Anshutz v FWB

Ever since I started shooting, there has been a strong AHG v FWB debate going on. However, the consensus seemed to end up on: FWB for air, AHG for .22

Interesting though, the Precision stock from Anshutz however seems to be going down the route of the 2XXX from Fwb?
Is anyone using it? The buttplate looks pretty cool but the stock seems to be going down the same route as FWB went for..

It wasn't me!

Have handled it but not done any shooting with it. Saw them first in the IoM. Lovely things, really good solid stocks. I'm not mad about the cheekpiece and grip material, but that's a personal thing. They have the facility to click in adjustments, rather than measure them, all while in position. Want a few millimetres extra in your length of pull or cheekpiece height? They can be easily clicked in. Fantastic feature. As regards Anschutz vs. FWB? I'd take either if they shot. Quite liked the 2602 you were using when I saw it, nice gun, and FLOYDSTER's 2700 is a great thing too (see his group in the 50m national final for illustrative purposes) I'm not mad about the grip on the older Anschutz 2213/2313 aluminium stocks. I'm still thoroughly liking my wooden Supermatch one, but I'm using the Anschutz buttplate in your photo illustration above. Handy for lots of comfort in all three positions. Currently tweaking out a proper kneeling setup for it.

Sparks

The precision stock is a milled piece of loveliness allright, but (a) there's maybe two people in the country right now who can shoot well enough for there to be any real difference between rifles; and (b) you can't just say it's FWB they're looking at, it could equally be MEC, G&E, System Gemini, Walther, Steyr or Bleiker!

It wasn't me!

Personally I quite like the 24mm barrel diameter on the Feinwerkbau rifles. The weight feels good to me.

Sparks

Sparks wrote: »

The precision stock is a milled piece of loveliness allright, but (a) there's maybe two people in the country right now who can shoot well enough for there to be any real difference between rifles; and (b) you can't just say it's FWB they're looking at, it could equally be MEC, G&E, System Gemini, Walther, Steyr or Bleiker!

a) I'm not saying I'm going out to buy one! (Eww.. Anschutz!)

b) It seems a departure though for them - its a 'radically' different stock from their lines were before, seems interesting that they are going where FWB lead*. Especially as Anschutz seemed to be the .22 rifle people for general shooting.

*All FWBs are like that, so you don't need to change system and buy a horribly expensive custom job like a Bleiker or Sys Gemini.

Sparks

Old 2313 stock:


Precision stock:


There are differences in how the cheekpiece is set up, but it's not towards FWB: it's towards walther:

See how the cheekpiece support pillar is on the outside of the main body of the stock? Compare to the precisions stock:



As to the buttplate carrier, well, it's not that much different really. They just added the 'click' mechanism. It's not taking after anyone. The narrow fore-end could be coming from FWB; but it could also be coming from MEC, G&E, Tesro, or any even from themselves.

The buttplate is taken from an idea by Mannel.

demonloop

Interestingly of course the Precise stock is NOT being fitted with the Precise buttplate, they have stuck the older (widely unliked) 4765 on it, so go figure that one.

The rounder foreend is a very similar shape and size to the FWB, which is always commented on as being very comfortable, even with a heavy cant, so it looks like the were listening to that and took it onboard.

They have also made the foreend very shallow, again following the idea of other stock makers notably the Gemini which, since the Ultra, had a very shallow foreend. Of course they couldn't have done this with the 2213 (I've heard they can break )

The only part of the Precise stock I'm not fussed on is the cheekpiece. The adjustment is very good and its well thought out in its profile, I just feel its a little long and looks like cheap plastic (although I'm sure its not)

The pistol grip is similar to the Pro-Grip stuff you were always able to 'upgrade' your 2213 to, its very grippy and comfy IMO

The area they claim to have really progressed on is the harmonics. Unfortunately its hard to physically see harmonics and until some of the top shooters take the plunge or someone does some testing it will be difficult to verify.

Want to send one down to DURC Ryan? We'll test out that for you!

Interesting to see it though - and that Precise Buttplate looks very cool, if a pain set up.

Were they getting stung by people swtiching to the Sys Gemeni or Bleiker stocks? Or, god forbid, FWB!

demonloop

To be honest I think they realised that there were advantages of milled aluminium but didn't act quickly enough.

