14-Aug-2026
Ask a room full of British airgunners to name the most dependable airgun brand on the market, and one German name will come up again and again: Weihrauch. For decades, the family firm from Mellrichstadt has built rifles that shrug off hard use, hold their value stubbornly on the second-hand market, and, thanks to the famous Rekord trigger, feel better to shoot than rifles costing half as much again.
The catch for buyers is that the range is broad and the model names are cryptic. HW35, HW80, HW95, HW97K, HW99, HW100, which one is actually right for you? This guide walks through the models you’ll most often find for sale in the UK and what each does best.
Why Weihrauch has such a loyal following
Three things explain the brand’s grip on British shooting. First, build quality: Weihrauchs are machined, blued, and stocked to a standard that makes them realistic multi-decade rifles; it’s common to see examples from the 1980s still shooting to their original standard. Second, the Rekord trigger, a genuinely great two-stage unit fitted to the spring-powered rifles, which gives a crisp, predictable release that flatters any shooter. Third, spare parts and tuning support: everything is available, and a whole cottage industry of UK tuners exists around the spring guns.
The practical upshot: buying a used Weihrauch is one of the safest purchases in airgunning, and you can browse the current selection on our Weihrauch listings page.
The spring-powered classics: HW35, HW80 and HW95/99
The HW35 is the elder statesman, in production for the better part of seventy years and still made today. It’s heavy, old-fashioned, and utterly charming, with an articulated cocking linkage and a locking barrel latch. Not the most powerful, but a beautiful thing to own and shoot, and a used example is a genuine keeper.
The HW80 is the full-power hunter of the breakout era, a big, solid break-barrel with the mass to deliver near-legal-limit power smoothly. If you want one springer to hunt with and don’t mind carrying some weight, this is the classic answer.
The HW95 (and its budget-friendly sibling, the HW99) is the modern sweet spot for most buyers: lighter than the HW80, easy to cock, more than accurate enough for rabbits and pigeons at sensible ranges. We’ve compared the pair in our HW95 vs HW99S review.
The underlever target of affection: HW97K
The HW97K is arguably the most famous recoiling target rifle in the world, a fixed-barrel underlever that dominated club hunter field target lines for years and remains the default recommendation for anyone who wants springer accuracy at its best. The fixed barrel and consistent lock-up reward good technique, and a tuned 97 is a genuinely lovely thing. Read our full HW97K review for the details.
Buy one if: you shoot targets, enjoy the discipline of spring-gun technique, and want a rifle you’ll never feel the need to upgrade.
The PCP flagship: HW100
The HW100 is Weihrauch’s precharged pneumatic and one of the most trusted PCPs ever sold in Britain. Sidelever action, 14-shot magazine, regulated in current versions, and famously consistent. It’s the rifle the HW faithful graduate to when they want PCP convenience without leaving the brand, and it’s the benchmark rivals get measured against, as in our Air Arms S510 vs HW100 comparison and our BSA R10 vs HW100 head-to-head.
On the used market, HW100s hold their price better than almost any other PCP, annoying when buying, reassuring once you own one.
Buying used: What to check
Weihrauchs wear well, but check the basics. On springers: look for a cracked stock at the wrist, test the trigger holds at full cock, listen for spring twang or graunching that suggests a tired mainspring (cheap to fix, but a bargaining point), and check the breech seal. On the HW100, confirm it holds air overnight, check the cylinder for corrosion, and ask when it was last serviced.
Because parts and tuning support are so good, even a tired example is rescuable; factor the cost of a service kit into your offer rather than walking away. For a fuller checklist, see our guide to buying and selling guns online in the UK.
Weihrauch vs the competition
How does the brand stack up against the other names you’ll see for sale? Against British rivals like BSA and Air Arms, the spring-powered Weihrauchs largely have the field to themselves these days; nobody else builds a comparable range of full-size springers. In PCPs, the contest is real: the Air Arms S510 and BSA R10 both undercut or match the HW100 on features, and the choice usually comes down to handling preference and which action you find nicer to cycle. The HW100’s trump card is its reputation for going years between services without complaint.
The honest summary: you rarely buy a Weihrauch because the spec sheet wins. You buy it because the rifle feels over-engineered in the best way, and because in ten years it will still be worth most of what you paid.
Which Weihrauch should you buy?
For hunting on a budget: HW95 in .22. For maximum springer power: HW80. For target shooting and pure shooting pleasure: HW97K. For a lifetime rifle with no compromises: HW100. For the collector or romantic: HW35. There is no bad answer here, which is precisely why the brand commands the loyalty it does.
FAQ
Do I need a licence to own a Weihrauch air rifle in the UK? Not for standard sub-12 ft·lb models in England and Wales, provided you’re 18 or over. FAC-rated versions require a firearms certificate, and all air rifles in Scotland require an air weapon certificate.
Are Weihrauch air rifles good for hunting? Yes, the HW80, HW95, and HW100 are among the most widely used hunting airguns in Britain. At legal-limit power, they’re well suited to rabbits, rats, and pigeons at sensible ranges with good shot placement.
Is the HW100 worth the money over a Springer? If you hunt regularly, the PCP’s lack of recoil and quick follow-up shots are a real advantage. If you mostly plink or shoot targets for pleasure, a 95 or 97 delivers most of the satisfaction for much less outlay.
Where are Weihrauch rifles made? In Mellrichstadt, Germany, where the family-owned firm has been manufacturing since the 1890s.
Browse Weihrauch rifles on Rightgun.uk
New or used, Springer or PCP, you’ll find a strong selection of Weihrauch air rifles for sale on Rightgun, listed by trusted private sellers and registered firearms dealers across the UK, alongside the full range of air guns for sale.
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