Which deal was best?

[CO_Steve]

So a few weeks before Christmas I decided to check the local Craiglists for any interesting airguns. I ended up buying two. Both sellers were 3+ hours away and were happy to ship them to me after we chatted on the phone. I thought at the time I had gotten a great deal on one but now that I have both I'm not sure which was better.

#1.  FWB 124 serial 1442 pre Beeman. Delux stock. Some small cosmetic issues but shoots great with Maccari spring/seal. It does same hole groups from 50 feet with the Crossman Magnums. CPLs seem to be a bit less accurate, but shoots 740ish (I'm at 6000 ft). We know the reputation of this gun and it lives up to it. It's wonderful and I was very happy to get it for $300.

#2  RWS 36.  This buy was almost an afterthought. Seller said it had some stock dings. Bluing had a couple flaws. Turned out it has some minor compression marks and a little cold blue took care of any flaws. It now looks great, and boy does it shoot. Same hole at 50 feet with CPL, running 840ish. This one was $100.  I really like this gun. It's not the collector of the FWB but I'll not be letting it go anytime soon.

I keep looking at Craigs since and nothing but junk. I guess my timing was perfect.

[north country gal]

I think you did great on both. I paid a littler bit more more four our 36, about $150, and figured we stole it.

[CO_Steve]

You did, as did I.

Mine dates from the late 80's. I have no idea if it haas been resealed/sprung but it works great as it is and I'll deal with tuning it when necessary.
The 36 is so much prettier than the 34, to my eye anyway.

[peevee]

trade ya a couple week old hw95 in .177 for that FWB

[CO_Steve]

An HW 95 in .22 is on my list but I've got a few other guns to move first. The FWB isn't going anywhere, sorry.

[VillageSniper]

  I would say the 124.  But I am partial.  I grew up shooting a deluxe model and bought a standard model a few years ago.  Both have been worked over by pros and shoot great.  I have kept the open sights on the older deluxe, and it shoots JSB RS great, clover leafs at twenty yards every time.  The sport wears a scope and I have been able to study its accuracy more in depth.  While it also shoots the RS pellets into clover leafs at twenty, with a bit more speed-830 fps, it really excels with the air arms 8.4.  I shot a five shot group at 20 into .165" ctc recently, hunkered down in a corner and shooting off the side of my knee.  I was able to accurately measure the group as my target was backed by a sheet of gum  rubber that revealed the small center holes. I  believe they are truly destined for the same hole, but I am just moving the gun ever so slightly.  They have match barrels and it shows.  Another pellet that works wonders at twenty is the H&N match rifle.  Though a wadcutter, it stacks them at close range.  I found the H&N FTT to have the best BC, providing the highest retained velocity at 50 yards, though slower at the muzzle than many.   I will test it against the AA 8.4, mentioned before, when it warms up.   

Vs

[tjk]

The FWB Sporter was the better deal by far. If the 36 was in .22 caliber, it would be a closer decision. Sorry but the 36 is nothing more than a 34 with a prom dress stock. I've had both calibers and I much prefer the larger caliber with the Diana. But the .177 is no slouch by any means. The 124 is just a better  gun plain and simple. Finely tuned with  proper trigger adjustment, the FWB Sporter is a tough act to follow,.....even by the top end lines of today's made springers. But most importantly,...congrats on acquiring two models of some of the most collected classic air rifles ever made.  I Hope you enjoy shooting them both for a very very long time to come.   

[CO_Steve]

If the 36 had been a .22 I'd be done. I bought it because it was cheap and it turned out to shoot really well, but I'm still short a quality .22 springer.  I'd make that swap in a heartbeat.