Weihrauch HW66 .22LR thumbhole

With the engineering you would expect, and the attention to detail that leaves nothing to chance, this is a perfect vermin gun, says Bruce Potts

Weihrauch is famed for its well-engineered range of air rifles, of which I am a bit of a collector. My first air rifle was an HW35, too.

Weihrauch has made a range of rimfires as well as full-bore rifles for decades and its rimfire rifles offer the same blend of old-world engineering and craftmanship combined with modern-day techniques to offer a superbly built and accurate rimfire rifle for vermin.

I have tested the HW60J about 10 years ago, but this time it is the turn of the HW66 thumbhole-stocked .22LR. It exudes quality and you just want to pick it up, handle it, and get out in the woods after rabbits. The all-blued steel action and barrel give a traditional feel that is complemented by a walnut stock with pretty radical thumbhole design for practicality rather than looks. Add to this a match-quality trigger and detachable magazine system and you have a lovely little vermin gun.

Action

This is a very well-engineered action design of tubular steel and is large enough to accommodate a .222 centrefire cartridge. It is strong and over-engineered, as with all Weihrauchs — built to last springs to mind — but still nicely styled.

The whole action has a lovely deep bluing to it and is 7.25in long, accommodating the 6.75in bolt. This is part-blued and polished steel and has a twin extractor claw that grabs the spent case which is then ejected by a protruding spur from the action floor.

The magazine well has a blank at its rear to accommodate the smaller .22LR rimfire rounds and the bolt does not operate fully rearward for the same reason. Its operation has a low angle opening and is very smooth, assisted by the semi-flattened oval bolt handle with ample chequering for grip.

There is also a red cocking indicator — to denote the action is cocked — that protrudes from the bolt shroud and the action has a twin dovetail 11mm rail. Weaver-type bases can be fitted, as I have, and are handy for putting night-vision kit on and off.

“Most people will only shoot .22LR subsonics but I also tried some highvelocity loads to see how versatile it is”

Trigger, safety and magazine

The trigger is Weihrauch’s forte as the Rekord on its air rifles is the best in the industry. This model too is superb — match-quality with a fully adjustable capability. Set at the factory, there is a two-stage trigger with a smooth first pull then a 1.65lb final stage, which is perfect. The safety is a simple lever type behind the bolt handle: off when forward and on when rearward.

SHOOTING TIMES & COUNTRY MAGAZINE • 45