hw30 or diana 24

[cfraser]

Starlings can be killed with any airgun IME. If they're not on the ground, any hit and the resulting fall will likely kill them, it doesn't take much. Similar for any small bird with a body/head hit. Basically the limitation is your aiming ability.

[TCooper]

what about starlings? how far are you talking about when u say close range?

I would try to keep shots to 15 yards. Precision hits on grouse are not easy and the desired target area is not very big (head/neck/spine). If you start lobbing pellets passed 20 yards you will likely hit breast meat and watch the bird fly away.

I don't bother with starlings. It would take too many to make a decent meal.

Todd

[cfraser]

Thing about starlings is they're a nuisance bird, and so are generally considered fair game for removal, though depending where you are use of your airgun for that may not be allowed by bylaw. We used to have a big starling problem around here. Notice I said "used to". Starlings are very smart and they remember stuff quite well, like where not to go for instance.

You said you wanted the gun for plinking, besides target shooting. Plinking has a different meaning to different people, but for me it is "shooting at things". By things I mean cans, bottles, boxes, wood, junk...pretty much anything that will "break" and makes a decent target before going in the recycling bin.

For an idea of power, yesterday I did the "soup can test". Used Gamo Master Points, not because they're great but because I want to use them up. From 10m, all .22. 2289 with 10 pumps penetrated one side. HW30S penetrated one side too, greatly distorted the far side and really scrunched the pellet. 2250 (converted from 2240) ripped through both sides of the can and basically ruined it. Maybe this will help you judge what kind of power we're talking, based on your own guns. So the 30S seems to have the damage potential in the ballpark of the 2289. I have killed plenty of starlings with my 1322, and it's not nearly as powerful as the 2289 but much more convenient and quick to pump.

As mentioned I've only had the 30S for a few days. It's a pussycat right out of the box, and that trigger is quite wonderful after that Crosman crap, except for the Mark I's. This is a light and easy to point/hold/aim rifle. This rifle is almost as effortless to use as a CO2 gun, so should make a decent plinker without that temp variability. Only thing I miss is sling swivels, something I'll investigate later, my slip on slings don't work that well with this rifle for some reason.

[hitman]

ok Ive decided for sure to get the hw30 from Illingworth Imports and i was wondering if i should order some 22. pellets for it or just use the crosman waddcutters from CT. i was looking at the the diabolo exact pellets in the bulk. what should i do?

[ETA]

ok Ive decided for sure to get the hw30 from Illingworth Imports and i was wondering if i should order some 22. pellets for it or just use the crosman waddcutters from CT. i was looking at the the diabolo exact pellets in the bulk. what should i do?

Forget the Crosman wadcutters and get the JSB Exacts 5.52mm.
They end up just a tad more expensive, but way better pellets.

[cfraser]

Agree about the JSB Exacts, I love the JSB pellets, so nicely made and work real well in my guns. I only use the Crosman wadcutters for sighting in and setting up, but they are awfully cheap if bought at the right place ($6/500), and they are not BAD per se, plenty worse, just not GREAT. At least they don't come black and scrunched up like some...

I would suggest trying tins of different types from D&L first. So then you can make your own decision. Though you can't go wrong with 2500 Exacts (i.e. bulk), they are no cheaper at Illingworth in bulk than buying single tins of 250 at D&L. Get some pointed, and for "special occasions", some Predators. And different brands. Don't forget Beeman. I forget which brand it is I have, but they have some pointed pellets that cut much nicer holes in paper targets than wadcutters or Exacts. Shipping of several tins of pellets from D&L is only a few bucks.

Illingworth will put together a mixed sleeve of pellets, but they don't have very many .22 types to mix.

[TCooper]

Since you are ordering the HW30S from Illingworth you might as well get some pellets in the same order (cheaper shipping). You can get some JSB Exacts, JSB Jumbo wadcutters, JSB Straton, H&N Field & Target Trophy, and H&N Hollowpoints. A tin or two of each should keep you shooting and testing for a while. The H&N FTT is what Beeman called their FTS. The H&N Hollowpoint is what Beeman calls their Silver Bear.

http://my.tbaytel.net/~coopers@tbaytel. ... %20Pellet/

Also try some RWS Meisters, RWS Super-H-Points and RWS Hobby.

Todd

[cfraser]

IMO the only reason to order the gun and pellets together is for saving a trip to the post office. I will not criticise why a company has the policies they do, there are usually good reasons. I got my gun and pellets from different places. You figure out who ships by a "premium" method where you pay for every gram of dead lead...understandable for a gun. Don't forget, I'm the cheap bastard and proud of it! You will understand what I mean when you get your gun and check the shipping.

