Author Topic: FWB 124 (Read 4706 times))

Dennis22 · « **on:** December 21, 2019, 01:40:52 PM »

I have just finished installing a Maccari pro kit in my FWB 124 Deluxe The kit included new seal, spring, front spacer and shim/spacer that fits over the pin on the breach assembly behind the spring. . It has sat in the closet for a lot of years and I had pulled it out a month ago and first shot was still in the barrel, I new it needed a new seal. Research led me to the Maccari kit as what appeared to be the best option.

Done and shooting and seems to be good, however at 30 yards my groups seem to be dismal. about 3" sitting rested. Impact at 10 Yards and 30 yards is about the same.

I do not have access to a chronograph

I am using Crossman premier wadcutters, have not tried any other pellets.

What should I expect from this old girl? I would think much better.

Probably 100 shots since the new kit.

What ore others using for pellets in the FWB 124

Dennis

rufus80 · « **Reply #1 on:** December 21, 2019, 01:48:00 PM »

Wadcutter pellets are not meant for distance. In my 124 I have had the best luck with JSB/AA 8.44 and 7.87.

redcobra04 · « **Reply #2 on:** December 21, 2019, 02:36:57 PM »

Order a pellet sampler kit from Straightshooters. You will probably find something
your 124 likes.

fwbsport · « **Reply #3 on:** December 21, 2019, 03:46:52 PM »

It's true about wadcutters not being reliable beyond so many yards, they spiral eventually. I've used Pistol Light Match and regular Match in my FWB and they shoot out so fast it's hard to tell where they break up unless they hit something like steel. They do well in the FWB at 30 yards. Beyond that no way. The CP Pirahna and the CP Heavy Dome work outstandingly well in mine, I am shooting it today with its new scope and seeing great groups at fixed targets at 30 yards.

The FWB is capable of 50 yards. Very few .177s in my book can do this kind of accuracy that FWB has.

Buldawg76 · « **Reply #4 on:** December 21, 2019, 03:59:23 PM »

Mine likes the AA 8.44s and H&N sniper mediums best with the AA 10.34s real close behind. Its tuned right at 12 fpe with these pellets.

BD

Motorhead · « **Reply #5 on:** December 21, 2019, 06:50:12 PM »

Just hoping you got ALL the decomp seal from around the roof of the comp chamber. * There is a bevel at O.D. the seal sits into that needs to be clean.
good technique a 124 will shoot 1/4-3/8 groups at 30 yards all day long.

Buldawg76 · « **Reply #6 on:** December 21, 2019, 06:58:13 PM »

If I can do my part properly mine will put pellet in the same hole or real close to it. Definitely 1/4 to 3/8" all day long.

BD

DanD · « **Reply #7 on:** December 22, 2019, 01:06:35 AM »

It might help to clean the barrel if you haven't already. Definitely try different pellets. Tractor Supply carries Winchester dome pellets and Walmart carries Crosman Premier Hollow Point and Pointed pellets that will probably work better than wadcutters at 30 yards. My 124 likes JSB pellets the best.

Beeman22 · « **Reply #8 on:** December 22, 2019, 09:58:44 AM »

Mine likes JSB 8.4's the best, and also shoots Meisterkuglen very well at shorter distances. As other have said, wadcutters start to get wonky has distance gets longer.

I do a lot of shooting indoors at 10 meters punching paper, so I often use wadcutters and have experiemented with several. I have found the the Crossman "match" wadcutters to be the worst I've tried. I've had considerably better luck with a tin of gamo's I once tried. Not sure why, as many of my springers will shoot the super-cheap Crossman hollow points reasonably well, so I expected better from the wadcutters, but two different tins out of different guns all yielded the worst results by far.

lizzie · « **Reply #9 on:** December 22, 2019, 10:53:49 AM »

Quote from: rufus80 on December 21, 2019, 01:48:00 PM

. In my 124 I have had the best luck with JSB/AA 8.44 and 7.87.

Same here....JSB 8.44
My usual shooting distance is 25 yds.

Dennis22 · « **Reply #10 on:** December 22, 2019, 12:56:37 PM »

Thanks for the replys, I purchased this gun new in the early 80's and had the same results then. very good at the short ranges and truly disappointing at any longer range. that was the reason it went in the closset and never really came back out. No one to give advice

I was I believe meticulous about cleaning the piston and chamber. I used a dowel with a couple nails to remove any of the left over seal in the end of the chamber then put a patch on the end to clean any of the micro bits. like wise the piston was cleaned of any left over seal

With the Maccari kit I used his tar to lube the spring and molly lube to in the tube, piston/seal and all the other moving parts.

At short ranges the gun and I are fair shots, I can hit a bottle cap at 15 yds off hand

Thanks to pops76 he offered to send a couple samples inc the JSB 8.4's I ordered a tin of them yesterday based on the recommendations here.

I did pick up a can of the Crossman Premier 7.4 pointed to try as that was the only other option locally. today it is raining and 20 mph wind so I have not tried them yet

I also looked at the 30 yard shots that are in the target thread and that is what I hope this gun is capable of, Me not that good but I do like punching paper.

If it starts to look better I'll be back for some scope recommendations

Thank you so much for all your reply's

Dennis

fwbsport · « **Reply #11 on:** December 22, 2019, 01:33:01 PM »

Quote from: Dennis22 on December 22, 2019, 12:56:37 PM

Thanks for the replys, I purchased this gun new in the early 80's and had the same results then. very good at the short ranges and truly disappointing at any longer range. that was the reason it went in the closset and never really came back out. No one to give advice

I was I believe meticulous about cleaning the piston and chamber. I used a dowel with a couple nails to remove any of the left over seal in the end of the chamber then put a patch on the end to clean any of the micro bits. like wise the piston was cleaned of any left over seal

With the Maccari kit I used his tar to lube the spring and molly lube to in the tube, piston/seal and all the other moving parts.

