(This article) Weihrauch HW45 Airpistol
Other airgun articles By Todd Cooper . . Click on this line to open other articles.
                        

The time finally came for the purchase of a Beeman P-1 airpistol. After owning and shooting many Webley springer airpistols I now wanted to try the famous  P-1. I located a Weihrauch dealer in Canada who stocked the .22 caliber HW45 (aka P-1) so I ordered one. A week later it was in my hands. The .22 caliber version is rated below 500fps so it is not classed as a restricted firearm in Canada. The velocity rating from Weihrauch states 130m/s which converts to 426fps. No pellet weight is mentioned with this rating. The HW45 measures 11" from the muzzle to the end of the hammer spur (barrel latch). The weight is 2lbs 8.8oz according to my digital postal scale. The grips are slab sides and appear to be walnut.  The P-1  shows close resemblance to the Colt 1911 frame.  Cocking the HW45 is similar to the Webley Tempest except the barrel is housed in the upper frame. It is still an over-lever design like the Webley. Cocking effort is a bit stiff but I have no trouble shooting 60 or more pellets in a session. The trigger on the HW45 is a two stage design that is adjustable for weight. I have not yet tinkered with the trigger on my gun but it feels crisp and acceptable. The data from the factory states a 28oz adjusted pull weight, out of the box. This seems about right.

Testing the velocity with the HW45 was an easy task but accuracy testing was a bit of a challenge. Many springer pistols don't perform well when shot off a sandbag rest so I originally avoided this after an initial trial. I found that resting my forearms on a firm pillow and letting the pistol sit only in my hands worked okay. This technique does not give a totally clear indication of top accuracy potential but it's better than unsupported offhand shooting. I also did plenty of unsupported offhand shooting to get an idea of the shootability of this gun. Ergonomics, balance, recoil, trigger feel, and shootability can all be evaluated through offhand shooting. This type of shooting will show how the gun functions without the aid of a rest.


The first 5 shots from this new pistol were definitely dieseling and were accompanied by the familiar burnt oil smell and loud noise upon firing. This is expected from a new springer airgun with excess oils creating too much fuel. By the 25th shot the gun was producing consistent velocity readings with close spreads within shot strings. Energy output at this point was 6.05 to 6.20 foot-pounds with various pellet types. 

The fastest pellet tested was the 11.9gr RWS Hobby with an average velocity of 482fps. The 13.9gr Meisterkugeln was pushed out at 448fps which produced 6.20 ftlbs.
 
A sample velocity series during the first few tests would go something like this: 429, 422, 419, 430, 432fps (15gr FTS pellets). After approximately 250 pellets my .22 caliber HW45 seems to have settled down to a constant velocity output. A slight velocity drop happened after about 100 pellets and seemed to stay at this level. Energy output is now 5.6 to 5.8ftlbs. The Hobby pellet now averages 461fps and the Meisterkugeln does 433fps. A sample velocity with FTS pellets would be: 419, 416, 414, 413, 417fps.  The gun lost about 5% energy which is nothing to really cry about. With a future moly lube treatment I may even get this power back again.

Velocity averages are now as follows:
RWS Hobby (11.9gr) ------------- 461fps
RWS Meisterkugeln (13.9gr) - 433fps
Crosman WC(14.3gr) ------------ 428fps
Beeman FTS (15gr) -------------- 416fps  

I have put over 300 pellets through the HW45 and velocity is still stable. Waxed pellets (Pledge polish) have been used for the last couple of shooting sessions and accuracy is about the same. Before I last put the gun down I shot a few more FTS pellets through the chronograph and obtained the following: 416, 423, 416 423, 417fps (Ave= 419fps, 5.85ftlbs).
    

For accuracy testing I did some offhand shooting using an isosceles stance and also some with my forearms supported by a padded rest.

Testing a recoilling springer pistol can be a bit difficult because the groups can be erratic if the gun contacts any firm surface during the firing cycle. Freely holding the pistol seemed to give best results. These results are subject to my sighting error and shooting ability and are not nearly as precise as a clamped style or sandbag rest which can be used with other types of airpistols. In any case the results do show accuracy tendencies and shootability of the gun. After testing is completed it is the shootability that really counts and offhand shooting shows this tendency.

Offhand shooting with the HW45 was performed with a moderate/light grip pressure. The gun was allowed to recoil freely. I found a good follow-through was important for tight groups.

My first offhand group was 10 shots with FTS pellets which formed a cluster measuring 1.5"ctc at the standard 10 meter distance. Two more offhand groups of five shots each with FTS pellets both produced nice 1.25"ctc groups. No bad for my ability. I shot another five shot group using RWS Hobby pellets and it was my best at slightly over 1"ctc.

