Diana RWS at 50 Yards

[Swifty Morgan]

The other day I decided to shoot my RWS 54 at 50 yards to see what it would do. The results were not impressive. I usually shoot at about 85 feet, and the gun will pretty much stay in an area the size of a nickel, with me resting it on my knee as I shoot. Using a rest at 50 yards, the groups were nowhere near that good. I would need a lot of luck to hit a squirrel at that range. I wouldn't be willing to risk it, because it's cruel to shoot animals in the ass or whatever because you can't hit anything vital.

I saw some guy on the web talking about how accurate this gun was at 50 yards. Is he basically full of it? Should I quit trying to get good accuracy at that distance?

To hit the little squirrels around here without making ridiculous wounding shots, you need to be able to stay within a circle about an inch in diameter. It appears that the Diana is only good to 30 yards or so.

 

[cobalt327]

A lot could be coming into play. Any springer tends to be more hold sensitive than a PCP, etc. so there's that possibility. If the gun has an irregular MV, that can cause groups to open up, so running it over a chrony might show something. Pellet selection matters- at 50 yards, wadcutters are not your friend and a selection of different pellets should be tried to see what it likes at that range. Wind affects any projectile more the further the range so there's that to contend with. Your rest should be very steady. The type of sights makes a difference. I'm guessing you're using a scope of some sort and it needs to be up to the task.

There's more but the bottom like for me is, I wouldn't give up on this gun until I had looked at a LOT of things that could be affecting the groups at 50 yards, because the gun has the potential to shoot very accurately at that range.

Good luck!

 

[MEHavey]

Not your Diana (I have one as #2 in the stable), but what pellet/have you tried the heavier JSB Exact at that distance ?
https://thefiringline.com/forums/showpost.php?p=5509199&postcount=3

 

[chicharrones]

Any springer tends to be more hold sensitive than a PCP, etc. so there's that possibility.

That's my experience and due to that my max range with springers tends to be 25 to 30 yards.

 

[Swifty Morgan]

I have JSB 18.3 Diabolo Exact pellets.

The RWS has a strange design, and supposedly, the way you hold it doesn't affect the point of impact.

I saw some guy on Youtube, shooting the little red button off the top of a spray can at 50 yards. He seemed to suggest this was normal accuracy. I could hit the can reliably, but hitting the button would be a fluke. I'm convinced he's a fraud. I think he shot at it over and over and posted a video of the only successful shot.

The trigger on my air gun seems very good. I have a Marlin Model 60 with the world's worst non-Kel-Tec trigger, and I had no problems keeping things inside an inch or so at 50. I wasn't making much of an effort, and it worked fine, so I'm sure it will do better. The RWS is another story!

 

[rodinal220]

I would try different pellets till you find the one(s) that work best at 50 yards. I'm a springer guy and find air guns can be temperamental about ammo like a .22 RF.

My RWS 52 .22 likes Super H-points for close range work,0-25 yards. For longer range work and better accuracy my gun really likes Beeman Kodiaks(H&N Baracuda). Get a pellet sampler.

http://www.straightshooters.com/rws-model-54-air-king-.177-beech-recoiless.html

 

[readyeddy]

The RWS 54 is a very nice gun. I've read about its recoil dampening system, but it also has a reputation for destroying scopes. In any event, I would still attempt to use some variation of the artillery hold, if for no other reason than to use a consistent hold. A consistent hold and follow through is important for a springer because my understanding is that it will always take more time for a trigger to release a spring, which compresses air, which in turn pushes a pellet out of a barrel; versus a powder burner sending a bullet with expanding gasses. So make sure to keep your head down, just like golf, and follow through your shots.

The other thing is that 50 yards is a long distance for air rifles shooting light pellets. A little wind will easily push an 18 grain pellet at 50 yards. I shoot at an outdoor range that always has at least 10 mph winds, and 50 yards is way to long with that kind of wind.

 

[BilliamB.]

The following assumes you've tried lots of pellets and have still found your accuracy wanting:

All the big RWS springers -- 48, 52 and 54 -- are basically the same, save for the 54's anti-recoil sled design. They are also capable of shooting accurately out to 50 yards--with a good tune in which the spring, spring guide and piston get precisely fitted upgrades. This is particularly important as I've read accounts of stock RWS springs breaking, but continuing to function, albeit inconsistently.

