and what are the limitations of that particular model

some people expect incredible performance from an air gun bought at Wal Mart without realizing what the maximun level of performance can get achieved from that gun. so then we start tinkering with it to bring it up to another level

now I know my 34 is 600+ fps, can it achieve 800 and be on par with my 48, maybe but it would NEED A SERIOUS "STEROID" modification costing a lot of $$$$

can I modify my (750 fps) 48 to shoot 900? yes but the same applies as above


will my 460 (820 fps) turn into a fire spitting 950 fps?

I think you follow the idea and would like to state that my air guns are right at the levels from factory with very little Mods. I can even tell you my 34 Panther and 40 are my easiest for me. I love shooting PAPER at 20-30 yards, that's it and these two satisfy me the most

I would rather have the mid power air guns tweeked then my "howitzer's" tuned. stay with the level of fps you are pleased with and go for those 5 pellets in a .30 ctc at 20 yards, they will bring a smile in your face

warren

PS: just my opinion


and remember "it's 30% the gun and 70% the shooter"

Hear, hear!

I expect the following from my '34:

Reliability (it should outlast me, if I take care of it, and that should take no special work to keep it working. Just routine maintenance and cleaning.)
Accuracy - It should hold smaller groups than I am capable of
Consistancy - It shoot at or near the same power on it's 3000th round as it did on it's 500th.

So far, I've gotten those from it. I have no need of more power, pop cans are thru-and-thru when water filled at the longest range at my disposal (75yds), and the squirrels aren't safe inside of 40yds, or rabbits within 60yds.

Paper groups have been encouraging, about 3/8" ctc in 5 shots at 20yds, the few days I've had with wind low enough to try...

One day it'll get tuned (by me), but not till something goes wrong, I think. Stock it's free of twang, vibration, torque and slam. Hell, it doesn't even walk the cheap 2 piece scope rings with no adhesives or recoil pins.

who could ask for more?

J

Hi guys,

I thought about this long and hard over the day's 2nd cup of coffee and a smoke while away from the computer.

This may sound silly, but I just want my guns to make me smile and look forward to taking them out for a little "pop'en".

Everything can breakdown or have problems...gonna work on the dishwasher today if UPS delivers the parts to my door(sigh); but it IS a good washer.

My guns are my buddies...more like my kids I guess...I get frustrated with them at times but I honestly love and care for them and I pay attention to THEIR needs...and I AM protective of them...don't let people lean them up against walls or on rocks, etc.

If they make me smile and look forward to shooting them, then they are doing their job.

This is going to be my last post for an hour or so...gonna take my little Crosman 3100 break barrel .177 out for a little "can killing" in the back yard. The 3100 is the cousin to the RWS 92/94...mine is over 20 yrs old...was under $90 back in 87-88...never have done anything to it but a lube job and a TINY trigger mod...

It has "mouse fart" power compared to my .22 cal 350s and Theobens, but that little gun has made me smile more than I can possibly say in the last 20 yrs. and I'll NEVER get rid of it.

Good shooting to all....

-Curtis

Some really good stuff in your post Warren. I agree with ya. I've owned and shot enough airguns that I think I have a fairly decent understanding of what those perameters of what I'm after in the shooting cycle, are. Comprehensive? No. Maybe some clues in the right direction is a better way to say it.

Airgun designers know there's a balance of weight to power. Lately some of the respected tuners are revisiting that aspect of airgun design and the potential power based upon the machine's weight. Redfeather really nailed it not too long ago when he brought the question to the forefront here and on the Yellow.

So how does one reap all the benefits without making a particular machine unfriendly in its firing cycle? These are where rebuilds and tunes really take precedence. You can own a decent enough airgun without ever tuning it and once its broken in, you should have a docile enough firing cycle to never worry about it collapsing in on itself. But that airgun will not have reached its potential. It may even have faults direct from the factory which might not become apparent for years of regular shooting. Or those issues might be revealed in a shorter span of time. Airguns are simple enough that the mechanically inclined shadetree airgun owner, with a spring compressor, ought to be able to at least address the more basic details. That work will add life and consistancy to the airgun. You get somewhere around factory power (realistic factory power) with a better shooting cycle and longer life of the internals. Some parts, like factory springs and seals, don't have an infinite lifespan.

The tune, if done well enough, pays less attention to velocity numbers than it does the quality of the operation of the machine overall. You fix all the little niggles and you get this sweet shooter that stays a sweet shooter for a very long time. As a tune breaks in its not unusual to see a slight increase in velocity. Parts go in a little tight to resolve issues like fitting the cylinder tightly and work themselves in as the air rifle sees more use. Those parts run a little slicker as they wear in to the proper fit.