Next I used a pad rest to support my forearms while I shot a few more 5 shot groups at 10 meters. The Beeman FTS pellets made a nice 3/4"ctc group and Crosman WCs went into 1"ctc. With the RWS Meisterkugelns and CZ Boxer pellets I pulled one shot in each 5 shot group. To make sure it was just me, I shot a 6th pellet which went right into the main group cluster both times. With the 5 good pellets counting the Meisters and Boxers shot 7/8" and 3/4"ctc respectively.

The best rested 5 shot group of the day went to the RWS Hobby pellet. A beautiful 9/16"ctc group that could be covered by a quarter.

Overall I feel the HW45 is an accurate springer pistol. With an optical sight and a better shooter this gun should be capable of consistent cloverleaf groups at 10 meters.
 
The next testing day I shot a bunch more offhand groups with the HW45. I am amazed at how easy this springer pistol  is to shoot at 10 meters, compared to the many Webley's I have owned. All groups were measured with a ruler for center-to-center group size. All groups were shot offhand with a two hand isosceles hold.

Beeman FTS -- 5 shot group --- 1"ctc
Beeman FTS - 10 shot groups - 1 1/4", 1 1/4", 1 3/8", 1 3/8", 1 5/16", 1 3/8", 1 1/4"ctc
CZ Boxer --------10 shots ----------- 2"ctc
Crosman WC - 10 shots ----------- 1 5/8"ctc
H&N Match ---- 10 shots ----------- 1 1/4"ctc

  My final test was offhand shooting but at longer distances. I measured off 10,15,20 and 30 yards with my tape and tin cans were placed at these distances. The 10oz Campbells soup cans at 10&15 yards, the 14oz Heinz bean cans at 20 yards and the 28oz tomato cans at 30 yards.
Approximate tin can sizes are as follows:

10oz Campbells soup can - 2.5"Dia x 4"H
14oz Heintz bean can --------3"Dia x 4.5"H
28oz Tomato can -------------- 4"Dia x 4.5"H

All shooting today was offhand with an isosceles stance, a light grip, and Beeman FTS pellets. No rest was used.
At 10 yards the 5 small Campbells soup cans toppled with no misses. This performance was easily repeated before moving to 15 yards.

At 15 yards I nailed 4/5 the first time and 5/5 the second time. The soup cans toppled and sometimes rolled back 2 yards when hit. Penetration at 10&15 yards was through both sides of the can.

At 20 yards I hit 5/5 Heinz bean cans and I repeated this again with the same results. All cans flipped over. With 3 of these cans the pellet went through both sides. With 2 cans the pellet went through one side.

At 30 yards I hit 3/5 tomato cans on the first try. I repeated this again. At the end of the day I hit 5/5 at 30 yards. The can will sometimes fall at this distance but not always. There was always a big dent and sometimes the pellet rips a slot in one side of the can.

Next I pulled out the Beeman P-3 (aka HW40) for comparison. With this single stroke pneumatic pistol I used lubed CPL pellets. The same cans were used at the same distances.
At 15 yards I hit 5/5 soup cans. All cans fell over with satisfying results.
At 20 yards I hit 5/5 bean cans. All cans flopped over but didn't move much.
At 30 yards I hit 4/5 tomato cans. I shot a 6th pellet and hit the can. Only one can flopped over and the rest didn't move when hit. A satisfying "tink" sound can be heard to indicate a hit. When shooting at 30 yards I can see the pellet from about 25 yards onwards as is connects the can. The recoilless behavior of the P-3 makes this possible.

When shooting these two fine air pistols I do not use holdover. The guns are sighted in for 10 meters. At 10 and 20 yards I hold on the can. At 30 yards I expose more of the front sight blade above the rear notch. This allows me to aim at the can at all times. It works for me.  


Testing the HW45 in a machine type rest is a difficult process do to the cocking cycle and the pistol's recoil. I decided to give it a try even though the results will not likely be 100% perfect. During this test I removed the grip panels and clamped the HW45 into a Black and Decker Workmate. For every shot the gun was removed and cocked and then returned to the clamped position. Care was taken to re-align the 9 power Bushnell Sportsman scope for every shot. All groups were 5 shots each and measured center-to-center with a ruler and recorded to the nearest sixteenth of an inch. The averages were converted to decimal for ease of comparison. I ran out of Hobby pellets so I could not shoot 4 groups with them.

