Hi guys. I am new to the board and have been lurking for some time now.
I have been researching my brains out and I have narrowed my choices down to the following.
Diana Model 48 in .22 cal
Diana Magnum 350 in .22 cal
Gamo Hunter 1250 in .22 cal
I suppose I don't need absolute top speed from a pellet hence the inclusion of the Diana 48. I know it's a consistant and very powerful rifle and I have read many great things about it. I like the 52 also but for a trigger and stock change I can't justify it's cost over the 48 since functionaly they are alike. Also I am not worried about the looks so much as performance.
The M350 is a facinating piece of work. It seems very powerful but not hugely so over the Diana 48. Overrated fps? I don't know but I am wondering if the cocking mechanism and other features of the 48 make up for it's slightly slower pellet delivery. Most people have said good things about the 48 and at the same time I hear lots of people saying the 350 is not performing where it should be according to specs, overrated velocity etc.
In your opinions is the diana 48 of higher/same or lower quality compared to the 350?
The gamo 1250 is also considered to be an underperformer in relation to it's printed specs, but still blisteringly fast compared to pretty much all other springers save the 350. again is it of higher lower or same quality if any of you have experience with these guns.
I want to thank you guys for your feedback in advance. I really want to make the right choice. I am planing on letting my Dad use the gun so I don't want crazy crazy cock effort since he is a spry 77 years old (though still strong as a bull) I don't want to wear him out with the thing. hence one of the reasons I like the fixed barrel side lever cocking on the 48.
I think we all know that power alone should not be the sole determiner of gun choice. So in your opinions on these 3 guns regarding balance of userfriendly-ness =) power and accuracy what would be your picks.
Thanks again.
Tim
PS I did look at the Airforce Condor in .22 cal....fantastic looking gun but it would be almost 300$ dollars more than the other guns by the time I bought the hand pump for the PCP and everything. They say it will bust clean through 1 inch pine at 50 yards on full power and the pellet would show through the other side at 100 yards and 30 yards clean through 2 1" boards. very fun.
I am using this for pest control plinking and light target during the winter months. Pest control being my main use. Would the .22 be the way to go. I know the .177 goes faster and flatter but from the reviews I have read even the .22 cal Diana 48/Diana 350 at 50 yards carries up to about 160fps more velocity than my current gun can shoot at the muzzle....wow! Is penetration the most important thing or hitting power? I have also heard that the Hollow Point pellets actually work with this gun. With my current gun, shooting a Hollow Point into wood/phone book yeilds no expansion of the pellet. But I hear with this gun because of velocity a hollowpoint actually does what it's supposed to do, mushroom.
Sorry for all the questions and comment. Just trying to get my head wrapped around this and make my decision. =)
I am using this for pest control plinking and light target during the winter months. Pest control being my main use. Would the .22 be the way to go. I know the .177 goes faster and flatter but from the reviews I have read even the .22 cal Diana 48/Diana 350 at 50 yards carries up to about 160fps more velocity than my current gun can shoot at the muzzle....wow! Is penetration the most important thing or hitting power? I have also heard that the Hollow Point pellets actually work with this gun. With my current gun, shooting a Hollow Point into wood/phone book yeilds no expansion of the pellet. But I hear with this gun because of velocity a hollowpoint actually does what it's supposed to do, mushroom.
Sorry for all the questions and comment. Just trying to get my head wrapped around this and make my decision. =)
I own the 350 in .22 cal. Don't go by the velocity specs advertised by RWS or others. The last time I looked, The "Diana" webpage used 900fps as a rating for the .22cal 350mag which is more realistic. Mine will do a tad over that using 11.9gr RWS Hobbies. The 48/52 is pretty much in the same power range. I've never seen the Gamo but I have heard that replacement parts are hard to get. Parts are readly available through RWS for the Diana guns or if you want a real nice, smooth shooter, Jim Maccari sells kits for the 48/52/54 and others for a good price. I know the 48/52/54 series are well built and very popular but I think their a bit heavier than the 8.5lbs 350. I use my 350 for hunting and enjoy shooting it. I use mostly JSB Exacts 15.9gr because of the energy they retain down range and accuracy. They shoot around 800fps giving me roughly 22.5ftbls of energy and retaining about 13ftbls at 50 yards. There are other pellets that produce more from the muzzle but die rather quickly down range. It is long, 48" to be exact and I would say is better fitted for a larger framed person but thats just my opinion. Cocking is not hard. They do give a healthy kick but that's magnums. Weak points, again in my opinion, are the spring guide, I have heard of springs breaking but mine never did and the stock screws are rather cheap. To some it up, between the Diana's and the Gamo, I'd stick to the Diana's. Parts are easy to get and Jim Maccari has the goodies to tune most of them.I'm no expert, but I do know they are reliable, straight shooters as your research would have told you. Good luck on whatever purchase!
Last week I picked up a 350 at a gundealer. To me it was a very handsome gun. A lot better looking than my 34 or the Gamo. At 122 cm it is as long as my Mosin Nagant rifle, which means: it's LONG. It also has the appeal of being the most powerful springer, a title it shares with the Gamo, but the Gamo is not as beautiful and ... hey: this is a Diana forum after all
Bear (kodiak) in mind though that the power of a 350 comes at a price: it is loud and eats scopes for breakfast. Should you want a scope, take a good mount (like a dampamount with the rubber cushioning) and a strong scope. It's not all that stupid to get a Leupold, as these will probably survive anything. For hunting and pests you need no stronger magnification than 4x fixed and Leupold has a fine 4x28 "rimfire" which means it's parallax is regulated at 60yards which should also be fine for a magnum airgun and the "rimfire" does not mean it is not robust. All Leupolds are as solid and robust; "rimfire" only refers to the parallax setting. But, after all, iron sights will also do, provided you have enough light.
