Good day with the FWB Sport

[north country gal]

Finally had a day where the wind died down to a light breeze. Since I've been playing with the PCPs a lot, thought I better get back to the challenge of shooting a springer and, oh yeah, shooting the FWB Sport is always ... let's just say an adventure.

I switched scopes, recently, and the Sport is now wearing a Swift Premier 6-18x instead of the Nikon 3-9 EFR in the pic.


I also switched pellets from the FTT 8.64s to the heavier Baracuda Match 10.65s to see if going a bit heavier might tame the FWB Sport beast a touch. Didn't notice a big difference in the sharp Sport shot cycle, but the Baracuda Match did prove to be very accurate.

Shot about 20 pellets, total, to re-zero the scope and do a few practice groups. I then settled in to shoot some groups at 30 yards from the bench that I could use for accuracy testing. My c-c 5 shot average group size for the Sport at 30 yards has been in the half inch to five-eighths inch range on days where I'm in a Sport groove. (When I'm not, it ain't pretty.) By comparison, today's average for 5 groups was was just under that half-inch average at .44". Could have been the new pellets that made the difference or it could have been me having a great day with the Sport or maybe a combination of both.

Anyway, here's my best group of the day. Worst was a touch over half inch.


That had me pushing almost 50 shots with the Sport, which had my arms feeling like noodles (I use two hands to cock the Sport). Whew! The HW30 the Sport is NOT!

As I mentioned, I have been shooting some of our PCPs of late, so jumping back into springer shooting with the FWB Sport was a bit spooky, to say the least. I am very pleased with the results, though. It does restore my faith that the FWB Sport is capable of great accuracy, because, believe me, there are days with the Sport that push me into shooting my PCPs to keep my sanity.




 

[mr007s]

Nice shooter!

[Jshooter71]

Nice shooting, Joanie!

[Bimota]

Great shooting.

[Hobbyman2007]

I’m wondering why I haven’t heard of many tuning this rifle down to 12fpe or so. It looks like ARH has springs and seals available for these beauties. I’d love to have one , one of if not the best looking springer out there IMO.

[Oldgringo]

Finally had a day where the wind died down to a light breeze. Since I've been playing with the PCPs a lot, thought I better get back to the challenge of shooting a springer and, oh yeah, shooting the FWB Sport is always ... let's just say an adventure.

I switched scopes, recently, and the Sport is now wearing a Swift Premier 6-18x instead of the Nikon 3-9 EFR in the pic.


I also switched pellets from the FTT 8.64s to the heavier Baracuda Match 10.65s to see if going a bit heavier might tame the FWB Sport beast a touch. Didn't notice a big difference in the sharp Sport shot cycle, but the Baracuda Match did prove to be very accurate.

Shot about 20 pellets, total, to re-zero the scope and do a few practice groups. I then settled in to shoot some groups at 30 yards from the bench that I could use for accuracy testing. My c-c 5 shot average group size for the Sport at 30 yards has been in the half inch to five-eighths inch range on days where I'm in a Sport groove. (When I'm not, it ain't pretty.) By comparison, today's average for 5 groups was was just under that half-inch average at .44". Could have been the new pellets that made the difference or it could have been me having a great day with the Sport or maybe a combination of both.

Anyway, here's my best group of the day. Worst was a touch over half inch.


That had me pushing almost 50 shots with the Sport, which had my arms feeling like noodles (I use two hands to cock the Sport). Whew! The HW30 the Sport is NOT!

As I mentioned, I have been shooting some of our PCPs of late, so jumping back into springer shooting with the FWB Sport was a bit spooky, to say the least. I am very pleased with the results, though. It does restore my faith that the FWB Sport is capable of great accuracy, because, believe me, there are days with the Sport that push me into shooting my PCPs to keep my sanity.

Very Nice!  I've got my best groups (nothing like that) so far with JSB and AA 8.44 gr. pellets.  I tried some 10.34 gr. JSB's and they went all over the place.     Maybe I should give them another try now that more [ellets have gone through the barrel?

For the time being, my Sport is in the back of her safe.  I'm fascinated with the novelty of a Red Dot sight on my newest 50S. Can everybody see the red dot or is it just visible to the shooter?

[north country gal]

Thanks, folks.

Yes, I think the FWB Sport is a handsome rifle, too.

Greg, the red dot is only visible behind the red dot by the shooter. Depending on the model and type of red dot, looking at the front, you'll see a clear window or one with a tint of some type, but no dot.

[north country gal]

I should mention that I did try some offhand work with the FWB after shooting these groups. I actually prefer shooting springers, offhand/without a rest because I find they are more consistent in the way they shoot, one gun to the next. My light artillery offhand hold I can use with any springer. When shooting from a rest, I find that springers are much more varied in their hold or maybe a better term is their rest sensitivity.

The issue I have with my offhand shooting is fatigue. Heavy guns wear me out pretty fast when shooting without a rest. The really heavy ones like our laminated HW97K are simply too much when you add a scope. Cocking effort with springers is also a big deal for my offhand shooting because I have to sit down after every shot and use two hands to cock them.

