I would also recommend Krale. They offer several different HW97 variants, some of which have a 16 joule option, which works out to 11.8 ftlb, assuming for the UK market. Their shipping from Europe is prompt and reasonable.
Purchased an HW98 from Krale last Fall - gun arrived safely with no damage in 5 business days but feel it could have have been packed more securely. I would probably buy again from Krale.
Check out youtube - replacing a spring is not complicated and usually needed in a new HW to get rid of twang.
I'm little hesitant about buying from Krale, just because of the "what if something goes wrong' factor. I think there's a "licenced" HW tech a couple hours from me in Pennsylvania. Im assuming that any actual warranty issues could be taken care of locally. I'll find their phone number and give a call. If AoA is the only dealer I don't have be concerned about undercutting any one local.
@bark_eater I’ve bought several rifles from Krale over the years with no issues.
You can also buy a full power rifle and add a TBT or Vortek kit to bring down to 12 ft. lbs.
I contacted Krale and they do not stock the Black Line STL with the 16j spring. Is there another certified technician besides AOA in the states? Id rather not drop another $250 on a full tune initially. How deep is it to find and just swap in a lower power spring? I've seen a few references to worn pivot points on these guns, so I don't see any benefit to having a heavy spring for the break in period.
Working on HW-97's is not as easy as working on other spring-piston airguns. But it is not impossible.
A good initial / first step is to simply install a Vortek kit:
There are several Youtube videos about how to disassemble these rifles, choose the one that seems best to you.
If you want to get it done professionally, you are probably better off having Krale ship the gun to the tuner (who, most likely, already has a good relationship with them and can spot a problem and deal with it even before it gets to your hands), and then specifying what you want to do with the gun. It is clear that you want to shoot sub-12 ft-lbs, but that still COULD mean you are planning to shoot AAFTA Hunter Piston.
Paying about $250 for receiving the gun, checking it out and then replaceing the full power OEM spring for the Vortek kit would be money well spent IMHO because of the time it will save you. Now, if you have all the time in the world, then by all means attempt it yourself. It is not rocket science, but it is akin to high level automotive work (think Mercedes/Audi/Porsche).
BTW, this is still cheaper than the $974 that AoA wants for the Black line Silver with the "Super Tune", or the $911 for the "all Black". . . . just sayin'
Keep well, keep us posted and shoot straight!
HM
Hi Hector, I'm still intending to do some Hunter class shooting. My last run at it, I was dialing in a Daisy 953 with a 12x mildot. I collected sticks a bucket and 4 targets, and was getting pretty good results out to 35 yards. Unfortunately the daisy started acting up and after a number of tear downs I still couldn't get enough consistency back to feel like I could determine technique from luck.. I'm kind of on the fence about picking up the HW97k if I cant get one with a factory 12 ft lb spring. I think that power level is suited to the scale of my yard and range set up. Thanks for the idea of shipping directly to an air gun smith. Woody
Woody;
Forgive me for what I am about to write, but now you are not making any sense.
If you want to shoot AAFTA Hunter Piston, then get the H97 as is, shoot it and ONLY if you find it inconsistent, or inaccurate, get inside.
Otherwise, ¿why bother?
This is taken from a blog entry that was published today:
...
" Is power in a spring-piston airgun "evil" in itself?
Hmmmm . . . . Nope!
It all depends on the platform and the purpose.
In previous occasions I have mentioned that the laws and rules that came into effect in the UK of GB and NI in 1968-1969 were drafted by persons that actually knew something about pellets, airguns, and ballistics.
If you factor in the average pellet weight of the era and the MV's most conducive to proper stability, precision, and accuracy you will find that 12 ft-lbs is a REALLY good number.
Perhaps we should say "WAS".
Why? because in the last 57 years, the art and science of making pellets has taken large strides, and nowadays, the medium weight pellets (between 8 and 9½ grs in 0.177" / 4.5 mm's), can now travel excellently well at 875-900 fps, and that is about 14½ ft-lbs. Which, perhaps not unexpectedly, is the point where most AAFTA Open Piston and Hunter Piston shooters tune to.
Still, the International Version of FT clings to the 12 ft-lbs and that makes it an interesting game where marksmanship skills play an all important role. Yes, guns, and especially scopes, play an extremely important role, but at sub-12 ft-lbs, it is the marksmanship skills of each shooter what takes the day.
ALSO, nowadays we have "bigger" pellets. I remember when the JSB Exact "Heavies" came onto the market. They had a long "waist" to achieve the 10.3 grs. weight, The Crosman Premiers of the day, had an almost solid skirt, sealing at the head and just taking the skirt for the ride. These Premier (Heavies) scaled in at 10.5 and the Barakuda Match came in at 10.6 grs.
Later, the JSB H's went through a re-design that made them approach a slug because it has no real "waist". Rather the head and the mini-skirt are linked by a "column". Of course, the pellets themselves being a "flange (not flare) stabilized" projectile do not actually NEED the skirt (as a shuttlecock would).
The end result is a pellet that has VERY good ballistic characteristics when compared to other, more "traditionally made" pellets."
...
The 12 ft-lbs limit is an artificial limit. IF and/or WHEN you need to change over, then you worry about it. Otherwise, just get the rifle you want.
AND, in any case, you will need to "run-in" that thing, so, just get it and start shooting!
Shooting at 12 ft-lbs is harder than shooting at 14, which is harder than shooting at 17½ in a standard "sporter" configuration. The difference in trajectory and wind drift are noticeable.
It is true that MOST shooters do not have the consistency to shoot a springer at much more than 13 ft-lbs, but that is not a question of the gun. AND it is something that has a simple fix: Practice!
AND, it is a simple fact of life that springs sag/set, especially factory springs. SO, if you get a gun that is yielding 14-15 ft-lbs, Just let it half cocked for a week and then try.
The "Strain Hardening/Tempering" will be of great benefit to the spring itself, and the power may come down to something that you enjoy shooting.
If you want to understand more about the inner lives of springs, read these two entries:
https://www.ctcustomairguns.com/hectors-airgun-blog/lets-talk-springs
https://www.ctcustomairguns.com/hectors-airgun-blog/lets-talk-springs-ii-geometry
You may be looking for a solution to a problem that is not even there.
Again, apologies for being P.I. (Politically Incorrect).
😉
HTH, keep well and shoot straight!
HM
Hi Hector, my core air gun assumptions were set in the mid 80's by reading Beeman catalogs and a dog eared Air Gun Digest. One of those holdovers is the idea that a relatively heavy airgun with a lighter 12 ft lb spring will be less hold sensitive and a milder shot cycle.
I've been intrigued by the idea of Hunter Field target for 20 years, but only recently discovered that I was confusing British HFT class rules with the USFTA Hunter class.
If you're telling me that there's not a significant difference shooting a 12 ft lb gun and a 14 ft lb gun and that it's an unnecessary handicap for Hunter class, I'll take your word for it.
I didn't get a chance to dig into your articles on springs. I'll have to do that when I have some time to focus and not reading on a phone. You comment on half cocking a spring to break in and reduce a springs "strength" was interesting, and a possible reason why Airguns of Arizona would not do a 12 ft lb tune, because of having to do multiple adjustments until the spring settles into its average rate.
I really appreciate you taking the time to share your knowledge. Thanks, Woody
