The FWB65

I bought this Model 65 four years ago. I paid £250, which is a typical price for an example in good condition. Looking at the serial number and design, it appears that it was probably made in 1973.

A quick look into the breech showed a brittle, perished seal; probably the original. The pistol shot well, but fearing for the condition of the piston buffer inside, I sent it off to a specialist in the UK for servicing. It came back four weeks later feeling tight and shooting like a pistol fresh from the factory. It still shoots that way today - not bad for a 40 year old air pistol.

Before owning this, the only other target pistol I had used was a Czech TAU 7. That was well made and extremely accurate when shot from a bench, but try as I might I couldn't shoot it off-hand. I could barely even hold it steady on target, and I began to lose heart in pistol shooting. My confidence was restored on handling the Model 65; the grip size, shape, and angle suit me much better, as does the balance. As a result, while I'll never be competitive, I can pull off the occasional good bit of shooting. The Model 65 was available with a variety of grips, from plastic sporter types to the adjustable type seen here, in a range of sizes. I think this has a medium grip, but I am unsure; it is stamped "H" on the base.

As with Feinwerkbau's target air rifles, the 65 has a sidelever-cocking action mounted on sliding rails to absorb recoil. Early pistols were fitted with two springs, counter-wound, in order to eliminate the twisting recoil that can sometimes be felt in airguns. I believe this was dropped later, and a single spring was used. The photograph above shows the sidelever latch. You can also see the new breech seal, and beneath that a new damper, the small white plastic protrusion. To cock the pistol, the sidelever must be pulled back quite far, which can be hard for those with weaker hands. It is secured in this stroke by a ratchet, to prevent the breech closing on your fingers while loading. When the breech is closed again, the damper pushes against a catch, unlocking the trigger mechanism (I think, although I stand to be corrected - mechanics are not my strong point).

The front sight element is interchangeable, with a variety of widths available. Simply loosen the screw above the muzzle and slip out the element. Some pistols are fitted with a barrel sleeve which adds weight to the front and alters the point of balance. This one is not, and I am happy with the balance is it is. On the later Model 80, the sleeve was replaced by three weights that could be fitted under the barrel.

The rear sight is adjustable for width, as well as windage and elevation. Early pistols had a more basic sight, with replaceable elements, while that fitted to later pistols was wider. The sight picture is excellent, but if I were a competitive shooter I think I would appreciate the wider rear sight of a later pistol. Another difference between this and later examples is the distance that the frame, or tang, extends back over the shooter's hand; it extends a little further back on later pistols. These variations, and others, are discussed in detail on the American Vintage Airguns forum here.

The trigger blade is wide and comfortable. A groove is cut across the face, which helps to align the finger consistently. It is adjustable for both weight of pull and travel, but the blade cannot be adjusted for angle. The pistol is relatively easy to hold on target, and the trigger is excellent; no excuses for missing the bull. Although the Model 65 uses the same recoil-absorbing mechanism as the 150/300 series rifles, the shot is not completely devoid of "feel"; trigger control and follow-through must be perfect, and poor technique will still show up on the target.

In addition to the normal trigger adjustments, there is another. By pushing this switch on the underside of the receiver forward or back, the trigger weight can be varied from 500g (the minimum permissible for 10 metre match) to 1360g (for use in training for centrefire pistol matches). The recoil-absorbing sledge can also be locked by screwing a small plate into the hole in the receiver just below the barrel.

The FWB65 is an accurate, superbly engineered air pistol. It is robust, and with basic maintenance will last more than a lifetime. It was arguably the best air pistol of its day, and even today I would take one over any other spring powered pistol. While more modern PCPs give a small edge to the very best competition shooters, I think the Model 65 is still capable of impressing most.