  --10 Meter Accuracy--
Beeman FTS -------------11/16, 1/2, 3/8, 9/16         AVE = .53"
RWS Hobby -------------- 5/8", 5/8", 5/8"                AVE = .63"
RWS Meisterkugeln - 5/8" , 3/4", 3/4", 1/2"   . . AVE = .66"
Beeman Trophy ------- 1", 3/4", 3/4", 5/8"           AVE = .78"
Gamo Match -------------1 1/16", 9/16", 1", 1 3/8"  AVE = 1"

  --20 Yard Accuracy--
RWS Meisterkugeln ---7/8", 1 1/8", 1 5/8" --------- AVE = 1.20"
Beeman FTS - -----------1 3/4", 1 3/4" , 7/8", 7/8"  AVE = 1.31"  

There was an annoying wind present when the 20 yard shooting was performed which may have effected the group sizes a bit. Overall I think the HW45 is likely capable of a bit less than 1/2" groups at 10 meters (5 shot) and close to 1" groups at 20 yards, if a better vise was used. The Workmate is not the most stable system to use but it's all I have.  


I believe Beeman advertises .30"ctc 3 shot group accuracy for the .177 caliber P-1 and .31" for the .20 caliber. My groups are 5 shots each but I have had some nice cloverleaf 3 shot groups before completing my full 5 shots. I just found out the 18th edition of Beeman's catalogue has the .22 caliber P-1 listed along with the data. Apparently the accuracy is rated at .40"ctc (at 10m) and muzzle velocity is 450fps.  My HW45 seems to be shooting perfect at 471fps with 11.9gr Hobby pellets. We all know Beeman uses the lightest pellet for their velocity testing. My average accuracy with the favoured pellet is .53" for 5 shot groups at 10 meters. Beeman uses 3 shot groups at the same distance. My accuracy seems about the same as that found by Beeman. Overall I found this particular HW45 to be very comparable to the data Beeman has printed.  With a tune this pistol might even perform better. It is currently in unaltered factory form. 

 
After all my group testing was completed I set up my chonograph and ran a few pellets. This HW45 has now been through the break-in period (600+ pellets) and velocity seems to have stabilized and has not changed in the last 250 pellets. The following results were recorded:

Beeman FTS (15gr)-- 435, 430, 427   AVE= 431fps  (Energy = 6.19ftlbs)
RWS Hobby (11.9gr)- 472, 472, 470   AVE= 471fps  (Energy = 5.86ftlbs)  

.........

A friend of mine purchased a new HW45 (aka Beeman P-1) with a .177 caliber barrel. I had the opportunity to test his pistol along side of my .22 caliber of the same make. Here are the results obtained using the same chronograph. 

_HW45 VELOCITIES (.177 cal)
Crosman Premier (7.9gr) - 537, 539, 538, 542, 536--------AVE= 538 fps,  E= 5.08 ftlbs
H&N Finale Match (7.7gr) - 569, 572, 570, 567, 568--------AVE= 569 fps,  E= 5.54 ftlbs
Beeman Crow Mag (8.8gr) - 513, 508, 505, 500, 507------AVE= 507 fps,  E= 5.02 ftlbs
RWS Meisterkugeln (8.3gr) - 547, 533, 540, 537, 534-----AVE= 538 fps,  E= 5.34 ftlbs
RWS Geco (6.8gr) - 593, 593, 585, 591, 591-------------------AVE= 591 fps,  E= 5.28 ftlbs
RWS Superpoint (7.9gr) - 545, 555, 549, 548, 552----------AVE= 550 fps,  E= 5.31 ftlbs
H&N Silverpoint (11.5gr) - 447, 460, 456, 447, 459---------AVE= 454 fps,  E= 5.26 ftlbs
Ruko Mag II (8.3gr) - 526, 521, 536, 532, 525-----------------AVE= 528 fps,  E= 5.14 ftlbs  

  HW45 VELOCITIES (.22 cal)
Crosman Premier (14.3gr) - 397, 404, 396, 396, 393------AVE= 397 fps,  E= 5.01 ftlbs
Beeman FTS (15.0gr) - 426, 428, 425, 425, 425-------------AVE= 426 fps,  E= 6.05 ftlbs
Beeman Trophy (14.0gr) - 430, 433, 428, 430, 425--------AVE= 429 fps,  E= 5.72 ftlbs
RWS Hobby (11.9gr)- 472, 472, 470------------------------------AVE= 471 fps,  E= 5.86 ftlbs
H&N Match (13.75gr) - 439, 439, 443, 449, 445--------------AVE= 443 fps,  E= 5.99 ftlbs
Gamo Match (14.3gr) - 440, 436, 430, 432, 432-------------AVE= 434 fps,  E= 5.98 ftlbs
RWS Meisterkugeln (13.9gr) - 439, 438, 436, 433, 440--AVE= 437 fps,  E= 5.90 ftlbs
CZ Boxer (13.9gr) - 433, 432, 433, 434, 436------------------AVE= 434 fps,  E= 5.82 ftlbs  

Notes: I did not have enough .22 Hobby pellets to test 5 shots.
         - the .22 cal CPs were a very loose fit which may be the cause of the low velocity
         - the .177 cal CPs were a snug fit.

 Later, Todd Cooper