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.

 

The FWB127 Sport

I have been working away from most of my collection for the past year, but for the next couple of weeks I'm back at the old house and can play with them.

 

 According to D R Hughes, who imported Feinwerkbau guns into the UK in the 1970s, the Sport was first released onto the US market in late 1973, and arrived in Britain around the summer of 1975. It was manufactured until 1989. The basic variations familiar to British shooters are the 124 (in .177/4.5mm calibre) and the 127 (.22/5.5mm). There are several other variants in existence, including the 121, fitted with a more basic stock, but they are less common, at least in the UK. I first read about the Sport on AirgunBBS, and was immediately interested. A light, quick handling, accurate and simple sporter, made to a standard rarely seen on sporting airguns - what's not to like?

Well, quite a few things, it seems. The more I read, the more little quirks seemed to come out about this rifle. Talk of spongy triggers, failing safety catches, fragile stocks, weak barrel lock-ups, harsh recoil and hold-sensitivity put me off buying one for several years. Why put up with such failings when a HW35 or 95 does the same job with a Rekord trigger and no issues? I asked on the forum, and the resulting discussion laid to rest some of the negative impressions I had gained, but more importantly highlighted just how great a rifle many people consider the Sport to be, despite its faults. I resolved to have a Sport of my own, but it was three years before one came up at a price I could afford: the slightly battered example you see in these photographs. On receiving the rifle, I immediately saw why it is held in such high regard. It comes to the shoulder easily and balances perfectly. Despite worn bluing, a cracked stock and a few knocks to the metalwork, a high standard of workmanship is evident. A nice touch, which I am disappointed to see has been omitted from the new version, is the sling swivel fitted to the breech block. As a Model 127, this is in .22/5.5mm calibre.

My rifle lacks its original open sights, so I fitted a Nikko Stirling Platinum 4x32 scope. A bigger scope might aid accuracy, but I wanted to keep the weight down and preserve the elegant lines. I think the scope dates from the mid-1990s, so it's not contemporary to the rifle (this one was made in 1979) but I think it suits it well. I chose a Sportsmatch OP22C one piece mount, which includes a horizontal pin which fits into the grooves atop the cylinder in order to prevent the mount from shifting back under recoil. Some people don't like this system, as there is potential for the pin to dig into the cylinder and cause damage, but I have taken the risk and all seems well so far. The photograph below shows the underside of the mount, with the cross-pin (fitted to a different scope).

 

Cocking effort is light, and this ease of use is one of the factors that makes it such a joy to shoot. The breech is secured by a ball-bearing and pin/nipple arrangement, which seems solid enough on mine but has come in for criticism by other owners. It seems that in time the pin or nipple on the front of the cylinder can wear down, resulting in a weak lock-up. I have greased mine, perhaps a little too much, to prevent this wear.

On cocking, an automatic safety catch is activated. It is positioned at the back of the cylinder, where my thumb falls naturally. One should never rely on a safety catch, and this goes for that fitted to my Sport more than any gun I've owned - this one does not work. I suspect it is due to a worn part, and it is a very common problem. Fortunately the trigger is reliable, and is unaffected by the defective safety catch.

The trigger is best described as adequate for a sporter. It is not in the same class as a Rekord, but it is not bad. Being a Sport Mk.I, my rifle is fitted with a plastic trigger blade, but I believe this was changed to aluminium on the Mks.II and III. Many owners have also fitted after-market metal trigger blades to their Mk.Is. There is a limited amount of adjustment, but I have left mine alone. Pull on this is about 1kg. It is possible to modify for a more precise two stage release, according to this post on AirgunBBS.

Recoil is noticeable but not excessive. I am used to the recoilless FWB300S so have been spoilt a little, but the Sport is not too bad for a light, full powered (12ft.lbs/16J UK legal limit) rifle. There is some vibration, but again, this is not excessive and I suspect anyone who knows a little about tuning could eliminate it.

I shot this target recently. The group measures 13mm centre to centre, and although 20 metres is not really far enough to show true accuracy, I have no doubt that with care the same could be achieved at 30 metres (maybe with different pellets; while great at close range, flat-headed RWS Hobby tend to spread past 20-25 metres). Although an all-out sporter, the Feinwerkbau Sport does have some competition heritage: the first Field Target competition in the UK was won by a shooter using a 127.

A frequent problem with the Sport is cracked stocks. As you can see, mine has a crack running from behind the trigger guard across the pistol grip. This has been repaired and feels solid, so I am not worried by it. A common fix is to remove the grip cap and insert a bolt through the base of the grip, making it stronger than ever.

 

Another issue is that over time the rubber butt pads deteriorate. I will replace mine, as it does not provide any grip on my shoulder.

It may seem that this article is full of negatives: faulty this, worn out that. It is true that the Sport is not a perfect rifle, and mine is far from a good example, but I must emphasise this: it is much more than the sum of its parts. Handling and shooting it are a simple pleasure. If my limited experience does not convince, read this article by Richard Welham, a competitive shooter who was involved in tuning Sports in the 1980s. Mine is a keeper, one I will never sell.

