Here is a photo of my old FWB-124 (26 years plus). The scope is a Leupold 2.5X Compact.
![]()
A couple months ago or so I sent it to Mac1Airguns and had the spring. plunger and seal replaced. The old seal went bad. The new set-up was advertised as giving 900 fps. I was concerned that the extra velocity would also produce more vibration and I always thought the 124 was difficult to shoot consistently because of vibration. I was told not to be concerned about that because the new parts would fit more precisely and thereby reduce vibration. Prior to this work the velocity was about 775 fps according to my chronograph, with the regular weight H&N match pellets. Now the velocity is 822 fps, about a 50 fps gain. Maybe it would do 900 fps with a lighter pellet, or maybe the velocity will increase as the new seal breaks in. But it doesn't give 900 fps for me now. It seems there is less vibration. That is, it seems easier to get good accuracy from it now compared to before from both with and without a forearm rest. I've shot at 9 squirrels on my bird feeder since getting the gun rehabilitated. Of these 8 were head shots and all died quickly and one was a shoulder/lung shot and it also died quickly. My bird feeder is only 10 meters from where I shoot, so these were not difficult shots, but 9 out of 9 is better than I would have expected. I think the better accuracy and slight increase in power has mad it a much better squirrel rifle. Previously, I was disappointed in the 124's performance on squirrels and switched to using .22 shorts. Now it seems to be a fine squirrel rifle, at least at close range. Anyway, velocity is not as expected, but the old 124 performs better than ever. Also, the rifle appears in near new condition on the photo and that is because it in in very good condition in spite of having shot many thousands of pellets, mostly at backyard pest birds.
A couple months ago or so I sent it to Mac1Airguns and had the spring. plunger and seal replaced. The old seal went bad. The new set-up was advertised as giving 900 fps. I was concerned that the extra velocity would also produce more vibration and I always thought the 124 was difficult to shoot consistently because of vibration. I was told not to be concerned about that because the new parts would fit more precisely and thereby reduce vibration. Prior to this work the velocity was about 775 fps according to my chronograph, with the regular weight H&N match pellets. Now the velocity is 822 fps, about a 50 fps gain. Maybe it would do 900 fps with a lighter pellet, or maybe the velocity will increase as the new seal breaks in. But it doesn't give 900 fps for me now. It seems there is less vibration. That is, it seems easier to get good accuracy from it now compared to before from both with and without a forearm rest. I've shot at 9 squirrels on my bird feeder since getting the gun rehabilitated. Of these 8 were head shots and all died quickly and one was a shoulder/lung shot and it also died quickly. My bird feeder is only 10 meters from where I shoot, so these were not difficult shots, but 9 out of 9 is better than I would have expected. I think the better accuracy and slight increase in power has mad it a much better squirrel rifle. Previously, I was disappointed in the 124's performance on squirrels and switched to using .22 shorts. Now it seems to be a fine squirrel rifle, at least at close range. Anyway, velocity is not as expected, but the old 124 performs better than ever. Also, the rifle appears in near new condition on the photo and that is because it in in very good condition in spite of having shot many thousands of pellets, mostly at backyard pest birds.
