I wanted to use some left over Christmas money to purchase either a Weihrauch 35E or a Feinwerkbau Sport, in .177 caliber. For those of you who own them, or preferably both, which would you choose? Thanks for any help.
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HW 35E or FWB Sport
- Thread starter Blackmoor
- Start date
Neither for me.
But I'd tend to lean towards the Weihrauch because you can get tuning parts, and it likely has a better shot cycle.
The Sport is pretty rough and rowdy out of the box.
But I'd tend to lean towards the Weihrauch because you can get tuning parts, and it likely has a better shot cycle.
The Sport is pretty rough and rowdy out of the box.
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I own both a 35E and a FWB Sport. Thumper's right. Comparing the two out of the box (from my experience) and the 35E wins the prize. After a tune, the FWB will give the 35E a run for her money.
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I have both and mine were both rough when new, now broken in different story.
If your going to get more rifles later I would get the FWB. because their days are numbered.
If it’s the only rifle then the 35e for Thumpers reason. Good luck Crow
If your going to get more rifles later I would get the FWB. because their days are numbered.
If it’s the only rifle then the 35e for Thumpers reason. Good luck Crow
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FWB but you have to have it tuned and re-lubed (or at the bare minimum make a new guide and re-lube) pretty much immediately out of the box. If you don't feel like dealing with that then the 35E is a great choice. The 35E is a much tamer gun as well and is easier to cock than the FWB which most people will appreciate. The FWB is a laser beam of a gun though and has some of the best iron sights I've used on a factory gun.
Long story short, its hard to go wrong either way. Both guns are pretty fantastic in their own ways. You won't have many options to get the Sport for long though. Thats why its my top choice here.
Long story short, its hard to go wrong either way. Both guns are pretty fantastic in their own ways. You won't have many options to get the Sport for long though. Thats why its my top choice here.
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Thank you, for the replies. I see the FWB is end of life, perhaps getting one now is the thing. I am not big on tuning, though.
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If you aren't big on tuning skip the FWB because it'll cost you a pretty penny to have it done for you. Honestly the gun isn't worth that much all in.
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Think about this:
Weihrauch has made the 35 for 60 some odd years or more. And they are still selling it.
The Sport made it what, a few years tops and is already discontinued.
They don't make the "old" Sport anymore either......
That says something I think.
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I own the FWB Sport. WOW! it is soooooo nice with a new spring guide. The fit and finish and iron sights are incredible. Just go for it.
You can always buy HW later.
You can always buy HW later.
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I'd get the FWB Sport as Krale has been out of the HW35E since August. $450 shipped from the Netherlands.
However, I would only buy the Sport if YOU can work on and tune the gun ... otherwise forget it.
That said, I love the HW35E and own 3 of them
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However, I would only buy the Sport if YOU can work on and tune the gun ... otherwise forget it.
That said, I love the HW35E and own 3 of them
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To beeeee faaaaaaaiiiiiiirrrrrr the new FWB Sport had a retail price of like $900 for a long while. I'm fairly certain that was a contributing factor to it flopping. I haven't really seen a single complaint about accuracy for that gun.l from people that have one though. The thing is a tack driver. It's basically a nicer HW95 and IMO the higher quality sights and stock (I know the stock isn't for everyone) makes it well worth it at $600 IF you can tune it yourself.
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I have the tools do a tune. I just never like messing with new guns, if I do not have to. Interesting.
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You absolutely have to with the FWB which boggles my mind. Feinwerkbau put a ton of love into making an amazing gun and then right at the end said "screw it that'll work". From the box it felt like dragging the cocking arm through sand and just buzz for days when you fired it. Literally all I had to do to mine was make a better guide and it became smooth as silk. I did shorten the spring as well though. Mine was oversprung from the factory and even with removing 2x coils I was still putting out nearly 14fpe with JSB 8.44gr. Not all guns were oversprung though it seems so you would have to test that on a case by case basis.
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I own both in .177 caliber. The HW35 l have owned for 35 plus years and its tuned whilst the FWB is around 3 years old and as received. Accuracy is excellent for both but it depends what's important to you.
