A different sort of lever gun...

[AmBraCol]

A friend's mom used to shoot olympic 10 meter air rifle and air pistol. She passed away a few years ago and left him her old pistols and rifle. The rifle's a Feinwerkbau 300S. It's here at my place to get a complete rebuild. We got the parts right from FWB, now all it takes is time to get 'er done. First step today was to take a baseline velocity test. It started out at 360 FPS with 7.7 grain wadcutters. Top speed was must over 400. We'll see what happens once it gets torn down, cleaned up, lubed and rebuilt. It's an interesting platform, with an anti-recoil mechanism. Very nice trigger and the sights worked fine with the home printed targets on hand. It's been over 30 years since I did any target shooting with aperture sights, and months since last I picked up a rifle of any kind. Groups weren't that good, but it's not the rifle's fault. That side lever cocking is smooth and easy. The trigger is nice and crisp. If you've never shot one of these rifles, you're missing out on a fun little plinker.

[earlmck]

Dang, I didn't know you could wear out that 300s. I have had one for 40 years or so -- it gets fairly regular shooting but the trigger is sooo much lighter/crisper than anything else I own (lotsa leverguns and pumps) that practice with the air rifle doesn't count as much (in my mind) as practice with something that has a more normal trigger. I'll be interested in how the re-build goes.

[AmBraCol]

It's more because of neglect than anything else. It sat in the case unused for years (decades?). That first shot at 360 fps indicates a lot of gumming up inside. We'll be tearing her down, replacing seals because they're old and the springs because we're in there. Lubing with the appropriate FWB grease and she should be back to around 500 FPS. I just rebuilt the FWB Modell 65 pistol she used to shoot as well. Haven't clocked it yet, but it's working for the first time in years. She also had a Modell 2 that I replaced the valves and orings on the cylinder. He's not even filled up the cylinders since then so don't know how it's working - since it isn't. The triggers on these airguns are phenomenal.

[Bill in Oregon]

The Feinwerkbaus are works of art. I've been fortunate to have owned both a 300 and a 65, although briefly in both cases.