As I mentioned, I did try a few offhand shots with the Sport, but by then my arms were worn out. The listed weight for the Sport is 8.2 pounds. While that is lighter than most under levers, when you add a scope it is still a heavy gun for me to shoot offhand for anything more than a short session.

I have shot the Sport without a scope, though, when I first bought it. Definitely more doable for offhand work, so I may return to that at some point. Definitely solves some scope and mount problems, too. This Sport already ate one scope. Maybe a peep sight or a red dot. We'll see.

[triggerfest]

Great shooting with a great shooter !

Honestly, these days... if I want power, let's say 12fpe or more, I prefer to pick up my PCP's. Springers are still nice, in the HW30s energy class only.

[north country gal]

No doubt about it. With the power level and consequent recoil level of the Sport, PCPs are definitely easier to shoot. Therein lies the challenge of shooting a springer like the Sport. It's hard for me to resist.

[mpbby]

WOW!  From PCPs.. to the springer, the good guess about the 'new' pellet, re-zeroing the scope and a few practice groups, only about 20 rounds, and accomplishing this kind of results..
 
Congratulations, the shooter actually deserve to be pleased!!

Now, thinking about your comfort.. Between bench rested and offhand, there is an option halfway.

As I am used to shoot rested, I never used it, but liked the simplicity of this "Brazilian invention".

Although the item itself is cheap (US$ "40") the shipping costs to the US may be salty..; I don't even know if this small business would be able to export.

So, if you like the idea, maybe is something to try DIY?

I have chosen this video because the images are didactic by themselves (most of the talking is about his backbone pain..), but if you are very patient.. there are some others on youtube that you may search with "smart solution by Vieira".

youtube.com/watch?v=1v25nLpFCL8

[north country gal]

Thank-you so much, Marcos.

That is a very interesting device. Yes, I think I could fabricate something similar. That could solve the issue of handling the weight of some of our big springers when shooting from a standing position.

Of course, we'd have to come up with a name for the position, maybe something like "assisted offhand" or "mechanical standing" or similar.

I think I have some of the parts needed. Be a good project. Thanks, again.

[mpbby]

I am glad you liked.  My vote goes to “assisted offhand”.

I found this other video showing it in details.  The reviewer says that the small white ball is made of rubber in order to no-slipping.

Nevertheless, currently it is being offered a new version where the small ball was replaced by a kind of small “U”; I don’t know the reasons for replacing.

So, regarding this part of the device, it seems to me you should think - out of the box .. what kind of support (end of the rod) would be more appropriated, according to your own experience with springers.

For example, in my case, accustomed to rest the Diana 350 on the relaxed palm (usually over a sand bag), I would start by thinking about the possibility of a bigger and comfortable support to rest my hand in between.  Just thinking..

youtube.com/watch?v=ns36-CFLrbY

[north country gal]

With a springer, yes, I would probably try a material supporting the gun that slides. somehow. I'm no engineer or crafts type person, so whatever I concoct might be a bit comical. Be fun to try, though.

[Cslinger]

Awesome. Shooting. I have found with my Sport when I switch back to it from other springers or the recent PCP is it requires a little bit of a mental reset. It still shoots, for me, far more like a firearm then other springers and certainly PCP guns.

My biggest complaint about the Sport is similar to others in that I think it’s over powered. I do love it though and I love how uniquely it feels compared to pretty much all my other air guns.

[tjk]

Superb shooting Joannie!!! That is awesome!!! I may try a red dot on my Sport as well.

I’m wondering why I haven’t heard of many tuning this rifle down to 12fpe or so. It looks like ARH has springs and seals available for these beauties. I’d love to have one , one of if not the best looking springer out there IMO.

Sorry Dennis. I inquired with JM about a spring kit for the new fwb sport, and was told that they would not be making a tune kit for this model due to ‘various reasons’. The seal for the new sport is thier only offering. And the spring for the Gen I sporters wont work with the Gen II Sport.
Perhaps this will change at later date.

[mafatone]

She's a looker.

[north country gal]

I think so, too, Dennis.

One of those "various reasons" from JB is probably the fact that the Sport has supposedly been discontinued by FWB. There was a low powered version of the Sport offered for the Euro market. Would love to find one.

[Keen]

I think so, too, Dennis.

One of those "various reasons" from JB is probably the fact that the Sport has supposedly been discontinued by FWB. There was a low powered version of the Sport offered for the Euro market. Would love to find one.

NCG didn't you buy two Sports?..............

If I could shoot like you off hand, I'd sleep easy EVERY night.

[Oldgringo]

I dug my Sport out of the safe this afternoon and fired three 10 shot groups.  One each with 8.44 gr. JSB and AA and then 10 shots with H&N 4.51 FTT's.  My groups were nowhere near Joanies' target (I wish) but I'm encouraged with 1/2 - 5/8" groups and declare the H&N FTT to be today's preferred pellet.

In a previous post there was comment about down-tuning our American Sport to European levels.  FWIW, my chrony indicates that the H&N 4.51 FTT travels at 820 fps and delivers ~13 fpe from my Sport.  Sans a specific kit, wouldn't cutting off a spring coil or two deenergize this fraulein?