FWB Sport EARLY OUT OF THE BOX Impressions / Champions Choice Shout Out

[Cslinger]

So I ordered an FWB Sport from Champions Choice Saturday evening. They informed me they are running behind on shipping because well (RONAPOLITICALRIOTAMAGEDDON) Which was of course to be expected and dealing with Champions is always a pleasure they are good people.

I got the rifle today.  So their apologetic shipping delays are faster then some other vendors normal shipping so big thumbs up.   I am not currently in TN so it wasn’t a ship down the street thing.

I will take the time to post a more in depth write up with pictures, as I am fully aware TTIUWP . But for the moment here are my super quick 10 shot observations out of the box.

-Good packaging, heavy styrofoam inner cocoon.
-The rifle is far handier and lighter then I expected. Think HW95 but feels even more nimble to me.
-The stock is super nice for a beech stock. I am a bit of a Walnut snob when I can be but this is a nice looking and feeling stock.
-Plastic trigger guard looks great, feels great but plastic on a rifle like this....BOOOOO
-Trigger is excellent. Super light take up and a really nice break. It fits in with its higher end contemporaries well.
-Cocking stroke is very easy but she needs. Good WHACK to break the barrel.
-Cocking is a bit rough/crunchy/springy.  I expected this. It’s no big deal but when this was a $900 rifle I could totally see the hate. On a $495 rifle it’s fine.
-Lockup is like a bank vault with a very satisfying SNICK sound.
-Safety is VERY NICE and might be my favorite.
-Shot cycle is LIGHTNING FAST, like HW35e only faster at least in feel.
-There is NO spring noise, undue vibration, or odd sounds on firing. I had read that many folks experience some version or another of the above. Mine has none of it. A sharp FAST thunk/Smack And that’s it.  Super nice firing cycle.
-Iron sights were on right out of the box. Seems to put pellets where it should. The sights have very nice adjustments.
-Bluing is nice. Not Air Arms nice but nice.
-Mine has some tool marks in the channel in front of the rear sight. I would expect more from FWB.
-Sound signature is a sharp crack a little like the .177 HW35e.  It’s not as loud as I was led to believe but it’s not quiet either.

All in all I went into this one with some trepidation as I LOVED its lines on release and even at its original pricing I almost bought, but early reviews of horrible shot cycle combined with the price and beech stock at that price kept me away.  At 495 bucks I am SUPER HAPPY with this rifle so far and the only real negative is the spring noise on cocking.

I will put some rounds down the pipe and provide something more in depth when I can.

Take care, shoot safe
Chris

[airgunbuff]

congrats on your new air arm !!  good price too !!
kindly
ron

[Struckat]

On e of the best looking rifles out there. Congrats.
The Sport is on my EOD (every other day) list.

[north country gal]

Good for you, Chris. Now get out and do some shooting. For me, FWB Sport accuracy is the best part.

[Oldgringo]

Good for you, Chris. Now get out and do some shooting. For me, FWB Sport accuracy is the best part.

What did you use for a scope mount?  I'm asking for a friend. 

[Cslinger]

I can’t speak for North Country Gal but SportsMatch makes a one piece mount with cross pin scope stops for the FWB Sport. They are not cheap though at around $40-$50.

I will be shooting mine with irons for the time being but I have a mount on order only because I have an unused scope sitting around.

Chris

[Cslinger]

Ok, let me preface this by saying I have worn glasses all my life, have an astigmatism and have a harder time with leaf sights then apertures, and I am not very skilled.  So all that said I have to say I do believe this FWB is a legit shooter.

Here is the first 6 shots out of it into paper for a group.


The next groups start to open up but I believe this is LARGELY due to my eyes and skill with the leaf sights(which are excellent leaf sights by the way)

Approx. 15 shots I lost count, somewhere over 10 and under 20.


H&N's print a bit high and left but appear to group nicely.


Just plinking to see if I could hit the dot.  3 shots same hole.  I am thrilled.  I had to stop and take a picture before I screwed it all up.    Easier to pick up the sights on pure white paper.


I'm quite happy with the initial shooting of this thing.  The trigger in practice is EXCELLENT as is the shot cycle.  Honestly is FEELS a little bit more like shooting a .22 rimfire then most airguns do.  My biggest complaint so far is the barrel needs a bit of whack to unlatch it but that probably contributes to the wonderful lockup and the wonderful noise it makes when doing so.  So far I am quite happy. 

Chris

[tjk]

Congrats Man!!! You're inspired me to follow suit. Very nice groupings. And your overall review sound very promising too me. 👍

[north country gal]

Yes, I used the one piece Sportsmatch with the cross-in on our Sport. If you do use one, be sure to carefully snug up all the bolts, gradually, until good and tight.

Chris, that very much matches my experience with my first shots with the FWB Sport, since those were with the factory open sights. Mine has been very accurate from he very first shot. As far as breaking the barrel, a little grease on the locking latch helps. Don't forget to keep an eye on the bolts for tightness, though mine has been fairly well-behaved in that regard, compared to other new springers.

[Oldgringo]

Yes, I used the one piece Sportsmatch with the cross-in on our Sport. If you do use one, be sure to carefully snug up all the bolts, gradually, until good and tight.

