What to do with a FWB Sport 124

[Hsing-ee]

Some time ago I talked to Maccari who was "The Man" on Sports. He basically said that power was more luck than anything! Be happy from anything from 9.5 to 10.5 so long as it was smooth. The reason given was that the Sport was done in batches and each time it depended on what tubes and machining set up was done that month, the early ones being far less easy to get any power out of.

Whatever the real reason its true that they behave best just smooth, and its difficult to force full power out of them. Others may know and have got them to shoot well and at full power but they are as difficult as the HW35E. Just the way it is.

The Sports sold very well in both 124 and 127. For collectors there are mint ones to be found. There are plenty of used in every condition, most being just excellent. Many a barrel might not be absolutely straight but that doesn't effect accuracy. Annoyingly every trigger is a tad different and all have some squidge. Bust the safety catch slide and thats trouble as no one does replacements.
If you desire a mint one then buy one, best to keep them that way. If you want one to shoot any will do, and tuning any which way you like makes no real difference to any sell on price. They are popular and change hands regulary enough, loads to choose from and a bit like buses. Get a good one and they deliver, but all are a bit twitchy and not the most forgiving beingso light weight. Their handerling, pointability is why I love them. If you want something easy get a brick of a HW77/80. Because Sports are flighty they are fun shooting, best shot standing unsupported. Try and tame them by tieing to a bench they are going to give you grief.

Scope wise a 4x40 for the 127 and a 3-9x40 or 45 for the 124 look and handle best. Apel cross pin mounts look fantastic though Sportsmatch or a one piece will hold the scope securely enough. Most scopes have to be quite far back on the mounts so the rear mount is butted up on the turret block in the middle. The excel within the farmyard though can do a tad further.

To sum up. I don't think they are worth trying to make "as new" again as there are mint ones to be had. for a sgooter just get a tidy one. I do think tinkering and tuning is a worthy exercise but you might not get 11.9ft/lbs. Lots of ways to tune. Original springs and pston seal greens ones tend to work. Anything else can be a bit of a challenge, and luck. To get a tune result might take someone who really knows how to advance tune.

Anyhow, I just love Sports. However, there are easier rifles to shoot.

I agree with most of what you say, but the FWB Sport has always been full power and all the ones I have had put out over 11 fpe, some of the .22s were OTT and had to be reigned in. They are REALLY not difficult to get 12 fpe out of and I am surprised both you and Maccari claim this. Ask RustyBuzz, his Dad Dave Welham must have prepped hundreds of them.

[ptdunk]

I agree with most of what you say, but the FWB Sport has always been full power and all the ones I have had put out over 11 fpe, some of the .22s were OTT and had to be reigned in. They are REALLY not difficult to get 12 fpe out of and I am surprised both you and Maccari claim this. Ask RustyBuzz, his Dad Dave Welham must have prepped hundreds of them.

I agree, the more efficient new seals available often push the power over the limit when fitted to rifles with the original FWB springs.

[Geezer]

I agree with most of what you say, but the FWB Sport has always been full power and all the ones I have had put out over 11 fpe, some of the .22s were OTT and had to be reigned in. They are REALLY not difficult to get 12 fpe out of and I am surprised both you and Maccari claim this. Ask RustyBuzz, his Dad Dave Welham must have prepped hundreds of them.

I agree, the more efficient new seals available often push the power over the limit when fitted to rifles with the original FWB springs.

You guys have a point there. The 124/127 was always a 13-14 ft-lbs rifle, slightly throttled back for the U.K.

[mallyally]

of all the springers I have ever tuned (hundreds ) The sport is the easiest to get 12 ( and over ) Ft Lbs out of with hardly any work in fact sometimes you struggle to get them under 12

[Geezer]

of all the springers I have ever tuned (hundreds ) The sport is the easiest to get 12 ( and over ) Ft Lbs out of with hardly any work in fact sometimes you struggle to get them under 12

Agree on the usual power level and chance to exceed the limit.

