Bringing a .177 Falcon Lighthunter FN 12 back to life

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NMshooter

NMshooter

Member
Apr 1, 2015
2,015
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Missouri, United States
After having so much fun with my Falcon pistol, when I saw these two pistols, a .177 and a .22., on the Yellow forum I had to have them. Both were single shots with beat-up stocks. My pistol was an FN8 but these were the FN12.
[url="http://i.imgur.com/ehdjWZ6.jpg"][img]http://i.imgur.com/ehdjWZ6.jpg[/img][/url]

When I received them, I focused on the the .177 as it had less problems. It was shooting a shot string from 960 fps to 870 fps over 20 shots (pretty bad). Luckily it came with several hammer springs so I switched to a smaller spring and I lost some energy and a few shots but I had a shot string from 880- 873 for 16 shots. This rifle is suppose to get about 20-25 shots but with a 16 shot string with only a 7 fps difference, I didn't want to fiddle with it anymore. The rifle is shooting just under 14 FPE. It's just a plinking rifle and not a hunting rifle so I am fine with that. I was lucky enough to get a new dress and bonnet for this old gal and now she looks like this:

[url="http://i.imgur.com/rq034tJ.jpg"][img]http://i.imgur.com/rq034tJ.jpg[/img][/url]

In the picture I had a Bushnell Banner scope but I switched out to a Vortex Crossfire 3-12 x 44. The Banner held zero but the cross-hair was too thick for my liking. The Vortex has a much finner reticle.
The rifle shot the Benjamin hollow point 7.9 very well but hated all the JSB's I tried. I picked the Sampler pack up from Straight shooters and have been shooting all the pellets sent. We have had a lot of wind so it was tough to get any true consistency. But I finally settles on the H & N FTT 8.64 as the best. The H&N FTT 10. 85's were a close second. I was still fighting wind today and got around 5-6 groups all about the same. I always seemed to have one shot out of the group (dang it) but I think the rifle shoots VERY tight for a sub 14 FPE gun. On a calm day I believe I can shoot a 1/2 in group at 50 yards. Here are two of the best groups of the day at 50 yards:
[url="http://i.imgur.com/UVUvdOL.jpg"][img]http://i.imgur.com/UVUvdOL.jpg[/img][/url] 
[url="http://i.imgur.com/RSw17ad.jpg"][img]http://i.imgur.com/RSw17ad.jpg[/img][/url]

In closing, if you have the opportunity to find one of these rifles, I would grab it. They are a very accurate and a fun rifle to shoot. It is difficult to find parts but they are very well built with a simple design. It is very light and I love the way it feels (lefty grip). The only odd thing about these rifles is there is both a bolt and cocking lever. If you forget to close the bolt all the way it is quite loud and you can damage the bolt. Like a dummy, I did this several times but was able to use a file and wet sand paper to smooth the burs off. I believe this rifle is the precursor to the Brocock. It is sad that this brand is no longer available. I ran across a display of Falcon rifles for AOA in 2004 at the SHOT show. It looked like they were FX of their day. 
I know this is not the latest Wildcat or Impact but I hope you guys enjoy this review as much as I have putting this thing together.

Doc
 
 Great little rigs! Congrats on the find and getting them back in shape. While many seem not to care a bit for anything other the THE latest Greatest but "I" still like the fine older rifles/pistols. Early this year I tried to sell a ( lefty) single shot Daystate with the CR trigger, from a National Champion's personal collection of "keeper's" , not a single response which was okay as he didn't really want to sell it but it was a bit shocking to me to not even get one low baller.
One I should have kept was my "Beeman" ( was beeman for 2 years between being labled Titan then later Falcon. Had the true match trigger, light, balanced, one hole groups. Really not a thing on the market today comes even close.


John
 
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An old post I know but hopefully you will see my reply. I have a gorgeous Fn8 that I would like to find a rifle stock for... any help would be greatly appreciated.
a9642c4860ddcb9d954c181c8bf0d853.jpg
 
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I kept my eye on the yellow forum classifieds and was able to pick one up. My stocks are left-handed. I have the ability to duplicate stocks but I do not have a right-handed one to process. I have been tempted to put my FN8 on a carbine stock as well. I am amazed at how accurate it is with a pistol scope. It would only improve with a rifle stock and a rifle scope. Best of luck. PM me if you would like. 
 
