FWB Sport finally in the line up

[SeanGabrell]

A second hand Sport was delivered to my door last Friday. After a quick inspection, I was very impressed. Blueing was nice, stock finish was perfect, shouldered great! And then I cocked it….. you can almost feel and here every coil of the spring as it rode over the rear spring guide. Shot cycle was loud and the “boing” but quick and snappy.

I opened her up to see what can be done. The rear spring guide is very undersized for the ID of the main spring. I managed a make shift plastic liner that helped quite a bit. After re assembly she was shooting FTT’s at 850fps and JSB 8.44’s at 865fps for 13.5 and 14fpe. Next the trigger. The length of the first stage seems to be the only thing adjustable by the screw. It is a very heavy first stage (1 pound ish) that rolls right into a 1 pound 5 oz second stage break weight. Still not having full feeling in my trigger finger after the sawzall incident over the summer caused me to struggle with the very narrow difference in weight. I dialed out pretty much all of the 1st stage and now basically have a 1 stage trigger that breaks at 1 pound 4 1/2 oz on average.

Had a full day of shooting her on Saturday. After a quick pellet cull, I found the FX 8.4’s to do the best. Accuracy during zeroing was promising. Consistent 1/2-3/4 groups at 30 yards and tried a few at 50 yards. (2) 5 shot groups were almost identical, put 4 pellets through a ragged hole and pulled 1 about 1/2” away. Throughout the day the shot cycle started getting springy and my “make shift” fix was to blame. Opened up the rifle Sunday morning and my sleeve was basically hanging off the rear spring guide.

I haven’t been able to find a kit so I got a little creative. I had a vortek PG3 full power kit for a Diana 34 collecting dust so with a little modification to the rear guide where it meets up to the trigger assembly I was able to make it fit. And gracious what an improvement. If this holds up it will be one of my finest shooting rifles. Managed an hour behind the trigger tonight before I lost daylight and here are the results.

Apologies for the long post, just wanted to share my findings.

[Denby95]

Great post Sean. I love the angular looks of that gun. A shame they stopped making them.

[Bayman]

I seen the gun first hand and it's a beautiful gun. I'm glad you got it tamed. Those groups are fantastic. I look forward to shooting it now

[SeanGabrell]

Great post Sean. I love the angular looks of that gun. A shame they stopped making them.

Pretty sure AOA still has them in stock so they are still around. They are solid rifles and highly recommended them. The machining is top notch. No internal burrs and the barrel lock up is incredible.  I just have a hard time shooting with spring noise, it drives me crazy. The rear spring guide is my only gripe with the rifle. I’m sure the trigger will work it’s way in.

[SeanGabrell]

I seen the gun first hand and it's a beautiful gun. I'm glad you got it tamed. Those groups are fantastic. I look forward to shooting it now

Ron I think you would love the way it’s shooting right now based on the way you set your rifles up. Next time we get together I want your honest opinion on it.

[Oldgringo]

I am glad she is in better hands.  It was a pleasure doing business with you.

ENJOY!

[SeanGabrell]

I am glad she is in better hands.  ENJOY!

She’s a beauty Greg, I’ll take good care of her.

[Denby95]

Great post Sean. I love the angular looks of that gun. A shame they stopped making them.

Pretty sure AOA still has them in stock so they are still around. They are solid rifles and highly recommended them. The machining is top notch. No internal burrs and the barrel lock up is incredible.  I just have a hard time shooting with spring noise, it drives me crazy. The rear spring guide is my only gripe with the rifle. I’m sure the trigger will work it’s way in.

I'm definitely interested in one, just have a hard time justifying the 600 dollar price tag when compared to a weihrauch like my HW95 Luxus that only cost 400 when I bought that. It is really a beautiful gun though.

Still, I love the novelty of different makes/designs from different manufacturers for increased choices. Another example being the SIG. Just a hard market to be in it seems for many of these companies.

[Bayman]

I seen the gun first hand and it's a beautiful gun. I'm glad you got it tamed. Those groups are fantastic. I look forward to shooting it now

Ron I think you would love the way it’s shooting right now based on the way you set your rifles up. Next time we get together I want your honest opinion on it.

I'm sure it will be my pleasure.

[north country gal]

Welcome to the FWB Sport club, Sean. The Sport and old granny me make an unlikely pair, but I love mine. Oh, the Sport isn't my most used springer, but pretty close. One thing for sure, the Sport's accuracy has my under levers collecting some dust.

