Weihrauch HW100 X Sporter review: The future of air rifles

Weihrauch’s HW100 has become a modern classic in all its various guises over the years. The exceptional build quality and finish, coupled with reliable performance has gained this model a very loyal following. However, this new edition sets the bar even higher with some massive plus points over previous incarnations, as you’ll soon discover.

The company has given its flagship HW100 a complete overhaul. It has stripped it down and reworked it to produce what I believe to be the best Weihrauch rifle ever made. What’s more, this is just the first step in what Weihrauch has said is going to be a complete switch from the entire HW100 range to the new “X” series.

Advanced Internal Regulation

Before I begin to tell you just how much more advanced this HW100 X model is compared to previous incarnations, I must begin with a word of caution. This particular model, and all future models, will be switching to Weihrauch’s new regulated system. Yes, you read that correctly, the HW100 X has its own regulator inside. The previous HW100 models have a self-regulated valve system, which as we all know works exceptionally well – the HW100 series has always had a reputation for reliability and accuracy. With the addition of an internal regulator, the shot count and consistency is significantly improved.

As a result of having this new internal regulator, every new rifle must have the new air cylinder removed from the rifle in order to fill it for the first time (yes, the cylinder is completely new, too). It’s a simple screw-off screw-on system. After that you can leave the cylinder attached and fill your rifle with no problems, it’s only the initial fill from 0 bar to 250 bar when it needs to be removed. If you don’t remove the cylinder for the first ever fill, it will knock the internal regulator down to give a silly pressure and something in the region of 2ft/lb power output and then there’s a lot of stock removal and fiddling to do. You have been warned.

Enhanced Cylinder and Shot Count

When you decide to beef up the internals of a rifle, you may as well do the same to the external at the same time, and that’s exactly what Weihrauch has done with its new air cylinder. This little gem can now be filled to 250 bar, compared to just 200 bar on the previous models. It’s manufactured from high grade aluminium, which offers an overall decrease in weight of 360g in the standard length and 240g in the carbine version. Speaking of which, you’re still going to get 130 shots in .22 and around 77 shots in .177 from the carbine version.

Weihrauch claims that this new cylinder and regulator system on the full-length Sporter gives a massive 90% more shots than its predecessor on the full-length rifle in .177 calibre, producing up to 210 shots. If .22 is your bag, then you’re going to be getting around 250 shots per fill, which is an 80% increase from previous models.

As far as charging the cylinder goes, that too is very easy. Simply pull out the nylon plug from the filler valve up front, insert the fill probe and then fill to 250 bar – that’s an extra 50 bar compared to the previous cylinder design. There’s a colour-coded fill gauge on the end of the cylinder that is very easy to read. In fact, I’d go as far as to say that it’s the best fill gauge out there in terms of user friendliness.

Premium Stock and Ergonomics

The full length Sporter launch model of the new “X” series I have here comes supplied with a beautifully crafted laminate stock. It’s got every shade of grey, brown and green you can imagine that makes it really stand out in your gun case or at the range, but blend in beautifully to its surroundings in a woodland hunting situation. This is one of those rifles you’d want mounted on your wall in the living room as an ornamental piece. The carbine version is only available in walnut at present, to my knowledge.

The forend design feels great, with a very comfortable gentle curve to it and ample stippling for added grip. The classic Weihrauch thumb and finger recess rails run along both sides of the stock, and these really do help with quick acquisition when picking the rifle up to take a shot. The same can be said for the pistol grip. That too has ample stippling and is designed in such a way that it is equally comfortable for the thumb up or thumb round grip.

On the underside of the forend you’ll find an M-Lok rail that sits flush to the stock – it’s the future. There are so many amazing bipods out there now with M-Lok fittings, I think Weihrauch has done the right thing and brought the HW100 right where it needs to be.

Up top on the block you have the standard Weihrauch 11mm split dovetail rail for mounting your glassware, with handy 1cm markings split into millimetres so you can position your mounts with precision. Inside the box you’ll also find a Picatinny rail that can be added over the top of the dovetail – very handy for all the modern day/night scopes on the market. Yes, it’s plastic, but it’s free and it really does not detract from the way your chosen optics are mounted – it works a treat.