But surely the easiest is the HW80, especially as many “legal limit” 80s were sold back in the day making more than 12 ft-lbs? The Webley Tomahawk (21 ft-lbs in FAC trim), AA Pro-Elite and Diana 48/52 and probably the 460 are also in the running.

[I. J.]

of all the springers I have ever tuned (hundreds ) The sport is the easiest to get 12 ( and over ) Ft Lbs out of with hardly any work in fact sometimes you struggle to get them under 12

So, you've never had a .22 HW80?

IMO the 'Sport looks better than the HW35/95/80 but the trigger isn't as good (few are) and the plastic open sights and blade (Mk 1) on the 'Sport a disappointment. On a plus side the 'Sport has a re settable safety as standard. Also the HWs are far easier to strip.

You will not be disappointed with a nicely tuned version of either.

Horses for courses.

ATB
Ian

[mallyally]

So, you've never had a .22 HW80?

IMO the 'Sport looks better than the HW35/95/80 but the trigger isn't as good (few are) and the plastic open sights and blade (Mk 1) on the 'Sport a disappointment. On a plus side the 'Sport has a re settable safety as standard. Also the HWs are far easier to strip.

You will not be disappointed with a nicely tuned version of either.

Horses for courses.

ATB
Ian

yeah I have had quite a few 80s But I did have one ( still have it actually ) that I really struggled to get 9 Ft Lbs out of ! mostly a polish and Lube and you have to cut down the spring not this bugger, in the end I turned a spigot on the spring guide to fit in the back block it was in bits that many times ! So 80s yes Mostly but not always

[RustyBuzz]

In my experience the piston seals supplied by John Knibbs are an excellent fit, no additional fitting required as such which is a real bonus.

Macarri’s springs are excellent, but these days I prefer the feel of the sports standard spring, or as already mentioned, a 77 spring is fine too.

[I. J.]

So 80s yes Mostly but not always

There is always the exception to the general rule.

ATB
Ian

[Muskett]

I agree with most of what you say, but the FWB Sport has always been full power and all the ones I have had put out over 11 fpe, some of the .22s were OTT and had to be reigned in. They are REALLY not difficult to get 12 fpe out of and I am surprised both you and Maccari claim this. Ask RustyBuzz, his Dad Dave Welham must have prepped hundreds of them.

Probably because all bar one of mine have been 124's. 127's might just be easier.
As pellet placement and accuracy fills the bag then that is what Sports do well; power rather irrelevant.

Forgot who it is but someone has twenty?? or so?? Wonder if he would know.

[Bluefan]

What to do with a FWB 124 .... easy sell it to me it is a lovely gun Gary has done a good job with his and so has Mally with his I think they've both posted what they did on here somewhere

[DM80]

The fwb sport was a nice gun but it was nothing special I've owned many over the years it had its faults and to be fair the barrel lock up was piss poor its trigger unit was average at best its plastic sights are rubbish and the recoil was not good if you could shoot one in the day accurately you were a superstar a modern day lightweight Springer in the same class say a hw95 or hw99s are far superior in all departments ie build quality trigger mech and overall accuracy but the fwb was a pritty gun.

Dave.

[RustyBuzz]

The fwb sport was a nice gun but it was nothing special I've owned many over the years it had its faults and to be fair the barrel lock up was piss poor its trigger unit was average at best its plastic sights are rubbish and the recoil was not good if you could shoot one in the day accurately you were a superstar a modern day lightweight Springer in the same class say a hw95 or hw99s are far superior in all departments ie build quality trigger mech and overall accuracy but the fwb was a pritty gun.

Dave.

That must be why the Sport was the most successful FT rifle pre the 77k.

[DM80]

The HW35 was is a way better gun more accurate better built and when the hw80 arrived the sport was no more it just was not as good as the HW guns

[keith66]

I had an HW35 as well, It was heavy & agricultural compared to the Fwb, It expired when the cocking arm wore tramlines inside the cylinder & jumped the piston. Not for me.