As always, comments and corrections are welcome.

 

Two Feinwerkbaus on a postage stamp

How many airguns can claim to have appeared on a national postage stamp?

This stamp appears to have been issued in 1979 to commemorate the European Air Rifle and Air Pistol Championships in Graz, Austria. The drawings are not perfectly accurate, but the rifle bears a strong resemblance to a FWB300S and the pistol to a FWB80.

 

News!

What's this?

A new Feinwerkbau Sport! (Image taken from the Feinwerkbau website.)

It seems that 30 years after production of the original Sport 12# ended, Feinwerkbau are to release a new version.

More photographs and other information can be found on the Feinwerkbau website here.

There's some speculation and discussion on AirgunBBS here and here.

Easter with the FWB300S Junior

Yesterday I finally managed to leave the city and spend an afternoon shooting on my friend's land with my new FWB300S Junior. The Junior is slightly shorter and lighter than the standard 300S, and was intended as a 10 metre match rifle for children and smaller adults. The action appears to be the same as the 300S, but the barrel lacks the muzzle weight, and the stock is made from beech rather than walnut, with the length of pull being reduced to about 30cm.

This rifle was made in 1982, and the stock has a step in the forend. This step did not appear on later rifles, their stocks being more like the standard 300S. I found the step to be very comfortable, and prefer the look to the later rifles. The pistol grip is stippled and the forend is fitted with an accessory rail, as on the standard 300S. The length of pull is a little short for me, so I will look at extending it by about 3cm with a spacer and longer screws.

I think this example was previously owned by a shooting club, as it shows a lot of use; the varnish has been rubbed from the stock and the metalwork is pitted along the top of the cylinder.

The breech seal is blue, so not original, but this does not necessarily mean that the internals have been replaced too - this thread on American Vintage Airguns is worth a read with regards to the internal parts. With this in mind, I have bought a service kit from Waffencenter Gotha. Following advice on AirgunBBS, I chose a standard kit over any of the tuning options; smoothness and minimal wear are more important to me than higher power.

I have not fitted the kit yet, as I wanted to see how the rifle shoots first (and, I must be honest, I have not plucked up the courage to attempt to strip it!). Sights are the usual match dioptre type, with a 1.1mm iris (replaceable) and a globe at the front. The rifle arrived fitted with a 4.1mm element, which I expect is ideal for 10 metre match shooting, but as I intend to use it at longer ranges, I changed this for a 3.6mm globe. This proved to be perfect for shooting paper targets and beer cans from 30 to 50 metres.

The dioptre sits on standard 11mm scope rails, which I think extend further forward than those on my 1976 FWB300S. I may well fit a 4x32 scope in the future. The photo below also shows the cocking lever and its release catch - note the lever is much shorter than that of the FWB150, and the catch is of a simpler design, on the top rather than the end of the lever. I find it easier to use than that of the FWB150.

The dioptre is of a slightly different design to that on my FWB150; I wonder how many variations Feinwerkbau went through up until the FWB300SU?

As it has come from Germany, power is within their limit of  7.5 joules (about 5.5 ft.lbs). While this might seem low, it's perfectly adequate for accurate fun shooting out to 50 metres. Cocking effort is minimal, and with the lighter weight and pleasant balance of the rifle I could shoot all afternoon quite happily. The trigger is excellent, noticeably better than the (very good) trigger on my FWB150. 

There is a slight twang from the springs on releasing the shot. This is quite normal for Feinwerkbaus, and I think it is probably a result of the fact that the springs are not lubricated - I have read that the rifle was designed to be run dry. Accuracy is excellent, as expected. When the wind was up, hitting the 10x12cm plate from 50 metres was a challenge, but as soon as it was calm I was knocking it consistently, with a few centimetres of holdover. The rifle did however show that it is in need of some attention; it seemed that sometimes it would recoil on its sledge a little too freely, maybe as if something in the recoil absorption mechanism is worn or needs tightening. When holding it vertically, a slap on the butt causes the action to drop back to its rearmost position. If anyone has any suggestions as to how to remedy this, please let me know. 

Overall, I am extremely happy with my FWB300S Junior. It's accurate and it handles very nicely. I even quite like its battered appearance. Sorting out the mechanical wear and tear, extending the butt by 3cm and adding a light 4x32 scope might make it the perfect long range fun rifle.

Christmas with the FWB150

Four weeks ago, I bought a FWB150 from the German auction site eGun. It was described as recently serviced (important as servicing can cost a significant amount if you don't have the skill to do it yourself) and had a reasonable "buy it now" price. An email to the seller to confirm she would post internationally, and it was mine. However, it was not until this week that I was able to shoot it; I spent Christmas at a friend's house, with a 50 metre garden to play in.