[HectorMedina]

A second hand Sport was delivered to my door last Friday. After a quick inspection, I was very impressed. Blueing was nice, stock finish was perfect, shouldered great! And then I cocked it….. you can almost feel and here every coil of the spring as it rode over the rear spring guide. Shot cycle was loud and the “boing” but quick and snappy.

I opened her up to see what can be done. The rear spring guide is very undersized for the ID of the main spring. I managed a make shift plastic liner that helped quite a bit. After re assembly she was shooting FTT’s at 850fps and JSB 8.44’s at 865fps for 13.5 and 14fpe. Next the trigger. The length of the first stage seems to be the only thing adjustable by the screw. It is a very heavy first stage (1 pound ish) that rolls right into a 1 pound 5 oz second stage break weight. Still not having full feeling in my trigger finger after the sawzall incident over the summer caused me to struggle with the very narrow difference in weight. I dialed out pretty much all of the 1st stage and now basically have a 1 stage trigger that breaks at 1 pound 4 1/2 oz on average.

Had a full day of shooting her on Saturday. After a quick pellet cull, I found the FX 8.4’s to do the best. Accuracy during zeroing was promising. Consistent 1/2-3/4 groups at 30 yards and tried a few at 50 yards. (2) 5 shot groups were almost identical, put 4 pellets through a ragged hole and pulled 1 about 1/2” away. Throughout the day the shot cycle started getting springy and my “make shift” fix was to blame. Opened up the rifle Sunday morning and my sleeve was basically hanging off the rear spring guide.

I haven’t been able to find a kit so I got a little creative. I had a vortek PG3 full power kit for a Diana 34 collecting dust so with a little modification to the rear guide where it meets up to the trigger assembly I was able to make it fit. And gracious what an improvement. If this holds up it will be one of my finest shooting rifles. Managed an hour behind the trigger tonight before I lost daylight and here are the results.

Apologies for the long post, just wanted to share my findings.

Good job, Sean!

Congrats.





HM

[Yogi]

2 thumbs up!

-Y

[mafatone]

Nice.

[Cslinger]

That’s awesome. I got lucky with my sport. It has NO twang at all. Just a sharp quick crack and the pellet is on the way.  Mine has been exceptionally accurate.   It’s shot cycle and sound is similar to my .177 HW35e although more powerful.

Honestly my only complaint is the gun is a bit too powerful. I wouldn’t mind tuning it down but have no idea what spring to use.

[Mark 611]

Very good Sean!

[Arch_E]

Good for you both--Greg and Sean!

Sean, that's excellent shooting, combined with excellent trouble shooting on the spring guide. One day, I'll have to man up and tear into mine to make repairs. Yikes. I'm not ready!!!!!

Archie

[SeanGabrell]

Thanks all for checking out the post. Received a delivery today from vortek for a new PG4 steel kit for one of my TX’s and I also added a few HW80 vac seals on the slight chance it’ll fit the 30mm piston in the FWB, and bingo! Perfect fit. "dang" near identical dimensions. Just shot over 10 over the chrony and bumped up 15fps over the stock seal. Will probably rise more seeing that it has a new kit with under 100 shots and a brand new piston seal.

[DonC]

Nice addition to your stable. The first one I bought had to be returned. Retailer didn't have any more so I bought the 2nd one tuned from Flying Dragons. Mike replaced the spring guide. Wow! It shoots like my TX200. Yer gonna love it.
On you aquire list you must get a Diana 340. It is just as good. Hector says the trigger can be adjusted to perfection. I concur.

[SeanGabrell]

Nice addition to your stable. The first one I bought had to be returned. Retailer didn't have any more so I bought the 2nd one tuned from Flying Dragons. Mike replaced the spring guide. Wow! It shoots like my TX200. Yer gonna love it.
On you aquire list you must get a Diana 340. It is just as good. Hector says the trigger can be adjusted to perfection. I concur.

So far I’m impressed with this rifle. Looking forward to getting familiar with it. As of now I don’t own any Diana’s but a few are on my list. The 340 is one of them.

[Oldgringo]

Thanks all for checking out the post. Received a delivery today from vortek for a new PG4 steel kit for one of my TX’s and I also added a few HW80 vac seals on the slight chance it’ll fit the 30mm piston in the FWB, and bingo! Perfect fit. "dang" near identical dimensions. Just shot over 10 over the chrony and bumped up 15fps over the stock seal. Will probably rise more seeing that it has a new kit with under 100 shots and a brand new piston seal.

I knew she would be in better hands.  Have you put a scope on her yet?