Written by Nigel Allen.
Pictures are property of Air Gunner magazine.
Published under permission of Archant Specialist.

LA TRADUZIONE IN INTALIANO E' IN CORSO ...
TRANSLATION TO ITALIAN LANGUAGE IS UNDERGOING ...

The new Weihrauch HW100K – a morecompact version of this German gunmaker'sbest-selling, inaugural PCP model.

GETTING LOCKED & LOADED THE WEIHRAUCH HW 100 K

The Weihrauch name commands massive respect within airgun circles – a respect forged many decades ago, when this world-famous German gunmaker began to produce air rifles with a quality of design and build that put them firmly in the ‘serious guns' league.
My own respect for Weihrauch is slightly more recent than that – but not much! – dating back to the late Seventies when I graduated to the classic W35 breakbarrel.
Since then, I've owned many ‘HW' models, including a massively customised HW80 and an HW77 underlever, tuned-up for field target competition work. In the late Eighties, the all-conquering HW77 totally dominated the field target scene and like almost everyone else, I campaigned behind a tricked-out 77!
Since then, Weihrauch have launched a succession of models all bearing the ‘HW' prefix – every one built to the same solid standards that typify the marque. This month's test subject maintains that tradition.
The HW100K – the ‘K' suffix denotes it's a shorter-modelled Carbine, or Karbine in German – is a compact version of Weihrauch's first venture into the precharged pneumatic market. Since its launch just a couple of years back, the HW100 has sold as fast as Weihrauch could produce it. Its combination of near-foolproof, auto-load format, recoilless accuracy, precision trigger and that renowned Weihrauch build quality, proved what most of us already knew: Weihrauch rarely get it wrong when it comes to making airguns!
To satisfy demand, the new HW100 has seen the introduction of a Sporter version to complement the original thumbhole model. Just as significantly, Weihrauch has responded to customer input and carried out a series of upgrades to various components. (And just as typically, Messers Weihrauch and co. have kept the exact details of those ugrades to themselves!).
One thing's for certain, though; every one of the latest ‘tweaks' can be found on the new HW100K, including a dual-option charging system and that new compact format, of course. Performance-wise, apart from a reduced number of shots-per-charge, this ‘mini-100' has everything that shot its bigger brothers to the top of the best-seller charts, plus its own style of handling.
I've been testing the new .22 calibre Karbine – UK official importers tell me a .177 is ‘on the cards' – for well over a month now, and to get the full picture of it, I've started from scratch by evaluating each of its features as though it's the first time I've tested an HW100. This way, I'm judging the new 100K as a whole, rather than as a variation of an existing rifle.
So, let's go over a few of the HW100K's many top features before we give it an extended run-out on the firing line over the page…

SIDELEVER COCKING

‘ERGONOMICS' IS the catch-all description covering how well something works with its human operator. It's a vital science for the airgunmaker and Weihrauch have scored maximum ‘ergo points' with the HW100K's sidelever cocking/loading system.
The lever itself is large enough to locate by touch alone and it folds neatly on closing, offering little chance of snagging on twigs or undergrowth in the hunting field.
It takes little effort to operate it, thanks to the spring-assisted opening and efficient design, and I soon developed the back-forth hand ‘flick' required to smoothly cycle the rifle's auto-load action.
With cold weather on approach, it was reassuring to note how user-friendly the Weihrauch's sidelever is when wearing gloves – plus, when opened, it offers full access for cleaning or lubrication of the pivot points. Top marks.

NEW QUICK-FILL CHARGING

THE HW100's charging system was certainly my main criticism of the original rifle's design; this new quick-fill is a major improvement.
Previously, the rifle's stainless steel air cylinder had to be unscrewed and attached to a pump or diver's tank, but the new rifle's push-fit probe connecter simply plugs into an inlet valve at the front of the cylinder and charges it in situ.
Weihrauch have even retained the on-board pressure gauge and supplied a blanking plug to keep the system free of contamination. Nice one.

SILENCER

THE SCREW-ON silencer supplied with therifle is one of the lightest and mosteffective on the market – and while itwasn't developed specially for this model,I can't think of a moderator that wouldbetter suit the 100K.The Weihrauch Silencer's inner baffleis jokingly referred to as a ‘hair curler' – butit does its job so well, I think it's thedesigners who have the last laugh.

HW TRIGGER

14-SHOT MAGAZINE

PART OF what makes the HW100K's autoload system one of the very best available isthe fact that its magazine is so user-friendly.At 37 mm. diameter and just under 10 mm.thick, this removable, pellet-carrying ‘wheel'pretty much epitomises the whole rifle.Its size makes it a fumble-proof feature –great when lamping – while its total lack ofsprings or anything else mechanical meansthere's nothing to go wrong with it.Driven by a sturdy gear mechanismand securely held by a sliding latch-pin,this magazine is near-perfect and you gettwo with each rifle! If you want to gosingle-shot, Weihrauch also make a onepellet carrier option.

REMOVABLE CYLINDER

THERE MAY well be times during a hunting trip or extended training session when you need extra firepower. Shortof carrying a pump or returning to the car, the only viable option is tocarry a spare, ready-charged air reservoir. The reservoir on the 100Kis not only removable, it's small enough to carry in your kit bag.Weihrauch claim 70, full-power shots per charge – but my testmodel returned 90 before the power dropped below 11 ft. lbs. That'senough for just the one cylinder – but it's good to know you have areservoir-swap option if you need it.

NIGEL ALLEN assesses the down-range performance of the WEIHRAUCH HW100K