feinwerkbau fwb sport

[Dan762]

Just received a new feinwerkbau fwb sport.  The caliber is .177. Shooting an 8.4 jSB pellet I got a velocity of 899FPS, this yielded 15.04 foot pounds of energy. That equates to 20.39 Joules.  That is a lot of power from this rifle.  The reviews that I read prior to purchase were, for the most part, negative.  The price was right so I gave it a shot. I am very happy that I did.  The stock is beautiful, the gun is unique.  I think that the basis for the negative reviews is that the gun feels much lighter.  This kind of magnifies the felt mechanism of the rifle.  I still did not find anything very objectionable.  The accuracy is very good with open sights.  I have not put a scope on it yet.  I plan to shoot it quite a bit more before going for any optic.  I cannot say enough positive things about this gun.  I think it just got a bad rap out of the gate.  This resulted in prices plummeting as it first opened at about $900.  The prices went down considerably.  I picked up mine for $495 ($520 with shipping).  The gun also is listed as producing 14FPE which converts to 18.98 Joules.  Mine clocked in at 20.39 Joules (15.04 FPE).  I expect this to calm down after a while.  The listed weight is 8.27 pounds.  It is very well balanced and feels lighter.

[JohnnyPDX]

Awesome and congratulations. You got a great deal on that... My first search found AOA has it at $735

[HectorMedina]

Just received a new feinwerkbau fwb sport.  The caliber is .177. Shooting an 8.4 jSB pellet I got a velocity of 899FPS, this yielded 15.04 foot pounds of energy. That equates to 20.39 Joules.  That is a lot of power from this rifle.  The reviews that I read prior to purchase were, for the most part, negative.  The price was right so I gave it a shot. I am very happy that I did.  The stock is beautiful, the gun is unique.  I think that the basis for the negative reviews is that the gun feels much lighter.  This kind of magnifies the felt mechanism of the rifle.  I still did not find anything very objectionable.  The accuracy is very good with open sights.  I have not put a scope on it yet.  I plan to shoot it quite a bit more before going for any optic.  I cannot say enough positive things about this gun.  I think it just got a bad rap out of the gate.  This resulted in prices plummeting as it first opened at about $900.  The prices went down considerably.  I picked up mine for $495 ($520 with shipping).  The gun also is listed as producing 14FPE which converts to 18.98 Joules.  Mine clocked in at 20.39 Joules (15.04 FPE).  I expect this to calm down after a while.  The listed weight is 8.27 pounds.  It is very well balanced and feels lighter.

In the Adam Smith version of the world, you have just described what the "market forces" do to prices.
A product goes to market based on the name of a brand and the reputation of a model at a certain price that the makers hope the market will confirm.
Previous customers (brand loyalty) purchase the product with the hope that it will match or exceed their expectations that are based on the previous (30 years) exactly named model.
Those "Pioneer customers" get disappointed because, clearly, memories of the past are always better than the real past was, and those that still have the old version have either tuned them or smoothed them out through tens of thousands of pellets.
That disappointment crystallizes in the "bad rap" you talk about.
Then it gets magnified in the Internet because everyone wants to have a say in everything, LOL! And so many "myths" become fact after constant and almost universal repetition.
Demand plummets, and then prices need to come down.

To the importers or wholesalers, this is a disaster, they have their money tied in a stock that is not moving.
To the manufacturers the wave arrives later, as there are no more RFQ's coming in.
To the brand it is disastrous because it has just burned a LOT of its goodwill.
With that gone, the model will probably suffer enough to get discontinued.

I paid about half of what you paid for mine, and it REALLY does NOT hold a candle to the older model.

But, the market may confirm that this is the price at which the product is acceptable. Or it may not. We'll see.

In any case, you're ahead of the game because now you can invest a little money in a tune and make that barrel perform to its true potential. FWB barrels are good, there is neither question nor doubt about it, and that is a good foundation to build a rifle on.

As a marginal note: try to keep your pellets to under 875 fps and you will see how accuracy goes up.

Congrats on the purchase!

Keep us posted.







