The HW 30S over the old-style HW 30 stock.
This report covers:
- A deal
- Installed
- Shouldered the rifle
- What about the custom stock?
- One more thing
- Summary
Today we look at something simple, yet important to our shooting success. Today I replace the HW 30S stock with an old-style HW 30 stock. Then I will report on what the old stock does to the ability to use the open sights that come with the rifle.
A deal
Reader AlanMcD told me about an old-style HW 30 stock that had been taken off and was for sale on the Airgun Nation website. The seller wanted $95 and from the picture I could see that the stock was in like-new condition. With Alan’s help I linked up with the seller and bought the stock that’s shown in the picture above. It arrived in perfect condition last week. I put it on the barreled action today.
The HW 30S barreled action is installed in the old-style stock.
I could not visually tell the difference between the comb height of the old-style stock and the new one. One of our readers, I think RidgeRunner, said his old-style HW 30 comes up to his shoulder perfectly, aligning his sighting eye with the front and rear sight in a natural way. That was what I wanted, as well.
Installed
The stock swap took all of 10 minutes. Everything fit as it should, and then I photographed the barreled action mounted in the old-style stock. Perhaps for the first time after examining the new/old stock and comparing it with the new-style stock, I saw something that may have made the difference. Look at the very back on the new-style stock. Do you see that it swoops up by a few degrees?
The newer HW 30S stock at the bottom swoops up at the very back. Could that small swoop lift the comb of the stock so high that the open sights no longer work for many people?
Shouldered the rifle
I shouldered the rifle mounted in the old-style stock and was rewarded with a perfect sight picture. I didn’t believe it. After all, I am Gumby when it comes to adapting to weird rifle stocks. So I tried it again and again and again. No matter when I tried it, this old-style stock fit me perfectly! With just this small investment I now have an HW 30S that fits me well enough to use the open sights.
What about the custom stock?
I still have a custom stock ordered with Steve Corcoran. What do I do about that? My plan is to leave that order in place and to also test the rifle with that stock when it comes in. The bottom line here is to make a good pest rifle, which I think I’ve already done, but as long as we are on track, why stop? This cheek weld/sighting eye placement stuff has fascinated me and I want to ride it as far as I can.
One more thing
Yes, I still need to test the rifle for accuracy with its new/old stock. We know this rifle is accurate. But can BB be accurate when shooting it offhand? That will be the real test.
Summary
Today was a shorty report, but it took a long time to write. I hope I got the reason right about why the new HW stock isn’t well-suited (for me and for others) to shoot offhand. I don’t mean to impugn Weihrauch, but that new-style stock just doesn’t work for me when I want to shoot with open sights.
Yes Tom,
But 80% or more airgun shooters want to mount a scope. Pick one or the other. Unless you have a adjustable comb you can never get the right cheek weld for both open sights and a scope. Maybe a thick cheek cushion would help the lower peep sighted stock be usable with a scope.
Since you no longer need a stock to shoot your HW 30 with peeps, maybe you should ask Mr. Corcoran to make a stock for the Omnia ZRS, now THAT NEEDS A CUSTOM STOCK!!! FWIW-I am now pounding the table. do it!
-Yogi
Custom stock for the ZRS could be pretty pricey. A higher set of sights would probably be cheaper. Maybe a set for a Crosman Challenger could be adapted?
At this power level, a scope is redundant.
Fish,
I have to comment that with the tune I put on this rifle it now cocks so easily, yet shoots almost as powerfully as the HW 50S, it is a dream!
B B
BB
Wow! My HW30S in .177 caliber has less than half the power (fpe) of my HW50S which is .22 caliber. Not an issue for me because one is as accurate as the other at 25 yards.
Deck
BB, I’ll buy the same tune set as well.
BB,
I also would like that tune set for my grandson’s HW30S. A slight umph in power is one reason I have been considering an HW50S.
Yogi,
I don’t own the Omnia. Why don’t YOU get one and do that and stop pounding the table? 😉
BB
Because my closet is full!
-Y
Sounds like the real problem is the size of the closet…. perhaps a walk-in is needed. ;o)
BB,
The old-style stock you just received for your HW 30S is identical to the stock that came new on my HW 30S…new as in nearly 6 years ago, LOL! And yes, the old-style stock worked great with the stock open-iron sights.
Your custom stock may be even better; yet I’m happy that you were able to get the old-style stock, and that it appears that it will work out well for you; it looks like AlanMcD hooked you up…that’s what I really like about this community that you started here: people help each other out…very cool. 🙂
I look forward to seeing your new groups with your old stock.
Blessings to you,
dave
The most helpful report that BB has written. R7 and HW30S Deluxe must have reasonable comb heights as well. I’m buying a 30S Deluxe.
The new style HW77 stock is also a real pain to use with open sights, which is ironic because the only reason to get a HW77 over a HW97 is the open sights.
Airgun manufacturers need to stop Minelli running wild with their arty-farty designs and insist on stocks that are practical and help, rather than hinder, the shooter.
BB,
It was indeed I who commented on how well my grandson’s HW30 fits so wonderfully. I shot it some this past Sunday. What a pleasure! I did as Kirsten said, I closed my eyes, brought the air rifle to my shoulder, set my cheek weld and opened my eyes. I was looking through both the rear peep and the front globe.
Sitting at the top of the stairs of the back porch, leaning back against the railing post, I almost had to try to miss my 3/8-inch spinner at ten yards. This thing is so easy and smooth to cock and shoot. It is a true pleasure to shoot.
A few have been trying to find the Williams peep I have on this HW30S. The sticker that comes with it says it is a FP-GR-TK. The FP stands for Fool Proof, which is an especially good thing for me. The GR is the model. The TK stands for Target Knobs. They are nice, but not really necessary.
