My 54 is in the shop now getting this tune and spring upgrade. I'll let you know. I think the FPS improvement will be minimal, but the monolith is supposed to keep the FPS at "new" levels instead of dropping off over time. The tuner told me the monolith isn't as smooth as the factory, but then the 54 recoil is so smooth that it didn't mater to me.
Mark
My understanding of the Monolith, I own 2 RWS 54's, is that
November 13 2005, 7:10 PM
one can expect more power than with the factory spring and correspondingly greater cocking effort...The GSI Kit will make a little less power than factory stock but be much smoother and easier to cock and to shoot consistent/accurate groups with...
That said, if you have a RWS .177, I wouldn't put a Monolith Kit in...I'd lean toward the GSI...my .177 has a full blown custom tune by Russ Best, i.e. buttoned piston, Apex Seal, modified T05 Trigger Group with 2 stage adjustment screws, Apex Seal, but utilizing the factory spring...It is currently shooting FTS @ 1,001 fps...I'm thinking about swapping in a GSI Spring to smooth it out even further...
Smooth on a 54 is a unique concept, its virtually motionless to the shooter, however, the action does move, as such, if the action is subject to a less violent motion, it seems conceivable that it would be easier to shoot tight & consistent groups with the gun as there is less potential to throw the shot...
Michael, forgot to add that my 54(.22) which is factory stock, shoots JSB Exacts(5.52)
November 15 2005, 10:30 PM
at 806fps...I was considering installing the Monolith in this gun but it shoots so accurately and smoothly, I decided why mess with such a sweet set up...
One of them in my previous 52, and several others in owners' guns, during tunes. The posted comments are right on: more power, more cocking effort to match. The spring is tough as nails and will last a very long time. It makes for a good high-powered hunting rig, but for paper punching and misc. plinking I'd probably also go with the GSI kit.
That said, one small-business owner had me install one in his 48. He and office staff use it solely for indoor plinking---in the office during down time, and he said they all love it for taking a break from the routine. I guarantee you it will push a pellet through more than one sheet of paper at a time!
Which Diana 54 Air King? ( .117, .20, .22 or .25?)
December 1 2005, 5:36 AM
I am considering to buy a D54 Air King and I was wondering as to the caliber of choice.
I expect to shoot it at as long a distance as possible, say 100 meters or more. What caliber should I get?
The scope on the D54 will be a Leupold V-II Ultralight 3-9x33 EFR with target turrets and a Premier Reticles' Modified Mil-Dot installed.
All four calibers of pellets are locally available. I cannot find JB Exacts (Czech-made) in 5.56 where I am, but Crosman Premiers are widely available as well as Dynamics and the like. Thanks in advance. (Price is 580.00 Euros)
All experience with the above calibers in a D54 and comments on pellet choice are welcome.
I am in Europe and apparently the D54 comes in .20 and .25 as well, although there is little choice in pellet selection in these two calibers. I have friends who own both .177 and .22 and they both love the way their D54 Air King shoots them. So many thanks for your input. I am not hunting or anything, but I like long-range shooting with an air rifle, especially a Diana. I already have a 1960s D25 and an 06 68-marked (June 1968 made?) D35, which are great air rifles. I am in the process of getting a vintage 10-meter D75 next, but in the meantime a long-range Diana (like the D54) would fit the bill for me. I still haven't read anything about the D300S, which may or may not be comparable to a D54, in either .177 or .22. It is sold in France, as of last October ('05), but I have not met someone with any experience w/this new multi-shot (7) springer from Diana.
Tony, only the .25 cal. is still available, not the .20 cal.
December 5 2005, 2:42 AM
It is Monday morning here and I phoned a different shop (DORKAS, in Greece, phone # 0030-6019-920) who used to advertise the .20 cal. D54, about a year or longer ago (July 2004 catalog). In my conversation with a sales person I was told that currently the D54 Air King is imported and is in stock in three versions: .177 (4.5), .22 (5.5) and .25 (6.35), but NOT in .20 (5.0).
