lee n. field
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Rohm being a counterexample.
Arminius HW357
- Thread starter bud45
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Rohm being a counterexample.
I had one in 44 mag. It appeared to be an exact copy of a Ruger.
Light trigger is right.
Only revolver to ever leave me a scar to remember it by. The trigger guard would split the knuckle on my middle finger. I assume it was my grip.
Light trigger is right.
Only revolver to ever leave me a scar to remember it by. The trigger guard would split the knuckle on my middle finger. I assume it was my grip.
cannonballmount
Member
I bought an Arminius HW.357 and I am extremely impressed.
Testing factory loads, I rattled through 175 rounds in 5 round groups, at 25 yards, using a sand bag wrist rest.
Testing factory 158 grain .357, 10, 5 shot groups, the worst was 2.5 in. the best was 1.9 inch, with an average just over 2 inches.
Testing 158 grain .38 Special factory loads, also 10, 5 shot groups the worst was 1.8 in. the best was 1.1 inch, with a 1.5 inch average.
Testing 148 grain .38 wadcutters, 10 groups of 5,the worst was 1.3 inches, the best was a staggering .8 inch!
Testing 125 grain .38+P loads, the worst was .9 inch the best was a bit tighter that .4 inch!
These German 6 shooters can SHOOT!
I would like to get this piece checked out and tuned by a top wheelgun gunsmith and use it in competition!
Testing factory loads, I rattled through 175 rounds in 5 round groups, at 25 yards, using a sand bag wrist rest.
Testing factory 158 grain .357, 10, 5 shot groups, the worst was 2.5 in. the best was 1.9 inch, with an average just over 2 inches.
Testing 158 grain .38 Special factory loads, also 10, 5 shot groups the worst was 1.8 in. the best was 1.1 inch, with a 1.5 inch average.
Testing 148 grain .38 wadcutters, 10 groups of 5,the worst was 1.3 inches, the best was a staggering .8 inch!
Testing 125 grain .38+P loads, the worst was .9 inch the best was a bit tighter that .4 inch!
These German 6 shooters can SHOOT!
I would like to get this piece checked out and tuned by a top wheelgun gunsmith and use it in competition!
CHAINGUNMASSACRE
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- Apr 28, 2008
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- 68
I found an Arminius HW357 in a box in my garage. I had inherited it about 12 years earlier, and packed it away and forgot about it. After cleaning it all up, oiling it, and inspecting it I bought some ammo and headed for the range. It's a Colt SAA clone, so the rear sight is just a groove in the topstrap. With CCI Blazer 158 gr LRN I was shooting 2 in groups at 25 yards. Consistently, and to point of aim. This just blew me away! The trigger is actually really good, so is the feel when you cock the hammer. I get the feeling that these guns were not actually junk, they are just unknown and nobody cares. I'm keeping mine!
I also have a Arminius 38 special that has the same rear sight as what you describe.
But my 357 had an adjustable rear sight. until the srew fell out and half the rear sight was lost.
I asked locally and a gunsmith offered me $150 cash for mine as is, so I sold it to him. I already have plenty of revolvers and only 2 hands
But I agree they are actualy a pretty decent inexpensive gun.
Hey "the Germans always make good stuff"
But my 357 had an adjustable rear sight. until the srew fell out and half the rear sight was lost.
I asked locally and a gunsmith offered me $150 cash for mine as is, so I sold it to him. I already have plenty of revolvers and only 2 hands
But I agree they are actualy a pretty decent inexpensive gun.
Hey "the Germans always make good stuff"
woad_yurt
Member
A gunsmith should have sight blanks with different dovetail sizes. I saw a guy with a tacklebox full of them. They cost a few bucks or so, maybe five, max. Find one that fits your gun's dovetail and start filing.
SDC
Member
"Arminius" is a trade-name used by Herman Weihrauch (who is best known for their high-end airguns); they chose "Arminius" because it was the name of the leader of one of the Germanic tribes that resisted the Roman take-over during the Romans' expansion through Europe.
CHAINGUNMASSACRE
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- Apr 28, 2008
- Messages
- 68
Surprisingly, mine is a very faithful reproduction of the SAA. Even down to the case hardened finish, which appears to be well-executed. I am still in shock over how well it shot. I never expected to like the gun, or even care about it, but to me any weapon that is accurate and reliable kinda endears itself to me. I'll keep her. Maybe as a camping/backpacking peice.
Ok, I know that this thread is old but I want to add some informations and a little report of one Weihrauch that I shoot a couple of months ago.