With a front globe sight, these are awesome!
RidgeRunner, I’ve got the same sight, just without the target knobs; it’s an excellent piece of engineering; it’s easy to adjust and it works great; kudos to the Williams company. 🙂
Indeed! I award to them the coveted 3R rating!
Here is a peek at the TruGlo front globe sight. I know, it is a glowy, thingy sight, but you can adjust the glow level of this thing. Oh, by the way, good luck in finding one. They are no longer made, but there are a few out there. I think Hector Medina may have a couple. 😉
Check Amazon. $11.14. Search “TRUGLO Globe Sight for Airgun, Green”
Check Amazon. $11.14. Search “TRUGLO Globe Sight for Airgun, Green”
I can attest to this sight. It has a hood that rotates and you can block the fiberootics and dim the sight. It is relatively thin for a fiberoptic sight. The globe is fairly thick, however, and takes getting used to, but RidgeRunner’s combination is as close to a dot sight as you will get and with no batteries!
Wish it had worked with the HW95 but could never get the rifle sighted in right with it – tended to shoot high no matter what adjustments FM made; not sure will repeat the experiment with the HW30S.
FM
Strange thing; that’s exactly my experience with this same sight. I tried it on the LGV and on the HW 90 but it shot high for 10m.
Bill,
Can’t you get a front sight riser to fit?
https://lostnationrd.com/product/10mm-riser-for-lnrd-williams-front-sight/
shootski
/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/c.jpg
Fish, that’s exactly what I was thinking. In which blog did you find this picture?
RG, I can’t find the page, but I remember that the part was pulled out of a weaver dovetail to picatinny mount.
Perhaps?
rg, found it.
https://www.airgunnation.com/threads/weihrauch-front-sight-riser.1267933/
So, a custom machined part. But an effective solution.
Vasili, perhaps this guy can get something for you that will work without custom machining. Here is something similar for a rear sight. Perhsps something exists for an 8mm front sight dovetail.
https://www.waffencenter-gotha.de/shop/ERSATZTEILE-Spare-Parts/GEWEHR-Erlaubnispflichtig/HAENEL-SUHL-Modell-M150/-Visierlinienerhoehung-fuer-Diopter-HAENEL-M-150::7795.html
My Beeman R7 has the TruGlo front globe sight and a $40 Air Venturi rear peep sight (my gunsmith added a hidden scope stop screw underneath). It is a tackdriver at 10 yards, as I have reported in the past, and I’m hoping to find out how far it will shoot this summer.
Let’s see…if the front sight is causing the gun to shoot high and your rear sight is bottoming out in its adjustment range, then you need a lower rear sight or a higher front sight. The Williams FP-GR is the lowest peep I know of. Regarding the front sight, I think there is a product made to elevate the front sight dovetail, that the globe sight can then be attached to. I would look for someone who sells ten meter competition airguns to see, like Champions Choice.
Roamin,
Just the opposite on the sights. If the front sight is causing the gun to shoot high then raise the front sight or lower the rear sight to lower the strike of the pellet.
BB
You say tomato, I say tomAHto, B.B.
RG,
https://lostnationrd.com/product/10mm-riser-for-lnrd-williams-front-sight/
shootski
FawltyManuel,
Can’t you get a front sight riser to fit?
https://lostnationrd.com/product/10mm-riser-for-lnrd-williams-front-sight/
Shootski
Guys thank you for all your help.
I will try to find such a riser in EU.
This guy sells a lot of used target rifle accessories.
Perhaps this one will work? I can’t really tell from the picture.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/285270447013?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=KZMshModQ2y&sssrc=2349624&ssuid=g1VQzXcdTNm&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY
Here are a few PA offers, but I’m not sure if any will fit the front sight dovetail, which on my airguns is 8mm, more or less.
Will consider it, shootski but since FM managed to get things back to square one with the HW95, inclined to let well enough alone for now. Appreciate the helpful tip.
Just so you guys know, these Williams sights do have the coveted 3R rating.
https://shop.williamsgunsight.com/ecommerce/p/fpgr-009683
I think I may try a different aperture on these, assuming they fit.
https://shop.williamsgunsight.com/ecommerce/p/aperture–regular-001425
RidgeRunner,
Anything (almost) can be made to “fit” lostnationrd.com
Check out what can be done for a standard rimfire rifle to make it a BIATHLON capable rifle. If Tom had a stock like these he could spend a month of Sundays adjusting it….
I do wish they had a bit more CRAFTSMANSHIP as opposed to just the functional/specification perfection they strive for. But that would just cost way more money!
shootski
Tom,
You could say that now you have a NOSS, or a New Old Stock Stock! ;^)
Does this mean that if you wished to scope the rifle some day, you would need to go back to the old/new/original (dark brown) stock?
Michael
Michael,
Yes, if I were to mount a scope the newer style stock would be better.
BB
FM lucked out – the Minelli stock works fine for his needs so, since it ain’t broke, won’t fix it. It was good to learn more things to look out for when making a decision on a future purchase, however.
Tom,
When looking at the stocks, it appears to me the grip on the older design sweeps a little lower than the newer design. The difference looks small but an 1/8 of an inch will make a huge difference when trying to get a consistent cheek weld. If both stocks were empty of the action you could measure the difference on any large flat surface. But it could also be shown with two photos overlayed with the top photo made transparent to allow the bottom one to show through. The view in both the photos the stock with the action installed is canted relative to the empty stock so its hard to compare with the current photos.
Mike
The History Bug bit FM and just wanted to remember and remind today marks another anniversary of the D-Day landings; going to pray for the souls lost that day and for the well-being of the few remaining veterans of that Longest Day. Sadly, seems 79 years on, the lessons of History have not been learned and it is deja vu, all over again.