Hey all.
Been thinking of a new air rifle. I have a Diana 34 Compact Pro in .177. It’s a fairly nice rifle, no question, but I’d like to explore what’s out there that’s more accurate.
Ok, first, strictly for target shooting here, what’s the most accurate caliber to go with or does it not matter? Distances from 10-75 meters.
Now, if you had to pick a break barrel, under lever, side cocking or whatever method that’s used to cock the rifle, what would you say is hands down the most accurate air rifle you’ve ever tried or shot?
Not counting the match rifles like the FWB, Anschutz, Steyr and similar. We already know they’re the most accurate. They’re used in the olympics. I’d love to have one, but they are. I have too expensive for my budget.
What do you think??
thanks for the help and your time.
My .20 HW77K is one of my long time favorites... would love to have one in .177... a friend found it at an estate sale years ago, so I bought it, and fortunately can still find decent .20 pellets for it... it wears an older Busnell Trophy 4-12x scope on it that makes it easier to carry around.
I also have a .177 TX200 that also shoots great.. it wears a B&L Rainguard 6-24x40 scope, making it quite heavy... I pretty much just use it for some backyard field target shooting.
I prefer the HW77K, mainly because it's handier to take out and shoot... be it hunting chipmunks, plinking, or shooting re-active targets.
So a lot depends on the open sights or scopes you want to use.
I’d like to explore what’s out there that’s more accurate
You may already have a capable platform if you seek out a professional tuner?
Looking for the most accurate 75M springer hmmm.... Ok, so your Diana is 8 pounds bare.
Air arms TX200 is 9.3lb, AA Pro Sport is 9.03lb. Very refined rifles and everything you read about them is fantastic right out of the box -no tune required from all that I've read and offer walnut for cosmetic upgrade.
Weihrauch's are more refined than RWS/Diana's and always have been. Accuracy wise, the Diana's are just as capable with care.
HW77 is 9.04lb. HW77K is 8.7lb. HW97 is 9.2lb. HW97K is 8.82lb.
I don't own any of these but I would like an old school HW77k. I suggest researching the guns listed. You could Google HW97 vs AA TX200 for example and look for professional comparisons and beware of biased readings.
That's my 1/2 cent's worth.
If accuracy is your primary concern - forget a springer or ram. Buy to a used AA S400/410/500 PCP if cost is a concern, then buy marauder pump.
If you insist on a traditional gun, then go for a HW90. It will do everything if you do your part:
https://www.pyramydair.com/s/m/Weihrauch_HW90_Breakbarrel_Air_Rifle/2358
You need an RWS sidelever thats recoilless such as a model 54 or 56. They are 100 yard accurate shooters. Easy sub one inch at 50 yards and 1 inch spinners target capable at 80 yards. Accuracy is almost like a PCP in a spring piston power plant. Nothing else compares for long distance Springer shooting accuracy thats available today. Not at 75-100 yards. Get a good quality magnum Springer rated scope with a lifetime warranty.
whiscombe JW75 or JW80 could do it too if you can find one.
I'm going to agree with sonnysan. The HW90 is designed for the use of heavier pellets. And heavier pellets will buck the wind better. You'll have a more consistent trajectory with the rifle's favorite choice of projectile fodder.
Gary Steel used to tell me to shoot the heaviest pellets which were also the most accurate in all my airguns. Because he would always keep them running right. And I did. And consequently, he did as well.
The only other thing I can say is, some people shoot certain airguns better than others. You need to choose from several out there which are purported to do the things you want. And if the first one you choose isn't what you wanted, try another. Yrrah used to work to get amazing accuracy out of several different airguns. Some of the models were a bit of a surprise to me. But then we also know he sought and completed the work necessary work to make those tools achieve the best of what they were capable.
I think it might be worth considering pellets along with rifles for this task.
All this recent springer talk has my smiling a little more than usual. While I have considerable time behind the triggers of HW97's in .177, .20 and .22 as well as a TX200 in .22. I have a .177 R11 got if from Doc Arnold for a Glock 22 trade. It is tuned, neither of us know who did it. It is running a little hot, and is a shooter. One of my favorite offhand guns.
tim
I have a hw90, rws54 and as prosport...all in 22 cal
I use open sights on the 54 & 90.
I feel that hw has the better quality...but that's not to diminish the rws/diana either.
ALL of them perform better shooting the heaviest domed/round nose pellets; especially at longer ranges.
@bob-in-wv
Sorry, Bob, but no. LGV has been discontinued and LGU is made now only in the Master Pro version.
Either way as fine as they are, they do not really reach into the 18 ft-lbs level, let alone get to the high powers.
At most you will get 16, MAYBE 17 ft-lbs with some controlled dieseling there.
Originally, the Century was to be the high power model of the LGV, but it never made it to the USA.
Keep well and shoot straight!
HM