At short ranges the gun and I are fair shots, I can hit a bottle cap at 15 yds off hand

Thanks to pops76 he offered to send a couple samples inc the JSB 8.4's I ordered a tin of them yesterday based on the recommendations here.

I did pick up a can of the Crossman Premier 7.4 pointed to try as that was the only other option locally. today it is raining and 20 mph wind so I have not tried them yet

I also looked at the 30 yard shots that are in the target thread and that is what I hope this gun is capable of, Me not that good but I do like punching paper.

If it starts to look better I'll be back for some scope recommendations

Thank you so much for all your reply's

Dennis

I had one in the 80s in .177, the 124. It actually shot well at 20-25 yards then, and it had an upward bent barrel whether on purpose or not but it shot very nicely. Yes it was limited to range.

The SPORT version has serial number FWB12400206 on mine, which is an improved 124 in power. Yes this newer version took awhile to shoot in, thousands of pellets have been through it, and only now I am looking at it as a 50 yard rifle easily. I've never been able to have confidence in a .177 to do that except a well tuned R1 or HW80.

For some reason it has settled on the heavy .177 domed and Pirhana type at 10.5 grains. I'm still a bit annoyed more seem to go to 7-8 grains instead saying that is the best for the .177, but it is not the best for this FWB which does have more power than an 80s FWB 124.

Dennis22 · « **Reply #12 on:** December 22, 2019, 01:58:03 PM »

Mine is #22890 which is supposed to be improved over the early ones lower than #10000

I have less than 1000 shots through it , I did a lot of centerfire bench shooting/plinking and any thing that would not shoot less than one inch at 100 yds wasn't worth the effort. Had a sako 22-250 heavy barrel that just would not shoot, after trying a lot of loads I finally turned the necks and it instantly went to less than 1/2 inch.

I just gave up on the 124. I hope I don't have to again, I like the challenge of getting it right but if it does not start to get better then ?? back to the closet.

It is the only pellet rifle I have so purchasing a chronograph is not in the books but I will start checking the local places to see if there is one I can use. After the re build I would like to know how fast and how consistent it is, partly a test of my very new basic tuning skill. Actually should not say tuning as that would be well beyond what I did

Dennis

Dennis22 · « **Reply #13 on:** December 22, 2019, 07:30:31 PM »

after all the comments I decided to try the Crossman Premier pointed long range pellets, the only other local available option. Weather is not cooperating windy and rain. set up a bench in the garage, out of the rain, and measured 30 yrds. set up a target

I shot one 5 rd group. measured 1.25". though certainly not a bragging group it is so much better than the 3" groups that I am encouraged.

A scope may be a lot closer

Used a table for the bench sand bag under the fore end about mid way from front to Triger guard. I supported the rear against my shoulder and used my off hand under the butt to control elevation

When the weather gets a little (lot) better Ill shoot some more groups.

When bench shooting with jumper what is the best method of resting and holding the gun.

Dennis

Chouchin66 · « **Reply #14 on:** December 22, 2019, 08:25:28 PM »

Rest the forestock on your open palm (hand between stock & bag)... You may have to adjust hand placement to& fro on stock to find the " sweet spot" for best groups. Have fun !
Chris

lizzie · « **Reply #15 on:** December 22, 2019, 08:38:56 PM »

I am not certain what "jumper" is, but when I bench shoot, I rest on a stack of short lumber pieces (enough to achieve the height I want) with a foam roller or a piece of latex foam on top of the wood stack. I generally rest the gun at the balance point on the stock, and use a fairly loose artillery hold.

Dennis22 · « **Reply #16 on:** December 22, 2019, 09:16:25 PM »

I saw the springers called jumpers in one of the target forums

Next time I get a chance to shoot I will try the artillery hold. Watched a video on how to do it

Hopefully I can learn enough here to start to bring it in

Amazing how much difference there is when you don't know what you don't know

Dennis

lizzie · « **Reply #17 on:** December 22, 2019, 09:38:02 PM »

Please update us and let us know how it goes!

Dennis22 · « **Reply #18 on:** December 24, 2019, 02:20:22 AM »

I tried the artillery hold and that really seemed to make a difference

Using the Crossman Premier long range pointed pellets I shot one group at 10 meters jus over a half inch 4 shots in a cloverleaf and one flyer.

What I know is that my old eyes just are not going to shoot tight groups with open sights.

At the 30 yards I can not really see the small dot target and the 3 inch target is to large to get an accurate sight picture.

Ill be needing a scope. the ones that look the best on my budget are the/ UTG 3-9x40 AO with side focus and the UTG 4-12x40 AO I also plan to get the UTG one peace droop compensating mount.

Is there any advantage to get the side focus scope

Dennis

Chouchin66 · « **Reply #19 on:** December 24, 2019, 04:57:58 AM »

Dennis; @ 30 yards just place top of your front sight so it just appears to touch bottom of your 3" target... @ centerline , Your sight picture should look like " a pumpkin on a fence post" . ( 6 o' clock hold)... Maintain this sight picture thru your shooting of group. This works a treat for your aim point. Hope this makes sense ... Anyhow have a Merry Christmas sir!
- Chris
P.S. with your rifle, 10 yd. Zero will be pretty close to same point @ 30 yds.

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FWB 124

Author Topic: FWB 124 (Read 4706 times))