Anschutz Model 250

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IMHO it's Anshutz biggest fail trying to copy the FWB300s after their patent had expired. It's not even recoilless.

The FWB 300s is superior in every way imaginable and this Anshutz eventually commits suicide when as you use it eventually the recoil damper hydraulics leak and cracks the stick. They are rare because most are tossed into the trash irreparable.

They obviously don't know diddly squat.

http://www.targettalk.org/viewtopic.php?t=24611

I have one, and have been restoring and repairing it for a few years now, but have very mixed feelings about it. It's very well made, very heavy, very large, was said to be very accurate as you would expect of the "father" of the Anschutz 380. I believe it was quite competitive with the Giss guns and the FWB 300/300S in it's day. It is or is almost without recoil IF THE HYDRAULIC DAMPER is maintained, but self destructs if the damper seals leak and it becomes a recoil gun. Maintaining the damper is fairly easy, the improved seals are now readily available in UK, as are spring and piston seal. It's easy to take apart, and should be a fun antique 10 meter match gun if not already damaged from the above hydraulic issue. Unfortunately it will continue to fire even with the leaking damper, and crack the rear spring tube as on the photo in the article. I think this can be repaired...but I haven't done so yet. I'd suspect the damaged ones were generally parted for the sights? 

As I mentioned, I have mixed feelings about my fun project; you'll likely be better off spending the money on a FWB or a 380, but if you could find an undamaged example...?

I had a 250 for awhile. At that time there were still some parts available for them and I partially restored it with new springs and some seals. It shot every bit as nicely as a FWB300 but the oil damping system was pretty involved. I sold it to a friend who restored it completely. He literally searched the world to get the parts for the oil system.

It's a very nice 10 meter rifle but now it's really just for collections. You still see tem come up for sale once in awhile. Most don't know what they are so they don't sell quickly, or for much money.

Rick

The Anschutz 250 is NOT a "copy" of any FWB design. And is most definitely not "junk."

Anschutz actually invented the fixed-barrel, sliding-breech, sidelever-cocking, recoil-suppressed target air rifle. Their model 220 (1960) was a quantum leap over the best match guns of the day - the barrel-cocking, recoiling Walther LG 55 and Weihrauch HW 55 - and sent their competitors into panic mode. The 220 tamed recoil with an internal pneumatic damper; the model 250 (1968) was an evolved version with a hydraulic damper. The 250 sold well, was made for several years, and has three different variations (the OP's magazine pics show the first variant).

FWB's first target rifle was the model 150 (1963). Its sledge-type recoil control works in a completely different way from the Anschutz, and the patents for these designs in no way overlap. (Diana's first Giss double-piston rifle - only truly recoilless springer system - was the barrel-cocking model 60, which also came out in 1963.)

Anschutz's system could better be described as recoil suppression, rather than elimination. The rear of the spring sits on a plunger in front of a tiny piston, which moves a short distance through the damper when fired, taming the rearward shove of the spring. I've shot both the 220 and 250, and they are unique - no movement when the trigger breaks, but a weird little "shiver" of spring vibration a split-second later. They are extremely accurate, well-made, and beautifully finished, with some of the best wood finish and checkering you'll ever see on a factory airgun. The triggers are excellent and of course Anschutz match sights are second to none. The FWB's did dominate top-level competition in those days...helped along by well-placed advertising and sponsorship money...but the Anschutz rifles held their own.

Yes, you want to be extra careful buying a 250, as the seals in the dampers can definitely cause issues. But the various plastic seals and bumpers in the FWB, Diana, and Walther match rifles of the 1960's were short-lived, too. And when those go bad, we replace them with improved modern materials - we don't throw the guns away, LOL...! I would suggest Anschutz is worthy of the same respect.

The 2001 and 2002 and up are fantastic! 

It's best to do your own research before buying anything (IN LIFE) to be mindful of every single known common issue you may be faced with and be prepared to FiX.

As far as this airgun is concerned, I'd only spend time/money on a complete example that is not, or only minimally damaged. Parts are very difficult to find except for the consumables, and the rear spring tube if cracked cannot easily be re-welded. If the stock is cracked, or the entire piston/spring/damper assembly has blown out the rear of the spring tube and hit someone in the eye...that poor soul had more problems than a broken Annie, and now has a boat anchor with a nice Anschutz diopter sight.

I follow these, and nice examples are in demand. I've seen them get same as nice FWB 300S prices? There's one up on the big site now.

I got one of that, repaired the seal, and tried it, don't like the cycling of the rifle, it shoots well, maybe its just me, I just got use to the HW97 and TX200, and way more parts to maintain than the hw and tx200, so I sold it.

As far as patents go, you may be thinking of the later Anschutz model 380 (1980). That gun does use a sledge-type system similar to FWB, though they added the interesting innovation of the moving parts being inside an outer "sleeve" surrounding the action and barrel. Only the loading port can be seen to move when the gun is fired. 

The 380 is famous as the last spring-piston rifle to score a major international 10-meter title: gold medals at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Games. SSP and CO2 guns pretty much stole the show soon after that, though.

As followup to my earlier comments, I have repaired one 250, and purchased a second that was not damaged. The repair of the damaged one is straightforward (ignore the cross pin) if the gun is not too badly damaged (stock not yet cracked), and the damper seals now available are inexpensive and lifetime, a different material than the original. Both mine are very accurate, comparable to FWB 300S. As mentioned, be prepared to service the damper before shooting the gun. I think build quality may be even better than the 300S, if that's possible! I'd still recommend this airgun especially if you cannot find/afford an Anschutz 380, and want something more unusual than a FWB...

Any experience with the recoil damper service kit from Custom Gun Parts in the U.K.?

The kit is excellent; communication and shipping are prompt. The damper seals are now made of some red colored material, and according to John lifetime. The piston and breech seals seem to be of the old white material as early FWB? Both my 250 with these kits doing well for several months, without any hydraulic leak.

Thank you!