Refined Controls and Safety

Let’s talk about some of the other major new improvements then – it’s not just the internals and new cylinder that have been overhauled. Weihrauch’s side-lever adds a touch of class to the HW100, and that’s helped by the way the lever is assisted. A gentle tweak sideways and the lever flies back on its own, just requiring the lightest pull backwards to cock the action and a gentle slide forward to engage the pellet probe and load the rifle.

This new HW100 X model comes with a drop-down biathlon style grip supplied in the box but not fitted. They’ve left it up to you to decide if you’d rather have a more sleek and slender, simple lever instead. If you want to add the drop-down handle, it’s a simple Allen screw assembly. This is fixed for right-handed use and cannot be swapped over.

Once cocked, you can operate the manual safety lever, which has also had an overhaul – it’s now ambidextrous and can be operated from both the left and right sides. Push forward to “Fire” and pull back once the rifle is cocked to “Safe”.

The HW100 X also comes with a Weihrauch high efficiency silencer fitted too, which has also built a reputation as being one of the quietest units available for airguns.

Stability and Adjustability

The 410mm-long barrel on this full-length sporter features assisted stability via the barrel band/cylinder retention block. It’s as solid as they come. With an overall length of 1,060mm and weighing just 3.48kg or 7.67lbs (unscoped), this is one of the lightest full-length rifles that Weihrauch has ever produced.

More key features added to the HW100 X model include all-round adjustability for perfect gun fit. The new adjustable cheekpiece is one of the easiest to adjust and solid units I’ve come across. No, it’s not a “soft touch” material that will go all “sticky” after a couple of years. It’s a solid piece of wood that has been painted black.

A simple push button operation allows you to manoeuvre the cheekpiece to the exact height required for perfect scope/ eye alignment. The increments of adjustment are minute, but noticeable. I stopped counting at 12 increments, there’s a lot to play with here. Likewise, the new ventilated buttpad is also adjustable for height, but that requires the use of the supplied Allen key in order to adjust it.

You get two magazines of the robust metal casting variety supplied with this HW100 X, and these are very easy to fill. Nothing has changed here – if it ain’t broke, don’t try and fix it.

With a pellet pushed flush into each chamber, pull back the sidelever, locate the magazine into its slot within the action, push the magazine retaining catch forwards, and all is ready to go. If the catch won’t engage, just gently rotate the magazine and it will all quickly find its home and lock in place.

Precision Shooting Performance

There really is a subtlety and slickness to the shooting experience that gives the HW100 X a unique feel. Weihrauch’s multi-shot magazine system works perfectly, and that’s a credit to the design team who obviously got it right from the word go.

The two-stage match-grade trigger is fully adjustable and one of the sweetest units around. Right out of the box it has a relatively short first stage that comes to a noticeable halt, and a hair-like second stage that requires next to no pressure to release, with absolutely zero creep detected.

Down on the range I was putting pellet on pellet with the .22 rifle sent to me for review, which as many of you who read my reviews is not my favourite calibre. When I pushed it out to 40+ metres I was still hitting fingernail-sized groups, which fills me with confidence to say that this new regulator and cylinder system is an absolute winner.

Conclusion

This beautiful new airgun is lighter, has improved shot count and is even more consistent than its predecessors. It’s everything you need in a hunting rifle, or a range gun, and I suspect that a fair few competition shooters will be jumping on this too. Either way, it should be right near the top of your wish list, and it serves as a reminder of why the HW100, in all its many guises, remains a firm favourite with so many airgunners all around the world.

HW100 X

Feature

Manufacturer: Weihrauch Sport

Type: Pre-charged, multi-shot

Max fill pressure: 250 bar

Stock: Ambidextrous laminate

Trigger: Two-stage adjustable

Calibre: .177 and .22

Overall length: 1060mm

Weight: 3.48kg

Shot Count: 210 (.177) / 250 (.22)

RRP: £1,440 (Sporter) / £1,320 (Karbine)