FWB 124

[Mark 611]

The Crosman .177cal Pointed pellets are very inconsistent as far as sizing, the fit of these pellets are usually lose or tight fitting from the same can, try to find some Crosman 7.9gn HP's, My 124D shot them very accurate, the fit is more consistent in the leed in of the bore, my 2ct

[Dennis22]

thank you

pops76 has very graciously offered to send me a pretty complete sampler set of pellets I want to express my appreciation for that

The Crossman's were the only available option locally

lurking and reading this forum has been an absolute education in discovering all the intricacies  of how to get the most out of these fine guns. When I bought her I thought you just put a pellet in and shot it.  I was always disappointed with the performance. 

Hopefully I can start to get the performance I had hoped for when I got her nearly 40 years ago.

Dennis

[lizzie]

lurking and reading this forum has been an absolute education in discovering all the intricacies  of how to get the most out of these fine guns. When I bought her I thought you just put a pellet in and shot it.  I was always disappointed with the performance. 

Hopefully I can start to get the performance I had hoped for when I got her nearly 40 years ago.

Dennis

There is definitely a learning curve!
When I first joined here, I was just looking for recommendations on controlling starlings. I luckily just fell into a FWB124 in a gun shop that was on consignment, and didn't even know what it was. I just bought it because I knew the name looked German, so I figured it was probably a quality-built gun. Little did i know.....Haha.

[glassman98]

Dennis,I agree with what everybody has said. As far as a scope goes, at 78+ yrs, the only way I can see my target is with a scope. I have 2 124's and both like JSB 8.4 4,53 head size, held like a .22 rim fire gun, and front support 1 1/2" back on forearm, every time I shot them. Three things you need to do is aim small/miss small, lots of trigger time, and most important, do the same thing every time. I hope this helps you. If I
can help you some more PM me. Everything I know about AG's I got from this Great Forum, and gladly pass it on to whom ever ask's for it.  Craig 

[north country gal]

As above, Dennis. I have yet to find any high end springer that won't shoot good groups. Sometimes takes a little tweaking, but shooting good groups, especially with a springer, is mostly about me shooting good groups, not the gun.

I'm also doing scopes a lot for the sake of the old eyes thing, but I still keep some of my rifles setup with iron sights, just because I still very much enjoy iron sights and always will. I use scopes for other reasons, though. With our climate, up here, sunny days are all too few and even on sunny days with all our forests, much of our shooting is in shadows. All but impossible to even see some of the targets on our backyard range at times without a scope.

[Dennis22]

Thank you all for the help

What I did not know was really preventing me from getting the potential out of this gun

I had to learn how to hold her and practicing the artillery hold has helped

Pellet selection was another big help, to re start I have been using the JSB match 8.44g pellets

I am now starting to see what I was hoping for when I purchased her 40 years ago

Here is a group shot at 20 yards with the original open factory sights. 

I will be putting  a scope on

Thanks to papy76 for the pellet sampler, I'll be testing them after the scope is mounted.

Dennis

[fwbsport]

lurking and reading this forum has been an absolute education in discovering all the intricacies  of how to get the most out of these fine guns. When I bought her I thought you just put a pellet in and shot it.  I was always disappointed with the performance. 

Hopefully I can start to get the performance I had hoped for when I got her nearly 40 years ago.

Dennis

There is definitely a learning curve!
When I first joined here, I was just looking for recommendations on controlling starlings. I luckily just fell into a FWB124 in a gun shop that was on consignment, and didn't even know what it was. I just bought it because I knew the name looked German, so I figured it was probably a quality-built gun. Little did i know.....Haha.

THERE IS, definitely, a learning curve.  It took me a couple years to really warm up to mine! Truly! Everytime I thought I had it figured out it'd do something to unwind my confidence and set it back on the shelf!

It wasn't until I got the Bushnell Trophy 4-12X to find the spot on this rifle.  Yes IT HAS SIDE FOCUS!

[glassman98]

Glad to hear you are getting dialed in with it.  Craig

[north country gal]

Good for you, Dennis. Doesn't happen overnight, but that's real progress with that group. Learning is half the fun. Enjoy.

[Dennis22]

It continues

I purchased a 3_12x40 UTG swat scope mounted it with the UtTG compensating 1 piece mount

The elevation adjustment on the scope did not work I have no idea where the center on the scope was set and it was shooting 6 inches high at20 yds

Using the mil dots I shot a .33inch group at to yds

I can live with that

Scope is going back and will mount a new compact

Dennis

[Dennis22]

Got the new scope and installed with a UTG droop compensating mount, the new scope is the UTG 3-12x44 30mm compact scope SWAT using the included Weaver type medium mounts.

