roger (Login bhawanna) from IP address 167.7.16.100
what do i need to know about the good, bad, and ugly of the rws 5g pistols. i want a pistol to add to my locker. the 5g is listed at 700 fps...i'm sure this isn't true but i would like your opinions and reviews before i purchase one. thanx.
I own a couple of the standard 5G's and its about a 450 fps pistol. The new magnum model is listed at 700 fps. Most of the actual numbers I've seen posted are more like 550fps. In .177 cal of course.
I started getting 600+fps after I spaced up the spring a little bit in my P5. Its doing 630fps right now with RWS Hobby pellets. This pistol has quite a recoil, so pinpoint accuracy is out of the question. Spacing up the spring added to the recoil a little, but now I'm satisfied with its power. Also...and this is very important...shim the breech seal!!! Shimming will get you some more speed...well worth the effort IMHO. But then I'm a shimmin freak. I use a chrony to determine if my shims are working, and spend hours wringing every foot per second I can get. Because...I can
The plastic grip was extremely uncomfortable to the web of my hand after only a few shots. Further, there are no scope mounting provisions (allthough you will find some threads that discuss that it is possible.)
Lastly, and most importantly to me, it was way underpowered compared to its rating. I compared it to an air rifle rated for 700ish fps on tin (not aluminum) cans. The rifle passed through both sides. The RWS pistol made a dent in one side. I even tried to help it by feeding it superpoints but it would not get through one side (ok maybe one pellet got through one side.) If it wont pass the tin can test, its too low powered for what I'd like it to do!
Lastly (again) - The specimen that I got chopped the breech seal the first time I opened it (or maybe it was chopped when it was closed up at the factory.) Either way - out of the box I needed a new seal. I dont really think that the seal was the cause of the low power b/c I could not detect any leakage at the breech.
Accuracy was fine.
All in all - for the $200 price tag, I was unimpressed! It was returned to the store where I purchased it and I will not give it another look. I replaced it with two(!) pistols with more power, for less money (not springers however.)
Sorry for the bad review here on the pro-diana forum. Just relaying my experience......I am a huge fan of the my diana rifle. I guess based on my experience with the 48 I had higher expectations for the 5G. Mostly the WAY overated velocity!!!! I could have gotten a new seal and lived with or dealt with the grip issue, but its gotta have some umph!!!
I think the importers (RWS) that reported the 700fps velocity for the .177 version did nothing but hurt the guns reputation. Diana never listed the velocity to be that high so I knew not to expect it and I'm not disappointed. Both my .177 and .22 versions give about 5fpe with the right pellets. I've had my pistols for a few years now and have had no mechanical issues. Accuracy is pretty good with most pellets and some practice. Some people don't like the slant of the grip but I have no issue with it. It's almost summer so I hope to find an LP8 soon. It has the same power, straighter grip and scope grooves. The LP8 will be a tad heavier which should help those that have a problem with the P5s recoil. I wonder if the LP8 will actually replace the P5. I like my P5s and 6M and I'm actually thinking obout getting a 5G.
Certain guns within a s/n range had some kind of problem with the trigger not holding when cocked. (Accidental discharge!) If you buy used, be sure it's not one of those or, if so, it has been recalled/repaired. I think Umarex may list the problem on their website or, at least, a call to them will tell you the details.
Personally, I'm no big power freak when it comes to air pistols. Just like with firearms, the "magnum" handguns have mucho handling problems and they are not nearly as powerful as a middle of the road rifle. (As someone one pointed out, the .44 magnum seems like a powerhouse but actually has less energy than a .30-30 at point blank range. Makes you stop and think before grizzly hunting.)
Diana Magnum 5P Pistol is a Loser!!! Don't Buy It.