[hitman]

another thing if i were to get a scope would it have to be made for an air gun? does the hw30 have much recoil or would it be fine with any scope. thanks for all the info guys!

[cfraser]

Yeah, I'd like to know too! Especially for guns in this class. You'd think a regular scope would probably work OK, even without a stop. But I read that steeb broke the exact scope I was thinking of, though he thinks it was because of the more powerful gun??

It may just be me, but in my not-too-bright indoor range light the iron sights seem a bit hard to see, they are fine outside. Why I was thinking of a scope. I have not tried changing the sight notch/inserts from what was pre-installed, maybe a bigger notch and post would help a bit.

[Steeb]

Yeah, I'd like to know too! Especially for guns in this class. You'd think a regular scope would probably work OK, even without a stop. But I read that steeb broke the exact scope I was thinking of, though he thinks it was because of the more powerful gun??

It may just be me, but in my not-too-bright indoor range light the iron sights seem a bit hard to see, they are fine outside. Why I was thinking of a scope. I have not tried changing the sight notch/inserts from what was pre-installed, maybe a bigger notch and post would help a bit.

I think that the fitco scope would hold up well on a hw30 or diana24. Dont forget that i had it mounted on the "Beast". The "Beast" is known to eat scopes for breakfast. The 2-7x32 was mounted on my 630 with about 4 tins of pellets on it with absolutely no problems. It all went down hill after the "Beast" became hungry.

[cfraser]

Thanks Steeb. Good. That FITCO model seemed the best matched of their offerings for this rifle, at ranges that are reasonable for it (I think). I wanted some low scope power for indoor shooting, and something that will focus well at 10m (as you know, many rifle scopes don't seem to do it well).

Do you think my comments about the HW30 open sights is just me? Are they noted to be a bit tough to use in non-daylight-like lighting? I do wear shooting glasses inside JIC, so that doesn't help visibility in my case.

hitman: recoil is so low that I didn't even notice it, so had to go and check to make sure. It's really not worth talking about.

[TCooper]

Thanks Steeb. Good. That FITCO model seemed the best matched of their offerings for this rifle, at ranges that are reasonable for it (I think). I wanted some low scope power for indoor shooting, and something that will focus well at 10m (as you know, many rifle scopes don't seem to do it well).

Do you think my comments about the HW30 open sights is just me? Are they noted to be a bit tough to use in non-daylight-like lighting? I do wear shooting glasses inside JIC, so that doesn't help visibility in my case.

hitman: recoil is so low that I didn't even notice it, so had to go and check to make sure. It's really not worth talking about.

Hi cfraser,

I used a Bushnell Sportsman 3-9X on my HW30S (model 72-0039). I think this scope is around $85-$90 at LeBaron. At 3 power you have your low magnification. At 9X you can reach out to 40 yards in the summer. I used 9X for everything from offhand to bench shooting.

Pics at my review http://my.tbaytel.net/coopers

Yah, I find all open sights are difficult with poor lighting. That's what happens when we get old.

HTH,
Todd

[TCooper]

Hi Cfraser,

The shipping on my HW30S with 5000 JSB pellets and a big hardshell case was $30 from Sask to Northern Ontario. The Canada Post sticker was the price I was charged by Illingworth.

Shipping gets insane when you order a few tins of pellets. Canada Post is the reason. They charge close to the same for 3-4 tins or 10 tins. You can do the calculations at the Canada Post web site. For shipping economy it's best to order 10 or more tins at once. A short time after buying my HW30S I ordered another 20 tins of 4.52mm JSB Exacts and shipping was reasonable. Illingworth charged me what was on the shipping label from Canada Post.

Todd

[cfraser]

Hmmm, I got charged a premium above the CP label. More than you got charged (to Toronto area) and I just had the gun. A new policy? A mistake? Just me? New CP charges? I was rather surprised when told how much they were charging for shipping, but of course couldn't check until after I saw the stamp. Was kinda disappointed in that, but no big deal for a one-time thing. As compared to D&L where stamp matched charge more or less. Not that I think good packing for a gun isn't worth something, but it sure wasn't "expedited" shipping as quoted as it took way longer than any of those methods do and I didn't even want "expedited" but had no choice...(I think they charged me expedited rates but didn't send it that way, and I may be projecting that experience onto other purchases incorrectly).

Anyway, I'm just saying that D&L charges the same for pellets and you don't have to buy in sleeve lots, and their shipping is reasonable, so someone shouldn't be afraid to order a bunch of tins from them as they have a fair selection in.22 Spread the wealth around, the more suppliers the better.