I've shot airguns that felt like sliding two pieces of oiled glass across each other. There's an HW35 owned by a friend in Wisconsin that is sheer joy just in setting the spring before you take the shot. Its that good. Now the HW35 has a locking bree... um, actually that should be left to another post...

As you know, a tune gets the rifle into that zone where it does things as close to the original designers' hopes as they could have imagined. Some people can tune them so well there's a gain in power as a result of just getting the rifle right internally. That's what I call bonus.

Great topic Warren! Enjoy those Dianas of yours

Harv

Warren, always great fun to read one of your spritual topics ! Nice to read the expectations of the air rifle owners / lovers. Reliability is main purpose no. 1 of your rifle and that's the reason why we shoot Diana's. Sunday we have our 100 meter shoot ( only PCP's are joining ) but in june the second shoot is coming with springers on 100 meter !! Perhaps I will do an attempt with my 48 in .177 or possible the Airking in .177. I hope you're OK and let me say that your topics are the icing on the cake of the Dianawerk Collective, best regards from Johannis.

Times are that a good read far surpasses proffering opinions.

Thanks.


Sylvan

S/SP

from my airguns to shoot 1" groups on open sights at ~20yds when I get them new before I scope them which gives me an indication of their accuracy potential, and be able to bring down small game (fur-bearing ones not feathered) quickly and humanely at various distances depending on its power.
I prefer to use 12fpe for up to 25yds, 15-17fpe out to 35-40yds, and 20+fpe at 40-60yds for most game, except larger small game from groundhog on up (possom, racoon, fox, etc.) where more power is needed at shorter distances.

Well this question I had to think about real good before answering.
I guess I am different because my first priority is power,I want the most power I can get out of my air guns,but I realize there is a limit as to how much power you can make before ballistic's take over and ruin your day..Second is to balance the power to the most accurate rifle I can possible build.As in the SuperQuest I built,I had to spend extra money on a LW barrel and change calibers to harness/maintain both power and accuracy !!But it worked.
Third would be the trigger ,all of mine break at less that 1.5 lbs I like a very light trigger but still safe mind you!
Forth is the wood,unlike most gun guy's I like mine very shiny I usally sand them down and finish them with High Gloss Verathane plastic coat paint.I know a lot of guy's frown on this but HEY there mine and I like them to shine.And last but not least is the fireing cycle,this poses quite a problem for me.because of the power I desire I have a tough time making them into a smooth shooter.But I have found out by spending a lot of time while tore down polishing everything and making sure every peice fits perfect it will be smooth now matter how much power it puts out.The sound barrier being the limit kinda puts a damper on a rough/unstable fireing cycle.You can not cross that threashold and maintain accuracy (BUMMER)
I never could get attatched to powder burners,after owning many 30/30's,22's ,22/250's,M1,M14,308,30.06,AR15's I never loved them like my air rifles.WHY??? I think it goes back to my childhood and my first Daisy 25.To me that thing was a real gun and could kill anything but only in my mind.I used to go to the woods to sneek a cigarette I stole from my Mom or Dads pack of Chesterfields.
If I had my trusty old Daisy 25 with me there was no fear what so ever,but if I was 25-less I would get spooked real easy hear things and imagine a big animal or something was going to get me..
I only own 1 powder burner now a 12 gage shotgun.Its for home protection(locked and loaded with 00 buck) next to my bed,but I think I have 30 to 35 air guns including my old Daisy 25's all 4 of them.And I still love shooting them just as much as my Diana 48.They are just a simple fungun capable of bringing a smile to my face if I even look at one.
So now you know what I expect from my Air Guns and more

Sincerly,
BBGun Bob
A few of my favorits!
My old daisy 25's
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My Diana 48
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The Famous ,20 cal. SuperQuest with Diana 350M spring and custom made piston & guide.
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For total BB assult a 1982 LARC M19-A Machine BB GUN with cycle rate of 3000 a minuet
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a fully modded XS-B3-1 Ak47 look-a-like
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[IMG][/IMG]
And of course a 1982 Sheridan Mack1 Steroid in Polished brass.
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And a 1971 Crosman 1100 Trapmaster Shotgun or .375 lead balls
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Springers are Neat! One Shot One Bullseye!

who the hell would want to "chance" it breaking and "entering" in your home with that arsenal??

warren

and remember "it's 30% the gun and 70% the shooter"