Arminius revolver are (now) made by Weihrauch in Germany. The official site is www.hermann-weihrauch-revolver.de. As you can see inside the “O” of the word “REVOLVER” in the home page there’s the old Arminius logo with the written ”ARMINIUS REVOLVER”. The site is simple but very rational and the products are subdivided by type (please note the Target Trophy section: very nice revolvers).
As I previously said, I had the chance to shot one Weihrauch side by side with my S&W 686 Plus 2.5” barrel. It was the Weihrauch HW357 with the 4” barrel and fixed sights, .357Mag caliber and six shots. Before shooting I deeply inspected the gun. Size is on the K-frame side and I’m sure that every holster for a 4” barrel K/L-frame fits perfectely for this gun. The design reminds me Charter Arms revolvers. The frame, cylinder and barrel are made of carbon steel with a very nice blueing on it and a good fit&finish. Some of the .38Spl and .22L.R. models (only the cheaper ones of course, not the Target Trophy ones for example) have a zinc-alloy frame. I’m pretty sure that the barrel shroud and the trigger guard-grip frame is made of zinc-alloy also: not a big issue really. These last parts are probably black anodized and again the fit&finish is good. The trigger guard-grip frame is pinned to the steel frame (like Charter Arms) and the barrel shroud is fitted to the front of the steel frame and pinned to the barrel. The cylinder turns clockwise (like Charter Arms) and the crane assembly and lockup is again the same of Charter Arms but feels much more sturdy in my opinion. The hammer hits the firing pin using a transfer bar (again like Charter Arms). The forcing cone is surprising thin for a .357Mag revolver but there’s a bunch of steel all around it. Timing was perfect, so was the lockup and the gap between barrel and cylinder. Operation of the revolver was very smooth (open-close cylinder, action of the ejection star). One thing that I didn’t like was the finish of the trigger , hammer and release button: matt black and prone to rust in my opinion.
Now the range report: I shoot the thing against a paper target at 10 yards. VERY well balanced weapon, great rubber grips, good fixed sigths. The double action was a little heavy and gritty compared to the one of my 686 but nothing unmanageable. The gun had only 100 or so rounds before the test so I’m pretty sure that another 1000 rounds and 2000 dry fires can solve the (little) problem. I don’t know if it is safe to dry fire this gun without snap caps. The single action was again heavy but breaks very well. Trigger and hammer are thin so probably the action felt a little heavier than it really is. I shot some cylinders of Fiocchi .357Mag 142gr FMJ TC and some cylinders of Fiocchi .38Spl 148gr LWC HB. Recoil is never an issue and I can say with .357Mag the thing is more manageable than my 686. Accuracy was good with both the ammunition tested but not in the same category of the 686 (even if it has better sights of course). The threads on the barrel are not very in relief (more on the Ruger side than on the S&W side). Extraction was perfect and the strikes were powerful and well centered. I shoot decent groups DAO (from 2,5” to 3’’) a little low and on the left to POA (like the owner did) but another guy shoot similar groups to POA so it was probably a grip method issue or something like that. Inerent accuracy of the gun is out of question.
And now a comparison between the Weihrauch HW357 and the S&W 686:
Fit&finish: S&W wins hands down.
Accuracy: S&W wins hands down.
Trigger: S&W wins hands down.
Operation: S&W wins.
Grips: Weihrauch wins in my opinion (I have the stock Bantam Monogrips on my S&W).
Shootability: Weihrauch wins by a small margin.
Handling: Weihrauch wins.
Balance: Weihrauch wins (4” against 2.5”).
Price: Weihrauch WINS HANDS DOWN.
This gun here in Italy is 60% cheaper than a comparable S&W, 40% cheaper than a Taurus, 50% cheaper than a Ruger and new is still cheaper than a comparable used revolver of the mentioned companies. The company (www.bignami.it) that imports Weihrauch revolvers is the same that imports S&W, Ruger, STI, H&K, Glock, CZ, SIG-Sauer, SIG, Hammerli and so on, so I’m sure that every Weihrauch they sell here is a good one.
I have no problem to rate the gun I’ve tested with five stars for home defence or car gun. With fixed sights is not a 25 yards range gun but it is very fun and easy to shoot. I’ll buy it in a second if only italian gun laws allowed to own more of three “defensive” guns that I actually own and I’m seriously considering to purchase the Weihrauch HW9 Target Trophy .22L.R. 6” barrel that is stated as “sporting” gun which we can own six .
Best regards, 5-SHOTS.
Arminius revolver are (now) made by Weihrauch in Germany. The official site is www.hermann-weihrauch-revolver.de. As you can see inside the “O” of the word “REVOLVER” in the home page there’s the old Arminius logo with the written ”ARMINIUS REVOLVER”. The site is simple but very rational and the products are subdivided by type (please note the Target Trophy section: very nice revolvers).
