11-Sep-2026
Weihrauch’s break-barrel springers are the default answer to “which air rifle should I buy” in the UK, and for good reason. They are built like agricultural machinery, they shoot straight for decades, and there is a used market deep enough that you can always find one. The catch is that the three mid-range models, the HW95, the HW98 and the HW99S, sit close enough together that many buyers cannot tell which one they actually want.
This guide compares the three head-to-head. It covers what each rifle is for, how they differ in the hand, what they cost relative to each other on the second-hand market, and what to check before you buy. We keep specifications general, because Weihrauch has revised these models over the years and older guns will differ from current production.
The three rifles at a glance
All three are spring-piston break-barrels sharing the same family action and Weihrauch’s excellent Rekord trigger. The HW99S is the lightest and simplest, the HW95 is the full-size sporter that most people think of as “the Weihrauch break-barrel”, and the HW98 is the same power plant as the HW95 in a heavier, target-style stock with a raised cheekpiece and adjustable butt. In practical terms, you are choosing between a light hunter, a classic sporter, and a precision-oriented rifle for the range or the hide.
Browse: Weihrauch HW95 · Weihrauch HW98 · Weihrauch HW99 · All Weihrauch air rifles · Weihrauch HW80
Weihrauch HW99S: The light hunter
The HW99S is the newest of the three and the one that surprises people. It shares a lot with the HW95 but is lighter and slimmer, with a shorter barrel and a plainer beech stock. It was designed to give full UK-legal power in a rifle you can carry around a farm all afternoon without noticing it, and it does exactly that. It is also a comfortable choice for younger or smaller shooters who find the HW95 a handful.
The trade-off is that a lighter springer is a little more sensitive to hold. The HW99S rewards a relaxed, consistent technique and will punish a tight grip more than the heavier guns. If you are new to springers, that is worth knowing rather than a reason to avoid it, most people adapt within a tin of pellets. On the used market, the HW99S has been around long enough that clean examples appear regularly, and because it is the entry point to the range, it tends to be the best value of the three.
Browse: Weihrauch HW99 · Weihrauch HW95 · Weihrauch HW30 · Weihrauch HW50 · BSA Lightning
Weihrauch HW95: The classic sporter
If you asked a UK gun shop for “a proper Weihrauch break-barrel” for most of the last thirty years, this is what came over the counter. The HW95 is a full-size, full-power sporter with enough weight to settle in the shoulder and a barrel length that gives a good sight radius for open sights and a steady platform for a scope. It comes in .177 and .22, and the UK market has historically leaned towards .22 for pest control and .177 for anyone who also wants to shoot targets.
The HW95 is the sensible middle of the range. It is heavier than the HW99S but not so heavy that carrying it is a chore, and it is easier to shoot consistently because of that extra mass. The stock is a conventional sporter shape that suits most people without adjustment. Second-hand, it is probably the most numerous of the three, which means you can afford to be fussy about condition and hold out for a gun that has been looked after. Later HW95s are often sold with a moderator fitted, which makes a noticeable difference to the muzzle report and is worth having.
Browse: Weihrauch HW95 · Weihrauch HW80 · Weihrauch HW35 · Air Arms TX200 · BSA Supersport
Weihrauch HW98: The precision break-barrel
The HW98 takes the HW95’s action and puts it in a very different stock. It is a full-length, ambidextrous design with a high cheekpiece, a broad forend, an adjustable rubber butt pad, and a shape that is unmistakably aimed at scope use and deliberate shooting. It is also heavier, noticeably so, and that weight is the whole point. A heavy springer is a forgiving springer, and the HW98 is one of the easiest break-barrels of its type to shoot accurately from a rest or a sitting position.
The obvious use is field target, hunter field target, and general range shooting, but the HW98 also makes an excellent hide gun or a rifle for a shooter who does most of their pest control from a fixed spot rather than on the move. What it is not is a walkabout hunter. If you plan to carry the gun for hours, the HW95 or HW99S will serve you better.
The HW98 has always been produced in smaller numbers than the HW95, so it is the rarest of the three on the used market and tends to hold a premium. Searches for “HW98 for sale” reflect that: when a good one comes up, it does not stay listed long.
Browse: Weihrauch HW98 · Weihrauch HW97 · Weihrauch HW77 · Air Arms Pro-Sport · Weihrauch HW95
Which one fits your shooting?
For a general-purpose pest control rifle that you will carry, the HW95 is the safe answer and the easiest gun to sell on later. If weight is your main concern, or the rifle is for a smaller shooter, the HW99S gives up very little in performance and saves a good deal of bulk. If you want the most accurate break-barrel of the three for hide shooting, plinking from a bench, or entry-level field target, the HW98 is the one to save for.
Calibre is the other decision. In a full-power springer, .22 hits harder at short range and remains the traditional pest-control choice, while .177 shoots flatter and makes range estimation easier. If the rifle will do both jobs, .177 is the more versatile pick in all three models.
Finally, do not overlook the HW80 if the HW95 feels light and you want more of everything, or the HW97 and HW77 underlevers if a fixed barrel appeals more than a break-barrel. Weihrauch’s range is deep enough that there is nearly always a model that fits the exact job.
Browse: Weihrauch HW95 · Weihrauch HW98 · Weihrauch HW99 · Weihrauch HW97 · All air rifles for sale
Buying second-hand: What to check
Weihrauch springers are hard to kill, but the mainspring and piston seal are consumables. A used rifle with a tired spring will feel soft and may sound hollow on firing; that is a cheap fix, but it is a bargaining point. Check that the barrel locks up firmly with no side-to-side play at the breech, that the breech seal is not cracked or flattened, and that the barrel pivot bolt is tight. The Rekord trigger should break cleanly with no creep; if it does not, the adjustment screw may have been fiddled with.
Look at the stock for cracks behind the action, which happen when a gun is dropped or dry-fired, and check that the scope rail is undamaged. A moderator or scope included in the sale is a bonus, but do not let accessories distract you from the condition of the rifle itself.
Browse: Weihrauch air rifles · Weihrauch HW95 · Weihrauch HW98 · Moderators · Thermal and optics
Frequently asked questions
Is the HW99S as powerful as the HW95? Both are sold at full UK-legal power. The HW99S achieves it in a lighter, shorter package, so it can feel a touch livelier on firing, but there is no practical difference in what either rifle will do to a rabbit at sensible ranges.
What is the difference between the HW95 and HW98? The same action in two different stocks. The HW95 has a conventional sporter stock; the HW98 has a heavier, ambidextrous target-style stock with a high cheekpiece and adjustable butt pad, making it steadier for scope use but less pleasant to carry.
Which Weihrauch break-barrel is best for a beginner? The HW95 is the easiest recommendation because it balances weight, handling, and resale value. The HW99S suits smaller or younger shooters, and the HW98 is better as a second rifle once you know you will mostly shoot from a fixed position.
Do I need a licence for these rifles in the UK? At standard UK power levels, a spring air rifle does not need a firearm certificate in England and Wales. Scotland requires an air weapon certificate. Always check current rules for your part of the UK before buying.
Find your Weihrauch on Rightgun.uk
Rightgun.uk carries Weihrauch listings from dealers and private sellers across the country, so you can compare an HW95, an HW98 and an HW99S side by side, check what accessories come with each and contact the seller directly. Use the model pages above to browse what is available now.
Further reading: Weihrauch HW95 and HW99S review, Weihrauch air rifles UK buyer’s guide, Best spring air rifles in the UK, Weihrauch HW80 review and Weihrauch HW97K.