Personally, I bought a 34 as my "heavy" springer (in .22) as it seemed powerful enough for pest hunting and having a gentlier behavior than the 350.
If you buy a 350 (by all means: do so) I would also consider the purchase of a second, easier (and less noisy) shooting, gun, like a 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 34, 36 depending upon the required power, range and predicted use.
Kind regards,
PS: If a .22-250 is used at 400 yards with a 20x scope, this is the equivalent of a 4x at 80 yards. Considering an airgun will mostly be used at max 50yards, 4x will certainly do and a simple 4x fixed of best quality will cost you no more than a "lesser" and clumsier variable of higher - not really needed -magnification.
Joris
------
model 24 .22
model 27 .177
model 34 .22
Feinwerkbau LP65match .177
Weihrauch 97K .177
My Dad and I will be shooting this primarily. As I mentioned before he is 77 years old. so something easy to shoot would be good. would the 350 fall into that category? would the 48 be the easier one to handle? The large size and weight I am not worried about at all. but the cocking weight of the 350 is what gives me pause.
Is it true that in .22 the 48 and the 350 are fairly close performers?
I tried many different pellets in my 350 .22, specially for hunt at 30-50 yards, and I found that the RWS Superpoint works fine, although I never get the accuracy that I obtained with my Diana 36.
I tried a tin of JSB Exacts. I don´t like the noise that does the 350 with these pellets: it sounds like when you use a pellet that fits loose and the spring and seal strikes . With the Superpoints the noise is more smooth, with the feeling that the there´s a good air compression and there´s the correct pellet tighten in the bore.
So far, in my limited experience, the Exacts seems to be accurate, but in the cronograph developes a muzzle velocity of 253 mts/s compared with the Superpoint, 275 mts /s, although this could be because the Superpoint weights less, 14,5 gr. Which is your experience with the Superpoints ?
I know that the Exacts comes in 3 head diameters: 5,5 , 5,51 and 5,52. Which one do you use in your 350 ?
And please tell me more about your experiences with the JSB Exacts in your 350 and why did you choose it among the other pellets.
I have my 350 in .177 smoothbore .22 are not allowed in my country, Trinidad and Tobago, without an official firearm license. Either way I love it to death. I did have the opportunity to shoot a GAMO1250 with the rifled bore once, and i was not particularly impressed. To begin with, this gun requires a very high cocking effort, power is good but the behaviour of this gun is far below expectations. I found it particularly difficult to group shots well at even 20 yards.
The Diana is a much better balanced gun, the long barrel gives you more control, not to mention there is much less cocking effort required. The overall build quality of the Diana is superior, it just looks to be of an entirely higher pedigree.
I have had no problem so far eliminating pests with the .177, at up to even 50 yards in some cases. I've taken out everything from stray cats and pidgeons, to hunting sometimes for possom, which requires only one well placed shot to the head, and iguanas with my 350. Hell I even killed a 20lb. wild piglet with it once (heart/lung) shot.
But.......if you can get the .22 caliber version to it, i say go for it all the way my friend, you would not have to be as cautious as i am in some cases when it comes to humanely dispatching quarry. A .22 would carry more energy in each shot making it a more deadly pest control rifle.
en mexico los rifes mendoza fueron los unicos que podias encontrar tenia yo un magnum 5.5 qu le puse un resorte mas potente pero au asi las iguanas hera dificil bajarlas de un solo tiro no se si por reflejo teinden a agararce mas a las ramas cuando quedan en estado agonico pers ismpre tenia que reaizar mas de un tiro este verano logre adquirir un diana 50 m realmete se siente muy bien aunque nohe tenido el suficiente tiempo de provarlo a mas de 25 metros aludos y de que color son la iguansas en trinidad y tobago
I've been contemplating whether or not to purchase an air rifle. Sports and Games has a sale going on right now, they're offering the 350 for $4,750 and the model 48 for $3,000 flat. Are these good prices?
Price apart, I've been doing a lot of research on the net with regards to Diana/RWS and so far the feedback has been good. I've never owned an air rifle before and I was hoping to speak with someone before I make my purchase. Some forums have indicated that the 350 might not be suitable for a first time airgunner because of recoil, etc. but I want to make sure I purchase quality.
Besides Sports and Games, where else can I purchase an air rifle in Trinidad, and what other brands are available locally?
Good to see a fellow Trini here man.
Do you have an email address. I could give you alot of information, but it may be a bit much to post as a comment online. So drop me a line, my address is kevin.cadogan@petrotrin.com
What kind of varmints are you referring to? Pests can be anything from rats to large birds, depending on who and where. I would not be over-concerned on the expansion factor of hollow points. More on penetration. I can't see a .22 pellet opening up much more in diameter, and a .22 hole does about as much damage as a .25. In other words, you are going for a combination of shock and wound channel. Why are you limited to fifty yards? At any rate, go for the most quality you can afford, especially in the scope. Also, at fifty yards a peep sight can be very effective and afford a bit more challenge, even for your dad's elderly eyes.
RedFeather
ps - the higher end guns have better warranties, can be repaired and tuned should you break a spring or want more out of the gun. Gamo's are, alas, sort of like the pig's ear in this respect.
