaded individually by breaking the barrel and inserting a pellet.