The FWB is more powerful (14 ft/lb vs 11.5 ft/lb) and is overall a better hunting rifle as it's got a better handling stock and is lighter. lt is also better finished, has a better safety (as it reversible) and l actually think it was a better trigger.
On the downside, it has a more intense firing cycle but mine is not what l consider rough, however the cocking cycle is a bit creaky though. Also you have to slap the barrel to open it compared to the hw35 that has the barrel latch.
Bottom line, both are excellent but my recommendation is get the FWB while you can. The firing cycle us far from perfect but l can certainly live with it until l actually need to pull it apart ( l have actually got the parts to tune it but it can wait).
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As reversable for the safety, you mean you can reset it after t urning it off, without firing the gun, nice feature. I find mine very accurate, and no problem with the firing cycle. I pick up acorns and line them up and at 15 yards they are easy targets.
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I think I will buy the FWB Sport now while it is available, and the HW35E later when it is back in stock. I really do not like airguns, though.... /s
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Long-time FWB 124 owner and also have the new Sport. AoA was down to their final 20 copies or so back in September, gun won’t be around for purchase much longer. That has dissuaded some, as you’ve read on this thread. However, I spent some shop time with mine, and discovered several important things re: parts:
1) It’s a 30mm piston, exactly same as HW80. So, critical HW80 parts fit this gun perfectly. For example, the HW80 piston seal - perfect fit. Vortek’s awesome 30mm vac-seal - perfect fit (that’s the one I settled on after experimentation).
2) Spring dimensions - very close to HW80. I’ve posted spring options in another thread, there are several - HW80 OEM, TbT Tuning HW80, Titan XS,… basically you don’t ever need to worry about finding a replacement spring.
3) Breech seal - identical to FWB 124/127, which is easily found
4) Other - I have already obtained smaller spare parts directly from FWB, which I also posted info about. No idea how long into the future this will be the case, but I can also confirm I purchased FWB 300 parts direct from FWB as recently as 2010.
So for the “wear” parts, don’t think there’s any concern. As for custom parts, like a third party stock, trigger, etc, yeah that stuff is pretty much nonexistent. I’ve already spoken with the major stock makers, none of them want to make a custom fitted stock for this gun. Not enough volume and CS in the UK even said the FWB’s action makes it very difficult to design a stock - which I found strange, since FWB obviously made a stock for it.
Finally, consider your use case. If it’s for hunting, FWB. It’s lighter, perfectly balanced, first-class accuracy. If it’s for FT/target shooting, again slight edge to the FWB Sport - although in my view most if not all high quality German springers are more accurate than any human will ever be. If you want a deader, more tranquil shot cycle, with a bit lower energy, and parts for decades, the heavier HW35 has the pedigree. The Sport has a kick, and some twang out of the box. A delrin spring guide fixes that easily, and some prefer to shorten the spring a little to soften the shot cycle at the expense of a ft-lb or so. But that’s work some won’t want to mess with. Finally, if long-term resale value is important, probably a toss-up, but there’s arguably more “risk” with the Sport due to it being discontinued. Future buyers may be worried about keeping it maintained. But then again, if the HW35 keeps on being mass produced, future buyers will be competing with a new vs used purchasing decision. I just purchased a HW97, and went with new…
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FWB .... The Quality of all the parts that make it up are far more sophisticated and build design is 1st class.
Tho agree the Out of Box shot cycle is harsh ( It is only a guide thing ) There are many piston seal options that can help too.
DONE ... there just sweet rifles tip to tail.
Don't own one ( Newer Sport ) But set up and tuned well over a dozen of them for customers.
Do own HW35's however ( had 3, now down to 1 ) Still have my original 124 sport here 40 years later
Tho agree the Out of Box shot cycle is harsh ( It is only a guide thing ) There are many piston seal options that can help too.
DONE ... there just sweet rifles tip to tail.
Don't own one ( Newer Sport ) But set up and tuned well over a dozen of them for customers.
Do own HW35's however ( had 3, now down to 1 ) Still have my original 124 sport here 40 years later
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FWB is a great gun. I can't stomach the artsy boy styling or would acquire one immediately. Like later Webleys I think it will appreciate and out pace the HW in years to come as long as HW continues the '35 production. Supply of the FWB won't meet demand. Artsy look might be a spoiler IDK.
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