They had great success with the 2213 which was ground-breaking but its accepted milling is stronger.

In saying that, and with a few notable exceptions, there were very few broken 2213 cast stocks. Stories of air bubbles trapped in those stocks did the rounds but how much truth in it would be guesswork - not much I imagine.

No doubt they lost sales to the Gemini, and the FWB but they really did miss a trick not doing it sooner. Even MEC had their own milled stock made before them (and a damn good one) The GE600 was another stock that beat them to it and sold well, given the limited availability until MEC took on the sales of it.

Anschutz have the advantage of being the name everyone knows and anyone joining the sport will have been blooded on an Anschutz, most likely a 54, so if they had made the Precise stock 5+ years ago they would have been in a very strong position from a volume point of view. As is stands they will still sell a lot of them but the market knows there are options.

The fact that the price of the stock is a lot cheaper than the competitors is more a testament to the numbers Anschutz know they will sell, than any inferiority to the MEC/Gemini et al.

As far as the Anschutz/FWB/Walther/Bleiker debate goes, there is nothing to choose IMO. FWB are making great rifles, as are Walther and Bleiker goes without saying. I'd love to see sales figures but I imagine Anschutz would dwarf them all.

When its time for me to buy a new rifle I'll consider them all to be honest, and buy what feels good. I know I'll get a Tenex batch that will shoot better than me so which maker's name is stamped on it means very little.

In years gone by, when everyone had an Anschutz it was the sensible choice - availabilty of parts, accessories etc etc but thats no longer a problem.

Correct me if I'm wrong here, but don't the more expensive stocks come with the premium buttplates? So when you factor in the cost of getting the precise buttplate you are hitting the same range as the MEC etc.

demonloop

Not exactly, its still cheaper but less so admittedly.

The Precise buttplate is £260 which leaves the total £1410, they would argue that the Precise buttplate is on a par with the Gemini, but to compare the options exactly with the same BPs...

To compare to the MEC
MEC Stock with MEC Free Position BP = £1410
Precise stock with MEC Free Position = £1360

Comparing with Gemini
Gemini complete with BP = £1600
Precise with Gemini BP = £1450

It does work out cheaper, and to be honest anyone with any sense who was buying a Precise stock with the intention of swapping the BP would take the 4765 for the extra £75 (RRP £225) and stick it on ebay and drop the price of the stock further.

intershoot

Sparks wrote: »

Old 2313 stock:


Precision stock:


There are differences in how the cheekpiece is set up, but it's not towards FWB: it's towards walther:

See how the cheekpiece support pillar is on the outside of the main body of the stock? Compare to the precisions stock:



As to the buttplate carrier, well, it's not that much different really. They just added the 'click' mechanism. It's not taking after anyone. The narrow fore-end could be coming from FWB; but it could also be coming from MEC, G&E, Tesro, or any even from themselves.

The buttplate is taken from an idea by Mannel.

Ive had one in me hand and the only thing i dont like about it is the fact the cheek piece dosnt cant and it gets covered in finger prints! Other than that its alright. :rolleyes::rolleyes:

Coronal

intershoot wrote: »

Ive had one in me hand and the only thing i dont like about it is the fact the cheek piece dosnt cant and it gets covered in finger prints! Other than that its alright. :rolleyes::rolleyes:

Good to hear! It's on my list, right after this new jacket of mine. I've seen it in the flesh as well, with a custom cheekpiece and I am also very impressed. Too bad it was a lefty, I couldn't get set up with it...

BountyHunter

Coronal wrote: »

Good to hear! It's on my list, right after this new jacket of mine. I've seen it in the flesh as well, with a custom cheekpiece and I am also very impressed. Too bad it was a lefty, I couldn't get set up with it...

The custom cheekpiece was more out of neseccesity than anything else,if the butthook is pushed as close to the stock as possible the original cheekpiece is far too long and makes setup for prone very difficult if not impossible.

BountyHunter.

Coronal

I remember you saying that alright. I had a somewhat similar problem with the old Anschutz stock, only the other way around with the cheekpiece too close to the bolt, which just doesn't work at all