What's the consensus on the 54 around here? I was considering the 48 at first but thought the nicer stock on the 52 would be worth the extra cost. Then I figure why not go the extra bit and get the 54. Is the 54 worth the extra money over the price of the 52? I'm not really concerned with the weight of the rifle. The problems encountered with keeping a scope on the 54 does bother me to a certain extent. I would prefer to use a scope but could get by with peeps. I know the rifle recoils but the stock and therefore the shooter, is isolated from it by the system built into the rifle. The lack of perceived recoil is a big plus. I assume the rifle wouldn't be as hold sensitive as a recoiling springer with similar power.
It's an incredible magnum spring rifle Keith. Extremely easy to shoot accurately and very powerful. Mine shoots with 24 fpe at the muzzle and and groups incredibly at long ranges. I've dropped several starlings past 100 yrds, just got another the other day at 105 yrds and my longest starling kill has been at 149.5 yrds with the rifle. Simply incredible for a spring-powered rifle.
Get the droop compensating base made for these by Leapers and get the lowest height Weaver rings and a good magnum-rated scope and you will be fine.
I've had this setup on my 54 for well over a year and over 5000 shots and it's holding perfectly. I just pulled the rifle out the other day because I had been shooting my lower powered springers for a bit and I lasered a pigeon at 52 yrds, aimed, pulled the trigger(my 54 is sighted in dead on at 50 yrds) and hammered the pigeon with an instant kill. This was after not touching the rifle for a couple of weeks. It was still dead on the POA, so no shifts with this scope setup.
I don't think you would regret getting one, and as far as weight, it weighs pretty much the same as the 52 and 48, unless you really want to count ounces. Also weights the same as a TX200 and a HW97K.
What scope are you using? I'd already decided on the Leapers base and low Weaver mounts. What caliber is yours? I assume it's .22? That's what I'm getting.
I have had my 54 in .22 cal for about 15 years (from new) and it is still a really great shooter.It can hold a 1 inch group at 60m.
What I really like about it is that while JSB exacts are its favourite ammo, it can handle a wide variety of pellets with good accuracy results.
Not all airguns can do that, perhaps something to do with its recoil absorbing system, or I happen to have a great barrel.
It was very good with its stock spring and seal, when the time came for replacement, I slipped in a Maccari GRT spring and stock Diana seal, and it became even better!!
Make double sure that the scope mount fits well in the scope rail dove tails. On my early air gun, it was the only thing I was not happy about because I think that scope rail was not hard and deep enough.
This problem is easily solved if you use a commercially available special scope mount that grips the dovetails as its meant to, while simultaneously hanging over the end of the dovetail to provide a positive lock up against longitudinal slippage.
In my case, I removed any scope issues for ever by fabricating a special mount and isolating it from the recoiling action.It works very well.
I would not skimp on the best quality scope and mounts you can afford.
A scope with a good (lifetime) warranty is the one to aim for if you are fitting it directly on to the action, regardless of any scope mounts that you have.
In my opinion, if as you say weight is not an issue, hold back a bit till you have saved enough to bridge the small financial gap between the 52 and a 54 and go for the 54.
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