A new front sight for the FWB150

When I bought my FWB150, I didn't really know what to look out for. I was to some extent blinded by the very thought of acquiring one, so I didn't look too hard at the online advertisement, or think too hard before clicking "buy it now!". I have not been disappointed with the rifle; it's been thoroughly overhauled, and shoots nicely. A few things have caused mild irritation though. Firstly, it is in some ways too perfect. I am not one for immaculate rifles that never see use, and I like some character and age to show in a rifle. I would describe this one as "over-restored". On the other hand, the bluing has already worn considerably, and comes off on wiping with a cloth. I can live with this though.

What I could not live with was the front sight. This rifle is fitted with a barrel sleeve, and the front sight was incorrect for this configuration. It was of the type fitted to rifles without the barrel sleeve. Of course, it functioned perfectly well, and I am not a collector of perfect rifles, but the gap between sight and barrel sleeve was not attractive at all. I considered having a spacer made, but this would still have left a step down between sleeve and sight.

After over a year of looking, I chanced upon the correct sight on eGun. When it arrived in the post, I tried to remove the old sight. The screw on the right must first be removed, and then the pin carefully tapped through from right to left. 

Try as I might, I could not move the pin. I tried tapping it out, pulling it, soaking it in light oil. Nothing worked. Finally someone suggested applying heat. I was very reluctant to do this, as I am no engineer and I didn't know what effect it might have on the barrel or the alloy sight. Still, a few seconds on the camping stove seemed to do the trick, with no harm done: the pin came out with ease. The new sight was easy to fit, and uses only a cross pin rather than pin and screw. As you can see from the photograph below, it closes the unsightly gap and really looks better. I will paint it to cover up the scratches at some point.

The sight arrived fitted with a post element and a small lens mounted in a brass ring, fitted on the target side of the element. It is uncoated glass, and appears to magnify the target slightly. I have never encountered one of these before, but I am told it is called an "eagle eye", and while it is not permitted in ISSF competitions, it is permitted in some target disciplines, mainly for use by shooters with defective eyesight. 

I have yet to try it out, but I will report back when I have done. While I can see that it might give target shooters an advantage, I am doubtful that it will increase my ability to hit corks at 25 metres!