This example of the 150 appears to have been made in 1965 or 66, judging by the serial number (23xxx). It has clearly been restored recently, not just with a service of internal parts but with a reblue of the metalwork and a refinish of the stock. The blue is a little thin, and although I expect the varnish on the stock is close to the original, an oil finish would have been nicer. However, it is still a beautiful rifle.

Compared to the FWB300S I have, the stock is more like that of a sporting rifle; the grip is chequered rather than stippled, and the forend is shallower. The forend feels wider than the 300S, but as my other rifle is back in the UK I cannot compare the two. I particularly like the pattern of chequering on the grip of the 150, the way the two panels meet at the top.

The grip is beautifully shaped, with a slight swell on the right that fits my fairly large hand perfectly. Although the stock is not an ambidextrous design, my left handed friend found it comfortable to use. This example has a fixed rubber butt pad; I do not know if this was standard on the 150, or if an adjustable pad as found on the 300S was an option. Length of pull is about 345mm, a little short for me but still comfortable. In the future I might replace the pad with one from a 300S, and add a spacer. A UIT type rail is fitted under the forend, so that a bipod or hand stop can be fitted, and there is also a screw hole for the attachment of a weight to alter the balance. 

The 150 was available with a barrel sleeve as an optional extra, and mine has one fitted. I like the look; as for balance, I think it would be equally good without it. As can be seen from the photograph below, there is a small gap of about 5.5mm between the barrel sleeve and the front sight. This led me to suspect that the sleeve or the sight might not be an original item, and I was told on AirgunBBS that Feinwerkbau fitted a different front sight to rifles with the sleeve. The ideal solution would be to find an appropriate front sight, but in the mean time I might have a blued steel spacer made to fill the gap.

As befits a target rifle, the sights are of the diopter type. The rear sight on this rifle is of the same type as fitted to my 300S, with a 1.1mm iris; I do not know whether this is original or not, whether an earlier version was made. The front sight takes replaceable elements of 16mm diameter. This rifle came fitted with a 4mm globe element, and a member of AirgunBBS kindly sent me a post type to try too.

The cocking lever of the 150 is quite different to that of the 300S, being longer and having a different type of latch.

Here is a photo of the mechanism open. The whole rifle is superbly well engineered, and I am sure it will outlast me. You can also see the separate rail onto which the diopter sight is fitted; the later 300S uses a conventional 11mm dovetail. The horizontal grooves at the front are for reference when adjusting the position of the sight on the receiver, while beneath the sight are deeper grooves into which fits the cross-bolt, to prevent the sight shifting under recoil. 

When you buy any of the Feinwerkbau spring powered match guns, have a look at the breech seal. Modern replacements are blue or green, whereas the originals are now yellow and brittle. Original seals should be replaced, along with the piston buffer from inside, as continuing to use a rifle with worn seals can cause damage as well as poor accuracy.

Now on to the most important question: how does it shoot? As anyone who has owned a FWB match gun will know: wonderfully. Although it is fairly heavy, it comes to the shoulder easily and balances nicely. Cocking is light and smooth, with a reassuring safety ratchet mechanism to prevent accidental release when fingers are in the breech. The trigger is brilliant, maybe not quite as good as that of the 300S but still superb. The sledge recoil system works well, and very little if anything is felt when the rifle discharges.

I zeroed at 25 metres, using JSB Exact RS Diabolo pellets. Obviously, if using the rifle for match shooting I would use wadcutters, but as I will be using it for plinking out to 50 metres I chose roundheads. I will not quote group sizes, as I am an embarrassingly poor shot and cannot do the rifle justice, but I will say that shooting from a standing unsupported position, hitting bottle tops was easy at 25 metres. At 50 metres, with 36cm of hold-over, I was hitting a 5x8cm target consistently. From a rest, I have no doubt that the 150 is capable of groups of well under 3cm at 50 metres on a still day. Regarding velocity, I do not know. The original manual states 180 metres per second, but a 36cm drop at 50 metres from a 25 metre zero with 0.475 gram pellets suggests 145 metres per second for my rifle, using Hawke ChairGun. It certainly felt like more than that, but it could be that the rifle is still settling in after its restoration, or that my pacing of 50 metres leaves something to be desired and that it was more like 55 or 60 metres. Whatever the velocity, the important thing is accuracy, and the 150 has this in abundance.

As stated in earlier posts on this blog, I am no expert on these guns, so I am always eager for any further information readers may have.

Happy New Year, fellow Feinwerkbau enthusiasts!

Airgun Collector magazine

Members of AirgunBBS, together with some US enthusiasts, have got together to produce a brilliant magazine on airgun collecting. It covers a wide range of air rifles and pistols, but of particular interest to Feinwerkbau collectors is a piece by D R Hughes, who led the way in importing high quality German airguns into the UK in the 1960s and 70s, and also wrote a handbook for the Model 124/127 Sport, amongst other rifles.

The magazine can be downloaded free as a Pdf from sources listed on the link above. Please note, I had no part in producing this magazine, credit must go to the contributors and Garvin of AirgunBBS who put it together. Thanks chaps!