RicMic (Login RicMic) from IP address 24.180.218.204
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DISASTER struck.
The whole group that hangs out at the gunshop was there. We all marveled at the quality and engineering of the Diana 48 rifle. It was beautiful, I finally had the prize I waited weeks for. I was just about to walk it out the door when I noticed, just above the serial number, the caliber said .177 not .22 as I had ordered. Somebody had put the wrong rifle in the box, the box said .22, (they could have put a 54 in there, I would have kept that!), so somewhere someone is going to open a .177 box and find a .22! I almost kept it anyway. Back in the box it went and soon back from where it came. I was soooo ready to shoot that gun, but nooooo, now I get to spend even more time with my Gamo CF-X in .177 this weekend. AAHHRRGGGG!!!!
It came that way from the factory? I never head of that happening before. I guess mistakes can be made in any manufacturing facility. Hope they make it right soon, the anticipation is killer.
Yep a 177 in a 22 box! Looks like next Friday. Why do weeks have to be seven days long? Can't we switch to 3 day meteric weeks? Like I said I almost kept it thinking I'll just use CP Heavies, Crow magnums, and Kodiaks, it'll be great for hunting, the pellets are cheaper, more different kinds of pellets, etc..... I'm gonna spend the next 7 days wishing that I kept that gun.
I don't blame you a bit for wanting a .22 caliber model. I used to think that .177 was it, but after owning a few guns now in .22 it has become my caliber of choice in airguns. Hope the time flies for you and you get the gun in .22 as that would be what I would want in one also. What is it when we can hardly wait for something and then something like this happens. Hope you get your 48 soon and enjoy it.
My 48 did not come today. Maybe Monday. The flipside is that the Gamo CFX is shooting pretty doggone good, 1/2" at 25 yards with Crosman Pointed Hunting pellets. When I make my large pellet order I'll try some of those Crosman Premier's and JSB Exact's.
Checked with the shop about 5PM today (13 Aug) and not only no Diana 48 but the warehouse he ordered from shipped it today. Mind you they opened the sealed box to ensure the rifle was indeed a 22 caliber LAST Monday (6 Aug). And better still the .177 that was to be returned STILL has not been picked-up from the gunshop. Man there is a lot of bad JuJu going on here.
Called the gunshop today and the Diana 48 in .22 cal is here. But I'm stuck 500 miles away until late Saturday night. So, it looks like Sunday morning (thank god he's open 7 days a week). Finally!
However with the great weather right now I'll have to wait until tomorrow afternoon or Wednesday to test fire it. It looks great and it is a 22. Now to shop for the 3 pellets of known airgun accuracy; CP Premiers, JSB Exacts, and Beeman's Kodiak. Ahhhh, I can feel the cramp in my arm now!
I have about 100 pellets down range so far but, as of today the gun shot some good groups with Crosman 14.3 grain Premium (not Premier) domed pellets. Still fiddling with the hold, it shot groups about 1/2" wide and about 1" to 1 1/4" tall. I know it's the hold, because over the Crony the 48 was VERY consistant, most shots went 730fps to 733fps. Only the first shot in the string went low at 724fps, the high was 733fps. One other went 728fps but all the others were in that 730 to 733 zone. Against Straight Shooters numbers this gun is about 65fps slower but may pick-up a bit after a few hundred more pellets have gone down range. BTW I mounted a RWS450 3-9x40AO scope in a RWS C mount. We'll see how well that combo holds up. As an aside, I shot my Gamo CFX 177 over the screens and even though it groups well the velocity spread was very much wider than the 48. With 7.9 grain Crosman Premium domed pellets it went right at 800fps on average. 785 to 811 with one going 754! I don't have 500 through this gun either and will check it again near the end of the season.
BKL 260 one piece droop compensated for .7. That's a lot of spring energy you are trying to tame there. If that C mount starts to loosen up and move around, you'll need something sturdier.
"but I'll be needin' that gun, fer squirrels and such."
I have only had my Diana 350 .22 for 3 days now and the scope keeps coming loose. Not only the C-mount (1-piece mount) screws come loose but the Ring screws too! I managed to strip 2 ring screws and 1 mount screw already! This scope hardware doesn't hold up. I have only shot about 90-100 pellets. It comes loose and rattles every 15-20 pellets now. I know the 350 is a little more powerful than the 48, but I suspect this scope won't hold up well with the 48 either. I got the 350 Combo so the RWS450 3x9-40 came inside the rifle box. Why do they package the rifle with this crappy scope that can't handle the recoil? And the screws are cheap. I was hardly putting any force on that hex tool when the screws got stripped. What a shame.
Anyone have recommendations on a good scope that can handle a Magnum springer for a few years and a couple of thousand pellets?
BTW, I also used the Crossman Premiers, Crow Magnums and Kodiaks.
I found the Premiers to be the most consistent. I had the best groupings with them when I sighted in the scope at 20yds. About 3/8" groupings. 1 out of 2 Premiers hit the bullseye dead center. I couldn't accomplish that with the others but I have not shot enough pellets yet because the scope keeps coming lose and I now have stripped screws that I can't tighten (argh!!). I shot sitting in a chair and resting the gun on a table with 2 pillows. I don't know how you shoot this heavy a*s 350 standing & without leaning on something. It's way too heavy. I did accomplish part of my goal though which was to take some groundhogs. Pretty much the only reason I bought a Magnum springer. I took one the day after the gun arrived with a Crossman Premier .22 14.3gr at about 21yds from my bedroom window. Head shot (that's all I had, his body was in the hole), he jumped forward, rolled over twice and then stopped moving. 1 shot, 1 kill. I know there are a few more in my back yard but I need to find a competent strong scope before I start using the rife regularly. Any suggestions?
I recently purchased a my first Diana in 177.cal. I would not trade this gun for anything. A week after using this gun, I made a commitment to start collecting Diana's. My next gun will be the 350. mag in 22. cal. The 177. cal is a powerful rifle, very precise, and has it's place in every owners stable. This rifle definitely has it's merits. Why not keep it and get a 22. later. Then you can switch off when the situation calls. If you shoot the 177.cal for a week, you may NOT even want to send it back or wish you hadn't. Good luck.
I have mine on a set of BKL double strap mounts with a scope stop. The one you mention should be just fine as your rifle needs some drop compensation. .007 should be fine.
I've had the 48 out a few times since my last report. I still have not bought really good pellets yet, I'm shooting Crosman Premiem 14.3 grain hunting pellets. The 48 groups tight and consistant at 25 yards (5 shots into .25" is normal). I have not tested velocity since the the earlier report. No trouble with either the RWS 450 scope or the RWS C mount, but I will be changing the mount to a BKL 260 with .007 droop. And yes, that means I have a droopy barrel. Even though I have not had any problems with the C mount I just don't like it.
I had read somewhere that a 48/52/54 was shooting slow and switching to JSB Exacts gave considerable velocity gain along with better accuracy. While I'm not worried about the accuracy I would like a bit more velocity, I'm getting about 730fps now and would like about 800fps or so (as on Straight Shooters).
Do I Like my .22 48? Enough so that I thinking about one in .177.
