The 48 is an .177 and the 54 is a .22. The 54 seems heavier to me. My 54 is also way less hold sensitive than the 48 when I shoot off hand. The 54 seems more accurate, but that's probably just a result of it having more forgiveness of inconsistant follow through and the larger hole it puts in the bottoms of my beer cans at 45 yards. All this while suffering through the truly horrible TO-5 on my 54 compared to the almost Rekord like quality of the tuned TO-1 on my 48.
It will shoot more consistently than your 48 due to the recoil damping system.
It will shift backward just slightly more than one inch. You are in no danger as long as you keep a proper sight image in your scope.
It is slightly heavier than your 48, but it won't kill you to lift it.
It will shoot well from a bench, but shoots well off hand too. Just last week I shot a near perfect score on the NRA standard 50' indoor rimfire silhouette target sheet. That means I hit every target, with most of them 5 pointers. I hit 21 on the turkeys alone. I can't do that with a rimfire. I can easily score high 90s on standard Sporterifle targets. If you bench it, you will shoot honest one-hole groups as long as you can concentrate.
I had a nice trigger with a Vortec sear in mine originally. It had some problems and I sent it to Russ Best to repair. (It kept firing by itself). Russ put in a new trigger and the thing sucks eggs. It creeps, it wiggles it does the hootchy kootchy. I found out by playing with the NEW trigger that the OLD trigger was actually fine and only needed to have the adjustment screw driven back in (it had backed out a bit over the years). Sadly, I did not get the old trigger from Russ...heck it took 2 years to get the rifle back.
I asked this question about a month ago and was told it around three quarters of an inch if I remember correctly. Most people who own the 54 say its one of the rifles they would not sell.
I got started in Air Gunning almost 2 years ago. My neighbor has about 60 acres of horse pasture and woods. There were lots of ground squirrels and they were not able to kill them with .22 powderburners or smoke bombs. I mentioned this to a guy I work with and he said we could use his airguns to get them. Neighbor said to "go at it". That year we got about 140 of them. This past year there were not as many, DUH, but I got a few more. Not sure what to expect in April or May.
BUT...I was so impressed with Loren's RWS 48 in .177, that I ordered a RWS 54 in .22 and topped it off with the RWS 450 scope (3x9-40AO) and the one piece C mount. I figured that if I was going to go with all RWS I would not have a problem. AND all has been good. NO problems. Gun shot great out of the box and I can hit a Gamo Squirrel drop down target at 50 yards while sitting on my front deck. Only support is off my thigh, with the front of the stock held loosly in my open, upturned left hand. This gun has the TO-5 trigger and it seems good to me. I do have a few HW's with the rekkord trigger, but I have not shot these since I bought them at Xmas in 2006. I will get them rigged up this year. I have seen the slide action of the 54 and it is about a 3/4 inch slide. When you cock it, it goes to a "return to battery" position.
If I had one gun to use for small game, this would be the "go to gun". It is heavy, but it is a great shooter. I am happy with the .22 cal. Sure wish it would warm up here in Spokane, WA...
All of my RWS's are great guns and I am waiting on a RWS 45 in .177, due in this week from NH.
Off Topic to RedFeather: Are you really a Bubblehead? Contact me offline, please...
Am looking at one in .177, though. (Know the .22's are more effecient with this system.)
I might try it on a silent trap in the basement. Is this really too hot for indoors? (Belong to a range, also.) And would an RWS400 in rings be adequate?
Dear Sir, it's quite simple when you buy- or own the 54 Airking you have the best of the best ! No recoil and technical based on the double side working Match 75 technic, absolutely superb shooting groups with this heavy, superfast and reliable air rifle. The .177 is good for >120 yards, the 48 however is more the "workhorse" and for those who like this rifle ( like myself ) like it more to shoot this rifle because you don't have to be affraid to become some damage or scratches on the rifle. Well, it's a personal matter but if you make the decision for one of those two rifles you're still the owner of the good Diana brand. Kind regards from Johannis.
All guns are too hot to shoot indoors if you're talking about a house. Not only is getting hit a problem, but the lead dust should be avoided indoors.
At most, I recommend shooting in the garage where you can control air flow, hose off the surfaces, etc.
For a silent pellet trap, I offer once again my favorite creation:
It is a stack of carpet compressed between two pressure-treated 2 x 6 boards. Boards are compressed by 4 threaded posts with washers, nuts and wingnuts. I STAND on the top board with the bottom board resting on a cement block. I tighten the wingnuts as I sort of bounce on it.
Carpet block is roughly 12"tall x 18"wide x 3" thick. Wood frame is slightly larger in all dimensions.
Leave the bottom posts long and use them to stick in the yard as legs. Staple your targets to the wood frame.
Most pellets get stuck between the layers of carpet. You can stand it in a small cardboard box to catch the ones that fall out. They don't bounce out, they don't splatter, they don't make any noise.
