Hi there everyone!

I bought a Diana 54 Airking .22 two weeks ago and thus finally have the rifle I always wanted.
Sort of...
First I made a down payment for a Panther 31, after a week I told the guy at the counter to upgrade my order to a Panther 350 Magnum.
Another week passed by and after many hours of research I decided to go for the best of it all: a Diana 54 Airking.
I finally changed that last order from cal. .177 to cal. .22 (that clerk was on the brink of a nervous breakdown) and added a BSA 4x32 :D

Well I've got that baby now and I am very happy with it.
Meanwhile my first tin of RWS Meisterkugeln is almost spent and nothing bad has happened yet except that the scope stopper that was mounted to prevent the shifting of the scope got loose and slammed against the scope thus spoiling the zero.
My rifle shoots nice without the stopper now.

Three questions:
a) has anyone noticed the front sight sort of distorting the scope's vision?

b) I never had my mind set on things like parallax correction. My BSA has such a ring at its front end - but I cannot figure it out - I can't tell just by looking through the scope if it is correctly adjusted.
I think that's one of many reasons why I wasn't able yet to shoot tiny groups.

c) is there anything I should do, change or observe with this new gun?

thanks!

-nori-

forgot: It has a T05 trigger.

I've never noticed any problems using a scope while keeping the front site post on, but you can remove it easily if it bothers you. I did in fact take my front and rear sites off, just to make the rifle look a little sleeker. I use a scope anyway for ultra long distance shooting with my 54, so I don't need the sights anyway.

You've got a winner, try out Crosman Premieres 14.3 grains and JSB Exact Express Jumbos 14.3 grains as these are usually the top 2 performing pellets for long range ballistics and accuracy in most 54's. Good luck!

thanks Parallax,

I would buy the suggested ammo if I could.
Unfortunately .22's are considered exotic over here in my part of Europe.
Everybody seems to be using .177 - likewise are gun shop offers.
I did order .22 RWS Superdomes recently.
Any experience with these?

Actually I haven't tried the superdomes. I did a lot of research on the 54 before buying it of course and most of the recommendations for it where for the Crosman Premiere Domes. Most people reported getting the greatest accuracy, energy and ballistics coefficients out of them, so I started with them and after testing a few others, those where the clear winners with the JSB Express being a close second.

Congrat's on the new 54. Here is a link
to more than you ever wanted to know about parallax.

http://www.opticstalk.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=5026&PN=1

Good luck and enjoy.

Noricus:

you can order the Gamo Hunters they are made in Spain the RWS from Germany, Air Arms from the UK and the JSB from the Czech Rep.

granted you will have to order a big order but it will be worth it and these are all good pellets in .22 cal

warren

PS: these cpmpanies are all in Europe

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

Congrats on your new Diana 54!! "Scope Stopper"??? If you mean the small slotted screw on the rear of the top rail,, that is not a "stop" & you will surely shear it off if used as such. There are several mounts now available that will stay put. I dont know why you are seeing "Ghost Shadows" of the front sight on your 54,,most scopes I have had on mine did not do this?? Just beware,,, simply removing the front sight on a 54 is not an option,,if not replaced with a custom muzzle break,, the outer "Brl. Sleeve" will slip. (At least on mine it will) When you refer to "Tiny Groups",,, I must say,, I think your scope issues are hindering you in that regard. Both my 54 & the one I set up for a Friend of mine are one hole accurate!! You may want to mark your scope mount/rail with some tape or marker to check for movement. While the 54 has no percieved recoil to the shooter,,, the sliding action is VERY hard on scopes & mounts!! (I know,,, mine ate a few scopes as "Snacks!!) Good luck getting her dialed in Nori,, the 54 really is THE KING!! "Old Tim"

thanks warren for your info.
I just contacted JSB since they're closest to where I live.
Hopefully they will send smaller quantities, too - I don't think I could ever fire 15,000 rounds neither in my nor im my rifle's lifetime gg.

about parralax error:
Seems to me I don't have to worry abot that a lot. Thanks for the link!

about "scope stopper":
This is some device mounted on the scope rail just behind the front end of the mounted scope. Thus it prevents the scope crawling backwards.
The front sight of the rifle can be seen through my BSA like some shadowy notch which distorts the vision in that area.
Anyway - my rifle drew its first blood today:
A gray partridge distance some 60 yards. Headshot with RWS Meisterkugeln.
I liked the taste of that bird

talking about hunting:
Could it be the ammo (Meisterkugeln)?
until now I hit three birds on an average distance of 50 yards - twice they looked like they'd sort of stumble (I guess that was the impact energy of the pellet) but came back to their senses instantly and ran off with no sign of being wounded whatsoever.
Actually I am glad they remained unharmed - but still: could it be the pellet that cannot get through the "shield of feathers" at its breast?

energy over 50 yds. they have a very poor ballistic coeficient. i would use a domed pellet like the JSB when you can get them. they will hold onto thier velocity a lot longer and shoot flatter as well because of their supperior ballistic coeficient (more aerodynamic).

Noricus, Body shots are not sufficient at that range. (50yds)

Whatever pellet you use on partridge, go for head shots. It is far more certain to result in a clean kill.
Better to miss than wound in my opinion.
Well done on your choice of airgun. The 54 is the best there is.