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I still have a 124D that my father purchased for me new in the 70's. I replaced the spring and piston seal years ago, but it's still running strong. When the 124 came out, it was the magnum of it's day.

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There's a thread in the "Ask the Gunwriter's" forum on Jim Carmichel running right now, and I'm a little surprised that no one has mentioned Carmichel's classic article "The Great Jonesboro Pigeon Shoot" which featured the FWB-124 very prominently.

Last edited by ChrisF; 07/29/21.
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Originally Posted by kragman1
FWIW, I had John in PA reseal my 124 with the Maccari full power kit.
I would recommend both to anyone.



I just sent my 124D pictured above to him along with a Maccari spring and seal.

I said I liked the shot cycle of the rifle and would probably leave it at the 9fpe it was shooting but the rifle was in such nice condition it bothered me it wasn't to factory spec.

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I just received my FWB124D back from Precision Pellet, It was shooting 700fps with 8.4gr JSBs, now it is shooting in the 780s. Rick said the seal and spring that were in the rifle were fine and looked barely used. I do not know why it was shooting at 9fpe, maybe the seal was not fitted to the receiver??? The seal that came out looks like a Maccari seal.


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Guys, I just found this post. I have a few questions.

I have a 124. I purchased it new in the late 70's.

What is the difference between a 124 and a 124D?

Mine needs new seals. Who would you recommend for service?

Thanks!

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The D ( deluxe ) has a checkered stock, cheekpiece, and sling swivels

Precision Pellet.

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FWP - like I said I would recommend John Thomas in PA. His contact info is easy to get online but I can forward it to you if you PM me. There are certainly other air gun smiths, but many people speak very highly of him. His work on my rifle is first rate.
Beware that when the original seal goes it creates a nasty mess in every internal nook & cranny of the gun, and that creates some extra labor compared to a normal reseal so expect to pay a bit more.
I really like the "full power" spring & seal John installed as well. Buttoned the piston, etc as well.


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Replacing the spring and/or seal on the 124 isn't really that difficult. Unlike some of the newer higher power rifles you can even do it without a spring compressor. It's a two man job though without spring compressor.

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Originally Posted by kragman1
FWP - like I said I would recommend John Thomas in PA.



Thank you! I just looked up his contact info.

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Originally Posted by mp44
The D ( deluxe ) has a checkered stock, cheekpiece, and sling swivels

Precision Pellet.




Thanks mp44. I remembered there was D model available when I bought mine but I think I passed because of the additional cost. Its been a long time.

Last edited by FWP; 11/16/21.
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Originally Posted by Timbo
Replacing the spring and/or seal on the 124 isn't really that difficult. Unlike some of the newer higher power rifles you can even do it without a spring compressor. It's a two man job though without spring compressor.


Thanks

I'm afraid to take mine apart but I would like to learn more about them.

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I had a deluxe and in a time of weakness let a friend talk me out of it. Many regrets but that one still hurts especially now that my son is learning to shoot.


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I added two more FWB124Ds.

This is the 2nd one after it came back from Precision Pellet. (The 3rd is on the way there, pic to come) The scope is a vintage Korean Bushnell Sportview 4X32 in Sportsmatch FWB 124/300 specific rings. They have the crossbar that mates to the cross cuts in the receiver. ETA: By the serial #, this is a 1982/83 rifle

[Linked Image from i.imgur.com]
[Linked Image from i.imgur.com]

Last edited by mp44; 12/11/21.
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Originally Posted by mp44
I added two more FWB124Ds.

This is the 2nd one after it came back from Precision Pellet. (The 3rd is on the way there, pic to come) The scope is a vintage Korean Bushnell Sportview 4X32 in Sportsmatch FWB 124/300 specific rings. They have the crossbar that mates to the cross cuts in the receiver. ETA: By the serial #, this is a 1982/83 rifle

[Linked Image from i.imgur.com]
[Linked Image from i.imgur.com]


Nice I had my 124D set up like that for well over 40 years, and after getting it back from having new seal and mainspring installed, took the scope and "muzzle brake" off, put a front sight that takes different insers, and my old Beeman/Williams receiver sight back on it. The way the stocks aree made, they just beg to be shot with iron sights,

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I remember reading the posted article when I was a teenager, and falling in love with the concept of shooting a high quality pellet rifle.. I lusted after the FWB 124.

I shot varsity rifle in college ( smallbore 3-position with an Anschutz 1413, and air rifle with a FWB 300 ).
Life got busy for a while after college, then I finally bought a (used) quality pellet rifle ( .177 Beeman HW77), and later (recently) a RWS 48 (0.177).

It all started with that article about the FWB 124. Fond memories were resurrected with the OP's entry. Thanks. Enjoyed it.


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#3

[Linked Image from i.imgur.com]

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Mine is the standard Sport model - beech stock, no sling swivels.
Trigger is pretty decent, the rifle is light, has an excellent shot cycle and is wickedly accurate.
I do wish that mine had the sling mount in the pivot block the way the Deluxe models did.

I dont know what it was like before John "tuned it up" by scrubbing out the remains of the old synthetic piston seal and went to work with a Maccari kit and some TLC. Its a fine rifle now, and I'd like to have a 127 (.22 version) to go with it.

That said, and this is difficult to say, but the HW95 / Beeman R9 is probably a better rifle.
The 124 is lighter & handier, and many can wear a sling. A little easier to cock too.
But the HW / R9 has a markedly better trigger, and more power. Enough to use heavy pellets that might not be so desireable in the 124 (I'm getting around 800 fps with 10.65's from my R9).
Mechanical and manufacturing quality of both is genuinely excellent, so I consider that to be a wash.

If I were forced to have only one .177 rifle, the 124 would have to be a close second to my R9. Very close.
In fact, if I knew that it would only be used for recreation, I might just choose the 124 over the R9. The 124 trigger would be the only real concern in that scenario.



Last edited by kragman1; 12/30/21.

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I agree. My 124s are for plinking and nostalgia. I use PCPs for "serious" work. If I had to use a spring-piston rifle for pest and hunting I would get a TX200 or similar.

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I dropped a squirrel running on a powerline about 70 yds...........got the drop and lead just right - on the 1st shot. Had the Beeman short scope, about a 3x IIRC. Nothing wrong with a 124 wink

Also enjoy the R9 - but yes they are harder to cock.

Something about the 124 that makes it a real pleasure, perhaps a softer/smoother firing cycle.

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