The last batch of guns I had tuned date back to when Jim Maccari was doing them, but he just sells components now. Perhaps someone on the forum here could recommend a good air gunsmith to you.

ONE MORE THING. I just noticed in you initial post that you were shooting at 50 yards off a rest. Springers are unusual as they don't shoot very well off rests. You need to hold your hand under the forearm when shooting from a bench--even if you are using a sandbag. Rest your hand on the bag or bench, then rest your gun on your hand. (This would help explain why you shot better off your knee.)

Hope this helps.

 

[BilliamB.]

Yet another potential RWS issue:

I believe the 48-52-54 rifles all have barrel shrouds. These sometimes can work loose, completely ruining your groups, so check yours out.

If you still have problems, RWS has traditionally offered generous warranties and great customer service, so contact them.

 

[fpgt72]

I have a 48, and have found what will group at 25 is not what is going to work at 50. It is like doing pellet testing all over again....I really don't mind doing that it is part of the fun....try a few other pellets....look at your pattern, are your pellets cork screwing or anything like that...it could point you in a direction.

 

[RecoilRob]

This is a late reply....but might offer some help for such a problem: is the pellet going supersonic at the muzzle? My 48 (same powerplant) in .177 was shooting well over 1000 fps with any pellet weight with the stock spring and while this can work OK at close range...sooner or later it's going to slow down and back up through the Mach which destabilizes the flight. If something is accurate up close but then seems to have a maximum range before it rapidly deteriorates I'd suspect it's too hot and either needs a heavier pellet or lighter mainspring to slow it down. A good heavy pellet at 900'ish from the muzzle should fly well out past 50yds or farther.

 

[Chevota]

I had Diana 52 and I pretty much hated it. I didn't like the quality, accuracy or how it tried to mangle my fingers when the thing slammed closed once. I mention the latter specifically bc it can happen and the anti-bear trap simply didn't work due to poor design, so be wary! Anyway; attached is a pix of my Diana 350 T06 to show stuff that can leave the factory. Diana are certainly better than chinese guns, but they are imo the low end of quality guns.
The rifling in the pix was like that on all the grooves, and while I can't imagine how they managed to do that, you prolly can imagine what that does to a pellet at 900fps. The fix for that mess is cutting off the bad part. Plus, like my other Diana guns and most chinese guns, the rest of the bore is not good either. I doubt you have said fubar grooves but I'd be willing to bet your bore is unsat. I always suggest people slug the bore, meaning pushing a pellet thru w/ a stick. Feel for both roughness and tight/loose spots and you'll likely be surprised, or horrified.
Also attached is two slug results of the same gun, one before sanding and one after. I sanded it smooth and opened up the tight spots, but kept the choke of course.
Slug it and let us know....

 

[Slamfire]

I saw some guy on the web talking about how accurate this gun was at 50 yards. Is he basically full of it? Should I quit trying to get good accuracy at that distance?

The guy is full of beans. Fifty yards is a long way with an RWS 54. I have one of them, and have murdered many squirrels at and around 25 to 30 yards. I wanted more and purchased the M460. I have one 47 yard shot, based on my laser distance finder, but that was a stunt. Air gun pellets float in the wind and the further you go out, the more they float.

 

[Chevota]

Slamfire: Lotta power for 177. Your accuracy makes me wonder about the pellets you're using. Which are?? Assuming the right pellets and no bore defects I think you should be netting more distance. Nice lookin gun tho, I may be drooling a bit on the darker one.

 

[Kookla]

I had Diana 52 and I pretty much hated it. I didn't like the quality, accuracy or how it tried to mangle my fingers when the thing slammed closed once. I mention the latter specifically bc it can happen and the anti-bear trap simply didn't work due to poor design, so be wary! \

That must have been scary. I tend to prefer break barrels myself for that reason, though I do have a FWB 300s.

 

[Mousegun]

After figuring out the best pellet and making sure all screws etc. are tight. Take it apart and put in a Vortek kit that gets 177 pellets moving at about 850 FPS if that is what you are using. Super speed is generally not your friend with air guns. The kit will tame the spring and accuracy will improve. You may have to experiment with pellets out to 50 yards due to changes in flight at that distance.