FWB 65 HOT!

[Rover]

Browsing YouTube I saw an item by a shooter chronographing a FWB65 springer. He was getting exceptionally uniform velocities (better than your PCP) at about 500 fps.

I never chrono'd any of mine, but I never thought they would be that fast, though accuracy was excellent.

Got any TESTED comments on this?

BTW I DO recommend this gun to new shooters looking to get into the game cheap.

[kevinweiho]

I never chrono'd any of mine, but I never thought they would be that fast.

There are two versions of the FWB 65, the standard long barrel and the short barrel. The 65 MKI version has only one mainspring.
The pistol you saw in youtube is probably the MKII version, with two mainsprings, allowing the pistol to shoot around 500 fps...

The best of the two versions is the MKII with short barrel...

[wasatch]

This piston ring with overlapping ends to reduce pressure loss (maybe?) looks interesting.

http://www.waffencenter-gotha.de/shop/E ... 989dc1631f

[High Left]

The manual for my 65, a 'Mk1' long barrel, shows dual mainsprings. The Mk2 was available when I bought it, early to mid 80's maybe? A long time ago anyway.

My fading memory suggests they were rated at 525 or 550 fps? Whatever it was, they were the most potent air pistol you could buy from Beeman's, and I figured that made it adequate for Blue Jays.

[Rover]

You could never believe anything Beeman said, but I did nail a few rabbits with mine.

[kevinweiho]

The manual for my 65, a 'Mk1' long barrel, shows dual mainsprings. The Mk2 was available when I bought it, early to mid 80's maybe? A long time ago anyway.

My fading memory suggests they were rated at 525 or 550 fps? Whatever it was, they were the most potent air pistol you could buy from Beeman's, and I figured that made it adequate for Blue Jays.

If you bought your 65 in the 80's from Beeman, it's got two mainsprings and is rated around 510-525 fps... There was also the Beeman Adder/Wolverine pcp air pistols (FN8) and the Beeman P1 spring piston airpistol (Weihrauch HW45) which are more powerful than the FWB 65's.

[TenMetrePeter]

Don't know what the situation is in USA but people trying to service 65 and 80 models in UK can no longer get twin springs from FWB and have to use single after-market replacement springs. The power is not supposed to be affected by this.

[divingin]

If you bought your 65 in the 80's from Beeman, it's got two mainsprings and is rated around 510-525 fps...

I bought mine from the Beeman shop in Mountain View, CA (or a neighboring city - don't recall the address now) in the mid-80's. I dropped out of shooting for about 30 years, and within the past few years returned to shooting. Had to replace the seals in my 65 due to disintegration; as I recall from disassembly, my 65 has a single mainspring. Post replacement chrono work has it at about 460-475 fps.

[High Left]

Eddie's, on Castro, most likely. Some years later they had a used 300 for sale. I couldn't quite scrape up the $600 they were asking for it at the time. Probably spending too much on dirt bikes.

Mine came from Ellingson's in San Mateo. As did my 1411, and way too many other expensive things I was barely able to afford at the time.

Mine had no more than a few hundred rds on it until I pulled it out a couple months ago.

Curious which seals had deteriorated. As I understand it, the piston seal is metal, which, I think, leaves only the cone shaped breech seal. Have to pull the manual out again and look. And hopefully get some time to get the chronograph out this weekend and see what it does.

[kevinweiho]

If you bought your 65 in the 80's from Beeman, it's got two mainsprings and is rated around 510-525 fps...

I bought mine from the Beeman shop in Mountain View, CA (or a neighboring city - don't recall the address now) in the mid-80's. I dropped out of shooting for about 30 years, and within the past few years returned to shooting. Had to replace the seals in my 65 due to disintegration; as I recall from disassembly, my 65 has a single mainspring. Post replacement chrono work has it at about 460-475 fps.

I guess your pistol is a NOS FWB 65...Yes, with one mainspring it should be pushing a 7 gr. pellet around 460-475 fps...

[kevinweiho]

Don't know what the situation is in USA but people trying to service 65 and 80 models in UK can no longer get twin springs from FWB and have to use single after-market replacement springs. The power is not supposed to be affected by this.

By placing two mainsprings, the power will indeed be increased. I think the reason why FWB does not export any twin springs to the U.K. is because it will exceed 500 fps., making the air pistol FAC rated?

[kevinweiho]

Curious which seals had deteriorated. As I understand it, the piston seal is metal, which, I think, leaves only the cone shaped breech seal. Have to pull the manual out again and look. And hopefully get some time to get the chronograph out this weekend and see what it does.

If you've never changed the seals, prepare to change all three. The breech, piston, and buffer seal. The piston ring is metal and will probably need no replacement.

[High Left]

Thanks, I'll look into it.

Got a few 'good' chrono readings. A lot of error 1 and 2, one or the other screen not reading the shot, chasing the sun thru the trees.

.45g Meisterkugeln: 498.3, 501.2, 498.9, 501.6, 503.3

.53g H&N Sport: 435.1, 446.9, 449, 445, 436.9, 430.5

And a couple more .45's: 495.9, 499.5

Seem reasonable?

[Rover]

That's what I was looking for.

I suppose like most shooters on TT I'm too feeble to handle a powerhouse like this.

[High Left]

You betcha, only real men need apply.

To cock the thing, over and over and over .....

[kevinweiho]

Thanks, I'll look into it.

Got a few 'good' chrono readings. A lot of error 1 and 2, one or the other screen not reading the shot, chasing the sun thru the trees.

.45g Meisterkugeln: 498.3, 501.2, 498.9, 501.6, 503.3

.53g H&N Sport: 435.1, 446.9, 449, 445, 436.9, 430.5

And a couple more .45's: 495.9, 499.5

Seem reasonable?

Those numbers seem to show a healthy FWB 65. However, older seals were made of rubber and are prone to break down overtime. Deteriorated seals will cause unnecessary wear and tear to the pistol.