Nothing gets through 3" of compressed carpet. I use it for rubber blunt practice from my bow. Even a field point will barely penetrate. If it gets wet, it works even better. After 3 years, re-arrange the carpet strips, shake the pellets into a can and dispose of properly.
Don't get me wrong, it's a pretty good side two car garage, but I can't get 33 feet, even corner to corner. Shooting that thing at twenty feet is a bit over-kill. Maybe my Hurricane.
I do belong to a decent 100 yard range, although I will have to share it with powder burners. However, that's no different from shooting .22's there. (Ever been three seats down from a .375 I Don't Know What Magnum with one of those tank-type muzzle breaks? I could feel the gasses.)
At the cost of ammo these days, the little .177 doesn't come off as half bad.
Love that trap idea. Good for recyling in the lead pot, too. Don't think the wife will let me cut up the carpet, though. (Maybe not even buy what I'm thinking of buying.)
Anyway, talked with the wife about it and she gave me the green light. Will have to be extra nice now!
One reason I'm going with this instead of a 48 or 52 (and I was considering the one on the Yellow classifieds this morning), I've had four eye surgeries and really shouldn't be shooting anything with recoil. While springer recoil isn't the same as a .30-06 (had two, sold them), even tamed down it can be a bit brain rattling. So, I guess I'm getting rid of some other things I have so's I can concentrate on this.
BTW, this gun was bought new in 4/95 with less than 200 rounds through it. Has two pencil eraser sized dings in the forearm. Comes with an RWS 400 in rings. (Hope that's enough to take the sled.)
Johannes - Guns are for shooting. And I don't hunt, anyway. At least this one does not have the new wrap-around checkering pattern under the forearm. I would be looking at that each session to see if any of the points were crushed!
Red Feather: first of all congratulations with one of the best air rifle's for sale ! When I have a good look the checkering is the same as in Europe is used on the "Model 52 Luxus" the most luxury side spanner but with the 48 technic in it. Do you have any idea if there is a difference in stock style between the European- and the USA 54's Airking ? You have the most luxury and technical most perfect Diana offers at the moment !! A lot of happy and precise shots, kind regards from Johannis. ( in .177 you have ((almost)) the best ballistic pellet traject with the genuine Diana High Power pellet ).
Hey Mr. Red Feather Tim here. Diana makes in my op. some of the finest springers avail. You will soon put your hands on the BEST they have to offer! yeah thats right The 54!! The sledge recoil function is a little disconcerting at first, but you will get used to it. (I did). If you would like some "real world" info from someone that has put a 54 to the test for almost 2 years now,,E-Mail me timmyj1959@yahoo.com Hey Johannis,, 54 is the best!! Of course it is!!(all Diana,s are great) The KING rules!! R.F. you will not be dissapointed!!Tim.
My 54 is completly oblivious to the common hold issues associated w/most spring airguns. You can shoot it from a bench,or hand hold , no poi. change!! It is VERY forgiving in that respect. I hope you go for 22 cal. I just last week "set up" a 54 for a friend of mine in 177, That thing was just too fast for its own good!! Kodiak Match pells were the only ones I could "slow down" to even aproach aceptible accuracy levels. Others were way too fast& would most likely "lead" the Brl. in short order. Im side tracking again (oLD TIMERS)!. yOU WILL love YOUR 54! Tim.
Thanks to all for you generous help in choosing this
March 4 2008, 9:21 PM
Johannes, never thought I would end up with something top of the line like this. But it has really worked out well because that's the kind of airgun (recoiless) I ought to be shooting, anyway. And, at the price, it's much better than any equivalent PCP.
Tim, it's a .177. I would have liked it in .22 (really liked it in .20!), but the opportunity presesnted itself last night and, to be frank, there's little to no selection of pellets in .22 around here. OTOH, I guess I will be buying a bit heavier than standard fodder. That's something I will seek guidance here on working out. I'm not one of those "Oh, go ahead and break the spring so you can send it off for a $300 tune" kind of guys. I'll have to thin the herd here at home to offset this baby, not to mention make some space for it.
Again, thanks to all. Now I've got two Diana's - a 50 and a 54. (Incidentally, I think my circa 1958 Model 50 might have been about the top of the sporter line for Diana back then.) Hope these aren't like potato chips!
Hi Redfeather, very nice absolutley perfect, you have to consider how nice to get the box and paperwork and all that is worth alot to get all of this stuff with this gun. Nice looking gun for shure.
Being a good shooter with this superb rifle without recoil you can cut someone's moustache with it. No tuning on this rifle needed, beautifull flat traject with the 0.69 gram / 10.65 grain pellets form Diana. You will become ( if you aren't already ! ) a real marksman, al lot of succes with this toprifle, Johannis.
Johannis said it perfecly on his last post!! Man are you going to love it,you are in for a very special treat my friend! Cant wait to see your posts about it! Tim.
