Hello all,
I'm new to all things air guns and I've been lurking on this forum for a few days now trying to learn as much as I can. We moved into a new house 6 months ago and we have a very serious jack rabbit problem here. I've decided that an air rifle would be the best way to handle this problem. I feel that the RWS 46 .22 is a good balance between price and performance. If you feel that there is a better air gun choice I would like to hear from you. I went to the Midsouth shooters supply web site and they don't list the RWS 46, so today I called them and the lady looked it up and said that the 46 has been discontinued. Hopefully this is not true because Midsouth has the best prices that I've found so far. Also can you guys recommend a good book for a rank beginner that would cover such things as the proper way to hold a rifle when shooting and how to hold when walking etc. I'm 53 and never owned a gun. I did have some basic firearms training in the air force 36 years ago which I have completely forgotten.

Thanks in advance
Mark

Not enough demand here.

"Since you are really only renting your airguns for a time, which ones are worth the payments and which aren't? What gives you the most satisfaction and enjoyment? That's what you want to buy. If you think about it in that light, you'll always know whether something is "worth it" or not." Tom Gaylord Airgun Review #2 page 86.

 Hi Theadore! Great to hear from you!

 Ya know, that quote of Tom's has always gotten to me. Tom is very different from many of us, as he has the oppurtunities to test and shoot so many different airguns!  I suppose it's like he rents em... Many of us though keep quite a few of our airguns in our batteries because we bought them as "keepers". I for one have 90 plus percent of what I ever bought!

 I have to admit that in myt first year and a 1/2 connected with the internet I did trade around 8 guns. Since, I rationalised the costs of purchase against not only the selling price but the "hidden cost" of shipping (both when purchased, then when sold). That mounts up pretty fast and really increased ownership costs! I just decided to pick carefully (and got VERY lucky on some trades) and only buy to keep now.

  I DO love Tom's writing though! His series of books and Airgun Notes and Airgun Letters are a pricess asset!

 Be safe,

 ZVP

 Mark, yes, Dianawerk and RWS seem to have restructured inportation of several models. The Model 40  (just a modified Model 34) is also a "goner" here in the US, but still available elsewhere.

 Look on Canadian sites. Often recently discontinued models show up up there. (watch out for the low power non-US, full Power versions though).

 ZVP

The 34 in .22 would be a good alternative. It's less pricey and delivers just as much performance. If you want to step it up in power for a lil more then look into a 48. I'm in love with those side-cocking rifles.

Thanks for the info, I don't know which way I'm going to go so I'll just keep reading and learning a little while longer.
Mark

Hello Mark,

The 46 was doing some 12 fpe at the most in either .177 or .22.
My - completely stock - 34 in .22 does 16,5 fpe with rws superdomes, what will do an excellent job on rabbits. Furthermore, it has enough barrel lenght, so cocking it, is not a hard thing to do and this easy cocking will allow for long shooting sessions.

Should you get involved in airguns, more and more, a 34 is also an easy gun to fieldstrip an "play with". A lot of accessories, springs and seals are available.

Finally, a 34 is a sleek gun. If used without a scope you can easily grab around it which makes for easy carrying.

Kind regards,



Joris

The 34 is looking better and better as a first air rifle.
Thanks,
Mark

They seem to have it here:

http://www.pyramydair.com/cgi-bin/model.pl?model_id=399

And here:

http://www.straightshooters.com/rws/rd46pp.html

And if you want to compare it with the RWS M34, read here:

http://www.straightshooters.com/genmenus/ourtake.html

Hope it helps.