Chris, that very much matches my experience with my first shots with the FWB Sport, since those were with the factory open sights. Mine has been very accurate from he very first shot. As far as breaking the barrel, a little grease on the locking latch helps. Don't forget to keep an eye on the bolts for tightness, though mine has been fairly well-behaved in that regard, compared to other new springers.

My FWB Sport is forecast to be here by 2100 hrs tomorrow.  We'll see what we see?  ITMT, I've been enjoying my new peep sighted HW50S.

Way to go, Joanie!  When you and John began your praises of the FBW Sport, Champion's Choice had 25 in stock.  At last look, they were down to 10.  You should get some sort of commission; you enabler, you!

[thompsje]

Kinda jealous of you guys. Mine showed up on Wednesday, but today is the first time I've had a break from work until well after dark.  I've got a total of 10 shots through it (will follow Hector's break in procedure), but I'm already really happy with it.   No twang, no buzz.   Its already been said, but it shoots fast and the feeling is just all around solid.   Like burying an axe in a chunk of wood.  Just *THUNK*.   I haven't opened it up... and at this point I don't really feel the need.

No target pics because I'm sitting cross-legged on the guest bed shooting out my home-office window, and my skill is way below what I think this gun is capable of.   Big thanks to Joanie and Motorhead for their reviews/info.   I was on the fence between the Sport and an R9 and that put me over the top (besides, can always get an R9 _later_).   I'm really glad I went this way.

Edit:   OK, I lied.   here's a pic.   First 10 shots and those orange stickers are 1" diameter.   20 yards, elbow propped on my knee.   One of the really low ones was the very first shot and I wasn't sure even where the trigger would break.

[Cslinger]

Good shooting.

I am finding mine continues to shoot really well.  I am limited by eyes more than anything, but keeping 5-10 shots inside a “Dot” at 19-20 yards is fairly easy with the right target contrast. 

I am going to take the time to write up a full review but only after I get a scope on it to see how it does with that.

Couple points from today.
-I did tighten down the stock screws a bit.
-the cocking stroke, although still a pain to break open(I did grease) is much nicer sounding and feeling then out of the box.   I can only guess whatever spring lube is distributing itself.
-So far it seems to shoot well with CPHP, Air Arms, H&N FTT to name a few.  Nothing I’ve run has been a complete no go (for my purposes anyway.)
-Based on seeing Joanie’s targets, your initial shooting, others and mine (understanding we all have different skill levels etc.) it does seem rifle to rifle they all shoot similarly and that bodes well for quality control.

As I have said I was on the fence with this rifle for a long time and I have to say I am very glad I purchased.

[DonC]

I got one last week. My experience is same as Chris described. I love it. I had to grease latch points and it opens easy now.
Question......The instructions are nebulous, how do you rotate the rear sight notches?

[tjk]

I would imagine the rear sight is similar to the HW/Beeman rear sights. Pull the rear site aperture  back and turn it to the desired/preferred setting.

[Cslinger]

Question......The instructions are nebulous, how do you rotate the rear sight notches?

The 4 position sight blade is held under spring tension pushing from the muzzle direction back towards the shooter so to speak. The easiest way to do it is to take thin bladed screw driver or knife and gently relieve tension on the blade by pushing towards the muzzle. Once a little tension is relieved you will be able to use your fingers to spin the blade.  Once the blade is moved slightly out of position keep spinning in that direction until you hear it click into the new position repeat as necessary.

[Oldgringo]

Mine was delivered at 1329 hrs. today.  I fell and hurt my back Wednesday and the wind is howling.  I'm learning from y'alls experience.  Maybe, I can clean and lube that beauty and shoot a few pellets tomorrow?

[north country gal]

Hope it's nothing serious with your back, Greg.

As for a commission on sales of the FWB, I had no idea my couple of posts would create a mini sales rush. Good heavens.

[DonC]

Hope it's nothing serious with your back, Greg.

As for a commission on sales of the FWB, I had no idea my couple of posts would create a mini sales rush. Good heavens.

Thanks for sharing your experience with the FWB Sport. I think it is worth every penny. Out of the box, I did not adjust the iron sights and it was dead on. Performance is same as my tuned German breakbarrels.
I am keeping iron sights on this one because they are the BEST I have ever seen on any breakbarrel. Beech stock is very nice. Grease on latch is required. It shoots ALL my test pellets just great.

[Cslinger]

I am happier and happier with this thing.  Even with just iron sights and an idiot behind the trigger this thing just plain seems to want to shoot.  Once again I cannot help but compare it more to a .22LR in shot characteristics.  I am kinda shocked at all the bad press this thing got.  I have many very nice air rifles and this this shoots at the top the class, especially considering iron sights dead on out of the box and the fact it doesn't have many rounds through it. 

Here is a mix of pellets.  Not sure if that JSB group was the pellet or just me getting tired/opening up, but needless to say it doesn't appear to be a pellet fussy rifle at all.  That hole in the top where the information is is just spall from a pellet piece bouncing out of my hardly ever cleaned trap.

[Cslinger]

Mine was delivered at 1329 hrs. today.  I fell and hurt my back Wednesday and the wind is howling.  I'm learning from y'alls experience.  Maybe, I can clean and lube that beauty and shoot a few pellets tomorrow?

Hope you get back on your feet quickly and that achy sore feeling leaves you quickly.   I hope you have as good a luck with your rifle as I seem to be having with mine.