are the double main spring and spring separator block in the center (keeping the two counter-wound springs apart), the piston buffer and piston ring, the breech seal and maybe the ratchet that keeps the action from closing under its own weight. The most important part to check is the anti-bear trap system. This is the plunger underneath the cocking han- dle that must be engaged and pushed in by the cocking handle on closing, before the trigger can be pulled. After such job the gun should be ready for years of safe and intensive match (training) life. However, my initial interest in
this gun had a different reason, since I participate in air rifle field target matches and in some countries there is a separate class for rifles with a power not exceed- ing 6 foot pounds. In Germany, for instance, no per-
mit is required for air rifles that are un- der the legal 7.5 Joules or 6 foot pounds power limit, and that includes those that are intended for 10-meter match use. If a match shooter wants to take a try at Field Target shooting in the spring piston class, he or she can just mount a strong scope on his older FWB 300 in exchange for the metallic sights and shoot at up to 25 meters (27 yards) me- tallic silhouette targets in the low power class. This way he may opt to not get rid of his good oldie springer but to keep it on the side for FT work, using his more modern pneumatic gun for the official paper target competition. The lighter and shorter Junior version also is a good starter match gun for youngsters and lady shooters, of course. The power of these 177 rifles at a
muzzle velocity of about 600 fps is just enough to throw over the Field Target targets once the center of the kill zone is struck and the paddle mechanism lever is actuated. In practice this is no small feat since for this short range discipline the kill zone diameters are reduced, often down to 10mm. And of course with the lower muzzle velocities pellet drop and wind drift become a major factor. Using domed head hunting pellets instead of classic target wadcutters, provided you stay at a pellet weight of around 8 grains, range is extended by quite a bit. Rifling twist in these competition guns is said to be slower than in other air rifles, but these guns are equally accurate with many types of domed pellets. Personally, I have shot very small one-hole 10-shot
groups outdoors at 35 meters, especially when winds were weak. The main international class for
Field Target is for rifles of 12 foot pounds of power, and targets for this class run distances of up to 50 meters or 55 yards. In some countries, including Germany, a permit for guns of this power level is required. This makes traveling to coun- tries imposing a legal power limit with the more powerful guns for training or matches a bit complicated, since techni- cally this would require an international arms passport. To obviate all this hassle, a lower powered gun shooting in a separate class of competition comes in handy, and it also adds diversity and challenge of shooting disciplines. From experience, I can attest to the degree of difficulty of this reduced range class – especially because those up-close shots are in practice very difficult. My gun has special shape of stock
with a sort of “belly” step under the fore-end in front of the trigger guard and it came with a square section Wal- ther branded match muzzle weight (or front sight carrier) fitted. In its own angular way, to me this combination looked very nice. Combining the two manufacturers’ brands would bring to mind funny names like “Feinwalt” (sounds so American, doesn't it?) or “Waltherbau”.... Handling this Mini version of the
FWB 300 S in competition and training with a high power scope, I often won- dered if it would not also make a very nice low power hunting combination. Even if somewhat heavy (which I do not mind) I found it points and balances re- ally well for sporting use. My FWB 300 S Junior of an older type with the stepped fore-end (see photo) feels like a natural born hunter with its 39-inch length. The
leading hand sort of naturally grips the fore-end at the curve where the step is. A bit hefty, but it just felt almost perfect. Only the short butt stock (remember that this is a junior’s version) is a bit of a prob- lem. To solve that I found a few butt pad spacers that made a real improvement, almost making me forget I was handling a junior version. After moving the blade to its most forward position, trigger reach is acceptable, but it could do with a 5mm trigger shoe, which I still have to find. The muzzle weight is aluminum and all but heavy. This was screwed onto strips cut from a garden hose that were put over the barrel. This cushions any vibrations to a great extent and even allows me to easily vary its fitting length. Extending it a bit beyond the muzzle, in fact, makes a sort of moderator out of it. Some shooters also have fitted a carbon or aluminum barrel sleeve for looks and balance. Side levers are very efficient to cock with literally two fingers, also from the prone position, and have a without a slot. Since the 300s also have a UIT/ ISSU approved accessory rail in the bottom of the fore-end, “hamsters” or knee-risers (fitting pieces below the stock to help in knee-rested shots) and bipods are easy to fit. In addition, the recoil-free action of the rifle results in a bipod hardly af- fecting accuracy. Mine also is very silent to operate even with its ratchet system securing the cocking lever on opening — apart from a small “snick” at closing the cocking handle. Power-wise, the standard 300 is in the same range as the Beeman R 7 from H. Weihrauch, a highly regarded break-barrel gun that is used in the “urban hunting” scene by some. Using such a gun for hunting
would of course be a break away from the generally accepted power levels of most other hunting air guns. These
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