BTW, the only .20 cal. pellets currently available in shops are the Sheridan-made ones in the yellow box, for their multi-pump action models (without a waist, as they are monoblock and have a shallow scirt).
Diana Model 54 Air King in 6.35 (.25 cal.) = 185 mps!
December 6 2005, 1:05 AM
Tony,
I spoke with the shop in Greece again and I was told that the .25 cal. (6.35 mm) D54 has a factory advertized muzzle velocity (Vo) of some 185 meters per second (mps)! Isn't this figure way too slow?
By comparison the Vo for the .177 = 320 mps and for the .22 = 230 mps.
I wonder what it's like to shoot a .25 cal. air rifle...
In my 54/22 cal from the factory, I can shoot about 4-5 inch groups at 100 yards, but the pellet drops 2-3 feet at that range compared to 50 yards. I'm not sure about the FPE at 100 either . With the Monolith, I'm hoping that less time in the air = less drop at 75-100 yards.
Nikos, 100 meters are far beyound the effective range of this airgun.. Not only for the 54 but for most airguns in all calibers!
You may espect a good and consistent accuracy up to 50-60 metres in every caliber, in no-wind conditions and with a remarkably good pellet, like (in 177) CPH (but you need to find out the right die number), HN Baracuda Match or JSB Heavy (as per the CP you need to test them to find the one that fit your barrel: 4,50 4,51-4,52-4,53 OR 5,50 etc..).
Shooting over that distance is possible, obviusly, and everybody did it..but it's something to do for funny, not seriously....
Regarding the JM Monolith, I suggest to install the kit on the bigger calibers, like 20, 22, or 25 (is far more efficient), not on the 177, and NOT on the 54. This model could be damaged by the increased recoil of this kit. For the 54 best is the GSI.
The Monolith kit installed on a 177 gives approximately 19-20 FP, whilst do 24FP in 22 and bit more in 25!
Indeed a very good performer in terms of power, but you pay it with more reactions/recoil and shorter spring life than a GSI.
I am toying with the idea of a .25 cal Air King (D54). What is that other tune alternative (not the Monolith), the GSI? Contact info?
I simply like to see the pellets in mid-air through a scope as they travel to the target. So, yes airgunning is just fun for me; I don't hunt or kill anything, ever. I just like to hit small clay bits of tile with my Diana 35 (Maccari 31-coil spring) .177 cal. @ 100 meters (measured by a tape measure in 20 meter increments). I shot a whole tin of 500 pellets today, in fact! I can see the clay target getting smashed, looking through a Shepherd 3-10x40 .22 LR rangefinding scope. It works great. I use RWS Super Magnum 9.7grains (.177), which shine as they arc/parabole away. I mostly miss, though, as all my shooting is offhand and the target is just 8cm across.
On the contrary, when I use Air Arms 8.2grain Diabolo Field (.177) pellets, the action is too fast, as the pellet arrives faster and I miss half of the fun.
Other suitable brand is the H&N Silver Points, which @ 11.1grains also move s-l-o-w-l-y and are great to look at while spinning under the Sun.
I hope that a .25cal will do even better, as they fly really slow!
I have been told the Benjamin Legacy Spring will turn the 48 into a monster.
January 4 2006, 7:55 AM
I have been told the Benjamin Legacy Spring will turn the 48 into a monster.
The guy who told me this is a Legacy expert so I do believe him he found this out by accident from what he tells me, and it is only 12.00 US.
I have a 54 in .177.I have read all the forums on the GSI and Monlith kits, my question is: I know the GSI kit is for accuracy and the Monolith kit for power, but will the Monlith kit make the gun shoot as well as factory standard or will accuracy be worse of??????
Please give me advice I have been struggling to get an answer to this question, even the answers from the Maccari people has been unsatisfactory.Even if your gun is in 22 tell me if the rifle with the monolith is better or worse of for accuracy, Thanks.
