I have a 48 and a 52 and a also have a OLD HW-35 with a barrel latch. This gun is my favorite and I was wondering if any outher manufactures make break barrel rifles with the latch? I would like to stay with RWS. Is a latch necessary to get a really solid barrel lock up?
Thank You.
The big HW 80 (R1) which is bigger than the HW 35, uses just a simple but effective barrel detent that has never given any problems as far as I know. A latch can give added security, but if the gun is well machined to start with, it is totally unnecessary IMO.
Diana use a ball detent to achieve good barrel lock-up. This too seems to work well AFAIK.
IIRC Anschutz used barrel latches in conjunction with their detents, on their airguns back in the 1980's.
I cant think of a modern air gun that has one, but you will not miss it if its not there.
They tended to over-build and engineer. My Barnett Spitfire (Webley Tracker) has a steel plug under the transfer port block (tap loader) that mates to a hole in the stock and acts as a recoil buffer. How many companies will try an idea like that?
Slavia airguns made by CZ still provide for a small locking screw that fits on the periphery of the main pivot bolt's head.
Diana/Original airguns used to have them as well IIRC.
Nice and perfectly functional touches to keep things aligned and snug.
HW achieve the same effect by having a locking dome-shaped nut on the threaded part of the pivot bolt.
Different companies do different things according to how they go about their machining processes. Some cost more than others to produce but like RF said, always nice to see such details.