November 16 2008, 3:03 PM
I bought a brand new 5G/5P pistol in 177 caliber and am very disappointed with it. My major complaint is that with the rear sight (made of cheap plastic) lowered all the way, the gun still shot a good 6-7 inches high at 15 yards. I tried a variety of pellet brands and types with no significant improvement. I am going to have to see if I can find a much higher front sight or send it back for a refund, probably the latter. Second complaint: I have a chrony and got nowhere near 700 fps with all pellets tested except the lightweight & sabotted Stingers which averaged 703 fps for a MV (muzzle velocity.)Most of the pellets tested were in the 500 fps range. Third complaint: the front sight is unprotected and needs to be hooded to avoid damaging the exposed TruGlo tube when your hand slips down the barrel to avoid the pinch point when cocking. Gun cocks hard in my opinion. Also: the grip is pretty uncomfortable especially for the webbing of your hand between the thumb and index finger. Haven't had a chance to check it for accuracy with a variety of pellets yet. I have been around handguns (and air pistols) all my life, at times have shot 10,000-12,000 rounds of .22, .38 and .45 ACP in bullseye competition in a given year, and won the New York State IHMSA pistol championship for my class in 1983 using a wildcat cartridge called a 7mm International Rimmed and a T/C Contender shooting freestyle.
I've owned a 5G Mag for about six months and here are my thoughts.
First thing I did was order a set of walnut grips from Ralph at RB Grips. Improves the look of the pistol 100% and fits my hand nicely.
The pistol is hard to cock due to its powerful (for a pistol) mainspring. Mine's still new so it will smooth out over time but this is not for kids or weaklings.
It kicks when fired, again due to the size of the cylinder and piston. You can see that in the design as it is a long pistol. I own a IZH-53M and it's a tame little spring pistol by comparison, but it has no punch.
Just a bought a chrony and haven't had a chance to measure it, but seat of the pants velocity is about 600 fps with RWS Superdome.
The pistol is accurate, but shoots high at short distances. I have nailed 4 mourning doves in the past week at about 50 feet, with open sights.
I believe the pistol could benefit from a tune as previously posted by others, but it's a well made piece and does not feel cheap or crude.
I am disappointed with the lack of a scope mounting rail but the recoil might make a scope worthless. No doubt RWS considered that when designing the pistol. I can live with the open sights.
It's one of the more powerful air pistols on the market and once you get the hang of it, the gun delivers accuracy and power.
I picked up a pristine P5 Magnum a few weeks ago off of the Yellow classifieds and it is a beautiful, sweet shooting, easy cocking, accurate pistol, really a joy to shoot. The fact that it chrono's at 400 fps shooting Gamo Match 7.71gr might be a clue - I suspect that it underwent an unadvertised soft tune at the hands of the previous owner.
I really don't know what I'm going to do - I anticipated a nasty shooting gun that would hit like a hammer, and honestly bought it as a potential squirrel gun that would be limited by my ability to shoot it accurately due to recoil. Since instead I've got this great shooter (it IS still a recoiling springer and of course not like a 6M, SPP or gas gun) I am not in a huge hurry to spend money on it to try to get up into the 600 - 700 fps range. Funny situation.
The sights are maybe even great for a hunter, but I've had the same experience as mentioned above - even shooting low velocity, I cannot get it to hit less than 1 1/2" high at 10m. I don't see how to easily modify the rear sight, and I really hate the idea of replacing the front, but I'm afraid that's what it will come too. I would sure like to hear ideas re the too high situation.
Have fun,
Steve
steve- when i got a brand new p5 it shot 6-7 inches high at 15 yards with the (cheap plastic) rear sight lowered all of the way. this is apparently a common problem with this model. (read customer reviews of this gun on Cabela's website.) i called the service dept. at umarex and the tech i talked to said to ship the gun to them via fed ex or ups (not u.s. mail) and they would put it into a jig and realign the barrel. it was free because gun was still under warranty. i think the cost if not under warranty was $10 or $20. turnaround time was about 2 weeks. when i got the p5 back they had sighted it in as well and it is now a tackdriver, i am not kidding you. with one 5 shot group i put 4 pellets thru a single ragged hole at 10 yards. i strongly suggest you have it fixed because other than that initial problem it is one heck of an air pistol. i chronographed 11 different kinds of pellets in the p5 with stingers coming in the fastest at 703 fps average muzzle velocity. several pellets (black max, daisy max, pba gold) were in the 600s and the rest were in the high 500s. let me know how you make out.
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