Diana 54/.177 Meisterkugeln/3200 5x15 combination. I am getting about 1" groups at 20 yards and feel that the rifle is more capable than that. Is there any special technique to shooting this rifle. This is my first springer and I am really enjoying it.
Finally, and this is embarassing, where is the port to oil the spring? I guess it must be under the barrel between stock and receiver but I CAN"T FIND IT and I don't want to remove the stock unless I have to.
Thanks to all in advance

The 54 is very finicky about pellets.

a try. They are a very clean, consistently formed pellet and they are 8.44gr. My 48 does best with them.

Mulby

Ordered the exacts, premiers, and 6 other types of pellets to try. This in addition to the gamo and RWS sampler gives me 15 or so to try. Should be fun. Thanks again. I figure with the magic pellet should be able to occasionally get 1/4 to 3/8" groups. I can't hold any better than that.

Hi there,
you will not find an oil hole as such.Airgun springs are greased rather than oiled.Diana do this before shipping the guns out.It should last for thousands of shots.A word of caution,do not be tempted to oil the innards of this airgun especially in front of the piston washer.It can have disastrous effect on the spring due to uncontrolled dieseling.
HTH

Instructions say to apply 6 drops of spring cylinder oil to the mainspring every 1000 rounds. I have seen where I DO have to remove the stock to get access to this port for oiling. On a separate issue I have fired a cleaning pellet and now find that I was supposed to push it thru with a rod (impossible on the 54) I wonder if I have, in effect, dry fired the rifle. Seems to be fine.Do you just fire it like any other rifle for accuracy or do you need to be loose on it for maximum accuracy?

A couple of things that might help. I agree about trying different pellets. My 54 responds very well to the Crossman Premiers and to the JSB Exacts AKA Wolverines. Domed pellets do best at longer distances than match (flat nosed) or pointed.

Make sure you test your groups with very good bench techniques so as to isolate first the right pellet. Once you have the best pellet for your gun then you can begin with holding techniques. Generally speaking the "hold" on the 54 is not as crucial as for example a 48. The reason is that that the anti-recoil mechanism gives enough time to allow the pellet to be out of the barrel before the recoil is felt and disturbs the flight of the pellet itself. In the other guns recoil happens while the pellet is still inside the barrel making it imperative to have a very light hold. Make sure you keep your gun level (get a bubble level) to prevent cantering errors.

I would still use a light hold and a good trigger pull so you are not jerking the gun as you fire. Also keep a good follow through as with any other airgun. Finally, if you are using a scope it is difficult to keep a good follow through since you tend to loose your eye relief as soon as the scope moves backwards with the action, so do your best.

Oiling the spring can only be done by disassembling the stock and placing the drops right on the spring itself. Oiling the chamber is done with a different kind of oil. Look up the cleaning kits sold by RWS and its instructions. After oiling the air chamber it will diesel a bit but you will hear it only once. Still use a pellet always when you fire it.

Using cleaning pellets may be OK but I would load more than one at a time in order to have the spring "work" hard enough not to have the seal be slammed. I usually load three felt-cleanning pellets at a time and it seems to do about as well as when firing a lead pellet. Fire it in a direction where you can recover the pellets and see how dirty they come out. You can repeat until they come out clean.

If you use a rod to clean be gentle on the crown since you can oly clean it from the front of the barell.

Hope this helps. If I am wrong about any of this, (other more experienced people) please let me know for my own education.

Rick

Hi Rick
Thanks for taking the time to give me your thoughts. I bought the RWS sampler pack, gamo sampl;er pack and another tin of Meisterkugeln. The flat point match RWS and the hollow-point (both RWS) shrank groups by a full inch to 1/2 to 5/8" and one raqgged hole if I do my part. The Meisterkugeln were gining me about 1 1/2 inch. I thought the reasobn for the big groups was my technique. Only thing I changed was the pellets. I am shooting prone and rested at 22 yards with a 5x15-40 Browning (Bushnell 3200) on an RWS C mount. My 22 y/o son is home from spring break and I hyad him shoot the same pellets without knowing which was which. He got the same tighter groups with the same pellets. I will probably try some of the less well known pellets as well a little later on.
I am having a full blown Mosin Nagant built and bought the 54 to practice for cheap and convenient in my backyard. It has become a joy in its own right separate and apart from firearms.
Thanks again
Dave