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Falcon made amazingly good airguns. I found this thread/forum purely by chance, whilst doing a Google search for photos of a benchrest set-up FN8. Having seen your photos, I'm getting a FN12 breech and barrel to replace the original ones on my FN8, and will get a bipod screw for it. Even at 6ft/lbs (the UK legal power limit for air pistols), the FN8 is accurate to 70 yards, so I can't wait to upgrade it.

These are my Falcons:


Top: FN19 barrel in .25 calibre, with a custom 11" cylinder, chopped down FN12 stock, and a custom silencer, and a Hawke Vantage 4-12x50 scope.

Bottom: Falcon FN8 in .177 calibre, with Theoben Long Series Silencer and MTC Connect 3-12x24 scope.

 
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Awesome!
Here are my completed Falcon projects so far. My pistol shoots at around 14 FPE and is quite accurate at 50 yards. The carbines shoot very good as well but as you know, shooting sub 20 FPE is challenging with the wind! ! Just picked up two FN 19 Multi-shots for my next projects. Hope to start them next month!

[url="https://i.imgur.com/o47GIO7.jpg"][img]https://i.imgur.com/o47GIO7.jpg[/img][/url]

 
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They look lovely!
Is your pistol an FN8? If so, is there any chance you could take a photo of the transfer port for me, please? I've been trying to convert mine to a carbine, but have had difficulties getting the power to where it should be (12ft/lbs). I have a selection of hammer springs, a steel spring guide, and two different transfer ports - one tiny, and one much, much bigger - but the most I have been able to attain is 8ft/lbs with the small port and only 9 with the large, irrespective of which strength spring I use; it's driving me crazy!
I've been told that there are only 2 sizes of original transfer port, and that power levels were adjusted in the factory by simply using different springs, but I've got to the point where I am starting to suspect there may be a third, intermediate, size of transfer port, and the fact that you are getting 14ft/lbs from your pistol proves it's possible. 
 
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I would try the larger transfer port, which should allow more air through and potentially more power. You should be able to get that amount of power with an FN 8. One suggestion is to place copper (or brass) washers on both sides of the spring. My "go to guy" says it really improves the function of the spring by preventing it from binding. This should help with your extreme spread. Although I have not personally done this, (if you have a few extra transfer ports), you could try to widened the opening. Many Marauder guys do this to get more power. I did not touch the transfer port. I was told the same about the spring. The US version came with a larger spring. In my case the copper washers really helped to even out the spread.
Best of luck!

My carbines were in bad shape and the previous owner really had these shooting pretty fast. The .177 was shooting around 900 fps. I personally was not able to tune it down with a decent spread and so after about 4 weeks of frustration, I ended up sending it out to have it tuned. I do believe, Alan Zasadny , the tuner, made a new transfer port for them and installed a regulator. They shoot quite consistent now.
 
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The thing with the big one is that it's REALLY big, and in the FN8, I think it is TOO big; I suspect that - because of the short barrel - too much air comes through the TP at too low a pressure, and there's simply not enough time spent in the barrel for the pellet to be accelerated to a high enough speed. Regardless of the spring or spring guide I used, it wouldn't produce more than 9ft/lbs. It shouldn't need an after-market regulator, either - the whole point of the FNs is that they have a self-regulating valve...the issue is balancing everything just right!
 
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Awesome, My pistol was a conglomeration as well. My buddy had a bunch of parts laying around and we put things together. My barrel was a cut down rifle barrel which we recrowned. I believe the actions are interchangeable. Being left-handed was a good thing in this case as he had both a pistol and carbine stock in mint condition hanging on the wall. My original intent was to interchange the two but came upon those two pistols. I was able to get another stock on another forum. You may have better luck over in the UK getting spare parts, appears to be more Falcons over there.
Best of luck with your build,

Doc
 
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My Falcon frankengun is slowly evolving...The latest addition is a custom sunshade for the MTC Connect scope, made from......drum roll......black 30mm PVC pipe from the plumber's merchant!


I have a Lighthunter stock arriving this week - hopefully on Thursday - on which I plan to perform surgery with my Black & Decker Scorpion. Attached to the stock will be a FN12 rifle in .22 which doesn't really interest me... apart from its 12" cylinder. Do I keep the pistol as a frankengun, with an FN8 cylinder and FN12 barrel, or switch out the FN8 cylinder for the one from the FN12, and build a proper FN12 pistol? Ah, decisions, decisions! 
 
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