HM

[Dan762]

Thanks for the information.  I will definitely do as you suggest.  You "stole" it for the price you paid.  Beautiful gun. I greatly appreciate any and all info you can provide.

[fwbsport]

The FWBs I knew from the past were the 127s and 122s in the early 80s. 
After that sometime ago I got an FWB Sport before joining this forum.  It easily appeals to any rifle shooter and the open sights are better than any others I've seen.  I've scoped mine to find it can be picky about placing shots in the "off hand" shooting style.  It isn't a bench rest rifle it's a sporting rifle and has all THAT for taking into the woods. 

After having it and even naming myself that rifle I began to get into the HW95Ls and HW35Es--and these rifles are easier for me to use than the FWB Sport.

Nevertheless, it will please you and disappoint you at the same time!
 

[SpiralGroove]

In the Adam Smith version of the world.

Oh Yes .... "The Invisible Hand"

[Duckfish]

I bought mine at the lower price.  I never owned the older one.  I like it a lot.  Had an old school tuner guy in Texas tweak it up, it's a nice gun.

[SpiralGroove]

IMO, the price of the gun was simply too high vs. the competition (Weihrauch).
This was a market flaw by the manufacturer, given product quality.

[Mark 611]

I have said this before, yrs ago after they stopped the manufacture of the 124's and 127's FWB still had a demand asking for these rifles, and after being out of production for some yrs FWB claimed it would cost about 1k to reproduce the 124's in todays market, that said they came out with the sport model! Like HM said they tried to capitalize off the old 124 line due to the demand, but the new guns are not like the older models, 

[VillageSniper]

Don't be afraid to try the slightly heavier AA or JSB 10.3 as well.  This will change the recoil characteristics.  They are an excellent pellet.  I like having a rifle to shoot with iron sights, it is very good practice, as long as your eyes are still good.

Vs

[Toxylon]

I take mental notes on every interesting springer model I come across, and the reports I've seen on the Sport have been anything but bad rap. From what I've gathered the Sport is an exceptionally well-made and accurate springer with many unique design features, excellent open sights and better than claimed power. Phew, that sounded like an ad Worth the price? Debatable, but a fine gun nonetheless.

[lizzie]

I bought mine at the lower price.  I never owned the older one.  I like it a lot.  Had an old school tuner guy in Texas tweak it up, it's a nice gun.

Where in the heck did you find an old school tuner in Texas?! I looked for years, and finall gave up!

[lizzie]

Regarding the new FWB.... so glad to hear that you are happy with it! I am hesitant to even give it a go, because my experience with my two 124's has been so excellent. I don't want to be disappointed, but I will admit, the idea is tempting!

[Jeff Marshall]

[/quote]

Where in the heck did you find an old school tuner in Texas?! I looked for years, and finall gave up!
[/quote]

Ed K the TuneMeister, is an old school tuner in Texas. He hangs out at the Yellow Airgun Forum.

Edward Krzynowek Jr.
 512-743-3155
edward73@sbcglobal.net
https://www.airguntunemeister.com/

[limbshaker]

I still want one of the new ones. I followed along closely when it came out, and they seemed to attempt to address some of the shortcomings with the 124 series. I know the breech lockup is better with the chisel detent, and supposedly the trigger is better.

I have an old 124 and I don't find it to be "all that".  The breech lockup is weak, it's hold sensitive, makes poor power for the amount of recoil, and has a mediocre trigger. The breech shim arrangement is also a hokey setup compared to other guns.

It does handle and point nice. I'll give it that.

Might have to give a new one a try.

[Mark 611]

If they would have gotten away  from the angled breech block I would have givin those another look myself, but I'll stick to my HW's

[lizzie]

Thank you Jeff!

[fwbsport]

I was very happy with the one I have.  I couldn't say anything wrong about it mechanically, and it IS different from HW.

I found the open sights the best all around anywhere that I've seen already installed on springers except for the weird notation on the dials which don't say Left or Right.

The grip is where things get difficult in finding consistency in hold while pulling the trigger--which IS a good trigger. 

[Mark 611]

ED K is not cheap on his work!

[lizzie]

ED K is not cheap on his work!

Nobody is that I have come in contact with. Haha!