As I previously said, I had the chance to shot one Weihrauch side by side with my S&W 686 Plus 2.5” barrel. It was the Weihrauch HW357 with the 4” barrel and fixed sights, .357Mag caliber and six shots. Before shooting I deeply inspected the gun. Size is on the K-frame side and I’m sure that every holster for a 4” barrel K/L-frame fits perfectely for this gun. The design reminds me Charter Arms revolvers. The frame, cylinder and barrel are made of carbon steel with a very nice blueing on it and a good fit&finish. Some of the .38Spl and .22L.R. models (only the cheaper ones of course, not the Target Trophy ones for example) have a zinc-alloy frame. I’m pretty sure that the barrel shroud and the trigger guard-grip frame is made of zinc-alloy also: not a big issue really. These last parts are probably black anodized and again the fit&finish is good. The trigger guard-grip frame is pinned to the steel frame (like Charter Arms) and the barrel shroud is fitted to the front of the steel frame and pinned to the barrel. The cylinder turns clockwise (like Charter Arms) and the crane assembly and lockup is again the same of Charter Arms but feels much more sturdy in my opinion. The hammer hits the firing pin using a transfer bar (again like Charter Arms). The forcing cone is surprising thin for a .357Mag revolver but there’s a bunch of steel all around it. Timing was perfect, so was the lockup and the gap between barrel and cylinder. Operation of the revolver was very smooth (open-close cylinder, action of the ejection star). One thing that I didn’t like was the finish of the trigger , hammer and release button: matt black and prone to rust in my opinion.
Now the range report: I shoot the thing against a paper target at 10 yards. VERY well balanced weapon, great rubber grips, good fixed sigths. The double action was a little heavy and gritty compared to the one of my 686 but nothing unmanageable. The gun had only 100 or so rounds before the test so I’m pretty sure that another 1000 rounds and 2000 dry fires can solve the (little) problem. I don’t know if it is safe to dry fire this gun without snap caps. The single action was again heavy but breaks very well. Trigger and hammer are thin so probably the action felt a little heavier than it really is. I shot some cylinders of Fiocchi .357Mag 142gr FMJ TC and some cylinders of Fiocchi .38Spl 148gr LWC HB. Recoil is never an issue and I can say with .357Mag the thing is more manageable than my 686. Accuracy was good with both the ammunition tested but not in the same category of the 686 (even if it has better sights of course). The threads on the barrel are not very in relief (more on the Ruger side than on the S&W side). Extraction was perfect and the strikes were powerful and well centered. I shoot decent groups DAO (from 2,5” to 3’’) a little low and on the left to POA (like the owner did) but another guy shoot similar groups to POA so it was probably a grip method issue or something like that. Inerent accuracy of the gun is out of question.
And now a comparison between the Weihrauch HW357 and the S&W 686:
Fit&finish: S&W wins hands down.
Accuracy: S&W wins hands down.
Trigger: S&W wins hands down.
Operation: S&W wins.
Grips: Weihrauch wins in my opinion (I have the stock Bantam Monogrips on my S&W).
Shootability: Weihrauch wins by a small margin.
Handling: Weihrauch wins.
Balance: Weihrauch wins (4” against 2.5”).
Price: Weihrauch WINS HANDS DOWN.
This gun here in Italy is 60% cheaper than a comparable S&W, 40% cheaper than a Taurus, 50% cheaper than a Ruger and new is still cheaper than a comparable used revolver of the mentioned companies. The company (www.bignami.it) that imports Weihrauch revolvers is the same that imports S&W, Ruger, STI, H&K, Glock, CZ, SIG-Sauer, SIG, Hammerli and so on, so I’m sure that every Weihrauch they sell here is a good one.
I have no problem to rate the gun I’ve tested with five stars for home defence or car gun. With fixed sights is not a 25 yards range gun but it is very fun and easy to shoot. I’ll buy it in a second if only italian gun laws allowed to own more of three “defensive” guns that I actually own and I’m seriously considering to purchase the Weihrauch HW9 Target Trophy .22L.R. 6” barrel that is stated as “sporting” gun which we can own six .
Best regards, 5-SHOTS.
roaddog28
Member
Years ago I had a 38 special 4 inch Arminius. It was without a doubt a very ugly revolver in appearance. But they are made well and are cheap. For a truck gun or whatever you can't go wrong. In case something happen to the revolver it not a big loss.
Good luck,
roaddog28
Good luck,
roaddog28
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