Mechanically centered the reticle and it is shooting 2.75" low at 10 meters and at 20 yards it is right at 3" low

The first 3 shots at 10m were so close I thought I had completely missed the target. all in the same hole, so that is encouraging

I have ordered the Hawke compensating insert to try and get the POI closer to the POA  I hope it will work with the UTG rings.

Also read the blog and watched video of barrel bending, a real last resort.

I also got the inexpensive Chinese chronograph and it is shooting the JSB 8.4g pellets at 775 fps with an extreme spread of 31fps  the Crossman Premiers 7.4g are at 827 fps. This is a little lower than I was expecting. I may take it back apart and slightly resize the seal, It was a very snug fit when first installed.

I want to get the elevation issue solved before I do anything else.

More to follow

Dennis

[Motorhead]

Indeed ... The ARH seals (Pending which style you have ? ) may or may not have a sealing lip ?  The older seals DID NOT and there sizing needs to be very uniform and fit can't be too snug or gun will shoot real slow and inconsistent.
Newer seals have the sealing lip and don't need quite the same finesse in sizing, but still can't be fit too tight either.

ABSOLUTELY deburr the cocking slot and and corners/ edges the seal must pass over when taking it in & out !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!   If you don't your just about guaranteed the seals critical sealing edge will be damaged.

FYI ...

Scott 

[Dennis22]

I have the Maccari seals, there is an inner ring/slot around the perimeter of the seal, I assume this it the lip you are referring to.

It was extremely tight on the first try, I  sanded it until it was easier but still a tight fit.  sounds like I need to go back and reduce it a little more until it is not so tight.

I'll double check the edges of the cocking slot, during the first fittings I saw no indication of any damage from installing and removing

I will inspect them very closely

Dennis

[Dennis22]

Indeed ... The ARH seals (Pending which style you have ? ) may or may not have a sealing lip ?  The older seals DID NOT and there sizing needs to be very uniform and fit can't be too snug or gun will shoot real slow and inconsistent.
Newer seals have the sealing lip and don't need quite the same finesse in sizing, but still can't be fit too tight either.

ABSOLUTELY deburr the cocking slot and and corners/ edges the seal must pass over when taking it in & out !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!   If you don't your just about guaranteed the seals critical sealing edge will be damaged.

FYI ...

Scott

Thank you for the advice

I took it back apart and sanded the seal  to just a tight fit, I looked at the seal when I pulled it out and could see no damage not even a line in the lube indicating any snags or burs, German quality or luck

re assembled, fired a couple shots and then tested on the crono

JSB 4.5  8,4g domed pellets

835.4 fps
825.9 fps
829.8 fps
835.4 fps
834.7 fps
818.7 fps
826.5fps

Max deviation 16.7 average 829 fps and 12.8 fpe

This is much closer to what I was hoping for when I started,

Now to shoot some targets ,break in and set the seal and deal with the barrel droop. Hopefully the velocity will get a little closer after some shooting.

Dennis

[Motorhead]

There ya go .. a lot tighter ES that will improve more after it breaks in more.

[Dennis22]

Changed the base and I think this works

About a quarter turn windage and elevation

Same point of aim at 10 meters and 30 yards

[Yogi]

Now quite showing off........

-Y

[Dennis22]

This has been an adventure, and I am sure it is no where close to being over.  but I am getting closer.

Getting the set up right has been a real path, I started with shooting 4+inches low at 10 meters, tried the droooper mount and that helped then shims just could not get close, I was also nearly 2 inches left of poa

I was also getting shifting with the scope as far as it was from being centered.

finally read several posts on barrel bending and put my big boy pants on built the jig and started bending.  got things close

It has also been a long learning curve to get to where I could get relatively consistent groups. I would get a promising group only to have the next open up like a shot gun. 

The artillery hold helped but still getting way to many fliers.

I am learning that she is really finnickey to the way I hold her,  to tight aa cheek weld or pulling to tight into my shoulder and accuracy goes out the door.  And then there is breathing, trigger control and follow through. 

I think at least now I am getting close to knowing what I am doing right and wrong.

My range, 10m 20 yds and 30 yds

These are 5 shot groups at 10m 20 yds and 30 yds
I can live with these

Dennis

[Motorhead]

Heck yea !! .. that's the FWB 124 accuracy we know and love !!

[Dennis22]

I would like to try my hand at some of the informal target matches, no dreams of winning but playing would be fun

So I need to have it zeroed,  if this does not shift mysteriously this will we close